MINING NEWS.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 840, 6 April 1871, Page 2

MINING NEWS.

GREY VALLEY DIGGINGS.

[from our own correspondent.] Ahaura, April 5. Winter is coming on again, and as yet the Government have not -made any attempt to improve the state of the roads or to do anything towards bettering the means of communication throughout the Grey Valley. Another horse has been killed on the Napoleon track, and at Halfounce a well-known packer received such injuries by an accident, which occurred through the dangerous condition of the track, that it is likely he will be maimed for life. Mr Greenfield promised the deputation which waited on him at Halfounce the other day, that a dray road to that place from Totara Flat would be commenced at once. Of course Mr Greenfield promised the deputation a dray road; he would promise them a railway if they "sent in a requisition" for it ; but it is the old story of the horse learning to eat shavings ; while the dray road is being " got ready at the engineer's office the foot track becomes impassable, and traffic is all but stopped except at the risk of life. While on this subject it may be as well to draw attention to the gross neglect oi duty of those whose business it Fs to see that the present tracks, such as they are are not wilfully and wantonly damaged. Trees are being felled every day "and allowed to lie across the track at Duffer and Half-ounce Creeks, in such a manner that the road will be altogether impassable after the. next I flood. This is especially the case at Duffer Creek, a few hundred yards above the junction with Half-Ounce. Two large trees have been thrown right across the road, completely stopping the way, and not the slightest attempt has been made to remove the obstruction. Nobody likes to interfere in a case of this sort, except those who have authority, because the miners do the damage while they are "developing the resources of the country." It is all very well for certain individuals to " bjathetf and froth " about the rights of labor and the privileges of honest industry. Honest industry is a fine thing in its place, and no duubt it is entitled to its privileges, but the right to block up the gangway, to suit or benefit itself to the injury and damage of everybody else, is not one of those privileges. It is to be hoped the proper authorities will see to this matter at once before some serious accident occurs.

Another .objectionable practice which requires looking after is the habit cattledealers and butchers have of driving wild

and dangerous cattle along the most frequented tracks, without taking the slightest precaution to prevent possible accidents. Messrs Marshall and Young, at Half-Ounce, had a fine horse seriously and permanently injured one day last week through the carelessness of the owner of one; of these "wild beasts." The horse was proceeding along the track with its load on, when it met a startling obstruction in the shape of a furious bullock, which at once charged the poor animal. The collision happened to take place on a part of the track, a side cutting, where there was no room to turn round, the consequence was that the horse washoistedon "thehorns of the dilemma," and, besides being frightfully gored, it was pitched clear off the track. This bullock was allowed by its proprietor to roam about in this unguarded manner, although it was known to be a dangerous animal, and if the owners of the horse follow out their intention of bringing an action for the loss of it, it is to be hoped they will obtain substantial damages.

The tenders are out for the erection of a Government building at the Ahaura, which is designed as a kind of muUum in parvo apparently, in order to save timber and economise ground room. The Court-house, Land office, Engineers office, Resident Magistrate's office, and Warden and Magistrate's Clerks offices, are to be croVded into a space of about 20 by 40 feet, as if there was riot another spot of available building ground left in the town. All the foregoing important public >. works are to be performed in "strick" accordance with the specification, and as that document says—" no excuse will be taken on any account from the contractor for any little discrepancy that may appear on the plan or in this specification, for him not completing the work to the full intent and meaning of the same. The above rather confused injunction . is the result of our waiting and hoping in patience for the last two years for the good time which was to come, when the Government buildings would be commenced, and the road to Greymouth and bridge across the Ahaura river would be accomplished facts. It will take nearly as much money to put the present socalled track to Greymouth into repair as it would to make the new dray road, and if either work be not at once commenced, communication with the seaboard will be a thing of the past. "

The buflding for the Hospital at the Ahaura will soon be completed, and the Committee are about taking steps to have it furnished Jand prepared for the reception of patients. ........

