ARROWTOWN AW) SURROUNDINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2150, 9 May 1895, Page 5

ARROWTOWN AW) SURROUNDINGS.

out sny actual prospects. With groat pluck and enterpriss they have driven a tunnel some 200 ft long, and had tho luck to strike a very promising reef about lib in width and showing fair gold throughout. They have a small battery of four heads exactly opposite the tunnel, which they pub iuto thorough working order erecting a shed over it. It was started for the first time on the oc asioa of our visit, but the water was hardly sufficient to keep the stamps running at the propor speed. However, after the next fall of rain it is anticipated th%t any difficulty in this direction will be entirely removed. Tho greatest credit is due to tho courageous effortu of the little baud, who have set about exploiting tho mine in a thoroughly practical mauner, and they are deserving of every success. We next set out for

THB PIIEMIER MINE,

which was recently purchased by the Glenrcck Company. The manager is Mr Walter J. Stanford, who prior to his coming to New Zealand was engaged in mining in Johannesburg and Zoutpanberg, Sauth Africa. For the sake of economy he is employed ,as minsg*>r of both the Premier and the TJpperary m'nes. He extended a hearty welcome to us, and having entertained us at lunch, conducted us throughout the whole of the mine. At present no work at all is baing done, but Mr Stanford has received advice from London that preparations for starting the mine afresh are to be made imme liately. A new manager will be sent from Home, aud cousfqnently Me Stanford iutends to return to South Africa after first paying a visit to the old country. Wo were shown through the low-level tunnel, which is 2100f6 in length, and Mr Stanford produced plans for the future working ot tha stone by means of an inclined drive below this level, the stone to We drawn up Vy a g«s ergiuo and winding gear. As i>o-u as work is s;art<d tho two tunnels will ba puehed on vigorous'y in the hopes of striking a fresh shoot. Should ono hi struck, Mr Stanford is confident that the mine will mike a good name for

climate. Further, it is tho boast of the farming community that; they produce the finest wheat and barley in the colony. In truth, the former is of such exceptionally good quality that it is utilised t) mix with iufcrior grain. This year one well-known Duuedin gentleman bought up the whole of the seasou's g-owfcb. in the district. The 3ettlers complain bitterly of the expense they are put to in sending their produce to the various centres of commerce. " It costs ma 7£d a bmhel t j land my grain in Duuedio," was the remark of a leading farmer, " and besiclc3 that I hwo to pay for tha labour and carriage in transporting it to th 9 Lake Wakatipu Company's boats " The cost of shipping produce to Kingston is certainly a big item, and Lake residents have long been hammering at the Government to assist thorn in come way. Various means are suggested. Some propose that a railway should be constructed from Kiugston to Frankton, a distance of some 22 miles. They urge that there are no great difficulties in the way of its construction, and the work must be undertaken sooner or later at settlement advances, but notwithstanding these arguments it is highly improbable the Government will incur any further re«ponsibilitiei in the way of fre-h railway extension— for some time to corns, anyhow. Another, and more feasible, plin appear* to bo the proposal that the Government should subsidise the preosnt company, in order that it msy be able to reduce the freight charge?, and still leave a fair margin of proiit to those who have invested their nnney in the venture The farmers f ought to relieve their necessity by runuiag a bjat of their own, bit they soon discovered tha l ; the opposition was too strong to enibla thorn to successfully carry out their proje3t. That the rates are high every fair and uubiasied pejnon is compalloi to admit. F.t instance, ono gentleman ia tho Arrow district", wishing to extend hit busioejs operation*, imported machinery from Melbourne. Thcfro'gh l .o:i the goods from Kingston to Qaeenstown was exactly one-'.hir J more than that charged by the

home than a hospital. It stands on an ideal s ; to, well sheltered, and commanding an unriv.illed view of tha 11 with smiling farms in the foreground, and tho Crown and Skipper ranges on the lc r t and right. Tfio grounds ai\s prettily planted, and an abundant supply of water is ob'-.sined from a spring, the water being brought into the hospital by means of a ram pump. High pressure boilers are also fitted up, so that hot wat r, so needful in such an institution, is always forthcoming. There are male, female, and special wards, besides a fever ward, but during my vl*\t thnre were hipp ; ly only six patients. Dr J. B. Thomson — well k«owu in football circles — is the present house surgaon, for whom a suitable residence is in course of erection.