THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 1874.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1870, 3 August 1874, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 1874.

The rush to the Pounamu district is beginning to assume important dimensions. A good number of miners and others have left the Grey district for the scene of the new discovery, and we have intelligence from the up-river districts that reliable news of the progress of the lead is eagerly sought for. Without wishing to depreciate the importance of the new find, or seeking to undervalue such an event as the opening of a fresh field for enterprise in any part of the Province, we would not recommend any hasty action on the part of the miners on our older gold-fields with respect to it. ■If the area of new and probably ■ remunerative ground likely to be opened be &s extensive as the mining reporters of our Hukitika contemporaries allege, there is not much occasion to rush the place too hurriedly, for it would not require a very great extent of country to employ all the miners now on the Coast, so circumstanced that they could start away for a late discovery at a moment's notice. We sincerely hope the rush will eventually justify the great expectations formed of it by our neighbors down South, for, besides giving a chance of obtaining profitable occupation to the unemployed and underpaid in our own community, the discovery of a gold-field of even limited extent just at present, would be. the means of hastening the return of . hundreds of old New Zealanders who are now. in. Melbourne, Sydney, and other parts of the Australian Colonies, waiting Micawberlike for something to i turn up. The bitter experiences of the i Palmer River, and the failure of the Northern Territory as an alluvial goldfield, have disgusted numbers of our former residents, who were unsuccessful at those far-off places, with the disappointments and consequent miseries of modern gold rushes in Australia. We are credibly informed that the large seaport towns of Australia literally swarm with gold miners out of employment, and ready to go where the first opening presents itself, and it is said that authentic intelligence of a new and valuable discovery, such as the present one at the Greenstone will, we trust prove, would cause quite a stampede hitherward from Australia. This would most certainly be the case with those who were formerly of our population, and thought themselves justified in seeking to better their fortunes ekewhere, and who are now weary waiting in strange lands, if a gold-miner can now-a-days be considered a stranger anywhere, tired of wandering about, and casting longing eyes again in this direction. The tine climate, and, strange as it may seem, the " good water" of this part of the Colony form a constant theme of conversation, we are given to understand, among former West Coast miners, now in sultry Australia, and it will require but a slight inducement to attract these stalwart goldseekers (the best of all classes of immigrants), to our gold-fields again, and if they can find profitable employment when they do come, ao much the better for us all. For these, and for the perhaps more selfish reason, that every square yard of auriferous ground opened, and proved to be payable, bentits every individual in the community, directly or indirectly, we again express a hope that this lateal discovery will turn out well. The following letter has been ' forwarded to us by a gentleman who j visited the rush on Saturday. Our correspondent is not in any way directly connected with mining pursuits, or with the Greenstone district, so that he has no object to serve in not expressing an impartial opinion as to what he saw and heard on the spot. He writes under date August Ist as follows : — "I. this day visited the scene of the Greenstone rush, wherethere are at present about 300 men, and the population is being daily increased by new comers. Although the influx of population is not rapid, there is scarcely a day passes without some addition. " There are sixteen claims now on gold, and several other parties are expecting to strike the wash-dirt in a few days, which will prove more fully the direction and extent of the lead. : ; " There is also a large number of claims

pegged off in which preliminary work is being done. " From conversations I had with several parties now engaged on the ground, 1 found the general conviction to be that while they do not think it will be a pilemaking rush, yet they all appear to be of opinion that there is a large area of ground that will pay wages. On inquiring what they regarded a3 wages / 1 was informed they considered from L 5 to L 6 per week per man to' be fair wages. " Although there is little or no excitement manifested, yet there is a spirit of cheerfulness pervading the whole which is pleasing to witness. Those on gold appear quite satisfied with theirjprospects, while those not on gold are very hopeful. There are special advantages connected with this rush not usually enjoyed on new gold-fields — one of which is, there is at present being cut a horse-track from the Greenstone township through the country now being prospected by the miners, so that supplies can be readily obtained onn ohe ground at a very slight advance the prices now paid on the Greenstone township. This track can be easily converted into a dray-road should it, at any future time, be rhquired. Another, and not less important censideration is, there is a water-race already on the ground, so that miners can at once obtain a supply of that element for wash-ing-up, which otherwise might have cost many months of labor to bring in. "In addition to the above-named advantages, the ground both in the tunnels and in sinking is quite dry, which, on the whole, will make the working of the ground comparatively inexpensive. I would, however, snggest to those persons intending to try their fortunes on this ground, that they will (from the character of the workings) require the means of providing themselves with a month's provisions, as it will take that length of time in labor, before they can fairly expect any returns."

