CROMWELL NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21948, 9 May 1933, Page 11

CROMWELL NOTES

CENTRAL OTAGO

(From Our Own Correspondent.) CROMWELL, May 8. At the first meeting of the newlyelected Borough Council Cr Sanders was elected Deputy-Mayor. A proposal to raise the Mayor’s honorarium from £2O to £25 was defeated. In view of the increasing duties of the local police officer, and the demands on his time in visiting outlying centres, it was decided to apply to the superintendent for the appointment of a second constable at - Cromwell. WINTER SPORTS. Senior flag football matches in the Vincent County were commenced on Saturday. The local senior fixture was between Cromwell and Bannockburn, the former winning hy nine points to nil. A B Grade curtain-raiser between Cromwell and Banfiockburn was also won by Cromwell by 14 points to 3. The recently-organised Ladies Hockey Club is flourishing, and the club hopes to place two teams in the competition. The Golf Club has made excellent headway preparing the greens on the new links at Mr Bradley’s. The opening will be held this week. AVIATION.

Flight-lieutenant, Olson, the pilotinstructor of the, Otago Aero Club, arrived in Cromwell by aeroplane on Wednesday, remaining until Saturday morning. His stay was distinctly successful, as he permanently established a training school at Cromwell. He enrolled four pupils, three beginners, and one a holder of an A license who is aiming to qualify for a B license. The three beginnners are brothers. Under the skilful instruction of Flight-lieutenant Olsou, the pupils made excellent progress. The aeroplane will probably return to Cromwell early this week. THE WEATHER. Bleak, unsettled weather conditions continue. While growth on the pastoral country is coming away well, farmers are looking for settled weather, as some have not yet sown the autumn crops. Snow was falling on the mountains yesterday afternoon, and since midnight a southerly wind has prevailed with cold rain on the flats. MTNING. The monthly sitting of the Warden's Court at Cromwell will take place on Wednesday. So far there is no word of any finality regarding the many areas on the Cromwell FlatThere is some satisfaction at the latest announcement, which can bo accepted as reliable, that objections by the unemployment authorities to the granting of several reefing areas at Bendigo have been withdrawn. The way is now clear for the grants to be made, and once these are made considerable activity in that locality can be anticipated. It is hoped 'that the position in regard to many other areas will be similarly simplified in the near future.

The stretch of eight miles of the Nevis River Gorge, from the Kawarau to the Nevis Crossing, has for years been considered a fairly rich area, but its inaccessible nature has been a bar to prospecting. It was recently taken up by a local syndicate which aimed first at de-

watering the area by means of a storage dam at Nevis Crossing. This was surrounded with difficulties, and another scheme for working the area was sought. The services of Mr Cree Brown, consult' ing engineer, were secured, and he has just completed an inspection of the area. His formal report is said to be highly satisfactory, and the scheme proposed for dewatering long stretches at a time is by means of the latest, patent syphon, which has a capacity considerably above the average flow of the river. A definite report- will be submitted at an early date, and early activity in working the river in the gorge seems assured. \ A halt has been forced in the big mining concerns in the Nevis field much earlier than is usually the case. In fact, those who can speak with authority are figuring out when such an early closing down last occurred. Early in April rough weather set in with much snow, and the drifts caused damage to the water race. As it was so late in the season and the rough weather continued, it was considered hardly wise to carry out any extensive repairs. The interruption of the water services was distinctly unfortunate for Jones and party, as the full supply was necessary to operate the two lifts working the deep ground. While this continued very rich the desired progress could not_ be made. On top of this, when work was in hand to ensure the safety of the paddock during the winter, the heavy rain and snow caused a slip, and this further impeded progress. The claim has now been closed down for the winter.

The boring plant at Nevis has also ceased work. It is freely reported that some excellent prospects were struck.