Notes from Kawarau.

Otago Witness, Issue 2302, 14 April 1898, Page 18

Notes from Kawarau.

(From Our Cromwell Correspondent. April 4. — Mining matters have been very quiet lately, and there is only small beer to chronicle. Crookston and party, taking advantage of a rise in the rivsr, took the buckets off tbeir dredgaand began to bring her down*the gorge to the rapids I above the Cromwell bridge. During the time i ppsnt in these operations the river . fell, and| ' having gob the dredge to the top of the rapids, the . ! cwr.ciß found that the' water was not favourable, I so the dredge remains anchored above the rapids waiting a slight rite io the river. It is rather a ticklish job bringing a dredge down this rapid, as there is only 10ft or 15ffc i lefl op each side of the dredge, the river, which islCOyds wide and Bft or .10ft t2eep -at- Lowburn, here- contracting" "to a breadth of about 50ft nn<l dac-lring' fuiiously between rocky cliffs'. When the river is low there is a fall of about 4ffc in height. WKen the river is high this fall disappears, but then the current becomes too strong for navigation. So the dredge is .anchored till the river is 4ffc or sft above'its present level, when tbe passage can'be negotiated. • The Electric Company's dredge are steadily at work, and are reported to be getting excellent returns. Considerable amusement; was created in local mining circles by the publication in the Dunstan Times of the rerurn3 from No. 1 for thiee weeks. The total was 12oz. This, ef course, makes out the cluini to be a duffer. __However, the fourth retu;n, which a little bird whispers to me was 50oz or thereabouts, was kept religiously dark. However, as a difference of opinion to Ihe tune of about £2000 has arisen between the official valuator and the company over the value of the properties belonging to the company, it is not surprising that the company should not object to appear unsuccessful. Another reason, perhaps, is the fact that although the company has the Kawarau pretty well gridironed, yet there are a few patches held by rivals who are endeavouring to float their properties. Unfortunately I am unable to give a good account of the Maori (the Bowman's Flat Company's venture). The Clutha does not appear to be payably auriferous. The Hellers were here the other" day, arid Madame Heller was asked many questions conj cerning the futuie success of various dredges. Like a wise prophetess she foretold success after disappointments and trouble's and a lapse of time sufficient to enable the prophetess to be far away before the fulfilment — or non-fulfilment— of the prophecy. The art of oracular speech is not yet lost. _____ ra _____