MARSDEN

Grey River Argus, Volume XIII, Issue 1609, 1 October 1873, Page 2

MARSDEN

[PKOM OTJR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] September 24. It is often remarked amongst miners hat nothing is being done in the way of >roviding a large permanent supply of srater for the purpose of working the high erraces in the upper part of the New liver district. This is a most egregious )lunder, and one that will be felt in course >f time. So long as the population are ible to maintain themselves by working ;he lower ground the want is not felt, but ;he time will come when the present jrater supply will be found too low, for ilthough there is scattered gold all over the district, yet it is only where it ia near to a creek or the ground admits of a good Fall that it pays anything like wages. The want of fall, and consequently the extra labor that is necessary for ground-sluicing destroys all prospect of working to advantage ; therefore, as the favorite spots are worked first, the labor that follows them increases, whilst the return decreases in a corresponding ratio, the ground generally being so very similar. Whilst this state of affairs may last for years, every year will only prove so much poorer than the one preceding it. It is so now, and will continue until the return will be so small that men cannot make a living, whilst the time will come when the lower ground must be eventually abandoned (not worked out) through the amount of labor that must take place in collecting the gold. Now is the time when provision ought to be made for such a contingency, unless it is intended for gold-mining to gradually die out in a district that is so preeminently adapted for it. It is the duty of the Government to take this matter in hand before it ia too late, for it is possible for that to happeu, as it has been stated many times that the only spot for a large reservoir exists above German Gully, and that some hundred acres of ground would be required for it. Now, if this very ground should happen to be sold, the hope of making a reservoir would be entirely lost. The advantage of having one here is that the water would command the highest terraces ia the district, from Soldier's Terrace, German Gully, downwards. Why this district is omitted from those which are going to have a water supply provided on a large scale by the Government is a mystery, unless it is imagined that the New River and Hibernian races will suffice for the wants of the district. A greater mistake could not possibly be made, for most of the terraces in the up-country are to the rear of these races, and consequently cannot be worked by them, if the Government have any desire to do justice to the district they will institute proper inquiries respecting _;>« .--ctfcei?_,ai 1 ,p rv i,T- J >~j__ -».- ifviwuo <30jjo?itts, and they will then seethe urgency of a reservoir being formed to hold water to work the highest terraces. In the meantime a survey of • the country might be made for a proper site, and the land reserved from sale for it would be ruinous to the district if it should become private property. The expense of making a reservoir capable of supplying the whole country would be trifling compared with the thousands spent on races in other places, and it is only fair and just that the wants of the New River district should be attended to.