WAKATIPU MINING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 181, 6 August 1886, Page 18

WAKATIPU MINING NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Arrow, August 4.

No further important news is to hand about the prospects obtained by the Cardrona Prospecting Association, but it is generally believed that the gold got indicates the payable nature of the ground. The prospectors are placed in peculiar circumstances with regard to divulging any of the secrets of their doings. In the first place, they are expected to report to the committee of the association before making public anything connected with the mine ; and, in the second place, prudence dictates that the prospectors ascertain the probable course of the lead of gold in order to mark off their claim in accordance with it. The total depth of the ground is 25ft from the surface to the reef. The ground is of a pretty solid nature ; well bound gravel with large stones, but with no large boulders. There is a goodly quantity of water in the ground, but nothing but what may be raised easily with a Californian pump, plenty of motive power being available. The general fall in the Cardrona Valley being pretty flat, pumps are preferable to long tail races. The prospecting party combine both methods of draining the ground. A tail race was taken up till a depth of 15ft or 16ft was reached, then a paddock was taken out, and from the paddock a shaft has been sunk in which gold has been obtained. The above comprises all the essential items in connection with the prospecting works so far as they are known. The Tipperary Company at Macetown has not yet been able to drive out the foul aii\from their shaft. A drive is within 30ft of breaking through into the^affected shaft, which if effected is expected to drive out the foul air. The frost appears to have broken, but there are often occasional relapses which still hinder mining operations much, and mining news is therefore meagre.