THE SHAMROCK LEAD.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 533, 22 July 1869, Page 2

THE SHAMROCK LEAD.

(feoji a coreespon-dent o~s the night-shift.) On this lead all the claims have a night-shift, consisting of one man whose duty it is to keep the boxes supplied with wash-dirt, which is got up during the day and left over from the day's washing, for tho boxes are kept going day and night. Of course the same man is not always on the nightshift, for we take it in turns. Now you can easily fancy that to be stuck before a big heap of wash, and slowly shovelling into the boxes from dark till daylight these long nights, gives a man plenty of time to think. In fact he can't do it without a good many things running through his head during the night, i have been on the night shift this week, and am going to give you a part of one night's musings. When I commenced work on this particular night I said to myself " Weil; I wonder how this stuff is going to turn out." The prospects looked better two days ago than they have clone before, but the washing-up will tell. I suppose wo shall wash up next week, but there, we musn't grumble if 'tis as good as the last was. There is many a worse claim I suppose being worked about the country. However, 'twill be the best " rise " I have had on the coast by the time it is worked out, thanks to being in a steady crowd. It will be a couple of " centres " clear at all events. Beside; we have had heavy expenses, and were a long time before we got anything. I wonder where the next rush will be. Another like Addison's would do the Buller good, and men know now how to work tho ground. If they had known as much then as they do now, Addison's would have been a fine little digging, and worked quick. It taught many a digger a lesson, as well as the storekeepers. " That blessed water was a terror." Perhaps the next rush will be up the Buller yet. What can men know of the country by walking up and down that track ? I remember seeing some likely looking places, but then who could get at and prospect them ? It would take a man a day to get half a mile in from the track in some places. It surely would pay the Government to open up the country by cutting some tracks in from the banks of tho river. It makes me laugh to find myself saying what the Nelson Government ought to do, and what would be good for them. Isu't the paper always blowing up the " Sleepy Hollow " folks, and trying to open"their eyes ? But they seem to me like the people I saw Dr Carr handling at the Empire—they either can't open their eyes or else they are gammoning. Here's the rain comiug down heavy. I believe we shall have lots of it now. There must be a deal of snow on the mountains—heavy floods coming, and, nothing done to the Buller banks at Westport. Next time we go down wit'i our amalgam, there may be no Westport left, or only a piece of it. I wonder how the ten-acre party is getting on ? 'Tis a pity their pumps and gear did not come by the Mary, as they expected. They would have been driving now. They must be in the Nightingale, and she'll be iu in a few days. 'Tis a good sized undertaking for twelve men—nine workers, and three furnishers. Let mo see ! There is Tom Howe, Phill the baker, and Bill Keenan, —they have to find the claim. Then, there are the pumps and pipes from Melbourne ; the iron work here, the carpenter work, nails and everything will stand Ihem in over a hundred notes each, gold or no gold, that I know! I hear their pump shaft is eighty two feet deep. That ought to drain the whole ten acres, and their working shaft is down as far as they can go till the pumps are going. 'Tis a pity they should have to kill time just now getting timber, but it can't be helped. However, if they pick up this lead where they are sink-

ing I should like to have one quarter of one of their piles. Besides, 'twill establish the old Shamrock Lead for miles. There will be a rush here and no mistake. It is wonderful what two or three plucky speculators can do for a district. If thoy do as well out of this as I wish them they will do well. The storekeepers here must be doing a very safe little trade, I should think. There is no " tick " now, only from washing to washing. Nobody wants it. I wonder who those swells are that come up so regular every Tuesday ? I suppose they are clerks sent from the Banks to take the money down and save the storekeepers the trouble. But then if they were only clerks they could not" shout "as these do. May-be they are merchants come to see if there are any goods wanted. I heard some one call them " duns," whatever that means. However, they are " gentlemen " for shouting, except one. 'Tis seldom I see a horseman (except George the Butcher) only on Tuesdays. I was glad to see that letter in the paper from Addison's. The old place must be looking up. They needn't be jealous of us, I'm sure, for there isn't a man on this lead but would like to see them sending down ten times as much as they are. They deserve it. It was fine to see them when that last accident took place ; the news hadn't been in town three minutes when I saw fifty men starting across the flat kneedeep in mud, at full speed, on for a two-mile run to where they heard men were in danger. Some left their dinners half-eaten, and some went without hats. Wherever help is wanted either with hands or money the Addison boys are all there—Hospital to wit, and subscription for State prisoners, and everything else. That letter was quite right about the road from here to Addison's. A very little would make it good, and I hear there is money for it somewhere. If something isn't done soon we shall have to take our gold to Charleston. I think " Sam " was foolish to sell out for a hundred notes last week. That must be one of the best claims on the lead ; the party must have sold a deal of gold lately. I suppose it was them and "The "Tunnel Party" the papers meant when they said some heavy parcels had come down from the Shamrock ; but " Sam " was in a hurry, I think, to get over to his family in Victoria. Tho claims will last for twelve and some for eighteen months. That's a good steady job at good wages. I wonder how " Kate " is getting on. I cau't send you any more, because when I come to " Kate " I have to leave off thinking and sing two or three songs that we used to sing together, and it wouldn't do to put them in here.