Notes from Tuapeka.

Otago Witness, Issue 2274, 30 September 1897, Page 19

Notes from Tuapeka.

(From Our Wetherstones Correspondent.)

September 27.— A1l the claims about here have been ■-teadily at work during the past two wei-ks. The Golden Rife washed down last Saturday, after a month's elevating. Their paddock is a little over an acre. One of the party told me that it paid them good wages— that means fi-om £1 to £2 a day clear of expenses They will ba shifting their plant to-day (Monday) farther down, between the ground they have worked and the Wetherstones road. That will give a chance for their ■water to accumulate, for their dam was getting low.

The Robertsons have nearly all their machinery for the dredge in position. They have only a part covered or housed. The boiler and the part around it are not housed. I ihiuk they are wiong in not covering it. The machinery ought all to be covered. I was informed that some of those who took up a dredging claim at Evans's Flat went out last Wednesday to choose a site to build the dredge on. The dredge may be ready by next February.

Mr Gascoigne has not returned yet to start cutting his race. If he intends to go on with it it i 3 about time he commenced, for the ground is in goed order for race-cutting. A lot of men have been waiting around here expecting that he would have made a start be'ore now. He has applied for other six months' protection for the claims. There aie some in this district who took up ground for mining, but had not the slightest intention of ■working it themselves or in expending any of their own money on it. If they can get others to commence operations, well and good. If not, the ground can lie.

The first of my mining career commenced, both in Victoria and Otago, with what I would call Adam-aud-Eie guld-saving machinery, and it is likely to end with that sort of machinery. In Victoria there wai an addition of a tub along with the cradle to hump about when emigrating to fresh pastures. Otsgo beiug more of a sandy nature a batter does not require to cairy a tub with him. la the summer time there is even no water to keep a cradle going where one wants it.