Notes from Wakatipu. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2308, 26 May 1898, Page 19

Notes from Wakatipu. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

" Arrowtown, May 21 .—The asbestos mine at CSentie Annie Creek, Kawarau, has been put in active operation, and it is anticipated that a small staff will make the mine almost immediately self supporting. A company at, 500 shares of £1 each has been formed for the purpose in Itivercargill. As it is not likely that the frosi; will interfere much with the work something definite may be heard of the mine before long. Klondyke Again.— Mr J. A. Algie, postmaster at Arrowtown, who has just returned from his trip to Vancouver, during which he acted as mail agent on board the Monowai, gives a glowing account of life in Vancouver town. > Since ihe Kiondyke rush the population, which a few xnontks ago counted only 20,000, has doubled, fiving the place the appearance and life of a big usiness city. But it is rot all gold that glitters. About 27 of the 120 Klondykew who lef b Sydney on board the Monowai would gladly have returned when they faced the real state of affairs ■ugpn landing had they aot been restrained by one cause or another. Taking a common-sense view of the situation, something- like the following presents itself>^All advice tends towards the advisability of taking a complete outfit with you. This outfit is variously estimated at anything between 5001b and 10001b in weight. What can a man do with a swag of these dimensions ? It is quite clear he cannot land with it directly upon a golden claim when he leaves the boat at any point of the journey between the coast and Dawson City. He cannot carry the swag with him when ne sets- out to look for a claim, -nor can he leave it in safe keeping anywhere, and if- he leaves it in a tent or hub the chances are he -will not* find it again upon his return. With a party of tham— four or mere men — the case is slightly different. One of them can be left in charge the while the others go out prospectiug. The tucker question presents other difficulties, and it is safe to say that even.at the start the best-equipped parties will meet with difficulties they little dreamt of when setting out. The American and Canadian papers, kindly placed at my disposal by Mr Algie, contain numerous refeiencek to Kiondyke, amongst which the account of a trip made by Mr W, D. Wood, ex-mayor of Seattle, is the mo3t- valuable. Mr Wood started in August last to go up the Yukon River, but got ice-bound at Tanana Cre^k, about 3000 miles below Dawson City. After having prepared for wintering, some prospecting was done oy Mr Wood's party, and gold was found in promising quantities. However, Mr Wood decided to make his way to Dawson City, and from there return over one of the passes to Seattle. Dogs and three sleds were procured, and the journey was completed without any adventures. At DaWßon Mr Wood found.that scurvy was very prevalent, and predicts 3erious results from the insanitary state of the town when the summer comes. Several deaths had occurred through exposure, the thermovaeter failing as low as 63deg. Mr Wood also dissipates the wages illusion, and says that there will be 20 applicants for every single job. Ou the provision qusstion he says that there is enough for all, though perhaps not much more. It may be pointed out that Mr Wood, arriving at Seattle in the beginning of April last, made the trip in the dead of winter.

The mines in the Wakatipu are now put upon their hibernating footing for the next two months or so. In the Macetowu mines this takes effect only to a limited extent. At the Arrow Falls claim tbe reduction is more sweeping. The slack season will be utilised by the procuring and placing in position of a steam craoe for the purpose of shifting large stones in globo, instead of breaking them up and then removing them by hand. 'The second and final dividend of 2Jd per share, declared by the liquidators of the once famous Sew Hoy Big Beach Gold-mining Company (Limited), is likely to be the last that will be heard of the venture, which was the means of raising a very considerable amount of gold out of the bed of the Shotover that was not likely to have been $ot by any other means of working.