Mining in Central Otago

Otago Witness, Issue 1866, 26 August 1887, Page 13

Mining in Central Otago

Editor Witness, — Mr W. Harley Smith, I note, takes exception to my remarks concerning a recent gold discovery at Little Kyeburn. My object in penning the paragraph to which Mr Smith refers was not to promote <a rush on a small scale, but simply to show that our goldfields are not by any means yet worked out, as many chronic croakers would lead us to believe. I confess, however, that I should have warned niggers against " rushing " the locality, as the golden area is circumscribed in extent, and probably already held under certificate ; and, in

addition, that water is very scarce in the neighbourhood, excepting during the winter months of the year. Mr Smith's assertions, permit me to remark, must be taken with the proverbial grain of salt, as he is an interested party, and not at all likely to place the British public in possession of the actual' state of affairs. Little Kyeburn is like many other diggings. There are some good patches about it, and the greater portion of it will pay good wages | but -water is not always available for sluicing purposes, and where such is the case the value of the auriferous deposit becomes reduced alniobt to nil. Under such circumstanced water is literally a 9 valuable as the precious metal itself. — Yours truly, Youn Correspondent.