The Wealth of Nations Quartz Mining ( Company, Reefton, laaugakua, cleared upon Friday last, it being the end of the month, the boxes were also cleared out, resulting in 4770z 16dwt of amalgam, which were retorted, together with what was scraped from the plates previous producing 3830z 17dwt of retorted gold. The heavy expenses that have had to be incurred this month through the breaking away of the race and the severe frosts, have prevented the batteries from buing kept constantly at work. The directors, at the meeting held on Saturday, were enabled to declare a dividend of Is 6d per scrip. This dividend completes the paying back of the whole of the called up capital of the Company. L 3250 has been distributed in dividends during the last five months. Mr Watson, manager, report? that the battery is in excellent working order, and that the contractors are keeping up a plentiful supply of stone. The middle tunnel has got considerably softer, and the contractors are enabled now to make good headway. The reef is expected to be struck in this tunnel very shortly. The contract for sinking the shaft to connect the present workings with the middle tunnel has been let. The directors have also decided to call for tenders for the construction of a paddock and other works at the entrance of the middle tunnel, which, when completed, will lessen the length of the tramway by about three chains of the steepest part. The half-yearly general meeting of the members of the Greymouth Jockey Club will be held this evening at eight o'clock in the Albion Hotel, when the Treasurer's and Committee's reports for the past season will be submitted ; the election of a Committee for the ensuing twelve months ; and the consideration of whatever business, under notice, which may be brought forward. On and after Monday, 10th August, Messrs Kilgour and Perotti announce that they will deliver goods per tramway from Greymouth to Paroa, Mars<?en, Maori Creek, Greenstone, and all parts of the Marsden district, at reduced rates. The monthly meeting of the Volunteer JBHre Brigade will be held to-night, at eight o'cleck Biiarp. A very impudent robbery took place last evening in the bar ef Mr Anseliue's new hotel, in Boundasy Btreet, which ought to put hotelkeepsrs on their guard. The cash was generally kept in a dice-box on a shelf, and towards evening some smart customer, observing the practice, removed the box containing the day's takings. A public meeting of the inhabitants of Nelson Creek was to be held on Saturday evening, at Hatters Terrace, to consider matters of importance with respect to goldmining leaseholds and applications for the same. In answer to inquiries, we may state that the body of the unfortunate lad Jones, who was recently drowned in the lagoon, has not yet been recovered. A rigorous search has been made, but up to this without a successful result. At the last meeting of the Paroa Road Board, held on Thursday night, the Chairman gave notice of his intention to move at the next meeoing, that a rate of one shilling in the pound be levied on all rateable property within the district. The Legal Manager of the Orwell Creek Flat Gold-mining Company, in another column calls for tenders for the conveyance of some seven tons of machinery from Greymouth to the claim. For the information of intending tenderers, it may be mentioned that a dray or waggon can be taken as far as Matthew's Hotel, at the junction of the Amuri and Napoleon Hill roads, and the remainder of the distance to the Company's leasehold, about two miles, is along the old bridle track to Napoleon. We understand the principal bulk of the freight will be iron piping, cast at the Greymouth Foundry. The beautiful weather oJ the last week broke on Saturday into a succession of very heavy rain showers, with high squally wiud. It was intensely cold during the afternoon and evening. The surf rolling home on the beach yesterday was the heaviest known for years. Considerable damage was done to the fluming erected on the crest of the ridge of the South Beach, although it was supposed to be and hitherto has been above the reach of the highest tides. It was rumored yesterday that several building were washed away from the south end of Revell street, Hokitika, by the surf. The weather, although boisterous enough during Saturday night, was not sufficiently rough to account for the state of the sea, so that it would appear there must have been troublous times somewhere outside. The forming and metalling of Broadway, tlie main street of Reefton, is expected to be completed in three weeks. The last issue of the " Lyell Argus " saya that another dividend is announced as payable to the shareholders of that splendid property the Maruia Qaartz-mining Company, Limited. It will no doubt be in the remembrance of maoy that the first was declared on 2nd January ot the present year, the second was declared on 6th May, ana the third on 27th July. Since the date of the first dividend there has been no call, while L 7444 5s 4d represents the amount that has been divided between the fourteen shareholders. In other words, the mine has

