MINING NEWS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1304, 3 October 1872, Page 2

MINING NEWS.

GREY VALLEY DIGGINGS. [from our own correspondent.] Ahaura, Oct. 2. A few more parties have set into work on the Grey River beaches, between the AhaurW Junction and Nelson Creek. Those working above the junction of the Ahauraare making fair wages^ and with a proper mode of working would do very much better. This description of mining iB likely to get a fair trial during the ensuing summer months. There is not a great probability of anything very rich being struck, but from appearances the beaches and bars of the main river will yet be the great fossicking ground and stand-by during dull intervals ; between the new rushes. The shingle bank behind Alcorn's farm, on which Cleve's party are working, is about the best, patch struck yet, but it docs not possess any. special features of formation to lead to the supposition that it is the only one likely to be discovered. : It is situated at the mouth of a large byewash through which the water must have : poured in a very: high flood. It is entirely away from the present river-bed, which would lead to the belief that there may be numerous other similar gold-bearing banks in the same situations scattered up and down the river. The large areas of the river bank on either side washed and sluiced away during heavy floods, and the gold coming down with the debris from rich creeks, such; a3 Noble's, Duffer, Half-Ounce, Brandy Jack's, and other tributary watercourses, would account for the presence of gold in these beaches and shingle banks. Independent of these sources of supply, there may, as a good many suppose, be distinct runs of gold crossing the river at intervals, and the beaches are richest just below where the leads have crossed. This would appear to be "borne out by the ascertained fact, that there are spots, sometimes a mile or two in length, which do not . contain the . color of gold, and it' is also proved that where gold is founji near 'the river, it can, in some instances," be traced backwards towards the banks, when nothing can be found up or down the course of the stream. This would go to show that all the gold found on the beaches has not been carried down byjthe flow of water, or it would be more equally distributed, although it has been proved beyond dispute/ that considerable quantities do come down and are held in solution during the disturbance caused by heavy floods. There is a bar of rocks crossing the Grey River near Mackley's Station, on which and in the neighborhood the first workers struck a rare patchy and now, after every flood of any magnitude', fresh deposits are found. This place is shepherded faithfully, and the apparently unaccountable liveliness which in the dullest times used to be observable at the Junction township after a heavy flood, was by many attributed to a "redistribution" of the gold taken periodically; from this Tom Tiddler's land of water. . The following is from a reliable correspondent at Callaghan's Creek: — "The water-race lately held by Aikin and Magill has been sold to F. Hawk and party. This race ha 3 the first right of water from the creekj and commands an extent of country that it will take years to exhaust. D. Williams and party are sluicing the ground at the rear of Aiken and JMagill's store, and from the perseverance exhibited they would appear to be doing very well. It is their intention to employ labor, so as to fully utilise the water at theircomuiand. S. Kittolty and and party, adjoining Hawk, are tunnelling their ground, being compelled so to do , owing to their supply of water being inadequate for ground sluicing. ' Disputes have recently arisen in this quarter, which had 'to be settled in the Warden's Court. Above this is the ground-sluice of Thompson !and Bradley, who are certainly entitled to success, if working late and early is a qualification. They have a plot of, ground cleared and ready for any crop they may wish to put in. Gorman, Murphy, and party ootne next. During •the heavy floods in February, their dam, that weathered, all the previous si&rms, gave way. The re-construction of this piece of work occupied the party several months, entailing heavy expense. They are now in a fair way of doing, and energetically pushing on the work. Although the district of Callaghan's is still holding its own, in comparison with the surrounding alluvial diggings, it is not likely to make any rapid progress until by 'some means an abundant . supply of water, is available. The long-talkecUof Nelson Creek, water-race from Lake Hochstetter would, if it were constructed, benefit this as' much as the Nelson Creek district. Until some such work as this is inaugurated,, affairs will go on just as they are and continue so for years.- --■ The intimation that sittings. of the District Court will shortly be held' here, although not altogether unexpected, was received with some surprise. The importance of Ahaura as the central point of a large and populous district is beginning to be' recognised, and if it had received common justice or fair play at the hands of the authorities at Nelson its merits and importance would have been apparent long ago. The town has progressed in the face of every! disadvantage, and in spite of the deliberate intention of the Nelson Government, as avowed by their actions, to impede its advancement. It is Baid, by ultra-pro-Nelsonites. that the establishment of a District Court here, and other favors which are to follow, may be attributed to the factthat'Mr Curtis is now ; in power. Those < ( w ho kn a w' ■ are aware that this is not the fact, for those " who know" also know that Mr Curtis need not have waited until be became a Minister of the Crown if he was inclined to treat this district fairly. The establishment of a District Court at a place where its chief result will be a facility for increased litigation, is not so important to the progress of Ahaura as the making a road to connect it with the seaboard and the centres of population. Mr Curtis might have done this years ago, and he might also have given those who will iv all probability have to use the District Court, in its jurisdiction in bankruptcy at its first sitting, an opportiniity of acquiring a freehold title to the land they have been occupying and improving for years, while strnggling<against oppression and absolutely ruinous taxation in the shape of license fees. The election for the new Superintendent, if the occasion should arise to render it neco3sary, will be a lively time. Of those at present spoken of as likely to come forward, not one can be said to ]

