GREY RIVER UP-COUNTRY DISTRICTS.

West Coast Times, Issue 1659, 24 January 1871, Page 2

GREY RIVER UP-COUNTRY DISTRICTS.

(I'ROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT).

No Town, Jan. 16.

With reference to mining matters in the No Town district, it is satisfactory to notice that there is an improvement to bt seen since the recommencing of operations after the holidays in several places. There have been a few small patches of fresh ground opened up within the vicinity of this place during the last couple of weeks, principally by old residents in the locality, who, no doubt, have been pretty well acquainted with the ground. The number of population has been increased by a good mauy fresh arrivals since the holidays, es« pecially at Deadinan's Creek. The long continuation of dry weather is seriously SWf*^>si fte progress of mining opera*

tions at the present time, and rain is anxiously wished for by the miners cvery- | where. A small rush set in about a we^-k , since to Halfway Terrace, which ia turning out very well. The prospectors, Lally and . party, have obtained six ounces of gold iv a paddock, and arc supposed to be on a run of gold. Three or four other parties have since taken up ground and set in to work in the same locality ; and, although not obtaining quite as good prospects j as the first-named party, it is believed that they are on the same run of trold, and likely to do jrery well. Of the old claims on gold iv the vicinity of No Town several are reported to be improving in their prospects since the commencement of the new year. The left hand branch workings are also looking better at present, by what I hear* than they have bten for sorile time past. Marshall's Terrace slill continues to give profitable employment to a goodly number of miners, and, if report speaks true, that place maintains its reputation, and may be considered one of the best localities in the district for the size of it. Rough and Tumble Gully is looking first-rate, and the population located there seem perfect!}' satisfied with their proceeds lately. There are five or six parties making first-rate wages out of their claims, and the remainder, some eight or nine parties, are doing middling. The claimholders at that locality have stuck to their ground, notwithstanding the highly-colored reports from other goldfields, and it is believed that they are getting rewarded for their perseverance. From Paddy's Gully there has been no fresh news to communicate in the shape of new discoveries, although there is prospecting going on. Most of the old claims are worked out, or nearly so. Abb's Gully and vicinity is looking pretty much the same, and there is nothing j of special interest to report from that place. j A.t Red Jack's the sluicing claims are i f being worked as usual, but the water supply is running short, and things are 1 likely to remain quiet until a change in the weather s. ts in. The rush to Deadman's Creek is progressing slowly, and although there has been a slight increase in the number of population, there is no news of importance since the holidays. The general election is the principal topic of interest to the inhabitants of No 1 Town, as well as to the whole district at present, and shere is a little excrement in connection with the subject now and again. Roth the gentlemen have paid a visit to the place, and held meetings of the electors, going through the usual performances, I and making long speeches, the substance of \ which 1 shall not trouble you with, as they would occupy too much space. Mr Harrison made his appearance frst, and was listened to with great attention, as he usually is. Mr Buckley came next, following closely in the footsteps of Mr Harrison everywhere. There is no doubt 'that Mr Buckley's Committee are doing their very best to secure the return of their candidate ; they are working hard and sparing no expense, and it will be a pretty close run between the two. I should think Mr Harrison has the advantage of being an old resident in the district. He has worked very hard for the interests of his constituents, and will do ■ so again if returned. Mr Buckley is a nice gentlemanly man, but he is a stranger and a new hand at politics, and has no interest in the future prosperity of the gold- . fields ll is a wonder if there is not one man in the whole district capable of filling a scut in the General Assembly, that we should be under the necessity of going to the North liland for one. This is a re- ■ mark made by an old resident at No , Town : " 1 have no objection to Mr Buckley, only that he is no resident in the district, or in this island even." I am afraid that if we elect him and set aside the local man, who is one of ourselves, it will be very like admitting that we are an inferior class of men in the Grey district to what they are in Wellington and elsewhere, and if we afterwards complain that the wants of the district are ignored by the Government, people will say : It serves them right, they do not deserve any better.