Notes from Arrowtown.

Otago Witness, Issue 2541, 26 November 1902, Page 23

Notes from Arrowtown.

(From Oub Own Coekespokdejtt.) ARROWTOWST, November 20. Tho thunderstorm of laet week was more noisy than dangerous or damaging. Private and public property escaped without any serious injury, and, taken altogether, the storm was a. tame affair, though grand as was tho dispiay of the lightning. The snow has now pretty well disappeared, but increasing heat will ba the cause of keeping the rivers well filled for the remainder of the year. Mr Walter Little, who has put a splendid hydraulic elevator plant upon his claim at Cardrona, has now got to work, and is meeting with very encouraging prospects, although not much can so far be said as to the exact nature of the ground, for it must be borne in mind that only opening work has been done, and, the ground being stony, no great headway can bo made. Mr Little's work is interesting, in so far as it will prove the ex stence of payable gold in the Cardrona Valley, where bo many dredging companies came to grief a short time ago, and also whether or not hydraulicking in preferable to dredging the ground. Lafranchi's Freehold, Cardrona, is doing fairly well when the ground is not too hard and atony, proving that gold is present in paying quantities. No doubt, with better appliances '(" breaking up the wash, the claim will do well. .Dredging in the Shotover is hindered much, by the rise in the Tiver, which, together with the travelling tailings, makes regular and remunerative work next to impossible. At the Kawarau the same conditions obtain, but in an aggravated degree, as Lake "Wakatipu is about 3ft above its normal level, rain having been pretty heavy at the Head, where there are still heavy deposits of snow. To-day is the first summer day we have had this season, the thermometer jumping up from near freezing point to about 50deg of heat in the shade. A continuance of th:a weathei means high rivers. p Notes from Cromwell. (From Our Own Correspondent.) CROMWELL, November 18. The weather is etill unsettled. The rive* has fallen slightly, but is too high for most of the dredges yet. The Hartley and Riley dredge started work to-day. The ground is not deep, but the drift will be troublesome. She will probably get good returns, as the ground is rich. The Riley'a Beach dredge will likely starfc this week. The Alpini Consols and Alpine No. 2 dredge* have discharged their crewb, and will wait for a favourable river. The Rise and Shine, Point dOr, and Rory^ Maori dredges are working fateadi.y. Novtmber 22 1 The weather is now very warm. There v^i rain all round the district yesterday, aai thJ

tiver was up to the highest level yesterday of The P Hartley and Riley dredge is working Bteadily. The drift is very bad. The ground must be rich to get such returns on the present The Junction Electric has started dredging. The Rise and Shine dredge had a good run this week, but had a. break with the winch this morning, which will cause a stoppage. The Point dOr" dredge is on rich wash, going through the bank into the company's own yground. The dredge is now on its own ground, 'and should get good returns.

and to show that I am in earnest I am prepared to take up my quota five times over. I would Btrongly advise shareholders to attend the meet- j ing to look alter their own interests.—l am, etc., Shakzholpeb.