ROSS AND THE SOUTH.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1073, 5 January 1872, Page 2

ROSS AND THE SOUTH.

[ross news.] Speaking generally, the district is prosperous, although its working population has lately diminished. There is fresh proof gathering daily of the universal distribution of gold throughout it, but with a scanty population and bright attraction elsewhere . the development is slow. In the Upper Totara the question is not where is the gold ? but where can water be got ? A third of a claim theresupposed to be nearly worked out — was sold for L 159, but the water-right was known to be of value, as even if gold was not in that particular spot it could be fpmid almost auy where else, and the water would give a monopoly of it. On the northern slopes of the hills on the other side of the Totara a few parties are quietly and' profitably working, and no doubt the opening of the new road to Hokitika will give access to a considerable ai*ea of auriferous ground, connecting the last-named working with the Aylmer Lead, where some claims are yielding Lls a man per Woek. In -Ross the -'deep ground has proved better than the upper levels, and enables claimholders to battle against the heavy drainage charge.;. These, however, will probably be less, as the engine appears to be working better than hitherto, and the protective works are in good order. All the claims in Jones! Flat but the Morning Star can now be wor'{e,d, and before the end of the week the Star will be drained. The Cassius claim has turned out splendidly, and, although the owner does not wish His returns knowu, we have good reason to believe that its profits have for some months exceeded LIOOO per week. Its owner is now reported to have bought the adjoining claim, in which all is, ready for deepening the shaft, and no doubt another good claim will sooii be opened there. Closely adjoining, theYbung Australian party are cutting up a tail-race, which will benefit the whole neighborhood, by taping the terrace water at ,60ft below surface. Great credit is due to this party for their enterprise, and richly they deserve success. At Sailors all hands are again at work, and new claims on gold. The United Miners only wait a settlement with some few shareholders to make a start. At Clear water, a few claims are on gold, in deep ground, discovered during the past year, which ■ will some day be proved to be continuous along the terrace. At Donoghue's mining appears to have retrograded, but some fine ground is still being worked, and want of capital pre? vents more from being opened. Between Squatters and Redman's, fresh ground is opened, and at the latter place the water is now mastered, and excellent returns are yielded by the old clainis ; while an enterprise long talked of — that of working the creek — is advanced to the extent of a tail-race having been cut up from the Mikonui, and a survey made for a headrace to give water to a drainage-wheel. O;i the beaches not very much is doing. A new race has been brought' in near Ligopii Town, which will make a large area of sand workable 1 ; but' t6 the south very little is doing. Below Okarito, the Five-mile and Gillespie's appear to be' prospering, and iv other localities miners appear to be contented, and making themselves comfortable houses. The one want of the miner from one end of the district to the other is water : wherever it can be got, payable ground is found, and no doubt the population of the County would s ion be doubled if a few, largo high level water-races were made. „,< v