GREY VALLEY DIGGINGS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1346, 21 November 1872, Page 3

GREY VALLEY DIGGINGS.

■» [from our own correspondent.] MrNINO. Complaints of tho scarcity of water come from all directions. These complaiuts are becoming chronic, and it is gratifying to see that the miners are thoroughly aware of the fact that the time has almost come when the very existence of their occupation as an independent means of livelihood will have to depend upon a reliable water supply. Every drop of water which can be utilised with the limited means at the command of individual miners will soon be taken possession of. At the last sitting of the Warden's Court at Ahaura, certificates of registration for water privileges from all parts of the district were applied for. The total estimated cost of construction 4 of the works in connection with these applications — exclusive of the cost of building dams — amounted to Ll4lO, and the applications of a similar description, made at the last Court at No Town, were even more numerous. The average estimated cost of the races applied for is about LI 20, bo that it will be seen the applications are general and chiefly made by parties of small means. A prospecting party has just returned from a tour through the ranges on the north side of the Grey River, between Moonlight Creek and the Little Grey Junction. They report the country as presenting good indications of the probability of finding payable gold, bnt it is difficult to prospect it, owing to the great depth of the wash aud the great quantity of water. They intend starting again shortly, when they will be more completely equipped, and otherwise prepared to give certain likely spots a thorough overhauling. A party of six men were out in the ranges in this locality about four years ago. They traced one large creek to its upper sources, and passed over the saddle, and they found very good prospects in a large creek . running to the north-west, which, as they supposed, was one of the tributaries of the river which runs into the sea at Woodpecker Bay, near Brighton, or Fox's. They could not make any progress worth speaVing about for want of a track along which to take supplies. The members of the party left shortly afterwards for the quartz-mines in the North Island, else they intended trying the place aspin. There is quite a rush to the old ground at Brandy Jack's and Half-Ounce. The comprehensive and systematic manner in which it is intended to work the ground taken up by these companies augurs well for the success of the undertakings. The survey of the LakeHochstetter water-race, Nelson Creek, is progressing favorably. It is said that a detailed survey of nearly five miles of the race is now completed, and that the working plans will be ready immediately. This and other circumV^ stances which have lately transpired relative to the value of some- of the ground in the district has imparted quite a new' life to Nelson Creek. The Warden visited Try-again Terrace last Monday. His visit had reference to the dispute now going on between the several owners of dams and water-rates with reference to the sludge nuisance. The Warden made a suggestion that the best remedy of getting rid of the difficulty and the sludge at the same time would be the making of a permanent main sludge channel. It is likely this suggestion will be carried out.