MINING AT CROMWELL. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2240, 4 February 1897, Page 31

MINING AT CROMWELL. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

February I.— Last sitting of the court was a record, taking two full day*' hard work. About 100 applications were heard in the Warden's Court, and the S.M. Court was well patronised. An application by .1. O. Matthews for 50 acres of a special claim at Bannockburn, on behalf of the Bannockburn syndicate, waa opposed by about 70 residents of that place on the ground that the syndicate, by getting this piece of ground, which. ia situated in the heart of the Bannockburn goldfield, might purchase the races under offer, work the special claim, and force the other claimholders to sell their propmty at tha syndicate's price. The warden intimated that he would grant the application subject to tha condition that the syndicate fulfil within a certain time the agreements already entered into with the claimholders of Bannockburn. Mr J. 0. Matthews ia still negotiating away, but the claimholdera seem to be coy, and the, courtship is long and tedious. Perhaps the recent proceediDg3 are only a lover's quarrel* that will lead to a speedy marriage. ■ 3£' Lay and party's new dredge at Lowburn ia jv.ctty well fitted up, and will foon be working. The machinery has been placed in position by Mr M'Kay himself. The Bowman's Flat Company (Hotop and Co.) are at last entering on active operations. The timber for the pontoons of their dredge is now nearly all on the ground, and the contractor, Mr Sutherland, will start at work building the pontoons in a few days. At present he is engaged at the Electric. The Kawarau Company, whose claim is on the Kawarau River just by ttie town of Cromwell, are getting the machinery placed on their dredgo. The viver rose rapidly after the recent rains in the Wakatipu district, and for a day or two work on this dredge was suspended. ' She Vhe dredging in a month or two, and if - shest, e» it as rich as the Electric her shareholder ought to be happy men. Coal. — Mr Stronaeh has at last finished putting ■ in a tunnel to «aye 40ft or so of pumping at the coal mine, and has got tho pump at workpumping Out the mine. Seeing that a dredge will soon be W work immediately uelow the mmo. and another

on tha Clutha, this mine ought to prove a perfect ' bonanza. |