NEW RIVER DISTRICT.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1191, 23 May 1872, Page 2

NEW RIVER DISTRICT.

[from otjr own correspondent.] ; : ■ May 22. j The workings on the banks 'of th 6 New River, opposite German Gully, are daily gvo wing into more importance and attracting considerable attention. It iknow about a year since that anything like a population first began to be assembled here, and at the present there cannot be fewer than 150 to 200 miners, and report speaks well of how they are doing. In fact, it is generally admitted that whilst two parties have been making something extraordinary, the bulk of the men have all been getting from small to good wages. Perhaps one of the best signs of the prosperity of this part may be gathered from the number of men who go up and see for themselves and then return fcjr their mates. The workings are mostly on the flat terraces formed by the benid in the river. There are three or four feet of stripping, . and about the sanie amount of wash with a little gold through it, varying in quantity. German Gulty township greatly benefits by the prosperity of these diggings— in fact, may be eaid to almost entirely depend on them. There are various rumors afloat of German Gully, or the neighborhood of it, being the locale where, a. water-race-will Uc isliuitljr uuiumciiutiU. Twir diatiuot parties intend to initiate the movement. Whether they have different places where they purpose to store their water remains to be seen ; but if they have their eye oh the same place, the sooner one of them commences, the better. The public will not care which, so long as it is done, a»d that quickly. Common report say s there is is a watershed here, and that by" the erection of a dam, an immense quantity can be stored that will command the whole of the highest terraces in the New River district ; therefore it is absolutely important that it should no longer ; be overlooked. If after a careful survey it is shown that a large supply of water can be stored here, high enough to command Soldier's Terrace at German Gully, and also be brought on to the Eight-Mile Terrace, Clifton, there will be little difficulty in , raising a , sufficient . capital to carry the undertaking out. The importance of having a J large supply of water on a high, level, is so great at the present time to the country that if local enterprise is not forthcoming immediately, reI course must be had to foreign aid. Should the parties who are now thinking of this not move in the matter, it will be incumbent on the Government to take measures to see if there is any watershed near German Gully that could be made into a large reservoir, capable of supplying water to all the high terraces in the district. Common report says that it is so, and that the saving will be immense, for there I will be no necessity to go to the tributaries of Lake Brunner for water, when, by the expenditure; of a mere nominal sum, a dam can be erected capable of. supplying the whole ■ district. A sur vey must, however, first be madej and if the scheme is found practicable, no time should be lost in founding a company and raising the necessaiy capital ; and the sooner one or other of the two parties who are now thinking of the matter take some action re pecting it, the better.