NEW RIVER DISTRICT.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 871, 12 May 1871, Page 2

NEW RIVER DISTRICT.

(from our own correspondent.) May 10. The New River Water Race Companyare now making good progress with their work. They have had considerable labor in making their way around the bluffs alongside the New River, and now this difficulty is overcome they have ordinary cutting before them till the point i 3 reached where the long tunnel is to commence, which will divert the water into a tributary of the left-hand branch, forming a race for about a mile, and then by the erection of a small dam the water will be once more brought on the terraces, and thtm it may be said to be available for use to parties, requiring it. In the course of a few months it is calculated that this point will be reached, and the value of it cannot well be over-esti-mated. There is no doubt that it will prove a very valuable, property to the enterprising shareholders when it is completed, and enable terraces to be worked that must have remained untouched without it. Already have persons again begun to talk of the Limestone — a diggings that was nearly deserted on the occasion of the rush to the Eight-Mile. Some twenty men have, however, been found there making remunerative wages ever since, but whether it is on account of the race coming to it, or through it proving equal to most other parts, it i 3 gradually coining iuto favor again. No doubt, through the ground being shallow, and no great undertaking, necessary to obtain a little gold has a great deal to do with the present feeling about this place. The want of water has always been a serious drawback against this part, and during ordinary dry weather in summer it almost necessitates an entire suspension from works ; but when the race reaches here this great drawback will not be felt, and a prosperous future may be anticipated. Sylvester and. Co. are sluicing. They have lately opened a fresh face, and are doing well. Originally they commenced to puddle, but they relinquished that work for ground-sluicing, which they have continued ever since. Peter Haggett, Forethingham and Co. are still puddling in Moa Flat. This was the first puddling machine erected here, and it has continued in operation for about three years. They have worked an immense area of ground, and the bare rock that is to be seen shews that this part must have been in a violent commotion at some period. It appears as if the rock had been shattered by a volcano or an earthquake. The embrasures in the rock are quite common, and some lead to caves, down which the water runs as well as tailings. In some of these caves the bones of the moa have been found. The geologist and the antiquarian have here a fine field for their researches. Between the Limestone and the Saddle diggings there is a large range broken by a gully which has been partially worked, and, opposite, the range commences running towards Welshman's. There are several parties at work between the Welshman's track and the top of the Saddle, some sluicing, and others cradling. Here, again, the want of permanent water is felt, and the higher the level the more it is required. Several fresh parties have located themselves here during the last six months, and though they have had to contend with the dry weather, they have done as well as others have done in places that are more generally spoken of. Like the Limestone, the ground is shallow and patchy, and does not require any great outlay to open. The small creeks were all worked some years since, and the men are now working the terraces on the banks of the creeks with various results, some doing better than others, but all paying expenses with something over.