Notes from Wakatipu. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2424, 30 August 1900, Page 18

Notes from Wakatipu. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

ARROWTOWN, August 25.— There is every probability of the Arthur's Point dredge, Shotover River, getting to work before the summer causes the rivei fco rise. This is, of courre, of considerable iniportpnce while prospecting and opening the ground, as the dredge will have to work to a depth exceeding 30ft measuring from the present water level. The recent rise m the Kawarau River enabled the contractois of the Arrow Junction Compnny's pontoons to float them with a minimum of trouble. The contractors are Messrs Nees and Co., repie3ented in this case by Mr W. Thomson, as foreman, who with, his staff of competent carpenteis finished the craft in something less than seven weeks, a record feat. The launching showed tk<tt a substantial job had been made of the boat, which is of an average size -that i-i, length 305 ft, width 26ft, depth 7ft Gin. The pontoons are built of ironbark, blue gum, and kauri, and are on the '' choid " principle, the designer being Mr Leslie Reynolds. A good deal of the timber work on boaid the diedge is in a forward state, and everything will soon bs ready for the erection of machinery. The machinery for the Eclipse dredge, Kawaraa, is arriving at Frankton, and some of it is on the building site already. At Cardiona the Rolling Stone dredge has been at work sevcial weeks since being fitted with steam in place of hand winches. It is mooted that m ploces some little tiouble is experienced in cleaning up the bottom where it is hard. The same leport says that the letuins are fair, though they do not yet coma up to expectations. However all this may be, there is no need to apprehend any unfavourable disclosures, simply because the company elects to keep its affaiis secret. The Cardiona is too vast a field for one dredge by a few weeks' work to definitely determine its value as a. diedging locality. The contractors for the Oardiona No. 1 pontoons have made a start with building, and no time wil be lost in pushing on the work to its completion. Remoteness of position inihtai.es a gieat deal against the Cardiona, the s,nme as the Head of Lake Wakatipu and other portions of this goldfiekl. The poiitoons for T? con's dredge are now ready for the reception of the machineiy, which will probably be at work before many weeks are over.