GREY VALLEY GOLD-FIELDS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XVI, Issue 2079, 8 April 1875, Page 2

GREY VALLEY GOLD-FIELDS.

[>ROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] ORWELL GREEK. The progress of events at this place now interests so many in and outside the immediate district, that every item of news is acceptable. The recently appointed mining manager, Mr William Edwards, has taken charge of the property, and the work is going on bravely under the new regime. Mr Edwards comes with good recommendations and a reputation as an efficient and successful director of mining operations on an extensive scale at Koss, the Kanieri, and other places previously, so that the shareholders may rely that the management is safe in his hands. It is, however, due to the late manager, Mr Frolli, who holds a large interest in the company, to Btate that his retirement from the control of the mine was altogether voluntary, and not because any fault had been, found with his' management. The success of the undertaking so far, must be, in a great measure, credited to the close attention to hi* duties, and the active, and not by any means perfunctory interest, Mr Frolli, has taken in the progress of the claim. His resignation was tendered, it is authoratively stated, in consequence* of a disagreement between the directors and himself as to the amount of remuneration he should receive for his services, not, as has been reported, because hia mode of condusting the work was objected to. The new pumping machinery will, it is expected, be ready within a month, and in the meantime the widening of the main drive is being proceeded with, so as to alter it to its permanent size. The washdirt will shortly be reached, if this is not the case already, and it is understood that it is the. intention of the manager to take in cross drives as soon as possible to find out exactly the dimensions of the lead. The washdirt thus obtained will be a considerable quantity, and the gold from it, when washed, will give a fair idea of the value of the discovery. The late serious and, as it has now turned out, fatal accident threw a gloom over the place, being the first of the kind which has occurred. . The deceased was much respected among his fellow-work-men, and his untimely end is regretted in proportion. If any movement should be started to afford the unfortunate widow of the poor man some substantial assistance and sympathy in. her bereave* ment, it will be liberally supported in th©

district. Theaccidentcanonlybeaccounted for/ by the fact of the deceased not having taken the precaution to securely attach the bucket to the hook of the rope before he attempted to ascend the shaft, and it is some consolation to know that no blame can. be attributed to any one connected with the mine. Two new leaseholds of ten acres, each are taken up, which makes the number now either occupied or applied for twelve. Tt is complained in certain quarters that " there is' not enough said in the newspapers about Orwell Creek.'' This n»eans that there is not a sufficient amount of extravagant puffing done to suit the interests of some people. As far as this paper is concerned every prospect washed from the claim has been duly noted, and every visit of the directors, or other "person^ of distinction," to tie works, has been religiously chronicled; Historical accounts columns in length have ; been given to demonstrate that if theory can ever be reduced to practice in gold-mining, then, arguing from what has previously been proved to exisit elsewhere, the only inference to be drawn was that a deep and rich gutter should be found ;in f the Orwell Valley, and yet. all this ,is iaot satisfactory; '•' The i fact is if the prdspicts obtained be genuine, and the circumstances of the mine be as they are given on credible authority, of which. there should not be the slightest ,- apparent reason to doubt, the discovery is too intrinsically valuable to require extra assistance even if it ' could ; be: .'obtained. Therefore it. does riot ? : need - fictitious praise, and it will, not get it, infthia quarter: at least, to promote the specula^ tive interests of anyone. .:••■ : -T ' : -^ • The road to Orwell Greek ia becoming impassable and. dangerous.- It is 'a portion of the track made some years ago ; tq^, Napoleon Hill, and has been kept.'m^ repair by private expenditure for a length of time. If there were head or front, or: shape of authority existing in.. die Province, which had the interests bf''tlie whole -Province at heart, an opportunity like the present would be taken toluse every endeavor to foster and develop a i new discovery of so much general importance, but the fact is that if the Provinclai c Treasurer were asked for ton pounds fe> mend this track he would not grant' it, such is his desire to retard the progress of the Grey Valley; : vx ' " ;. .■■-, : ... •.-., MMXSQN. CREEK.:, ,'£ AliT'f* The chief topic at present in connectionL with mining in this district, is the trouble between the contractors for making' &&' Hochstetter Water-race -and the workmen lately engaged at the fluming. Apart from the great importance of the Hochstetter race td the future of the > Gtey Valley,., there are numerous private interests at ' stake, and consequently anything. whidi, may tend even indirectly to .delay, 1 , the completion of the work, attracts "general notice. This is the reason that a private .; and personal disagreement among the tractors, a disagreement which^miy'b'ccar even in the best regulated; firms, has in this case become a matter for public discussion and comment. It .seems that according to arrangement, Mr A. Nicp^- e^ son, one of the partners of Bpche and' Co., | was to superintend the erection of thia principal portion of itHe fluming along, jthe line of the raise, and : he was to be allowed . ... to select suitable -workmen, { but' 'by c a l clause in the articles of association of the r co-partnership, a majority of; the firm can^ refuse to sanction the action of any individual member should it be expedient to . do so. The putting this, authority, into operation, is the' immediate cause of the present disturbance ■ between the contractors and the workmen;^ ;jn the beginning of the month of March, the men einj-jp ployed under Mr Nicolson ai; the flumiugj were severally served; with^titie. following" notice by the other partners ;^f iWe; the undersigned, ' hereby give : youiinoticeiit; 1 that we do not recognise you" as being employed by us, ; known as T the: .ifirnt ofi ' Roche and Co.,' contractors of the Nelson Creek water-race, on' arid after the 2iTth day of February, as the following, clause in our deed of co-partnership, entered into between Michael ftoche, Benjamin • Sutherland, arid Amoaj Nicolspn, sheweth --, z — ' It is hereby declared and agreed, that %, although particular departments .in ppn-,, nection with the said co-partnerahip busi- , : ) ness are hereby, allotted to. each of -the ' o .» said partners, yet in case any two of them shall be desirous to have the work or affairs of any particular department.done - or effected differently in any respect, from the way or manner in .which .. the partner who ought . to .manage^ the department may propose "to do, ,?1 or execute the same, then and in every A sr eh case, the wish and desire of such^two partners shall be carried info effect." ' In accordance with the above clause we have appointed Mr John, -Teasdale:;our sole Vff manager and superintendent of flnming and bridging. Therefore we do not hold A ourselves responsible for any claim i:opr claims of any workmen on the said fluming or bridging unless engaged by and under the superintendence of the said Mr John Teasdale. Signed : B. SutheF land, M. Roch^." It is complained by Jb. the workmen who were thus,' nqtifiedarid J< - " discharged that they have been compelled to go to law to seek redress, and' that it does not matter/to^em'^l^t'.ihe^coi^di,-',...!.! tions of the articles of association are, so long as they are promptly p'Md.'for;theit ■• work when they do it. There may be,, kii good and sufficient reasons for all this, bat the fact cannot be denied that t there is a good deal of dissatisfaction expressed^ ! among a majority of miners-Tover'tbir" affair. . ■-. •->^U :' s i