INANGAHUA AND GREY DIGGINGS.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 813, 16 May 1871, Page 2

INANGAHUA AND GREY DIGGINGS.

Mining intelligence from the Grey River up-country districts remains of about the same nature as it did at the date of my last communication, the events to be reported being few and far between. The weather throughout has been such as to leave no room for complaint on the part of the mining community. It has been raining pretty heavily during the past week, and there is an abundant supply of water for sluicing everywhere. The flooded state of the rivers and creeks had the effect of temporarily suspending the traffic with some of the outlying districts, but no other damage has been done as I have been informed. There is no special news of importance to communicate from the Ahaura township. The times are rather dull and money not over plentiful, but on the whole, I think we may consider ourselves as well off as our neighbours. The A.haura is certain to become the chief township of the Grey Valley, it may be considered as such at the present time in fact, and we must only wait patiently a little while longer, and do the best we can in the meantime. The place is improving in appearance, however slowly. The new building for the Grey Valley Hospital is now complete, and reflects great credit on the part of the contractors for the efficient manner in which they have finished it. The Ahaura Amateur Dramatic Club held a meeting on Monday evening last, at Mr Pinkerton's Hotel, and it was decided by the members present to give a performance at an early date, the proceeds of the same to be handed over to the Committee of the Hospital. The Ahaura amateurs ' have already earned for themselves a high reputation iu the district, and the programme of the entertainment will be one of the most attractive iu its kind. The whole is to be concluded with a ball under the direction ©f the Hospital Committee. Considering the laudable object for which this entertainment is to be given, there is no doubt about it being a complete success. There is not nearly so much interest taben in the annexation movement up here as you might suppose. With the exception of a few individuals interested in Bome way or other, I believe the majority of the people are quite indifferent as to whether the Grey district becomes a

part of ihe Province of Nelson or re-1 mains as it is. The accounts from Murray Creek and Inangahua continue to be of an encouraging nature, although the quartz reefs are not of much importunceat present, owing to the want of machinery on the ground. There is a large population located in that neighbourhood, and to judge from present indications, it is likely to become a permanent and prosperous settlement at no distant period ; but it will take a few months yet before they will .be able to get machinery and to give the reefs a thorough trial. I may mention that several shares in quartz claims have lately changed hands at fair prices. Ac Half-ouDce matters continue to be progressing slowly but steadily. The population seems to be still increasing, a few miners as well as business people making their appearance from time to time; in Jfact, everything in the place is too much overdone already. There seems to be a fair amount of trade doing, but money is scarce, the greater part of the goods sold being on credit. The police station is now at Half-ounce instead of at Napoleon Hill, as formerly, and all business in connection with the Resident Magistrate's Court and Warden's Court respectively, will be transacted at Half-ounce in future. Mr Clarke, of Cobden, is to be the officer in charge of the Station at Half-ounce, and Jeffries, formerly in charge at Napoleon Hill, is to be transferred to the new station at No Town. Napoleon Hill and the workings in its vicinity are looking very quiet, and with the exception of the Mosquito Lead, which shows signs of going ahead, there is not much improvement to notice in that neighbourhood.