UPPER TAIREI.

Otago Witness, Issue 2413, 31 May 1900, Page 34

UPPER TAIREI.

May 21. — Divring the past week a deluge of rain fell throughout the district. The mountain streams have been thundering down an immense volume of water for some days past, consequent on the melting of the snow in the higher regions of the district. The Deep Stream was flooded for several days, with the result that wheeled traffic was entirely suspended. The Deep Stream Amalgamated Hydraulic - Sluicing Company were compelled to suspend mining operations for some time, owing to the flooded state of the stream. Since the flood subsided ruining operations have been cairied on day and night by the manager, under a heavy pressure of water from the Lamrnerlaw heights. TlTe^Crops. — The time, I think, is opportune for making a few remarks in reference to the in-gathering of the cereal crops in this locality. It is gratifying to report that, taken on the whole, a splendid yield of grain crop has been drayed in from the growing fields, and stacked in splendid condition for threshing later on. In my rambles through the lower division of the district recently, I noticed that quite a number of the small farmers in the immediate neighbourhood of Deep Stream and Clark's Junctior have gathered in an immense quantity of crop, judging from the number of large stacks to be ' seen here. At Shannon Braes, Messrs Andrew, John, and David Peat, respectively, have quite a forest of stacks near their several homesteads, while their root crops are well forward in respect to growth and prime condition. MINING. The recent heavy rainfall has enabled a number of sluicing claim-holders in this district to resume work after an interval of enforced idleness, consequent on an insufficient supply of water for motive power and sluicing requirements. The Lamnierlaw mining claims are vigorously prosecuting their labours with a view to having a washing up prior to the advent of severe frosfe and snowstorms. I note that the dredging boom has reached the Upper Taieri, and judging from the prospectus I have before me, I should say the Upper Taieri district will in the near future take a very high place among the gold-produc-ing districts in Otago. lam persuaded that thn day is not far distant when ihe Lammerlaw will support a large population.