Notes from Wakatipu. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 10 April 1901, Page 20

Notes from Wakatipu. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Arrowtown, April 6. — Splendid weather, without excessive heat, has had a reducing effect upon the quantity of water in the rivers and lakes, which have at last reached their summer level, and not a bit too soon.

KA.WABA.U DREDGING.

The Galvanic dredge has reached bottom, and obtained what, under the circumstances, must be considered a fair prospect. It must be borne in mind that when a dredge of up-to-date construction has to work to the highest pitch 'of her strength in order to reach the greatest depth, it is working under consider;able disadvantages, and the v»ork done is not a fair criterion of her (isyaacity. At any rate, the gold obtained (3oz sdwt), under easier conditions, such as a low river, would represent not more than one-fifth of the labour it took •to raise ft. In other words, with a low river five times fhfe amount of gold might have been obtained. This remark is made not to butter up the Galvanic Company and their dredge, but to place the real value of Ihe Kawarau as a payably rlredgenble river before thp public. The Men-iirac has not yet come to the fore with returns. As stated, the dredge is engaged ucot the deepest part of her claim, making for -th? south bank in the bope of striking a ledge th.it :\ Jciowii to cany some pood gold. The Merino Couixmy i: e?id to ponteru-

plate blasting a passage for their dredge through the rapids, which, should be feasible and inexpensibly done. The'Kaw«au Consolidated has had the pontoons acquired from the defunct Victoria Bridge Dredging Company lengthened, and the machinery is being placed on board. The Eclipse is still overhauling her machinery, and it will be a couple of weeks before she can begin, regular work. The Kawarau Bridge dredge is beginning to look like a dredge, after she has been allowed to ride the floods of the Kawarau for about four or five months in idleness. THe Arrow Junction is credited with having obtained some nice little nuggets weighing 3dwt, sdwt, and upwards. To people who know the ground this is no surprise, as gold of a inuoh coarser nature was obtained upon the north bank of the claim, near which the dredge has been working. The Kia-Ora. is about having a trial run, and will, before many weeks are over, be at regular work.

CARDRONA DREDGING. Nothing definite is to hand from the Cardrona. Both Tacon's Cardrona and Cardrona No. 1 are working away steadily, but no returns are made public. The White Star dredge has got to work, but in the opinion, of men who know the ground it will be some little time before she reaches the 'spot where the gold was last met with. THE SHOTOVER RIVER. The news wired you from Skippers concerning the Shotover Quartz Mining Company is of much interest not only to the shareholders, but also to quartz miners generally, as it goes to prove that Otago reefs do live down. The j main adit is at a level of 300 ft below the lowest ' workings in the mine, and there is therefore i a corresponding number of feet of backs to rise upon, which means divis. to a certainty for a" number 'of years -to come. As the mine and the discovery well deserve more extended 1 notice than this -column provides room for. an independent article, will be devoted to them at an early date. The Arthur's Point dredge is at regular work, putting in full time. As the dredge is engaged proving the payability or otherwise -of the main bottom, which is all new ground, the work before her is of a prospecting nature, to all intents and purposes. Shareholders, therefore, must be prepared to bide their time , until a exit has been taken across the river I from bank to bank. This will take some time, ' and until it is done nothing definite can be i said as to the nature of the ground. ARROW RIVER. The Arrow Falls Tunnel Company appear to be getting on to the tail-end of the gold. ■ Last week 60oz of nice nuggety gold was taken ' out of a small paddock, representing a fortnight's work. This return promises well for the future. The Arrow Flat Hydraulic Company, it is understood, will go into voluntary liquidation, pending further arrangements for the working of the ground. The Big Beach Hydraulic Company are getting well over their- ground, meeting with rej inunerative returns.