The new Cemetery is now fenced in, and it is time preparations should be at once made to apportion it out to; the different denominations, and to appoint trustees for its conservation.

Mr John Reid's saw -mill on the plains is at last at work.. After several costly and fruitless attempts at getting the turbine wheel to work, that obstinate piece of machinery was abandoned, and the old-fashioned and more practicable overshot water-wheel was utilised to drive the saw. The opening of this saw mill will do more for the progress of the district than at first sight appears. Already timber has dropped nearly 50 per cent, in price, and as a consequence new buildings are being started in every direction. A new baker's and butcher's shop are nearly built, and a very handsome " Staite " house is being erected for a member of the legal profession. The Bank of New South Wales has taken possession of its new premises. They are constructed at the corner of Clifton and Napoleon roads, and the building, which ia the property of, and was built by, Mr William Smith, after his own plans and design, is an ornament to that part of the town. ■' r ' : The want of another supply of water is beginning to.be felt in the mining districts. . The rush to Half-Ounce still continues ; but at present Duffer Creek appears to absorb the greatest amount of attention. John M'Mahon and party, known as the Yakandandah Compary, have struck what is supposed to be the original Duffer Creek lead, just below the junction of Duffer and Sullivan Creeks. They took possession of an old and abandoned tunnel, which had, been taken in some years ago by a party of Cornishmen, and after some prospecting, they made the discovery that they were too shallow for the Duffer Creek lead. A monkey shaft was sunk, and payable gold was found. The tunnel has since been taken up afresh and deepened. Cnneen, Doolen, and party, are said to have come on the same run of washdirt further down, and nearer the junction of the two creeks. A small rush has also taken place to the head of Duffer's, and from appearances it is likely to turn out well. This creek is beginning to be noticed now, and the population ia rapidly increasing. A detailed description of the water-races and terrace workings at Duffer's Creek will be given in a future letter. At Half Ounce M'Grath and M'Ginty's party have struck the lead, and is is reported to be very rich. Braithwaite's party have just finished the erection of a a horse whim, to draw up their washdirt, and thus save a great amount of labor. Carton and party are now on what is considered the true lead, before they were working on a kind of second and poor run of dirt. Mabille and party have .attached another pump to their water-wheel y this was rendered necessary by the increased quantity of water in the ground. Morris and party, at the further end of the lead, have a shaft down and slabbed 40ft. or 50ft., but they are likely to be much troubled with water. The extreme lower end of the Half Ounce leads is being carefully shepherded, and it is next to impossible for new comers to get claims, without paying high prices for them. Wheelan's party are now in close upon 2000 ft., with their tunnel tail-race ; this has been an expensive and laborious undertaking. „

The Half Ounce Improvement Committee intend to call, a public meeting shortly to submit the result of their labors and especially the revised mining regulations. In the meantime the committee meet regularly at the Scandinavian Hotel, and the members will be happy to receive suggestions from parties who take an interest in trying to have the present un suitable, regulations abolished, or considerably altered to suit the requirements of the present state of gold mining. A new township has been surveyediarid laid ■ iut by Mr Woolley at Half-Ounce. It is situated on a terrace on the western bank of the creek, and immediately opposite .he junction of Duffer Cptek. The main street will be 11 chains long, there are 40 building Bites, and the name of the

new town will be Granville. Long may it flourish, but the people in the old town have scarcely been treated in a fair or equitable manner. This new town should have been laid out nine months ago, but as it is the residents of the old, or upper township, who have given their means in' no niggardly manner towards developing the lead and making Half-Ounce what it is, have been allowed to erect substantial and expensive buildings, and now find themselves, through the delay on the part of the authorities in/selecting a permanent site for a town, likely to be completely cut out of the trade of the place by new co mere who have not up. to this time invested a farthing in the way of assistance towards prospecting the creek. The business people at the town complain bitterly of the manner in which ; they have been treated, and* with good reason.