ROXBURGH.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 408, 14 November 1874, Page 3

ROXBURGH.

{From a Correspondent.) Spring with its beauties has arrived, the gardens and farms give promise of a bountiful harvest. Ca'-gill and Anderson are mustering their sheep, and preparing them for shearing by washing them in the Teviot liver. The recent stormy winds have dried up the roads, and the traffic has increased. ' ■The permission granted by the Government to Lancaster and Co. to construct a road on the east side of the river from the Beaumont to the Island Block has given general satisfaction to the people here ; the Government road during the winter months is almost impassnble. Road rivalry, like other business rivalries, is good for the public. Let us hope that Lancaster and Co. will be well repaid for their labour ; a few miles extension of this road will reach Miller's Flat, and prove a : great boon to the settlers there. The east hank of the Clutha from the BeaUulOllfi tO Miller's Plafc is completely isolated, and every thing has to be brought across the river. There is a large quantity of land on Grant's station, which this road will make available for settlement. You are very fortunate at Tuapeka in getting so much land opened for settlement. It is a pity it was not done sooner, " but better late than never." We often wonder if we shall ever get the land opened about Roxburgh. Mr. il'Kelliir promised some time ago to do his best, and try to get tbc Miller's Flat block opened for settlement. There was a great stir about it at the time of his visit of inspection, and he should make the result of his visit publicly j known, 60 that Warden Simpson's report j could be yerefied or otherwise. The river is high at prssent, but the past season has been favourable for river work. There are some heavy deposits of gold in the river between Coal Cfe'ek^aunr^Aicxnintlva, but there are only a few miners at work in the gorges. I Jiare heard that Messrs Heron | and Uott made £50 per man per week for several week's, on the Fourteen Mile Beach while the' river was low during the past season. • Tliere^s plenty of the same kind of ground left-in bheir claim ; the gold obtained was coarse and nuggetty. The mining at Coal Creek Flat is confined to river bank sluicing. There is evidently an old river bed running through the whole of this Flat, and it must contain an immense amount of gold. When this run was near the river it paid well, but unfortunately as it comes down the flat it gets farther from the river. If timber was plentiful, no doubt it would pay well for driving out, and afford employment to hundreds of men for many years. Mr. Albert Birch has sold his share in Michell and party's claim to Michell and party, and bought half of Bidgood's claim at the Teviot. -The large quantity of snow which has fallen this winter has caused a delay to those parties who work in Campbell's, Potters, and other gullies, but the snow is fast disappearing and nearly all the parties are at work. A guarantee fund of £380 per annum has been subscribed by the inhabitants of Mt. Benger district, in order to secure the sevices of a medical practictioner.