SOUTH BEACH.

Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 889, 2 June 1871, Page 4

SOUTH BEACH.

[from our own correspondent.]

May 31

The workings on the Lagoon Lead, between the Old Whim claim and the New River are still in active operation. It will be remembered that the amalgamated parties, Campbell and Co. and Dreykluft and Co., took down a very large paddock, and a considerable portion of it proved to i be too much to the westward, and only ' left a small part on the lead itself. They were, however, so satisfied with the payable nature of the ground that they at once set to work to build themselves comfortable huts. Since then (Easter) they have built another dam a very considerable height across a gorge, which • will enable them to husband the necessary fluid for washing purposes. Having performod all the preliminaries requisite in large undertakings, they immediately set to work to take down another paddock, or rather paddocks, each party for itself. Having stripped to tho 6rst layer of wash, they at once made use of tho sluiceboxes, and may then be said to have made a permanent commencement to get gold. Of their ultimate success in getting repaid for their labor there is very little doubt that they will make fair wages fora long period, now they are in proper working order. Here is a practical result arising from extended claims being granted to work ground that required more than ordinary labor. These men have been engaged fully eight months in getting the ground into working order, and if they had not sufficient inducements held out to them, must have remained idle to this day, for manual labor, without the aid of a tunnel or machinery, would never be able to work this ground. Cameron and Co. , who were prospecting to the north towards the whim claim, fully confirm this. They imagined that the tunnel would drain their claim, and tried to sink a shaft. The first they lost, as it caved it. Again they tried, and sank 25ft, imagining they could then get clown ; but their difficulties then commenced, and although they managed to go down another 10ft, they were again beaten. They labored hard for upwards of three months, and had then to succumb to difficulties they could not overcome. Although they have been compelled to give it up, yet the claim is again occupied principally by some miners from Ross, who are making another attempt to prospect the ground. To the south of the tunnel, a party of four brothers named M'Cormick have been making another attempt, but, so far, unsuccessful in getting down the necessary depth. They have also manfully persevered, and when they had got down some 30ft they could not beat the water. F»r days and days j they tried, and at last had to desist trying to get down. However, they are driving higher up, most probably for the upper layer. These attempts to prospect without the aid of a tunnel show how futile it is, and they also show the necessity of extended claims being granted to persons who are willing to give their time and labor to take in tunnels. From the tunnel where the present workings are till the Tereinakau is reached there is a good extent of country, and sooner or later it will be all worked : aud it is better that inducements should be held out to have it prospected at once than for it to be idle, as no doubt, ultimately, the men would be rewarded for their labor.