[GREY VALLEY GOLD-FIELDS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1667, 8 December 1873, Page 4

[GREY VALLEY GOLD-FIELDS.

[fkom ottr own correspondent.] NOBLE'S CREEK. THE NEW LEAD AT BROWNE'S TEEEACE. ] Had the lead which is now being worked at Browne's Terrace in this district been opened a few years ago the excitement about it would be as great as it was about the discovery of the Napoleon Lead. Payable gold has now been found in seven claims, and the eighth is proved to contain the lead also. The manner of the first finding and subsequent tracing of the gold show clearly that there is a great probability of the lead continuing, and'from the conformation of the country in which it is situated there is plenty of room for it to spread. It is gratifying to know that most of the old and permanent residents of the Noble's district either have shares in good claims, or hold interests in claims in which the gold is certain to be found. Portions of the ground are said to bo exceedingly rich, but the actual value of claims situated as these are cannot be ascertained except by those who work in them. The following items about the new lead are from a resident shareholder, and may be relied upon as correct : — " The rush at Browne's Terrace though not assuming large proportions is going ahead slowly but surely. It is proved bey«nd doubt that the lead exists in eight claims, for payable washdirt has been found in that number, and from four of them washings have taken place with handsome results to the shareholders. Browne's Gully, near which this terrace is situated, is one of the numerous feeds of Mosquito Creek, in all of which more or i less gold has been found at different times for the last eight years, but nothing approaching in value the ground which is the scane of the present rush, had previously been discovered. The lead was opened by Eastaway and party about four months ago. 3?rom the general appearance of the gullies in the locality where the lead has been found, gold having been traced in most of them only for a short distance clown, it would appear as if the supply of the precious metal came from a lead at a much higher level, which must be on the continuation of the range running from the foot of Noble's Creek to Napoleon Hill. It is the opinion of the " oldest'inhabitant" of the district that such a lead does not exist, but that it will take a deal of very careful prospecting to find it. If tho much talked of water-race from Randall Creek and Napoleon should ever be brought in, it is very likely the mystery of the ancient lead would be solved, for the water ditch would have to be cut right through the middle of the country in which the lead alluded to is suppoeed to be situated, and which will turn out to be a source of supply of the gold in the different' cresks and gullies in the neighborhood. The situation of Eaataway and party's discovery bears out the supposition that the gold has come from one of the spurs of the Napoleon range, for their claim is well up the hill and no gold has yet been traced above them. The prospectors have been cutting a water-race for some time, intending to ground-sluice their claim. The gold is scattered throughout a great depth of washdirt, and it is said it will pay L 8 per man per week. Kenney and party, who are next the prospectors, have had several washings, and they are well satisfied with the results. It is stated that prospects of 2dwt to the dish can be . washed from parts of the claim. The adjoining claim is held by Jesswp and' party, more familiarly known as the ' Splitter's ' combination. They are getting very good washdirt, and some of the company say they have good reason to be satisfied with their claim. From a personal inspection I have made of their ground in this claim there is no doubt the party have a long spell of profitable employment before them. In parts of the tunnel the gold can be seen freely through a good depth of wash. Lash and party have proved the lead in their claim to be payable for a width of 25ft. They expect to make very good wages when they commence to block out. Archer and party pricked the washdirt after driving a tunnel 80ft in length. They have nearly finished building a tramway and paddock, and in the course of a week will be sluicing vrashditt. If the dirt yields according to the prospects, Archer and Co. will- bave a first-class claim. Montgomery aud party broke into the wash, and are laying down a tramway, so that they may work to greater advantage by replacing the primitive barrow with an easy running truck. Malcolm Graham and party are preparing to set in in real earnest. They have been sinking prospecting shafts on their claim, partly to find the lie of the gutter, but chiefly to ascertain the proper level on which to start a tunnel. This finding of the level? has caused trouble here as at other places, in consequence of the great dip in the bottom of the land, but the precaution taken to sink experimental shafts in the first instance will save a lot of profitless labor hereafter. Andrew Nicol and party, who are next to Graham, have payable gold in a shaft bottomed at 39ft. They will be able to drive on to thelevelin about 150 ft in a tunnel which is started. Cass and party and Williams and party are about commencing tunnels in their respective claims. For some distance down the creek the claims on the fancy line are closely shepherded, but from present indications as to th«> dip of the lead and other signs, as the lead is traced towards the main creek, it will be much more difficult to prospect and work than the ground already opened. On the opposite of the prospectors' claim little or nothing has yet been found. Lash and party took up an extended claim in that direction, but if they have not abandoned the -venture nothing of any consequence has yet resulted from it."