TALE AND TAILINGS, TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 10 April 1901, Page 21

TALE AND TAILINGS, TO THE EDITOR.

Sib, — Being greatly interested in the dredging industry, I decided to go and view the land of promise for myself, and 1 have here ventured to give the results of that tour in and around the Kawarau district for the benefit of the uninitiated public. After viewing dredges situated between Impossible cliffs and boulders, solus of which had only a. very small ar*a of dredging space unless some superhuman agency h-ft them bodily over the rocks on to fre9h ground, and whose life must of necessity be very short, I decided to visit those more 111 the open. I found one at labt, brand new, right in the middle of an open, pebb!}', gravelly creek. I looked around for someone to interview, and pounced upon a Chinaman, who was talking to an individual m shirt sleeves and top boots, apparently an old miner, whose face wore the sardonic exmession of the great unconvinced as he puffed at an old pipe and watched the progress of work upon the diedge.

In answer to my question of " How long you savvy this ground?" the Chinaman replied, "Twenty, tirty years." "Very good ground?" I queried, " Oh l welly, welly good ground; my countrymen work him all ober two, tree times." " But," said I, appealing to the Sphinx in top boots, "this ground appeals to me like virgin ground'" "Tailings, madam, tailings, 40ft deep," growled tho booted one. " But," I cri=d, " whatever induced anyone to put a dredge upon ground already worked? There rannot be payable gold here? The ladder of the dredge carnot go be'ow 40ft? Who prospected this claim? Who floated this company'" etc., etc But that ancient miner

Breathed no word to indicate a doubt, But put his thumb up to hfs nose

And spread his fingers out."

I shall be greatly obliged if any of the dredging fraternity will kindly explain this man's singular behaviour, and enlighten. — Yours, etc., A. Woman.