SEARCH FOR GOLD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19419, 30 August 1926, Page 10

SEARCH FOR GOLD.

TH£ KAWARAU OPERATIONS. CLOSING OF.DAM TO-DAY. SOME COMPANIES READYv [Bl' TELEGRAPH OWN CORRESPONDENT.] DUNEDlN.''Sunday. Everything is 1 in readiness for the closing of the Frankton Falls gates in connection with' tho Kawarau scheme tomorrow morning. To-day the dam site was a scene of activity in the filial preparations. Sixty men are working in the river and on the bridge, which is nearly completed. About 30 men will be kept at the- dam to complete the -handrail' on tho bridge and to do a certain amount-pf excavation below the dam aiid protection work' along the bank above arid below the dam.' ■ln about a week's time • the bridge will be completed Etnd the road approaches undertaken. The wing dams are also to be blown away.

The ceremony, will take place at 10.20 to-morrow morning. A whistle will -bo sounded and' the men stationed at the ten winches will open the machinery for the gates to be dropped into tho river. Tho winter has been very good, but Mr. S. ■C. David, resident engineer, stated today that no one knew how long the weather would hold up. A long period of damming was not expected and if lucky the -dam would hold back the waters for ten days or a fortnight. Tho weather is fine to-day. Mr. David said tho lake level was about'2ft. higher than at this time last year. That was probably caused by the in the outlet .at the dam holding back the waters. The Shotover was keeping at a comparatively low level.

A "wait and see" policy is -being adopted by many claim holders, companies and syndicates holding stretches of the Kawarau. Tho inception is being left to two companies, the Consolidated Mines, which has 15 miles of river, and the Yogel's Vision Company, with 11 claims. Apart from activity by the Wairarapa Company and two or three smaller coiripanies the Consolidated and Vogel's are the only concerns making genuine efforts to be ready for the closing of the dam. They will be ready to start work as soon as the river falls.

An inspection ti+p from Queenstown to Cromwell was made this moj-ning by a reporter, who found that claim-holders are waiting to see the success of the companies which hsive finance behind them. What the bed will be like when the waters fall is all a matter of conjecture, but two companies aro going to be there from the Shotover to the Arrow. Only one mile of the six is not held by the Consolidated Company.

The following compose the special board established for the purpose of controlling the gate 3 of the Kawarau Falls dam:— Messrs. J. A. Marks, resident Public Works iengineer, Dunedin; A. C. Hanlon, representing the licensee; J. Mosley, representing the Clutha County Council; L. Lee, representing tho Lake County Council; J. R. Copland, representing the Clutha County Council; A. representing the Queenstown Borough Council; A. C. Leary, representing the • Clutha River Board; and A. Ronton, representing the Inch Clutha River and Drainage Board. ? '• DIVING FOR TREASURE. '. " ' [by teleob&h.—own correspondent.] .- I. -, D'tJNEDIN, Sunday. Diving, for gold is to' be tried out in Lake Wakatipu; soon. .: This will create a development in- modern mining and the lake" divers will have, the honour of being the first •'to- don diving suits in search of gold-in New Zealand and probably in the world. ' • Five ,Mile. Creek, on the way. to Glenorchy, on' theQueenstown side of Wakatipu,*' has been ,claimed in the Warden's Court' here by Mr. W. E. Vear, an Auckland, diver, .who worked on the wrecks of the Wairarapa and Wiltshir©, and was one of tha-divers to go into the Kawarau at Frankton. Falls louring; tho construe tion of; tho dam.

About 40 or 50 years ago the creek was worked for alluvial gold, good returns being reported. Later the lake along the bank near the creek was scratched by who used a cowhide scoop with a lip and.'although gold was obtained the 'method of working proved unprofitable.

About a month ago Mr. Vear dived from a launch at the mouth of the -creek, which appeared the most favourable part of the lake to start -on. • After digging through 3ft. of old tailings he got to the actual wash, from which he obtained a few colours. Ho was!, then under-water to a depth of 15ft. to "20ft.