GREY VALLEY DIGGINGS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1240, 20 July 1872, Page 3

GREY VALLEY DIGGINGS.

[rnois oVk oww oobbbspoiwent.] Nelson Creek, July 16. Moat of the tunnels on the old deep lead at the middle town are again reoccu- , pied. Although the ground paid well in 'ieveral claims during the first working, there were breaks in the run of the gold ■ here and there which, at the time, puzzled everyone. These misses are now aoootnited for by the discovery that in many of the claims the golden ground was 'driven through in the tunnels without being noticed. The tunnels, in some cases, were taken in a distance of from 1000 ft to 1200 ft, and it is now proved that the run of payable dirt is not more than 700 ft from tho outer face of the terrace. The Scotchmen's claim, which was . one of the best on the lead, is now' being re-worked by Mark Bray and party. • They are blocking out ground which is paying well, and which the former work-

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JMHte.i . .'-iJJB.'.'-V '-■..•• .*U/.l~i''Cl.-. . jMcaffaased through: on the : way into .ti e 'WQwß'ni search of the lead. '' ' Gleeson'sold claim is now in the possession of Alexander Bell and partr. They are opening up the old grouid again, and t.-e piling Washdirt. In Hany Palmer and party's claim, it sees is the previous occupiers drove 600 ft pa it the gold, without becoming aware of th< ir mistake. R. Larkin and party and I. Weston and party are still working the claims they originally held, and it is owiug to the persistency with which these parties held on to their claims that the other tunnels were again taken up, and the gold which is now getting discovered.' Most of these parties wash with the water running from the tunnels ; but Dawson and paity's race runs along the terrace above, and the water is always available. It is difficult to learn how these claims are paying individually, but it is certain they are all paying good; wages. It was thought at one time this lead would be traced farther northward, and it may be yet ; but until the population of the creek increases and new blood is introduced ; very little of this kind of prospeoting will be done. The different hydraulic sluicing companies are either vigorously prosecuting their washing operations, there being now plenty of water, or extending their races. . The Kennedy Company are taking their water to Try- Again Terrace. They .are now in the neighborhood of "Paddy's Look-out," and about a mile from Dry Cully. This party have undertaken an expensive and hazardous work, for, from the peculiar nature of the country the race i* coming through, the manual labor is both difficult and dangerous, and requiring skill and experience to perform it The German Company are working at the usual place at No. 2 Creek. It is said that the last washing-up of this company yielded L 65 per share for eight weeks' work, and this is understood to be about the average product of the ground. The water of the company is not at as high an elevation as Magee's, but it is a fine property nevertheless. Magee and party's water is now brought as far as No. 2, and it is thought the party intend to work some good ground they know of in that locality, but which is „ situated at too high a level to be reached by any water race previously existing in the district. This party will now. have to drive a tunnel through the range for about 2000 ft in length before they get fairly at work sluicing, but the final terminus is to be at Try- Again. It was stated in a report, a few weeks ago, that the fluming of this party was seriously damaged by the snow, and that it would take some time to repair it. Such was the general report at Try- Again (whence the? information was obtained) shortly after the snow storm, but fortunately it was not quite correct. Potts and Dawson's races are being worked at the Middle Terrace, and about Dry and Farmer'a Gullies the water of Kerr and Jftbson, the Livingstone's, Sinclair and party, and others is made use of as usual. At Try-again, H. Pfingle and party's rasa n r finished i t sb Saturday, and there wai :-:i o ir, rejinciug thereat. This new race hca s \\> a (J ... a i Gully No. 2, and the right includes the Brian Boru Creek and the tributary^ side streams along its course. The p6rty intend working the old and new ground at the head of Tobacco Flat, where they have secured a leasehold. Another, Ellis and party, whose water dam as extended on Tryagain covers an area of between two and three acres,' are now, besides carrying on the regular work of the claim,, engaged in taking up a branch tail-race to facilitate their operations. A share changed hands in, this company last Veck at a good 'figure. ' On the top of the range dividing Tryagain from German Gplly, Broderick and party and O'Keefe and party have been ' working for a length of time, and they are of course* doing very well> or they would not remain there. The kind of ground these, parties are engaged at,, and the very rich patches which have from time to time been wrought among these high level Workings shows, if further proofs were needed, besides those at present existing, the great necessity of some comprehensive water scheme being adopted for the benefit of the district. When auriferous drift can be found from the grass at the edge of the lower terraces to the top of the. very highest ranges, containing gold to nay for extracting it with the rudest appliances, what results may reasonnbly be expected when such ground comes to be treated in a scientific, as well as a methodical manner? Hill and party now hold tba. claim and I ierrece at German Qully, formerly held bj r Jenkins and parly. The tunnel tailrace in this chum took between two or three years to make it. Shafts GO or 70ft deep had to be sunk at intervals along its course, and .the whole cost of the work was something enormous. Messrs JenKns and'Prettyjohn, the leading members of the original company, have left it. Mr Jenkins has entered in another undertaking in the same creek, and Mr Thos. Prettyjohtr has purchased'a share in the, Germany. Com pany'a water-race and claim at the upper part of Nelson Creek.