Notes from Wakatipu. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 1956, 20 August 1891, Page 14

Notes from Wakatipu. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Abbow, August 15.— Owing to continued fn sfcs there is not as yet anything like a general revlvA in miniDg matters, and it will probably be next month before work is again in full swing. The Sandhills dredge, which has be<m laid up through the frost for the past month or six weeks, is now about to resume operations. The only other dredges at work are those of the Sew Hoy Co. at Arthur's Point, Shotover, and the Wnkatipu dredge upon the Kawarau, and all these are upon gold, which, if not rich, is at least obtained by them in quantities that will more than cover working expenses. The Kawarau dredge is now moving on to the claim of the Golden Link. The Frankton Beaoh dredge is to be taken to the ground abandoned by the Golden Bar Co., at the lower end of the Shotover.

Prospecting works have been carried on for some time at the brink and slope of the Grown Terrace, ab a distance of about a mile from Arrowtown. Gold of a very promising character and in encouraging „ quantities was met with almost from the first, but until recently work has been confined to the slipped and broken portions of an immense landslip, so tbat not much could be said of the real value of the find. Recently, however. Messrs Iletoher and Mundy have bottomed a shaft 42tt deep, from which I saw half a pennyweight of shotty gold washed from a small bucket ful of wash stuff. As their shaft Is in what must be considered solid ground it gives the whole affair a healthy and hopeful aspeot, although it is too soon to speak with any degree of certainty upon the probable extent of the run of gold ; and it is quite likely that all the payable ground has already been marked off, so that it would be folly for anyone to come to the new.rush from a distance. There are two drawbacks to the free working of the find. The first is that all the ground is either private or leasehold property, and the second the difficulty in washing the stuff,' there being no water convenient for the purpose. 'Jhe latter difficulty, however, may be overcome, as there are two water rights which command the ground, one of which— that of Messrs Walker and M'Whlrter— hat been brought in already, and the other and more permanent supply— that of Messrs Bremer and Piatow— fro-n Braoken's Gully, which is the highest right in this district, and therefore commands the widest scope of ground, and, representing a good volume of water, is a very valuable property. The elevation is something like 4000 ft above sea level, and being situated upon a sunny sidling, is, in spite of its great altitude, little subject to frost, so that there can be no doubt that this is the water that will ultimately be brought to bear upon the ground.