CENTRAL OTAGO NOTES. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 10 April 1901, Page 42

CENTRAL OTAGO NOTES. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Alexandra, Apul 8 — The Molyneux is falling very slowly. She only fell about 4m duung tho week. Dredging men anticipate a very low river this winter

The Gorge dredges are expected to yield very handsome returns this winter. May it prove so

The Earnscleuf;h No. 2 is on a very rich piece of ground, as her late returns prove. This week's return is an excellent one.

The Earnscleugh No. 1 is still stripping. A very, gruesome discovery camo to light on Saturday morning list, the 6th 111 st. — a human skeleton, complete bar the feet, was found by the No. 1 men. The reason of the feet being missing is put down to their being washed away duung the night, as they continued to strip all night as well as all day. The remams point to a large man. A peculiar circumstance is that there is a large hole at the lower left-hand side of the back of the head, also that there is a crack right along as well. It is surmised that these are pttributable to a gunshot wound Another pecuhai point is that there were about 30 empty whisky (I believe) bottles beside the skeleton. The local constable has the remains m his charge, and is making energetic inquiries in regard to the affair. Some think th?t the skeleton is about 30 years old.

The Per-everance still keeps her good name up as a gold-getter. Her return is not quite so large sis last week's.

A gocd numbex of dredges aie dosing to-day (.Easter Monday).

The Matau looks as if she is sroing to i.phold her last winter's ie!urn«. She 13 working steadily.

The Golden Beach lias stalled diodgmg again, ha\ ing completed a very thoiongh overhaul.

The Chicago did not wa<-h up last week. She shifted o\ er to the cast side of the nvei, where better icturns aie expected.

The New Altxandra bioke a pinion last Wednesday. A new one is expected to arrive today

The Moa diedge is working steadily. A decided improvement is noticeable in her return.

I believe the Bald Hill Flat diedge started working shifts last week.

The Manuherikia is dredging steadily, but hei return is not so large rs I expected.

I have not heard whether the Sailor's Bend dredge washed up last week.

Tho Golden Link is working steadily. Her return is about her pieaent average. The Olrig keeps about lOoz. She is dredging steadily.

The Enterprise Xo. 1' s return is an improvement for the better. Her returns are slightly above the average. The Morning Star diedge had very hard luck in coming to grief, as she was on a fairly rich piece of ground. On Tuesday last, about 10 o'clock, she fell right over on her side. The crew had a very close shave. One pontoon, and most of the machinery, is completely under water. It is expected that not much trouble will be experienced in righting her; but most of the machinery will have to be taken off her, in my opinion. I believe "'top heavy was the cause. The Enterprise No. 2 is dredging steadily, bar a slight delay at the beginning of the week.

Mr Ehodes is making great headway with the erection of the River Molyneux pontoons. Most of the timber is on the ground. Planking is going on at present. The tumbler framing, etc., is being expeditiously erected on the Bendigo. MeFsrs A. and T. Burt are pushing the erection of machinery on the First Chance with all possible speed. Most of the buckets are on the ladder.

Non-arrival of timber is causing delay with the Alexandra Lead pontoons. She will be a very large dredge when completed. The Cromwell dredges are still far ahead in the returns. The liver must be wonderfully rich up there.