LARRY'S CREEK.

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 966, 30 April 1872, Page 2

LARRY'S CREEK.

(EKOM OUB OWS COEBESPONDENT.) The following are the principal items of mining news most worthy of record : —The No. 1 North company are putting in a tunnel, and expect to strike the reef at no great distance from the surface. No. 2, consisting of nine shareholders, have applied for a lease, and pending the granting thereof, are doing no work. Nos. 3, 4, and 5 have applied for a lease, and intend putting on four or five men to prospect the ground. Nos. 6 and 7 North, and Nos. 8 and 9 have also applied for leases. Each of these companies number twenty men, and they evidently mean work as soon as preliminaries are settled. The last mentioned claim is the furthest yet taken up on the north side of Larry's, the ground beyond sloping down towardo a flat running into thts St Helena Creek. Several parties are prospecting betweou here and the landing creek in expectation of findiug the reef, and if the appearance of the country is to be taken as an indication of its auriferousness, there is not the slightest doubt but it will prove rich in mineral wealth. On the south side of the creek the prospectors have registered their claim under the Limited Liability Act, and have made arrangements for erecting machinery on the ground, the stampers to be driven by a water wheel of large dimensions, which, will have sufficient power to drive 20 heads of stampers if necessary. The next claim, held by Jennings and party, comprising some surplus ground obtained from the prospectors, has been amalgamated with No. 1 South, who have sunk a shaft, but owing to the fast accumulating surface water are obliged to put in a tunnel for drainage. This extra work will take them a fortnight, by which time they are confidentof gettingon the reef. No. 2 South, comprising a party of thirteen men, has been engaged in law suits since the pegging out of their claim. They have now got protection to work their ground with seven men for three months. This is considered about the best claim on the line; it being situated on a high hill which has a perpendicular face so that a tunnel can be driven from any level. No. 4 South, applied for under lease, is held by fourteen shareholders but they have encroached on No. 2, 3, and 5, which is likely to involve them in considerable difficulty. No. 5 South held by six men; this ground slopes down to Potter's Creek, a tributary to Larry's. No. 6 held by 20 men ; this ground is taken up on the west side of the creek, and rises up the side of a high range. No. 7 held by 20 men, lease applied for. Nos. 8 and 9, broadsiders on each other, applied for under leases. Considerable disputes have arisen owing to two different base lines being drawn, one by Mr Barnes and the other by Mr Wooley. When surveyors disagree who is to decide ? the "Warden and legal gentry of course. It is a great pity that the miners cannot, or will not, try and settle their disputes without the assistance of either, as tho hard earned money spent in vexatious law suits would go a long way in defraying the working expenses of the claims and developing tho rich reefs lying dormant for the want of capital to work thom.