NEW RIVER.

West Coast Times, Issue 678, 26 November 1867, Page 2

NEW RIVER.

(FBOM THE GEEY EIVEE ABGUS COEBKSPONDENT.) Left-Hand Bbanch, Not. 12. The late continual raini, while greatly benefifcfcing the water-race parties and others settled down here, has materially interfered with the progress of several prospecting parties, causing them to suspend work altogether. Tho place being newly opened, it is not very pleasant work in wet weather scrambling through a thick scrub, besides running a chance of getting lost. The survey lines cut by the Government have defeated the very purpose they intended to servp, as there are no finger posts to direct a person where they lead to, and after a man following one of these lines for miles, he often has to retrace his steps and find his road as best he can. Would it not be better if, instead of these useless and expensive tracks, the Government would make a good road from Greymouth. It would be of infinite service to this place, as also to Liverpool's Italian, Upper JNew River, and several other intermediate gullies. The road already constructed by private enterprise, would with moderate expense, be made a good one, and goes through the centre of a new and extensive mining district, besides being the nearest and most direct route. lam certain if we had the road made good from this to the Grey our population would be double what it is now. The miners are very dissatisfied at not having direct communication, and a better road to the Grey. While there are thousands of pounds spent in making roads to old and worked out gullies, with a scanty population, we are neglected, with a population of at least 150 miners, and a district newly opened with satisfactory results. The miners say there is no use in petitioning the Canterbury Government, and con- ] g^ratulate themselves in being released trom their clutche3. However, we expect better things from our new Government, and *I hope we wou't be disappointed. The puddling machine I mentioned is in course of erection. I believe it is the intention of the owners to work it by means of water, thus saving the expense of horses. If this machine proves a success, I believe more will follow, as there is plenty of ground in the locality as good as the ground I refer to. The water-race parties are in full working order, with favr results. Couch and party have had a washing up this week, and* fully realised their expectations. Cavanagh and party have spent two months in cutting a tail-raco in the vicinity of Stoncy Creek. They arc now, I believe, getting payable gold. There are about twenty men between the Left-hand Branch and New River, most of whom are prospecting. There are several blind gullies there that would pay well with a supply of water., At Liverpool's, there'is little to report. All hand 3 are steady at work ; when the weather settles, I believe wo will have a krge increase lo our population here. There are three parties about six miles above the junction, of Liverpool's and New River. They are getting gold, but 1 am unable to say whether it is payable or not. Tho rush opened by Fahey and party is not extensive ; there are a few

parties making wages. The tunnel claim at Liverpool's has not turned out to the expectation of the owners, although they have done an extraordinary amount of work. Dick and party drove a tunnel about nine hundred feet long, across from Liverpool's to New River. It is the opinion of practical diggers that this lead of gold will be struck lower down the New River ; but it w^l lake a large party to try the ground, as it is deep' and in some places wet. German Gully holds out wonderfully ; there are about twenty miners there, and all getting gold. This was the first gully opened in "the district, and shows no sign of being worked out yet. Fitzpatrick and sarty5 arty are the only ones who have anything ke a supply of water, and they arc doing very well. The ground here is very patchy, but on the whole the diggers are doing better than any in the district. , I hope our new Government authorities, whoever they will be, will see the advisability of making a road from Greymouth, and open up the country, so as to get provisions at reasonable prices, and enable men to prospect the country. It is also to the advantage of the mercantile interest of our Greymo.uth neighbors to connect these diggings with that town.