Notes from Cromwell.

Otago Witness, Issue 2433, 31 October 1900, Page 19

Notes from Cromwell.

(Feom Our Own Correspondent.) . CROMWELL, October 23. The weather is showery, but not enough rain has lallen to seriously affect the rivers. The Magnetic had a break on boaid yesterday, and the diedge will not start again for a fortnight. The Golden Standard pontoons are well forward. My last telegram get mixed. The Alpine dredge found it too deep to bottom where she started, and had to move up stream, and the Central Electric was on her own claim, not on the Alpine's. The report is current that the Junction Electric Company have made an offer to use the Richarda's Beach dredge on tribute. Tho site for the Gold Chair pontoons is being prepared. Octobei 24. The formal opening of the Richard's Beach dredge took place to-day, and a. number of people have gone out. The, Central Electric dredge is now on her claim, between the Hartley a.nd Riley and Junction Electric. The weather is warm, and more rain is threatening. October 25. The dam for the Smith's Creek pontoons is almost ready. Most of the timber for the -dredge is on the ground, but as the framing stuff is not yet to hand the contractor will be unable to start until next week. A start has been made at getting the machinery on the Shepherd's Creek dredge, but the material, which has been lying at Frankton for about four months, is coming to hand in wiong order, and work is delayed. I hear that there is a likelihood of the Alpine dredge being closed down for a spell as she cannot bottom at the xipper end of her claim at the present state of the river. It is reported that the well of the Central Electric is rather narrow for the ladder, but nothing to cause much inconvenience. October 27. The Junction Electric dredge is now on a nice piece of river, and got last week's return without taking her cut across the river from bank to bank. At this rate the ground between her present position and the confluence of the Clutha and Kawarau will take a considerable time to work out, as the river is wide. Good returns may be expected for some time yet, perhaps considerably above last week's. The Meg and Annie dredge is working on a fine stretch of river, being from bank to bank, aboxxfc 50 yards of good, easily dredged ground, with a nice soft blue rock bottom. The whole of the claim appears to be of -the same character.

Mr Bain is making good progress with the Gentle Annie pontoons. Three days will finish planking, and the pontoons are now halfcaulked. The conti actor expects to launch in a fortnight. The ship is a sister to the Upper Magnetic, and the pontoons are very well built. The Upper Magnetic is not yet finished, and will not be ready to start operations for a fortnight or three weeks. The housing is half-done, and the fitting of the driving gear still requires a lot of attention.