NEW RIVER RUSH.

West Coast Times, Issue 326, 9 October 1866, Page 2

NEW RIVER RUSH.

(from 'the geey kiver aegus CORRESPONDENT.) October 5^ Since the dale of my last letter niih- j ing matters have been going on steadily. Those who have been on gold for some time are gyttjng well -paid for their work. In Law and Co.'s claim they are washing daily, and they acknowledge that it is turning out fully better than they expected. From there' along the line southwards, the .claims are oil doing well. A party I mentioned some time ago — the -Rise and Shine — would have done some washing by this time, only they have been making some necessary repairs to their shaft' before commencing, as, the water, for washing must come out of the shaft. Along fijom^this the claims are all^firstl'iite, up to, McGregor's ; that I believe to be the best as yet, as the quantity of gold got from it for a week's washing would be unwise tor me to mention at the present time. I atu" sorry to have to mention that a difference pf opinion has arisen among the shareholders of the No. 1 Jiace Company, which has ended in all hands stopping work, owing, I believe, to the selfish interests of a few of them who thought the race when cut in its surveyed line would not benefit thdm unless it was deviated from to suit them specially — a request I think too vague to be acceded to. So they have returned to their claims thinking to bottom the best way they can. In fact, a good few of the claims arc now dry — those who have sunk to the 'water, the quantity flowingfrom the race being about three sluice heads. But lam of opinion that they will. have to give the ditch another trial ; I only hope they can do without it, and all bottom on the " gutter" with good prospects. Further along nothing new has been struck, only some shafts have been sunk which are considez'ed outsiders. * 'j^he parties who have been engaged in cutting No. 2 Race aro up to the point determined on, and, I believe, are about to start /Sinking, I think they will be able to bottom now, as their race is throwing a large quantity of water. A party of Greeks here are about to bottom, belong close on forty feet down, with a very heaA'y wash. They -have gone to more trouble and expense individually than the shareholders in any other claim here. Fur • ther down the lead there is a large area of ground' being shepherded, but there - are miners that the owners are waiting on a surveyor to give them the proper levels. From this Company's ground right down for some distance the claimholders are busy either sinking shafts or paddocking ; the only party that has yet bottomed is that known as Yankee Dan's, they having struck the bottom at 17- feet, with only the color. However, nothing daunted; they took up their arms, and are getting well down with another shaft nearer the range. Tlie great quantity of water tc contend with keeps many from sinking. All along here they arp as busy as if they were getting gold — some sinking, while a few parties, in good spirits, have brought in a race for themselves. This end of the ground being much shallower, if payable it would be stripping. I hope in my next to be able to give you a golden account of a few of th« claims, which will give better hopes to those in the middle. In the early part of the week a small rush took place to the Old Saltwater

Diggings in the rear of this place, the gully being called Brighton Gully, the sinking from six to nine feet, and from three to five grains to the dish, which, with plenty of water, would make very good miners' quarters. There are already over 200 men steady at work at a distance of a few miles from there, and are all getting their goods from that place, carried over on men's backs. But, I believe, Hamilton and Soley have nearly completed a good track from here, when horses will be able to pack the goods out. I will pay this place a visit soon, when I hope to be able to give you a good account of it. Business is still improving, though slowly ; very little grumbling amongst the majority. The town is rapidly progressing in size. Four new places have sprung up, "the principal one being ji very large billiard saloon, with, I believe, a new table from Melbourne, im- v ported by one of our West Coast speculators. >Two of the buildings are intended for stores, always a useful adjunct; " the other, I -think, a cigar - divan. When these are all finished, they will make the street look fine, as these were the only vacant sections. We have representatives of almost every branch of trade here. We have lost our worthy dispenser of medicine, whose shop has been taken by some fair damsels, who intend opening it as a cigar divan.