THE SEVENTEEN-MILE RUSH.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXIV, Issue 4009, 5 July 1881, Page 2

THE SEVENTEEN-MILE RUSH.

[by an outsider 1 Another month having gone by, I once more send you a few jottings about things in general; and in doincr fl o I feel glad to be able to confirm the opinion I expressed in my last contribution, namely, that this place has apparently Been its worst times. You have already recorded in your columns the splendid return got by Mullins and party, for one week's work, during the bspinning of June ; the exact weigl.t was 2070z3 Odwts. Although this really rich yield has not repeated itself since, the clvim continues to produce highly satisfactory returns to its fortunate owners. In fact, all the claims in that portion of the south lead are undoubtedly good property, and are not likely to be exhausted in a hurry. I have nothing fresh to report from the north lead, but the claims are keeping up their fair average dividends, and while one or two of the best have perhaps been a trifle under their usual returns, others aro showing si»us of improvement. Several shares on this lead have changed hands during the month at satisfactory prices, and in no case has the sale been either compulsory or under fictitious prospects.

Several tnnnela wh-'ch were covered in by the land-slips, wlrc'i look place in M;>y, have been reopened, a»d fieir owners will, 1 hope, shortly ppjuin be able to Una out their former quantises of gold. Boring operations on the flu are s : ill interrupted, owing ti want of funds ; but as soon as the Barrytown Prospecting Association is in possession of the LSO voted by the County Council, they w ]l l be able to resume their labors. (Joining to tite outlying portions of the Geld, I may mention that the Tail-race Company is carrying on in full swing, and everybody here hopes that this great enterprise will eventually turn up trumps ; in all probabil'ty it will be nearly two months yet before a washing up takes place. Since my last visit to the works another great improvement has been effected in the disposal of the tailings, which now run in Bubstautial wooden boxes straight to the sea beach, where they are deposited below high water mark. The rush to Parnell Terrace may now be considered as a permanent one, as nearly nil the eMms are on payable gold. There is no doubt that the neighborhood of that locality would be still further prospected, were it not for that great drawback, namely, the wanb of a proper tcack to get there ; not to mention once more the roundabout way of of travelling by the sea beach, thin adding fully two miles to the distance. The unfortunate diggers have then to cross a deep swamp, carrying everything ihey require on their backs, and arrive ( thoroughly exhausted, perhaps wet to their middle, at the journey's end. Another petition to the County Council, calling for their serious attention to these hardships, has just been drawn up, and and will receive the signatures of all hona fide miners at Parnell and here, preparatory to being forwarded to Greymouth. The document contains full details, showing that, unless the bridle track under the nil's is continued, the development of this important and promising district will be inde6nitely retirded. That the back ranges contain more gold, and perhaps in still larger quantities, the oldest diggers here do not doubt for a moment. Next, as to general items, I mf»y not be out of place to dwell for a few moment on the electioneering visits which were paid to this great city of hotel i and shanties, by Messrs FitzGerald and Weston, on the 14th and 15th of last month. Both gentlemen met with a hearty and courteous reception, delivering their addresses in the commodious billiard-room of the All Nations' Hotel ; and iruly the various nations were well represented, though the bods of Hibernia could have squashed the lot, but were too goodnatured to do bo. The audience during both evenings was fully 100, each candidate speaking for nearly two hours. The speeches were, on the whole, very similar, with the exception that Mr Weaton boldly commenced with the " burning" que-stion, viz, education ; while Mr FitzGerald did no tap it till he came towards Ihe end of his address. That the latter gentleman was the favorite here could be seen at a glance, and there is no doubt ?bout his ability ; at the same time many of his parly seemed to be agreeably surprised at Mr Weaton's quiet manners and c*lm eloquence. Id my humble opinion Mr FitzGerald carried his supporters with him with great ease and judgment, but this very same party, on the next evening, could apparently not resist listening to his opponent with iutense attention. As regards the questions put, after the addresses, Mr Weston had decidedly the lion's share ; and here I must mention a laughable incident which occurred, it being well worth recordiog. A son of Erin, rejoicing in rather a "flowery" name, and who entered the room in a by no means sober condition, heard Mr Weston speak about secular education. Pondering over this, he presently asked the candidate what he meant by circular education, as this was no circus. Roars of laughter followed this ludicrous question, and the interrogator became so excited that the Chairman had to threaten him with ejection, which had the desired effect— perhaps the more so as the man in blue happened to be standing close to the elbows of this flowery individual While on the subject of election, I may add that the number of votes given at Barrytown must be considered large ; the more so, when I mention that quite a surprising number of miners, amongst them some of the oldest residents, found their names omi'ted from the roll. This defect is now beicg rectified, to guard against a similar recurrence. As having particular interest for this and other goldfields in the Grey district, I cannot help quoting Mr Weston's reply to a question as to simplifying the settling of disputes of miners without going into the Warden's Court. Mr Weston said he would advocate more travelling of a Warden, who would settle differences by visiting the gronnd, and use his own discretion without reference to the Act. The applause was immense, and my righthand neighbor poked me in the ribs, remarking — "I say, old man, our present Warden won't do for that — he is all Act and red tape." "Soheis my boy," said I, " and well dc I know it." "So do I." Says my friend again — " Ho ought to go to Northern China as a missionary, to spread the Gospel." "Right you are," says I, "for all the good he is as a travelling Warden, as far as Barrytown is concerned." But, Sir, I am transgressing, and must proceed to the next item of general information. Before 1 forget it, I may as well dispose of Mr Richard Morgan and his mysterious disappearance from Canoe Creek, about a fortoight ago. Though you have already given him a friendly ' rub in your respected columns (Mr FitzGerald called them "measly" columns when here, but "The Outsider" does not), I must have a go at him "on my '• own hook," as the vulgar saying is ; and after this short preface, let me inform Mr ' Richard Morgan, wherever he may have ' levanted to, that the unanimous verdict 1 of the "Seventeen Milers'Ms a feeling ! of utter contempt for his unmanly and t mean actiou. Not only was it a compute 1 Bell, as well as a matter of great incon- i vocience, to the noble ten or twelve men ♦ who went in search of him, both on horse- 1 back and on foot; and most of them also t came back pretty well drenched. More t than twenty men were preparing to take * their plices next day, and the day follow- s ing, and all this on a real wild good chase, h [ shall not attempt to describe the urii- fi irersal disgust which prevailed upon the news being received that the supposed o "lead man had come to hie, and was all v •ight in a neighboring county. Suffice it o say that vent was given to the feelings n >£ many in language more forcible than g<

