THE OTAGO DREDGE FIELDS.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 777, 16 August 1900, Page 2

THE OTAGO DREDGE FIELDS.

No. m. THE KAWARAU. As most dredging persons know, tho Kawarau is a feeder to the majestic goldstrewn Molyneux from Lake Wakatipu. Starting out on its tortuous career from Frankton it courses through terrace country for the first few miles until its confluence with the Arrow. All the land from the junction upwards has been pegged off. In thoso localities dredges were tried some 12 or 14 years ago with exciting non-success. Tho lumbering, misfit craft either sank, were stranded or beached, or else went quietly' and unostentatiously into oblivion. There appears to have been faults all round— tho management of the dredges was crude, their construction and outfit was cruder, and no wonder is it that the light of dredging in those primitive days went out without a flicker of momentary success. From all this it may be deduced that the field was not given a fair trial as to its capabilities. What will be achieved by modern methods remains as yet a sealed book. The first claim encountered after passing downwards below the confluence of the Kawarau with the Arrow is the Arrow Juction, at a spot where the river is confined between terraces. ' The dredge has not started to work yet, but the company was floated under favoring auspices. Immediately below is the Kawarau Bridge Co.'s claim. This is very rough-look-ing, the river ac the spot running through what is practically a great fissure of rook. The river is said to have been damned up at one time at the bottom of this claim, and ran quite dry below for a minute or two. Consequently the depth on the claim is an unknown quantity. The Eclipse Co.'s dredge further along should start very shortly, and, commencing, will have a rathjr nice-looking area to operate on. The claim was prospected with boring rods and splendid samples of gold were got. The next of importance is tho Metallic Co., whose dredge, it is anticipated will start shortly. The river on this claim runs swiftly through a somewhat uneven piece of country. The Galvanic claim, next in order, is one of the most promising (from superficial appearances) on the Kawarau. The river here is not so confined, and included in tho claim are two basins containing nice-looking beaches. It was on tho banks of the river at this spot that the Frank's Point diggings made history in the early days. It is generally conceded that this claim controls * the fate of the whole of the Upper Kawarau. The Merrimao Co's property is pleasing to the eye. For the greatir portion of its connection with the claim, the rivp-f runs smoothly, but at the lower end is considerably disturbed and inclined to rapid movement. This dredge should be starting shortly. 'The Gibbston, further along, is one of tho roughest — ■*■ looking claims on the Kawarau. The river pursues- a winding course, and gives the appearance of having been dammed back at some time by a large slip. At the lower end of this claim ib the celebrated Nevis Bluff a point which confines the river within very narrow limits, and causes it to rush along with tremendous force. From thence downwardß the banks on either side are not so high, and the river is allowed to pursue a less turbulent course through a barren tract of country. The Kawarau Consolidated claim looms up as attractively as any on the river, ■ but at present shares in this company are at a discount. Why they should be is not quite apparent. Adjoining, is what was known' as the Victoria Bridge claim. A dredge which operated here a few years back proved a failure, and the depth of bottom is still unknown. Below this point the river describes sharp angle round the Peninsula, and a little further along the Nevis joins the Kawarau. A company (the Grand Junction) controls the claim at the confluence of the two streams, and the area embracing land on both, should justify the confidence of shareholders. Splendid prospects have been obtained, and this is a matter for little surprise. Passing along the Meg and Annie comes into view. This was of the first claims to be floatc d on the Upper Kawarau, and the dredge will be amongst the first to start. Favoring appearances strike the observer here, and the fact that the shares hover in the vicinity of £2 5s tells its own tale. A spoon dredge was supposed to have done well on the claim at o.ne time. The Gentle Annie Co. is the next institution established with the intention of delving into the golden mysteries of. the river that demands attention, and the eslimablo female is discovered to be nice-looking, bat a trifle bumpy. In close proximity is the Upper Magnetic claim. This, too, is somewhat bumpy, but, it is said, good prospects have been obtained, and these cover a multitude of Bins and lumps.' Thence to tho Voltaic of eventful history is not a far cry. This claim was floated previously, before the boom time. " The shareholders,- however, thought bettor of their intention and withdrew the claim from the market. Since then . it has been floated again. The claim is now to be prospected with ' pontoons and other * contrivances to ascertain the advisftbleness of ■ putting on a dredge. At this point there is one of the roughest bits of dredging river to be met with anywhere in Otago. The stream runs through a natural funnel, and as a