NEW RIVER 'DISTRICT.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1209, 13 June 1872, Page 2

NEW RIVER 'DISTRICT.

,' (JFROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) "'■■ June 12. I ' . Although there is nothing startling to ;cHroriicle respecting mining, no new rushes, or. heavy finds, yet,, on the /.other jharid, tHere is nothing , to say despondiingly; everything :is progressing, as is .always the case when r water; is plentiful, 'then a little gold is being got, sufficient to replenish ( the, cupboard (the tucker, bag), and leave' a ! note or two for other purposes. /Formerly the district, depended mostly 1 on the 'quantity : of gold' that the terraces yielded at the Eight-mile (Clifton),/ as also at No Name. ;It was thought that as • sboii 1 ' as these : were worked ■ that ; the population would materially 'decrease, instead of which there, has been no perceptible' diminution, about the same quaiitity ■of provisions being consumed as formerly. Now, the prosperity of 'this district depends on the, quantity . of .water, that can be utalised. This, is -virtually a sluicing district. The more work that is done in building. dams and cutting races, 'the. more valuable and permanent it becomes.' It is mainly through this that a large population has been kept' here, for, with the exception of about one 'hundred and fifty men, who are employed on - the banks of the New River, some distance higher tip, ttiati : Liverpool Bill's j -the ;rest of •the pbpulation r are. permanently employed ju sluicing,' the '.majority pf whom, having vested .Interests] iri ! w?rtierj ; <£;c. The whole of the country seeiris to be .very much alike, a" little gold, to be got everywhere, and this makes it'-sa essential' that it should be sluiced to, make it pay... The old pian of using the cradle' is nearly obsolete ; in fact, is t rarely used by those parties who have them, and only when water is so scarce that there is not suflicxent for sluicing purposes.: The New River Water-race Company are making good progress with their -work, and a few. weeks , will it.bring.to Meehan!s old store. The Hibernian Company', from Cock-eye, are getting, on very .well with their race. Both these 'companies h^ive applied to the. General Government for aid, and it ia now time that they had some answer or some stepk taken in the matter. Of ; cour3e,! as these are >eally bom fide races there can be no ■■ objection raised against them ; therefore, the time that is now lost is a serious 'drawback to both of the companies^ as well as to the district generally, for w.^h the Government aid so many extra men would have to be employed that jWould soon finish : these desirable work. "',■'•*. 5 The Road Board are now collecting the rates levied, but the mode which they are adopting gives general 'dissatisfaction. If the rate be not paid immediately on application the party is liable to be summoned, 'if not paid within three days to the collector in Greymouth. Without en- ; tering into prp?s uand con's about the payment oa demand, it is most absurd to suppose that a party neglecting, to _do. somust pay the_ penalty of; incurring the;ex--pensesof a trip to Greymorith. If the Board haye , an office at Paroa, whicn', of: course they have, surely it ought, tpbe? suflicient f 6r ? those parties who may^be inarrears to pay it there.- The present arrangeriieht is much condemned, and jt.is to be hoped that it may be iriimeiiately altered," as the convenience of - the rate-, p^ayera ought certainly to be considere3. 'J£ g'rahd concert "arid balji is- 16 takei place at- Marsdeh, on •Wednesday, June! 19, in aid of the funds of the Greymouth = Hospital.- » A: liaxge ■' attendance' is ''ah'tibi-: pated, F6r 'the sake of so charitable au iustitution may the weather 'be pro- 1 pitious.; ! ;-•. : : s'. . ' A. heavy fall of snow, took , place ; last night. ;;Thft ; ;>yhple of „the surface is covered: about . six inches deep, ■' arid it isi very doubtful :f the trams will be able to; run'torday. >: . ■ :■ v •/ .:;.>i: :