paid the whole of the working expenses, and during six mouths has divided very nearly LBOOO between the shareholders. So much for the value of the Lyell reefs. The result of the cmshing of 162 tons of stone, which has just been concluded, is 5520z 9dwt of smelted gold— being at the rate of about 3£oz per ton. The third atmiversary of the establishment of the Reefton Lodge of Oddfellows, M.U., took place at Reefton on Friday, 30th ult. The proceedings passed off with great eclat, A Miners' Mutual Benefit Society, afte the snodel of a similar association at Red Jack's Creek, has been formed at the Lyell, under the presidency of Mr J. G. Niven. An interpleader case came before the Resident Magistrate's Court at Reefton, on the 28th ult., to test the liability of town sections, which had been purchased, but for which Crown grants have not yet been issued, to seizure under process of the Resident Magistrate's Court. The law of the case was ably argued by Messrs Pitt and Haselden, and his Worship in giving judgment said that the only manner in which freeholders were affected by the non-with-drawal of the town from the provisions of the Gold-fields Act, was that a business license was necessary to carry on business. The Receiver's receipt constituted a good title, and the bailiff was therefore ordered to withdraw. The fipldenjFleece mine, at Murray Creek, is expected to commence crushing at the Ajax battery shortly. They will probably put through upwards of 1000 tons before cleaning up. Anderson's will commence crushing early during the ensuing week. A man named Thomas Clare, employed at the Inglewood mine, had his left ancle severely cut with an adze on Friday last. The painful nature of the wound caused some aDxiety for the safety of the limb, but the patient is now rapidly recovering. From Larry's the "Inangahua Herald" learns that since Tuesday evening the crushing at the No. 2 South has been steadily proceeded with, »nd considering the limited time the battery has been in operation there is a very fair show of amalgam on the plates. One-twentieth part of the township of Reefton was surveyed off on Friday as an educational reserve. The installation of officers of the Masonic Lodge, Reefton, took place on the 22nd instant, when Mr D. L. Carreras was installed as W.M. for the ensuing twelve months. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the brethern, to the number of about fifty, sat down to a Vanquet at Dawson's Hotel. The escort which left Reefton to Saturday last, conveyed 14620z of gold for transhipment at Greymouth, forwarded by the Bank of New Zealand. The quantity was made up as follows : -Anderson's, 311oz ; Ajax, 140oz ; Wealth of Nation, Ssooz ; sundries, 16loz. Total, 14620z. We (" Herald ") understand that the No. 2 South Larry's directors have agreed to let the Caledonian crush at the company's batteries when unemployed, for the moderate rate of 15s per ton. Mr Jerome, who is at present in Nelson, forwarded, a few days ago, five brace of quail to Mr Joseph Kilgour, of this town. Mr Kilgour has given the birds their liberty in the vicinity of the Greymouth Racecourse. After renewing crushing at Anderson's reef, Murray Creek, the batteries will probably run a fortnight, and a week will then be required to open up from the levels, after which constant crushing can be maintained for many months. The ." Register " says that the Juries Act Amendment Bill of which the second reading was carried on Thursday night on the motion of Mr Macandrew, is for the purpose of exempting firemen from service on juriese as petitioned. There seems to be a strong feeling in the House against granting the small concession asked, and the Petition, Committee reported unfavorably to the request. It would appear, however, that Mr Macandrew, notwithstanding this report, persisted in his endeavors, and has succeeded in getting the Bill through its second reading. The " Herald " complains that the road between Squaretown and Reefton is fast falling into disrepair. Not a shilling has been paid by the Government to the Board for road maintenance, and the difficulty in the past in obtaining money justifies the Board in entering into no contract unless the funds are in hand. For every pound spent now in repairs ten will be required two months hence, and meantime traffic will suffer. It has been suggested that the Board should erect a toll on the road, but it is felt if that were done that the Government would consider themselves relieved from all further responsibility, and while the cost of carriage would thus be increased, the receipts of the toll would be insufficient to keep the road in repair. If the Government desire to render the Board useful, they must treat them with the confidence due to all elective public bodies ; and as far as their insisting that all works shall be executed and approved before the money is handed over, it is) useles to expect that any body of men can be found to discharge their duties honestly and quietly submit to such treatment. Let the Provincial Government apply the rule to themselves, and endeavor to realise whether it would be palatable to them if the Colonial Treasurer refused to hand over the capitation allowauce on similar pretexts to those advanced to justify the line of action adopted towards the Inangahua Board,