Kawaran Notes.

Otago Witness, Issue 2507, 9 April 1902, Page 22

Kawaran Notes.

(From a. Correspondent.) April 6. On Wednesday evening we were visited by the heaviest thunderstorm ever experienced in this locality, and I behove we only got the tail end of it, tor the roads here are comparatively uninjured, while between the Cromwell Brewery and Clyde they hare suffered heavily. The flashes of lightning were truly aupalling, but strange to say the thiuider vf.s by wo nieaus so continuous as the lightning. Tiie darkness was that of Erebus, and it was only by the vivid flashes that waggoners and travellers who were caught in the storm could discern their wherabouts. Several act idcuis were narrowly averted. Near Gibbaton Mr John Chalmers, surfaceman, was returning horns to Waitin, and at the jSevib Bluff, whi.jn is the most dangerous portion of the road, he got out cf hia springcart to lead the horse, as it was very rpstive. The horse mva t have ntsmiij'cd over a ..tone dislodged from the cliff abo\e by the deluge of ram, and fell with one of its legs over the shift. Aa it could nor rise, Mr Chalmers cut the harness adtift. The cart must have be?n on the brink of the chasm, lor as soon as the horse rose the ca.rt went over 'he edge, dragging the horse w:lh it. Mr Chalmers heid a tight grip of the horse's he,id, and the poor brute, recognising its danger, made a couple of terrific plunges and freed itself. The next moment the cait was hurled into tha rapids of the Kawarau. One "hud-Ws to think of the consequence had not Mr Chaimar, alighted m time. Between the foot of tlir gor<;e and the Roaring Meg-, Mr Jniiks Chain'er-. a'irl Mr fiai Carlson weie '. uvollr jj in o-inrwiti directions with empty \wggoui. 'J he hoi.-f-, trm'icd by the lightning, beci/u" .'ilmosfc uinrunagcable, and the rfiult w.'s (hey had to be unyoked and taken to a. place of safety, and the waggons left where they werp. All the time big stones we're tumbling down from the sidhngs above, and it was a miracle no injury was suffered. So intense was the darkne ot< that Chalmers had no idea of the exact locality where he abandoned his waegon. Much sympathy is extended t) Mr John Chalmeis at the serious loss he has suffered by the loss of his cart and harness, as, being a working man, it is of serious moment to him. The Btorm did not affrct the Kawarau much, as it only rose from lft to 2ft. and quickly subsided. The Gentle Aunie dredge is shiftyig a few chains higher up into a nice basin, and I hope soon to be able to chronicle that she has struck it rich. The Meg ai.d Annie dredge did not start till Monday evening, as some neceosary repairing had to be done, but I expect her to keep up her reputation as a gold-producing machine this week. As som2 tumours are about that this claim .-, about worked out, a few facts relative to the matter may be of interest to shareholder and others. As I am residing clo=e to tho <. iaini, they can bp taken as authentic. F'om where tne dredge is at present working to where the former dredgemaster (Mr L>. M'lnto^n) first started dredging, there is a block of ground that may last another month — ample to yield one or two more record returns, for the geld 111 this locality is coarse, and, as all mir.eis know, patchy, and an extra rich patch is ever the star of hope in a digger's breast The dredge may strike one of these any day in this block. At the foot of the claim, adjoining the upper boundary of the Gentle Ai'nic, there is af, le.i^-t a couple of months' work in virgin grouiid, which has been pr»ved to be highly payable by tlu drodge leaving good gold b°hmd in it when she wa& taken down to work at the lower end of the claim. But the best of this is undoubtedly the special claim of between 15 and 16 chains, situated between the Meg and Annie's upper pegs and the lower [ pegs of the Annie Queen, where the Upper Magnetic dredge 13 working with such splendid results. As the ground immediately below this I yielded over three figures weekly for a considerable time, and I prophesy that the Upper Magnetic will do equally a3 ; well before long, it stands to reapon that this special claim promises to be very rich. I doubt whether six months would work it out. Besides, the old rich ground I formerly worked is expected to go at least 30oz a week when worked over again, so shareholders need not scuttle too soon. The Upper Magnetic dredge is on very rich wash, and should have a big return this week. 1 As you know, she had a breakdown last Wed- , nesday. Everything 15 working and well now. She started dredgi: g on Monday evening, but it would take hn a. i.oiip!e of shifts to bale tho drift out of the cut dcioss the rive:.

I don't know what steps thu G-ranct Junction Company have taken re the erection of the machinery, but, ag the winter is approaching,. it is time a start was made.