MINING NEWS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1156, 12 April 1872, Page 2

MINING NEWS.

GREY VALLEY DIGGINGS. [prom oxtr own correspondent.] Ahaura, April 11. The miners in the Moonlight "district have had a good opportunity of testing the creek bed during the recent dryweather, but the finds after all are not startling. Several old residents pf ;this" place left during the week, and others of them, are again turning their attention to prospecting forithe; source of the? quartz gold, which must be in existence some place in the neighborhood. The quartz reef said to be found at the head; of the Ten-mile Creek; on the North Beach, is in the neighborhood of the head of' Moonlight Creek. Mr Lewis, the Government surveyor, visited the scene of the supposed new discovery this week, and it seems the work done is not far enough advanced yet to enable a correct estimate to be made of the value of the new find. The| leader is at an elevation in the ranges Of over 200 ft. above the level of the sea,' at the mouth of the Ten-mile Creek. I The tenders for the cutting of a foottrack from Ahauratp Nelson Crejek are to be closed to-day, and Mr Surveyor Lewis has received instructions !to* proceed with the survey of the continuation of the track from Nelson Creek via Red Jack's and No Town Creeks to, the Arnold. This latter portion of the track may be the means of opening a good stretch of auriferous country. Red Jack's is one of the best, as it is the most inaccessible, of the mining localities in the Grey ' Valley, and this track, which will cross the creek some miles higher up from Camptowni will give a means of ingress to prospectors, i A strong party is being formed |to commence operations at Sunday Creek, a tributary of Red Jack's. There: is rich ground in that locality, but the difficulties of getting head water to bear on it, and of providing drainage, have prevented its being worked before this. ; The resignation of -Mr Wilkie 1 of his seat in the Nelson Provincial Council for the Grey Valley, although not unexpected, has created some surprise. It was hoped that Mr Wilkie would retain his s6at until: the termination of the approaching session of the Council; for it is possible his experience and advocacy. :might have j been of service, if the Provincial Government are sincere in their intentions of making arrangements to construct waterworks on the South-West Gold Fields. It will be hard to find . a suitable candidate to represent us, and there is danger of the doubtful honor falling where it is least intended it should be conferred. The following is ari extract from the reply of a gentleman, a mirier, who had been iufluentially requested to allow himself to be nominated to; fill the vacancy : — " Since the resignation of Mr Mackley I have considered the; advisability of my standii?3 for election. For years past we have reen how futile have been the efforts of Grey Valley members in the Nelson Provincial Council 'towards obtaining what of right their district was entitled to in the shape of money for improvements. True, votes have been passed — may be passed again ; but where is the security that they shall not be again allowed to lapse. There is an animus pervading the Provincial Government, and I verily believe as long as Mr Oswald Curtis is Superintendent so long will it continue, or until such time as the gods favor us with anew state of Government or control. I have great, faith that some reformation will be brought about at the next meeting, of the General Assembly. Having these views, Ido not think that the members for the Grey Valley could do any good save by protesting against injustice, and nothing would tend more to show the people's utter want of confidence in the Nelson Provincial Council as afc present constituted than by allowing the seat to remain vacant. You may depend" when the time comes that I may be of service I shall be about." We are threatened with the candidature of an ambitious individual who formerly canvassed the district when there was not a vacancy; but, to use one of the classical quotations in which that " gay and festive cuss" indulges whenever he gets an opportunity of airing his Latin, lAgnym mfaer-(Such is life !)— if he does inflict his attentions upon us, we must put up with this humiliation, inter alia — as'best we can. ,