CROMWELL GOLD.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20898, 4 July 1933, Page 9

CROMWELL GOLD.

SITTING OF WARDEN'S COURT AWAITED. GEOPHYSICAL SURVEY. PROFESSOR PARK'S THEORY MAY RE CONFIRMED. ] THE PRESS Special Service.] CROMWELL, July 3. Following activity over the weekend, Cromwell to-day was comparatively quiet. The majority of those who have applied for claims on the flat appear to be awaiting the outcome of the sitting of the Warden's Court, which is to be held here tomorrow night. A great deal of interest is still being taken in the claim of Mr Lomax and his party at Dead Man's Point, and on Saturday and Sunday there was a continual stream of visitors to the spot. It is reported that the syndicate holding an option over this claim has obtained information which leads them to believe that the work of the geophysical survey party points to the existence of a lead running through Cromwell Flat, and entering the Molyneux river at this point, thus confirming the theory of Professor James Park, formerly director of the Otago School of Mines. It is generally understood that it was the intention of the Government to keep the results of the work of the survey secret until applicants for claims had signified their willingness to comply with five conditions laid down by the Minister for Mines and published several days ago. These included an undertaking on the part of the applicant to return to the Government 5 per cent, of the gold won, in return for which the geophysical survey plan would be made available. It would appear that the effort to maintain secrecy was not very successful. Promising Wash.

It is not unlikely that as a result of the new development on the banks of the Kawarau, evert greater interest will be created in the position at Cromwell. Mr W. Bell informed a representative of "The Press" to-night that in his claim, which is known as the Four X, and which is at the mouth of Kawarau Gorge, about a quarter of a mile above the property of Ounce, Ltd., lie has struck promising-looking wash. The tunnel in which the work is being carried out has been driven 107 feet in. It has not yet been possible to take off samples from the wash, owing to water_ in the face; but this is now draining off and a prospect will be taken tomorrow. It is possible that this will not reveal anything sensational; but it is expected that within a week's time the tunnel will have been advanced sufficiently into the wash to enable Mr Bell to gain a good idea of its value. In the Bell-Smith claim, some distance below the Bell-Hooper property, the tunnel now is in more than 300 feet, and by to-night boring revealed that wash in the new branch was three feet overheadi It is evident that the bottom is dip*ping into the flat at a steep angle, and Mr J. Bell considers from the indications present that the gutter is not far away. A Significant Point. A significant point about this striking of wash at two points of the Kawarau about one mile apart is that it proves that the lead either runs parallel with the river or else more than one lead exists through the flat. The opinion of local miners is inclining to this latter viGW, and all that is now required is a strike of gold-bearing wash in the centre of the flat to create a sensation such as lias never yet been known here, as this would prove beyond the slightest doubt that runs Of gold traverse the whole area of the flat. Great interest is therefore being taken in the progress of several parties engaged in sinking shafts out in the middle of the flat, and developments this week in the Fotlr X and Bell-Smith tunnels will be eagerly followed. Mr Lomax and his party are not carrying out any work in their claim at Dead Man's Point. They have reached a point where, in order to proceed further, they must install a pumping plant, and open oiit on a bigger scale, and in View of the fact that they expect that the syndicate holding the option over the claim will exercise this within a Week or two, the party is unwilling to incur the expense, which would be of no real value to their successors.

Penalty of Success.

As an indication of the way ill which these prospectors are already paying the penalty of their 1 success, it may be stated that one member of the patty has been approached by a firm of motor dealers from Dunedin with offers to sell him a motorcar. Evidently some person in Cromwell is under the impression that a gold miner who has discovered a rich claim must necessarily be worth robbing, as Mr K. G. Lomax was awakened by a" noise early this morning, and found that a man had gained entrance to the house, and was evidently intent on burglary. The intruder made a hurried exit when Mr Lomax sprang out of bed, and escaped into the darkness.

The first signs of expansion of the town as a result of the finds of gold were evident to-day, when a Dunedin legal firm opened a branch office here this morning. There is not the slightest doubt that _ a tremendous amount of work is now available for solicitors, and this will be increased when the numerous lawsuits which must arise as a result of irregular pegging and breaches of mining law are fought out in court. It is stated, indeed, that one party has already indicated its intention of taking its case to the Court of Appeal should this be necessary. It is understood, also, that an enterprising exhibitor of talking pictures has been making enquiries With a view to opening up a theatre in the town.