MINING NEWS. UP-RIVER DIGGINGS.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 870, 11 May 1871, Page 2

MINING NEWS. UP-RIVER DIGGINGS.

(from our own correspondent.) i Ahaura, May 10. The bone of contention here now is the \ sale of the land in the township. We must have something to "knag" at, and r as it would be hardly safe or politic to I say much to or about the Government or 5 Council Avhile they are passing the Estimates, we have a " go in " at each other. , One party in our " Little Pedlington," > as you once irreverently called our beau- , tiful aud picturesque little city, are for t having the town lots put up and sold I right away, and the other party are for i postponing the sale until everybody gets ; plenty of money, and until the railway is ! made fro'n Nelson to Cobden, both of ' which e/ents will take place about the ! same time. The Radicals, or "Reds," r say that this land sale is only a dodge of ( the " bloated aristocrats round the corner ; there "to get possession of the whole of . the town by taking advantage of the prei sent hard times and scarcity of money, while the aforesaid " bloated aristocrats " i assert that the opposition to the sale is : got up and carried on by " them d ; perishers," who " never do any good for | themse^es, or anybody else, you know sir." Both parties may make their minds ; easy — the Government, as conservators [ of the revenue, are not likely to sell any [ land at the Ahaura, as matters stand at | present. As a man remarked during the flood the other day, it is "easy enough t getting into the town, but it is the devil's ; job to get out of it," and such is the fact i with tr c present means of communication. i Everything in the town when a good shower of rain comes on, has to stay in it nnlil the weather clears vp — Orwell Creek at the oue end and Happy Jack's ' I Creek at the other end, with the Ahaura and Grey Rivers at either side, effectually cut off all means of ingress or egress. When the main (road to Greymouth is made, when the Court-house and Postoffice are built, when the river is bridged, and the town is connected by the telegraph with other parts of the colony, we may expect to see the town sold at its full value. . To sell it now, or any part of it, except those lots actually built upon or improved in a bonafide manner, would be to throw the land into the hands of absentee jobbers, and we have had sufficient experience of those individuals already. At a recent meeting of the G. A. A. Association, it was resolved that a sum of money would be expended in the purchase of standard works on Agricultural Chymestry, Drainage, Veterinary Surgery, «fee, &c, to forji a nucleus for a library for the use of the members of the Association. It was also decided that samples of the soil from different parts of the valley, should be forwarded to Australia for chemical analysis, in order to discover, if possible, the cause of a singular disease which has made its appearance among the potatoes, turnips, and such like crops, and to take measures to prevent its further progress. The forthcoming Concert and Ball, for the benefit of the Hospital, is attracting much attention. Tickets have been issued and disposad of in large numbers, and contributions of good things in the way of poultry, sucking pigs, &c, to be used at the ball supper, have been promised liberally. The amateurs are making great preparations, and they are evidently determined that their share of the good work will be performed. The building is being arranged in a suitable manner, a stall is erected, ladies and gentlemen's dressing rooms have been been built, and the ball room will be everything that could be desired. It having come to the knowledge of the Committee that certain objectionable individuals intended to do themselves the honor of patronising the ball, the managing committee wish it to Le distinctly understood that they reserve to themselves the right to admit or ex-, elude any person they choose, and the right will be exercised strictly. A petition to the Nelson Executive,

praying that the vote of £1000,- for making the track through the Saddle Bush, on the road to Murray Creek, be given effect to by having the work commenced at once, is now in course of preparation, and will be transmitted to Messrs Mackley and Wilkie in a few days. This, and the construction of the main trunk road to the Arnold, have now become matters of vital importance to the residents in the Grey Valley, and our* representatives in the Provincial Council will no doubt iise their influence, and make every eftort to have the works proceeded with. The late rains have done an infinite amount of good in the mining districts. Accounts of good washings continue to arrive daily, and large parcels of gold have been purchased by the Banks at the Ahaura during the week. The most important mining event has been the reported discovery of a second of inaer lead running parallel to the old one at Napoleon Hill. The report requires confirmation. It appears it originated in the fact that a Frenchman named Candau sold his interest for a large sum of money, and this set people enquiring where the claim was situated in which a share would command such a high price. It is said that Candau's party have driven through the eastern or Mosquito Reef, which bounded the Italian lead, and that they found another and a richer gutter beyond. This may be the case ; at all events, several old and abandoned tunnels have been reoccupied by prospectors. An exceptionally rich discovery is also reported on the Mosquito Lead, but as a dispute ha 3 arisen between the shareholders in the claim in which the gold has been struck, it would be unfair to mention it more particularly. The whole matter will come before the Warden's Court at the next sitting.

Half-Ounce still holds its own as the foremost place in all this part of the world. The Improvement Committee appears to have ceased to meet; ' The state of the track about the junction of Duffer and Half-Ounce Creeks would be a legitimate subject for the Committee's interference. The Mabille controversy is over, but to prevent the recurrence of so much unpleasant feeling, the bye-law 3 ought to be amended by the introduction of a rule which is in force throughout the Victorian and New South Wales Gold Fields, namely, " that all holders of frontage or extended claims shall hoist a flaj when they strike gold, on pain of forfeiture." The Warden has the power to enter and examine such claims, or to authorise a competent person to do so and report ; this power might be more frequently exercised with advantage to the majoiity of the miners.