Notes from Wakatipu. (From Our Own Correspondent).

Otago Witness, Issue 2206, 11 June 1896, Page 18

Notes from W akatipu. (From Our Own Correspondent).

Arrowtown, June 6.— During the past week Mr G. L Tacon, on behalf of a Christchurch syndicate, k<\s been vuiting these parts with a view to iuvc-vtmants. Two specs have bsen takenup by him. One is the asbestos lode in the Hearing Meg.'whera a mineral lease has been applied for ; and the other is a dredging claim near Victoria Bridge, Kawarau River. The lattei has been the fancy spot of many mining inyef,tors, has several times baen pegged off and applied for, but for one reason or another it was never gone on wjth. From the richne3B of the groun ! iv the neighbourhood and the conditions of tin; liver channel the inference may be drawn tW., the ground should be rich. The present owneit, known as the Golden Beach Dredging Company, contemplate putting on a powerful dredare with all the latest improvements with the least possible delay. It is to be hoped that it will be the pioneer_ of many other similar ventures, for all of whioh there is a fair field for success. Mr Tacon appears to make dredging a specialty, very sagaciously comprehendiug ana estimating its many advantages in all kinds of ground within its. reach of effectiveness. Otstgo may be said to be the native soil of dredging ope rations for gold, and no doubt the industry will extend to other gold-mining countries. Nor has it reached the limits of its capabilities in Otago. There are many dry flats and gullies in nearly every goldfield th»t would pay well for dreitJng, and to bring in water for the working of which i-» impracticable. So long as thero is water to float it a dredge would bo all that is required. A repoit, for which there appears to be some foundation, has it that the new owners of the Sandhill dredge have banked a cake of gold weighing 121b. The Tipperary Company, Macotown, have now got into working order again, having repaired all the damage done by the sudden bursting in of the water, which, however, was not in any way alarming. It is estimated that about 800 tons of debris were lodged in the workings, which had to be re- ' moved and dumped outside the tunnel mouth. The reconstruction of the company is now proceeding, the time for the old shareholders renewing their shares having expired on the 21st of last 1 mouth. Tha name of the new compmy is the Westralia and New Zealand Gold Explorers (Li^it.«d). Tho last cake from the Achilles miae weighed 7610z, and was tha produce of 750 tous of quaitz, bearing out the remarks made in my last notes i about the improving quality of the stone as lowtr depths are reached.