jolite, and should Mr Morgan, at any 'uture time, deem it advisable to revisit some of his former haunts, he had better ac careful to leave Barrytown out of his programme. There is no doubt that thi3 incident may do harm on a future occajien, should some pocr unfortunate man be miaaing, and lost in reality. We have had the usual monthly and pastoral visits of the Rev. J. P. Kempthorne and the Rsv. Father Rollaud. It affords me pleasure to add that both the rev. gentlemen had large congregations of their respective flocks, and met with a hearty welcome. Returnidg to worldly affairs, I have to remark that the whole of the five publicans' licenses, hitherto existing in Barrytown, have been renewed and paid for. This shows confidence on bahalf of the applicants in the prospects and stability of this community under otherwise trying circumstances. We have been favored with a visit from Mr Butler, the road overseer of the County, who brought with him two of his men, for the purpose of laying out a fresh line of road, for a portion of the track along the North Lead, washed away by Granite Creek. Also, for fixing places and elevations for several footbridges, to be put across those creeks oh the beach which have to be crossed by children going to Bchool. I may mention here that Mr Green, the local schoolmaster, is giving universal satisfaction in the fulfilment of his duties. Last, but not least, I beg to report that the Warden, who was, to use a nautical expression, about two months overdue, arrived here at 11 a.m on the Ist July, but very little notice was taken of bis visit so long delayed, to the inconvenience of several parties — one of the cases involving a visit to the ground. This accomplished, some formal applications were granted, not without the usual amount of redtapism, and his Worship departed, almost before daybreak next morning, as quietly as he came. General disappointment is felt amongst the miners, with a gentleman who introduced himself with a grand flourish of trumpets a few months ago, bat who would rather go to some tropical climate than see to their wants at Barrytown. lam sadly afraid that he got a wet jacket going back. Barrytown, July 2, 1881.