Notes from Horseshoe Bend.

Otago Witness, Issue 1892, 15 May 1890, Page 15

Notes from Horseshoe Bend.

(Fbom Our Own Oobrkspondknt.)

May 12. --Never at any previous time did the mining industry in this district look so promising as at present. Every acre ot likely ground on both hanks of the river from the Beaumont to Coal Creek is taken up as claims or licensed holdings, and every sluice head of water is either taken up orapplied for. This is in a great measure owing to the energy and enterprise of Mr C. C. Rawlins, manager of the Island Block Co., of whom it is not too much to say that he has been a publfc benefactor to this part ot the country. Previous to his advent to start tho Island Block, mining matters were almost as low as at any time during the last 25 years. Now everything is changed. Work is abundant ; in fact, there is hardly an idle man to be met with. Teams wj constantly on the road conveying material to some one or other of the claims of which Mr Rawlins is manager, and in all of which he is a large ohareholder, thus showing bis confidence in the ventures of which he takes charge, and also showing the foico of aromarkwhichhe made in a letter to the Witness, " that if a claim was not good enough for him it was not tood enough tor the public." There lias been a good deal of dissatisfaction expressed of 1 ite owing to the manner in which applications for water rights have been dealt with by Warden Itevell. The principal sources of supply are tituarn on the Beaumont run. Every application is certain to be objected to on the ground that it inter-

feres with the working of the run ; then when the day of hearing comes on the objeotor doe» not appear, and the Warden Very obligingly adjourns the case to suit the convenience of the runholder. If Warden Eevell had been appointeJ for the Special ' purpose of looking after the interests of the owner of the run he could not be niore ready to grant an adjournment whenever they ask for it. It is oertainly time that there waß some alteration in the present state of affairs.

1 have just heard that it is intended to form a company to work a part of the freehold of the Beaumont run. Would it be too much to suggest that the vendors should show their confidence in the matter by having the ground prospected at their own expense ? Unless they do this I would strongly advise intending investors to have nothing to do with the affair. I know the ground, so that I am not making a suggestion in the dark. lam informed that t c vendors value their interest at the immense sum of £50,000.

Another dredging claim has been taken up and all the capital subscribed. The olaim is situate on the Clutha, and is, I believe, a very promising eonoern. A bank olaim of 40 acres has also been taken up clo6B to it. This also is very likely to prove a good investment, as I know there has been gold got about, though owing to the appliances, in very limited quantities. There is, however, a very great difference betweeu an old-fashioned cradle and a hydraulic elevator.