SOUTH BEACH.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 846, 13 April 1871, Page 2

SOUTH BEACH.

[FROM OUB OWN COEBESPOin>ENT.| April 12. Great interest has been manifested for some time as to the result of the washing up of the huge paddock on the Lagoon Lead, and as this interesting event took place at the end of last week I paid a visit to that locality on Monday, so that I might speak from personal observation. On going from the old workings past'tte site where formerly stood the "whim/ 1 noticed that a fresh. party—Cameron and Co.- were sinking a shaft, and were down about 18ft. . They had' had some difficulties to contend against asthe sand wou^d not stand, and they had been' compelled, to pile and slab the shaft. They expected that they would have-40~ go about 35ft. So far they -had met with very little -water, but as they have yet 17ft to go it would be premature to say that they would not yet be troubled it, The general opinion ' was, however, that the tunnel would drain, their ground., About two hundred yards fdrtherb'rougW me to the paddock which I found had not been interfered with since the washing up. ..; Most of the' men were, busy -in building comfortable and substantial huts, and this circumstance alone spoke volumes as to the opinion the men themselves' must have formed as to the payi able nature of the ground. On going 1 down into the paddock it was at once ■ seen that it had been taken' down* %& far to the westward, and that consequently much more labor had been done than was actually required. Another paddock will have to be taken down to tb^e east, "prrtjie ground driyen, out before; the width of the wash' will -"be knowrfc One of the most noticeable features of tKe I paddock is the bar which, has been |so much spoken of as keeping the ; water back, and preventing parties i from prospecting, This bar runs to, the ; eastward of the centre of the paddock, and i the'water can yet be seen oozhijg""out: behind it, r iThe, -tuiinel. was^k^ad^flo the paddock on a lowe? level *nd sudV denlj raised, but it is now' necessary, to continue it as originally -brought .ujk One set> of- it is -yet to' be seen standing on the east side, and this: shows plainly what ; Gare^ and ingenuity had io ,be bestowed to bring up . the tunnel through this treacherous ground. This set, which is only a specimen- of the rest; was closely slabbed on each side and close lathed on the top. The face boards-were yet to) 5 Iwj seen, and every crevice stopped wiljs grass to prevent^the sand, running- To say the least, ' none but experienced miners could ever have completed this tunnel, and it, reflects. , the highest /s eredit on all the parties. There was a S good sM^fwasE^Wije fsein, 'and' ntf when, the^^n:get,pror^rljyf;to -tt»t they will make viry wagei : T^e next paddock will terminate; the width? g| the run, and more will be known, as fo how'ittwill'.pay, wlyoh is sir fair 'satisfactory to the meni The first paddock taken down prio^r to commencing • the tunnel, which lies* to the east sixty or seventy yards, anoTsouth ? pf tKe present one, is ' not yet drained,appareritry having several fee|6f wate ; r. in,it. This shows clearly that the drainage to the* south is verjj slow, and it yet remains to be seen now ; th,e -ground, .^Q , ifche- «northwarcl will; -^ affected, which will soon fee proved by Cameron and party. Campbell, Xtateykjuf t and.Goi. have yet to make another rd^m, iand thgn it_.may be said they will be in proper working order, and it to be hoped, a3 they progress with their work, thatk they= will be, weft rewarded/ :foc ;their entespEise, which they» thorwighly ., d€H ; serve. . ■■•:•■ ■• ...;- .-,;■:. :■;■ "«. >.: -. ':