Notes from Grey Valley.

Otago Witness, Issue 2309, 2 June 1898, Page 19

Notes from Grey Valley.

Orwell Creek, May 20,- Miuiug Tnatters are still very quiet throughout the district, and by all appearances are Ijkely to remain so for come time, in tbis place at any rate. All the easy gold has be*>n got, and now there is nothing of any consequence left, unless in the shape of big specs, the only alternative being to go back into the country prospecting virgin ground. The former is too much for the individual miner to undertake, aa ir requires not only a large amount of

labour, but a deal of ready cash, which of course every miner hasn't got. In regard to the piospecting, ij; ia a well-known fact that the pld miners, or at all eyents the majority of. them, are too far advanced iv years now to go climbing about back ranges prospecting. They have done enough of it in their time, and have now to content themselves fossicking ab-uit the old workings. Outside prospecting is only fit for young men who are strong and'Bupple, and who are not frightened of

a few hardships.

But, alas ! if tlie ancient miner

i* 1 unable to prospect our back country, pray who is ? Moat of tbe young. New Zealavniers know too much to leave their homes and friends to go away into bush foi a few months. Some certainly are willing to go, and, indeed, many of them bave started, but when they have been-out for a couple of dajs and^ night and find, the currant cake which they have taken with them is beginnii-g to get stale and they have to drink thtir tea without milk, then they consider it high time to leave and return home to tell their friends of all the narrow escapes theyhavehad, in-the wayaf falling into some bottomless chasm, and only saving their

life by clinging hold of aroot no bigger than a penhandle ; or of getting 16st in the bush and being nearly starved to death. No, lam sorry to say" .from -personal exparience a big majority of our" young men would rather go and work for a cockatoo or at any. similar occupation for- £1 or ,30s a week .than make an .endeavour to epsn up something 'for themsejyes. JSfotwith&tandTng this, however, there are a, few—very few, though — yotong" Maorilumdei's who have started mining at an extremely e.arly 'age, and have followed it

up for raany'years; with the result that they are

to-day experienced miners, free of debt, and many of them in possession of fairly good properties. I think I can safely say that those who have

followed the mining industry closely are to-day

just as well off as, if not better than, any of the working class. What more encouragement do we want ?

It is rumoured that several of the leases on the Paparoa Ranges hav,e been abandoned owing to the difficulty experienced in prospecting the locality. .

'■It is also stated that a company is being formed -with the object of dredging the Grey River above ' the Bruuner Gorge. It appears that the ground I is very shallow, and is supposed to carry pay,.ble gold. At present Ido not know much about the locality, but in my next perhaps I may be able to give more information.