entirely possess the requisites of a suitable caudidate. Putting the " honorable" Eugene aside as too great a blessing to be enjoyed, and disposing of Mr Shepherd as inadmissible on account of his connection with the Nelson Executive, the sweet voices of the electors here would go between Messrs Luck ie and Saunders, if it be true those gentlemen intend, to come forward. A requisition to the former, gentleman is now being extensively signed throughout the district, and there is no >\ doubt the action taken by Mr Luckie in throwing the weight of his personal influence! and professional abilities on the popular side during the Wangapeka dispute' made him many friends among the mining community. On ; the Other hand, Mr Saunders is the only man of all the. Nelson politicians' whb J have possessed the power — who has ever actually and positively voluntarily conferred a benefit on the South- West Gold Fields. Every work of utility, aud every measure calculated to advance the interests of the gold fields, had its origin during his previous'administration as Superintendent. The reforms or improvements effected since were recommended by him or Mr, Kynnersley, and in no part of his administration did, Mr Saunders exhibit his intelligence in a greater degree than by investing Mr Kyrinersley with the large discretionary power he did. Mr Saunders was blamed for this at Nelson. Of course he was, arid any Superintendent whose policy advancfes or benefits the West Coast will be unpopular with' the" people of the more settled- districts.' Mr : Kynnersley • pos-" sessed the confidence of Mr Saunders, and !as Mr Kynnorsley used the powers conferred upon him to develop the resources of the portion' of the Proviuce over 1 which he presided, therefore it was argued Mr Kynnersley abused his authority, and" Mr Saunders j byiraplica-: tion, dissipated the inheritance of the settlers about Blind Bay. Mr Stafford may well .remark that the. Province of Nelson, and this, portion of it especially,is singularly free from debt. So it ought to be, ■ for it is also singularly innocent ' of any of the ordi^ nary causes which induce indebtedness. Since Mr Saunders's administration there has not been a .jingle I work of importance done" on the SouthWest -Gold Fields, for the building of indispensable Govern ment offices and the cutting of temporary busk tracks to .prevent absolute trafnVcannot be considered public works. All ' the . work ; wh'ich has been performed in the other Provinces and in the County of Westland in the way Of improving the r means, of communication has to be done "here yety When Mr Curtis resigns" the Snperihtendericy— if he ever does so, which will admit of an argument— he will leave a legacy, not of indebtedness it is true, but of work to be performed by his successors' which will cause expenditure and consequent indebtedness for a time, whichjwork, if the Nelson Executive had not been neglectful of its duties, should have been done long ago. The revenues are now taken to pay departmental expenses and and as long as this is done what matters it about the rest. This is why the SouthWest Gold Fields are so free- from debt, and this is also the reason that they are in their present impoverished condition. [In the meantime, while his" Honor is assisting to guide the counsels of the" nation, this part of it is going to the bad, because of his non-performance of the duties for which he is paid so liberally, The Nelson Greek and Hoclwtetter waterr race, the 'opening of the r?oad to the Arnold, the sahvof the land in the Gold Fields towns, the consideration of numerous important measures having reference to the Gold Fields, : &c.,'&c.,: a1l remain in, abeyance until it shall please his highness or his " lowness" to turn the light of his countenance in this direction.