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VEGETABLE CREEK.
(From the Correspondent of the Glen Innes Guardian. )
Matters here wear quite a gloomy aspect conse-
quent of the want of rain. Nearly every person you
meet asks the question, " When are we likely to
have any rain ? " and the answer is invariably a blank
look. Most of the claimholders are discharging their
employés, as the water is becoming too scarce to
carry on work on a large scale.
I send you a few of the particulars of some of the
claims I have visited.
The Little Britain.—On this claim—the property
of Mr. Ashton—work is going on pretty briskly.
Ten men are constantly employed, four of whom are
perpetually engaged at the pumps, and the result is
a yield of from 25 cwt. to 30 cwt. per week. The
stripping averages three feet, with a depth of wash
dirt of two and a-half feet. One of the best
dams on the creek has been made here, so that
when rain does come a supply of water will
be obtained which will last six months. With
two boxes at work about ten tons of ore has been
raised from this claim since working commenced
which realizes £80 per ton in the Sydney market.
This is about one of the best worked claims on the
creek. A puddling machine has been erected by
Mr. Carey, at a cost of £40, and it is highly creditable
to that gentleman. I have not seen on any of the
mines one to equal it. When a more copious supply
of water is possessed this machine will be worked,
when it is expected that the returns from the mine
will be increased bj' about half a ton per week.
The next claim I came to was Messrs Maund and
Hood's, which is entitled the Little Wonder. This
claim consists of forty acres, and is worked by two
parties on tribute. A good dam has been made here,
winch holds the water well. The two parties at
work—seven men in each—raise about seven tons of
clean ore per week. A paddock has been made
about six chains back from the creek, at the southern
end of Mr Shine's auction rooms, from which splendid
tin has been procured. I have seen pieces of wash-
dirt taken from this paddock which were nearly all
pure tin. At this claim is where the Vegetable Creek
township is being built. There is at present a large hotel
in course of erection by Mr. Maund, two boarding
houses are already established, Messrs. Joseph and
Harts stores, Mr. Shine's auction rooms, a black-
smith's shop, and a bakery establishment, as well as
a Catholic Chapel, which latter building is to be used
as a school house also. The spot, from its central
position, will doubtless be for some time to come
the centre of trade for the Creek.
The next claim I come to is that of Messrs Moore
and Speare, which consists of forty acres, and
possesses a modélate sized dam There are seventeen
men at work, six of whom are employed at the
pumps sluicing, and the others ore taking out wash
dirt and making paddocks. Where the paddocks is
being taken out there is three feet of stripping and
from three to fire feet of wash A puddling ma-
chine has just been completed, but, owing to the
scarcity of water, cannot be worked at present. On
this claim there is about seven chains in width and
ten in length, which judging from appearance is just
as good as the part which is now being worked.
There is also a reef running parallel with the creek
on the north bank.
| Lower down the creok, and adjoining Messrs.
Moore and Spear, is the claim known as the " Six
Men's" disputed claim The particulars of this claim
is so well known that I need say nothing about it at
present Bnt I must say that it is a strange law
the Mining Law-that is not sufficiently clear to give
justice at once, instead of putting persons who are
desirous of developing the immense mineral re-
sources of the countiy to heavy unnecessary ex-
penses; and I am sure it would he much better for
both parties if they would come to some settlement
of the affair between themselves. The whole matter
could be very easilj' decided, if put to arbitiation in
the usual way. If some compromise is not come to
very soon the law ex\ ensea alone will amount to
nearlj the value of the whole claim. Mr. Moore has
printed notices posted m several prominent places,
notifying that himself and party have got tbo leases
for the ground, and cautioning parties against tres-
passing on the land. At all events, whoever gets
the land m the end, it is scandalous that such a fine
piece of land should be unworked. It is looked
upon as one of the richest-if not the richest
claims on the creek.
The next claim we come to is The Camden, the
property of the "six men," Morehan and party.
This is a splendid claim. Some time ago it averaged
a half a ton a day, with ten men at work. At pre-
sent there are only seven men at work, who turn
out from five to six cwt per day. The beBt part of
the ground opened up to the present time cannot be
worked, the pumps at work not being able to keep
the water out. There are twelve feet of stripping,
and six feet of wash. The partj is at present
working shallower ground Water is very scarce
here, as well ob higher up the creek, If theie was
plenty of water, of course there would be a far
larger quantity of ore grassed than there is at piesent
Loud Nelson Tin Mining Co -We (Newcastle
Pilot) have been favoured with the following extract
fioni a letter received this week from Mr Drurj,
mining manager of the Lord Nelson Tin Company
-" The quantity of tin ore at present en route for
Newcastle is 13 tons 12 cwt, and there is a further
quantity of five tons at the mine ready to be dis-
patched Last week I took out two tons with eleven
men, and had to hand-pump the water I would
recommend the company to purchase hoises and
teams, as considerable time is lost m carrying the ore
to the water hole and back to the store To-day (5th
Maj) we streamed 25 cwt of tin, but had it not been
for the shortness of water the reeult would doubtless
have been far more satisfactory The weather is very
dry and cold and there is yet no appearance of rain,
which is much required all through the table land of
New England
East Glen Tin Mimng Co -We are informed
that a number of the documents reqinred to effect
the transfer of the land intended to be worked by
the East Glen Tin Mining Co have been deposited
m the Bank at Newcastle, where they are awaiting
the signature of the original holders of the claim
These will be obtained in a few days, and a meeting
of the shareholders will immediately be he'd to ap-
point directors and a mining manager Tho land has
been thoroughly prospected, and is known to be ex-
ceedingly rich There is also a plentiful supply of
water m the immediate locality of the chum, the
lower portions of which is drained bj the creek of
the Black Swamp -Newcastle Filot, May 17.
Glen Elgin Scrub -A sample of tra has been
left at our office from this locality, which is of a
superior description, and well worthy of inspection.
-Glen Innes Guardian, May 17.
$