MINING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8210, 15 June 1888, Page 3

MINING.

WAKATIPU MINING NOTES. (Fkom Odk Own Correspondent.)

I Arrow, June 12. Mining excitement has taken a new departure, and there has been quite a rush for river claims. As I have* been pretty outspoken on the subject of river claims, and my dicta.may be put to the test in the future, a few explanatory remarks may not be out of place- in order to prevent misunderstanding. From my previous remarks dredging operations are exempt Keeauße they are independent of coßtly protective works, all the inconvenience entailed upon them by floods being simply a temporary cessation Irom work. But the case is very different with river workings properly so called, requiring dams, head and tr.il races, water wheels, &0., costing for large undortalungs proportionate sums of money, the result of the expenditureot which is subject to being wiped out in a few hours by a single flood. Having had some experience of river workings, I do not speak irom mero conjecture, nor docs it require any superlative knowledge of the surrounding factß. or auuerhuman foresight anent the possible behaviour of the rivers of this district lo make a pretty accurate estimate as to the probable success or otherwise of such, undertakings. Looking back upon the paßt the fact starea one in the face that our rivers have been known to rise 6ft or Bft in spring without any other apparent cause but a few warm days, while in flood times they rise to double that height. Considering the great fall of the rivera, and the consequent force with which they sweep along, it will be seen that undertaking works to withstand floodß is iinancially inadvisable, because exceeding in cost the value of the ground. Further inquiry discloses the facts that the Shotover basin has a drainage area of upwards of 1000 square miles, and the Kawarau, at the outlet of lake Wakatipu, an area of 1200 square miles, that the rain and snowfall upon the latter was computed by Mr H. P. Hlgginson, C.E., to have been 2,787,600 cubic feet per minute upon the 17th and 18th of November 1877, resulting in only an average flood, suoh as must be prepared against at every spring. It will be clear in allowing the same amount of'rainfall for the Shotover basin, making a grand total of say. 5,000,000 oubio feet per minutn, for the whole area—that works of some magnitude are required to withstand an ordinary heavy flood. These facts and figures arc submitted for the cogitation of interested parties, and also form the basis of my.argumeuts.

UPPEB SHOTOVER. Frost is beginning to interfere with miniDg work, and washing up is progressing in many clnime.but no results nave ns yet transpired. :

• ■ ' ' MACETOWIT. The Progress party at Advance Peak have been compelled to beat a retreat before the snow. They do so, however, with the assurance of having proved a very valuable property, which uext season will give a good account of itself.- - The Premier Company are also .forced to stop crushing, but will keep on a number of men for the purpose »f raising stone. > ..-. ~ ... ' . Ike scene of the greatest excitement is just now at the Kawarau and bhotover rivera. Mr Sew Hoy has decided to place a dredge to work upon his MO-acre claim upon the lower Shotover, and Mr M'Queen has undertaken its construction, which is sufficient guarantee for its practicability. The remaining portion of the river below Mr Sew Hoy's claim to the junction with the Kawaran has been applied for by two Dunedin parties, in areas of about 2000 acres each. The names mentioned in connection with these claims are those of Messrs M'Lareu and Macdonald for one holding, and Mr A. 3. Burns for the other.