Central Otago Mining Notes. (By Our Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 1916, 10 August 1888, Page 12

Central Otago Mining Notes. (By Our Correspondent.)

The weather during the past month, although pregnant with the promise of a splendid season for miners in the coming spring, has been wretchedly wet and c6ld— nothing but rain, snow, frost, and ice. The heaviest fall of snow for 19 years occurred in the district a fortnight ago. with the result that at the present moment mountain, hill, and dale are all enveloped in a mantle of fleecy purity. Mining has been suspended for several weeks, all the head races being blocked with congealed snow and ice. rendering it dangerous to turn on the water wliilo they are in this condition. Although all the r vers and creeks are carrying down large volumes of water from the mountains, no damage has yet occurred either to roads, bridges, or crossings ; but it is to be feared that heavy floods will result iv th* spring, [since this was written a rapid thaw has sot, in, so that a flood will be sure to follow.]

GREBN'S BEEF COMPANY, OPHIR.

The Cyolone Crusher, or Walls' Improved corrugated Roller Mill, ordered by this company from America leveral months ago, will. I am advised, reach Dunedin by the Tarawera ou Wednesday, August 8. In a communication to the company the patentees state that in the first place they were unable to execute the order on its receipt, and in the second they experienced a difficulty in getting the mill shipped when it was in readiness, owing to the scarcity of freight. However, it is probable that it will reach the claim by the 20th inst., and as the site is already prepared, it will only be a matter of a few days to place it in position for crushing operations. We may hope to hear the musical " crunch " of the rollers reducing golden quartz by the beginning of September. The halfyearly meeting of the company was held at Naseby last Saturday. Over 12,000 shares were represented, and Mr Leslie A. Norman, chairman of the board of directors, presided. The balance sheet and report were read and unanimously adopted, after which some business of a routine character was transacted. In his statement to the meeting the Chairman remarked that the mill would undoubtedly c *>mmence crushing by the beginning or middle of next month, and there was every reason to believe that the prognostications of the prospectors would be fully verified.