KAWARAU DAM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22628, 20 July 1935, Page 14

KAWARAU DAM

CLOSED FOR FURTHER WEEK SMALL QUANTITIES OF GOLD OBTAINED (Special to Daily Times) CROMWELL, July 19. Following' the closing of the Kawarau dam early in the week very mild weather has been experienced in the Cromwell district with an almost complete absence of frost and a light shower of rain immediately following the closing. While the tributaries of the Kawarau were low before the closing of the dam, the mild conditions caused a slight fresh and the lowest point touched during the week was two to three feet above that of 1932.

Application was made for an additional week’s closing and this was granted by the department, so that the dam will remain closed until Thursday next. A number of men arc prospecting on the river, but in the circumstances the results were generally small, although one or two prospectors are reported to have struck payable patches. The weather is fine, and if frosts set in a more favourable level for prospecting is anticipated. MrVickerman, the company’s engineer, spent two days on the river with others interested in the affairs of the company.

The general opinion is that such mild weather in mid-July has never previously been known in this district, and everything points to a very early spring. There is little snow on the high country and the weather at present is fine and settled.