GREY VALLEY GOLD-FIELDS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1737, 27 February 1874, Page 2

GREY VALLEY GOLD-FIELDS.

[fkom our own correspondent.] MINING. During the late drought and enforced ' idleness, many a longing eye has turned wistfully in the direction of the new E Dorado at Palmer and Endeavor rivers, and it will take very little further encouragement to clear this part of the country out, for there is nothing here to indue* the body of the miners to remain, for thi great opportunity has been allowed ti slip away. It is feared the Hochstette> Race and Special Settlement schemes wil' come too late to be of any service, excepto the Chinese. At the few remaining spots where any gold is getting, some an doing very well, notably at Browne 1 - Terrace. The following extract from th 1 letter of a correspondent at BrowneV will give an idea of the progress of tin ; lead : — ' 'Mining matters look very flourish ing at present. The claims that are on gold for some time are paying first-class dividends, for instance, in the claim knowr. as "The Splitters" the party in driving a new tunnel to work the deep part of tht gutter, prospects of sdwt of gold to the dish were washed. At the lower end of the lead, Malcolm Graham and party have their tunnel into payable ground, and this has caused the claimholders furthei down the fhit to set in work in real earnest. Nichol and party, next to Graham's, are on payable gold, and have had a washingup. Montgomery's party have also commenced to wash out the metal. A lease of five acres is to be applied for at the lower end of Browne's Terrace, but there is likely to be some opposition to the granting of such a large area in close proximity to a new lead. A contingent of the Noble's Creek water squatters rushed the upper part of the terrace recenily, but the result, as far as getting gold was concerned, is nil. The very dry weather now prevailing accounts for the ramblings about of the watermen, and it is to be hoped that a good rainfall shortly will settle those peripatetic rovers once more to their legitimate work." The Co-operation Company at Orwell Creek are through the reef and into the gravel with their main drive. The quantity of water increased so rapidly when the drift was tapped that the extra strain on the pumps caused them to give way. New and more powerful pumping machinery is to be erected, and in fact everything seems t.i> be dono by these plucky explorers with a will and determination which disregards trouble or expense. The application or the company foi 20 acres of ground came on last sitting of the Warden's Oonrt. and the Warden, after favorably commenting on the enterprise oi i he company, promised to strongly recommend the grant, with a remission of the survey fees. Applications have recently been made for wafer-rights and other privileges at Slutey Creek, an entirely new raining locality, situated at the north of the Little i Grey Junction. Similar applications have j been made from the Big River, a locality of which at one time there was a great de*l expected, but of which nothing has been heard for years. ' . POLITICAL. 1 The expected res^nation of Mr Guin--1 ness of his seat in the Provincial Council is likely to bring forth a goodly array of ne^v candidates. Mr J. D. Piukerton, one of the old members, and Mr J. W. Jones, the Chairniau of the Road Board, have already declared their intentions, and a strong requisition has, it is understood, been presented to Mr George M'Beath, of No Town, asking him to stand. It is said that Dr Robb, of No Town, and MrD. J. M'Kenna, of Ahaura, will also come forward, and it is given on the very best authority that there is a "dark " and very dangerous future candidate in the back around waiting till there is actually a vacancy before he goes for election. There is already a good selection to choose from, and lively times may be expected. Now that the constituency is about losing him, a feeling of regre'e at the departure of Mr Guinness from the district is extensively felt. Mr Guinness has done good service to the Grey Valley in his capacity as a representative man and as a private citizen. T h« fact that the value and importance of the Grey dietriot is beginning to be recognised.

hy the authorities at N-lson is due in a great measure to Mr Guinness and his necessary exertion to forward the interests of tbe district as a resident within it, havo been the means of making the resources of the place known beyond the boundaries of the Province. A void will be caused in our small community when Mr Guinness goes which will not be easily filled, but he will bear with him to the scene of his new duties the respect, goodwill, and best wisheß for hia future success of a large circle of friends. A valedictory address, with an appropriate souvenier from the constituency will be presented to Mr Guinness before he leaves finally.