MINING NEWS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1509, 5 June 1873, Page 2

MINING NEWS.

GREY VALLEY GOLD FIELDS,

|>ROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

THE FLOOD,

The winter seems to have fairly set in, judging from the broken sort of weather we have had recently up country. On Wednesday and Thursday last the rivers were all overflowing, and again this week we have had a flood of more than ordinary dimensions. On Monday it rained all day, and continned at intervals till Tuesday morning. The rivers rose rapidly to a great height, and at one time it was feared we were in for a repetition of the great flood of last year. Fortunately, this supposition did not prove correct, for the highest flood mark did not come within three feet of the great flood level. At half-past one the river began to fall again, and one peculiarity of the flood is that it went down in a far quicker time than the water usually takes to subside. There is not any serious damage reported, except that portions of the old road along the river bank is destroyed, and this is espepecially the case above Nelson Creek and below Camptown, although that part of the road is not much used now. There is not much danger of a flood, except it be of extraordinary magnitude, doing any great injury now, for, profiting by experience, the settlers living within reach of the river take precaution in time, when the now well-known weather indication give warning of unusually heavy rains. By five o'clock in the afternoon, the rivers and water-courses were at the ordinary level in wet weather, and traffic was re-opened in all directions. SALE OF TOWN LAND AT AHAURA. The satisfactory intelligence has been received on undoubted authority that the Waste Lands Board have at length fixed the price of the town sections at Ahaura. The land will not be sold by auction, as in order to give those who have for a length of time occupied sections, and made an outlay in improving them, an opportunity of securing freeholds without being' subjected to a ruinous competition with strangers at an auction sale, the usual plan of disposing of Crown Lands has been dispensed with. The price fixed is at the rate of L4O per acre, or about L 3 per section, a very fair and reasonable figure. Only those who have been in occupation for six months previous to the date of application to purchase, or who have made improvements to the value of LSO for each section, will be entitled to obtain freeholds at the above rate. This it must be admitted is dealing in an equitable manner with those who have determined to settle in the town, and who have by the extensive and permanent improvements made on their holdings, shown that they have confidence in the future progress of the town and district. It is expected that the work of building will now commence in real earnest, for, in consequence of the state of suspense people were kept in by reason of the delay of the Waste Lands Board in coming to a decision about the sale of the town lots, contemplated

additions and improvements were postponed from time to time. As it was, the growth of the town was impeded, but after this the Aliaura will shortly expand to double its present dimensions. THE ROADS. The contractors for the first five miles of the new Amuri stock road, commenced operations on Monday. The price Messrs Tindall and Co., the successful tenderers, are to receive is said to be at the rate of L 2 10s per chain. The road is to be cleared of timber for a width of 20ft, aud the growing timber is to be felled for a chain wide. There is to be a gravelled track, 6ft wide formed besides, so that the contractors' price is not a very extravagant one. Great complaints are made about the manner in which portions of the new main road already opened are made. Allowing that they were put to a severe test in being thrown open for heavy traffic during wet weather, it is said that they have been passed in an entirely unfinished condition. Teamsters complain that they have been compelled to unload their waggons to extricate them, owing to the wheels sinking through the slight topdressing of gravel, into the muddy formation below. Contractors, as a rule, don't go beyond the terms of their specifications, and it seems they have religiously observed the conditions of their contracts on the present occasion. Whoever is to blame for the incomplete state of the new road, it seems the work of metalling the track will have to be done. over again before it can be considered fit for traffic. The necessity of a bridle bridge over Nelson Creek at the crossing of the main road was made apparent during the late weather. A foot bridge for pedestrians will be necessary, to avoid the expense of a ferry or the danger of a ford, at all events, and a little extra outlay would render the bridge fit for horse traffic. A small toll would be cheerfully paid for the advantage of being able to cross this place at all times. An influential meeting was held at Half-Ounce lately, to consider the best means of getting a dray road made to Granville and the Upper Township. The leading men of the district were unanimous in pointing out the necessity of opening up communication between HalfOunce and the other main roads. Resolutions were passed, and a memorial to the Superintendent of Nelson was adopted asking for the construction of the road. The necessity of the work cannot be doubted, and if the work was required anywhere near Nelson, it would be accomplished long ago. It will be learned with satisfaction that Mr Guinness has succeeded in the Council in getting a sum of money voted to make a dray road from Hatter's Terrace, Nelson Creek, to the main Grey Valley road. Dr Carr is on a visit to the country districts, and it is announced he will give one of his amusing entertainments at Ahaura on Thursday, and at Half Ounce on Saturday. He has already appeared at No Town and Maori Gully, to crowded audiences at both places. The lectures of the doctor are very instructive, but the electro-biological manifestations are more highly appreciated by the miners. A Quadrille Assembly has been formed, so that the services of the town band will now.be called into requisition. The literary and musical entertainments, popular and successful last year, are discontinued this season, but the reason why has not transpired. THE TWO WATER-RACES The resolution introduced by Mr Pinkerton in the Council, and carried, affirming the desirability of making the Randle Creek Water-race, is important. If this race was made, all the fine country now lying idle and vmprofi table at Napoleon, Mosquito, Orwell, and Topsy Creeks, Half-Ounce, Duffer, and Noble's Creeks, with their tributaries, could be worked to advantage, finding remunerative employment for thousands of miners, to speak without the slightest exaggeration. Before the selection of a source from which a race at an elevation to command all the above localities was finally decided upon, it would be as well to inquire if a better one than Randal Creek could not be found. According to Mr Dobson's and Mr Surveyor Woolley's reports, fifty heads of water is the greatest quantity that can be relied upon from Randall Creek, if , taken at a sufficient height to command Napoleon Hill. It would be better to ascertain the cost of bringing a portion of the Grey river or one of its larger tributaries on to Napoleon before fixing upon Randle Creek as the starting point of the race. The water could be raised above Mackley's station, but it is said a long and expensive reach of fluming would be necessary if brought thatway. A long andcostly piece of fluming will also be required on the Randle Creek route. The extra expense in procuring the largest and most permanent water supply would perhaps be the cheapest mode of doing the work in the end. This enterprise will yet be taken in hand and completed, for the greater part of the Grey and Ahaura rivers will eventually be found running along the snmmit of the ranges, with a tail-race from the junction of the Arnold and the Grey rivers to the sea, for the purpose of getting rid of the mountains of auriferous gravel now awaiting the operation of the hydraulic hose. It is privately rumored that tenders will be called during this month for the construction of the Lake Hochstetter Water-race. The sooner the work is completed, the sooner a flourishing popul ttion will again be attracted to the Grey Valley! EDUCATION AND RELIGION. The. school at the Ahaura is said to be very much in want of assistance from the public. It is hoped the assistance will be given liberally, for the establishment is of great use and benefit to the district and a credit to its originators. The Rev. T. Flavell will again visit the Grey Valley and hold services during the week. Divine services will be held at No Town and Ahaura on Sunday. Mr Flavell has announced that he will deliver his promised lecture on Tuesday next at Ahaura. The subject will be "Pitt and Plunkett, as Orators," and judging from the able manner in which Mr FJavell treated the subject of oratory at his last lecture here, it could scarcely be in better hands. : ■