Notes from Wakatipu.

Otago Witness, Issue 2106, 5 July 1894, Page 13

Notes from Wakatipu.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Arrow, June 30. — The weather continues exceptionally mild and open, and all mining works are progressing uninterruptedly. But people prepare, and wisely too, for a spell of frost during July, At Criffel Face, Cardrona, sluicing has been suspended for the winter. It transpires that last summer's yield did not come up to that of the previous year. This is accounted for by the fact that parties had to sluice away great quantities of top stuff containing no gold, an operation that absorbed a good deal of time and water. However, it is satisfactory to know that the gold is there, and next year it is hoped will make up the deficiency. Quartz mining at Skippers as well as at Macetown is looking up, and good news is to hand from the Premier at Macetown, the Achilles at Bullendale, and the Gallant Tipperary at the Shotover, all of which mines are on good stone, and in a fair way of raising it in quantity.

The asbestos mine at Gentle Annie Creek, Kawarau, owned by Messrs O'Leary and party, is opening out on the lode, which is of a good body. The party have submitted sample of their asbestos to Professor Ulrich, of the Dunedin School of Mines, who reports favourably upon it in his usual thorough 'and careful manner. Professor Ulrich pronounced the sample as somewhat better than that found by Mr Docherty at Dusky Sound, West Coast. The professor then goes on to say: — "Regarding the commercial value of asbestos, that entirely depends upon the quality — i.e., such as the samples you sent might fetch from .£lO to JEIS per ton, whilst, if consisting of flexible, silky fibre (amianthus) of some inches ill length, enabling it to be spun and woven into cloth, double and treble that price might likely be obtained. In fact, the longer, finer, and more flexible the fibre the higher its value." Professsor Ulrich concludes his remarks •with some plain directions for developing the lode, and the party who own the property have every reason to be gratified with the report of Mr Ulrich, who is well known not to exaggerate any mining venture, but to speak plainly as to the facts of any case submitted for his opinion. Some well-known miners have been quartzreef hunting in the neighbourhood of New Chum Gully, Arrow River, during the week, but so far nothing tangible has resulted. However, it has been proved that the lode tested contains gold in appreciable quantities.