Alexandra Times at KellyGang 25/6/1869
GODFREY'S CREEK
The population of Godfrey's Creek is increasing rapidly. The stores and hotels keep pace with the population, or rather as is usually the case, keep in advance of it. Every other day produces some new hotel or store. The old bark shanties are becoming things of the past, and as fast as sawn timber can be supplied new fronts are being erected. Since the streets have been laid out by the surveyor the place is assuming shape and form. Some parties are trying a little sharpness by attempting to hold several building allotments by placing two or three sheets of bark on the ground. This will hardly protect the ground against any person who will build and reside thereon. The water now flows along the flat like a large river, and for some time at least it will be impossible to commence any new shafts especially on the lower ground. The late rains should convince every one. of the necessity of puddling and slabbing their shafts from top to bottom with-good sawn timber.
All the parties, on the Auld Reekie, Barker's and Koh-i-Noor, who jumped the ground lately, have been re summoned for the next Warden's Court, so the lawyers are going to have another dividend out of those claims. The government should either refuse or grant those leases at once. Better to know the worst than be kept in this state of uncertainty as the prosperity of the place is being retarded by the present state of affairs. Mr Kannegiesser is attempting to jump a portion of the Working Miners' claim on the ground that the shaft although 107 feet deep is only 98 to the bottom of the washdirt. Whether this is a good point will be for the Warden to say, but admitting that the wash dirt is only 98 feet; if a well is necessary to keep the ground dry, surely the sinking must be that which is necessary for the proper working of the ground, besides it has been ascertained that the lead dips considerably on one side.
Mr Stevens who was supposed to be connected with the Episcopalian Church, has handed over his school and pupils to Mr Sheehy, who will conduct the same under the Catholic Church. There are no sectarian prejudices amongst the people of Godfrey's, and the arrangement seems to. work well and give satisfaction.
The boring rods are now at work on the Alma prospecting claim, near the junction of Godfrey's with the Home Creek. The prospects of the company are considered good.
The roads between Godfrey's and Alexandra are getting very much cut up by the traffic and wet weather. There will be plenty of room for the Alexandra Road Board to develop their skill in road making in this part of their territory before the winter is over, and considering the large revenue that will be pouring into the coffers from Godfrey's they should be liberal so as to prevent dissatisfaction.
Mr Motherwell has taken the contract for erecting a lock-up, and police quarters. Both buildings are to be good and substantial and will necessarily demand the addition of a court house, or perhaps some of the publicans would erect a suitable building in consideration of the benefits that are therefrom. It is clearly absurd that the men in the lock-up should be taken over to Alexandra.
Mr Gundry has been making some heavy purchases at Godfrey's Creek for Melbourne companies. On nineteen claims north of the Working Miners', including the "Queen," a deposit of £200 has been paid. We have not heard the exact amount of the purchase money, but believe that it is about £4000.
The Sons of Freedom are swamped with water
The Ballarat Star has now got the steam up, and within a few days good results are confidently expected.
The Working Miners' are going on steadily. Over £600 worth of gold has been taken from the claim since it passed into the hands of the new proprietors, but until machinery arrives the claim will not attract much attention, as it is being worked at great disadvantage. The result of last fortnight's work was 90oz.
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