MILLER'S FLAT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2805, 18 December 1907, Page 39

MILLER'S FLAT.

December 12. — After a long spell of dry weather, to-day and yesterday a fine, genial, mild rain fel! which, may yet be in the nick of tinte to save crops of every description, including grass. Were it not for the timely rain, the shortness of grass must have been a big knock to most of the settlers, who were still suffering from shortness of feed owing to last year's drought. Shearing. — The shearing is now well advanced, both on the Teviot and Ormiglade Stations. Sheep are somewhat in a low condition, but the clip and lamb per cent, are pretty well up to the average. The Staff of Life.— Bread and meat are almost at famine , prices. I am of opinion that if any energetic ptorty would undertake to supply this district with fresh fish at a reasonab.e price they would get well patronised and secure good profits for their trouble. The Fruit Crop. — The prospects of the fruit harvest, so far as I can see and hear, will be a long way beyond the average. Small birds and other fruit pests are well under control, so that the prospects are bright. A new departure by way of irrigating orchards and gardens is beginning to establish itself at Miller's Flat. An invention of Mr Fred Bowden, which in style and construction is simplicity itself, offers vast possibilities, not only in its adaptation for irrigation purposes, but I believe the principal can bs applied with success to mining. The contrivance is as yet in its embryo E^age and working on a small scale, therefore is open to great improvement. The motive power and 'water supply are inexhaustible. The contrivance can be used on any stream or river where there i» sufficient current to drive a water-wheel. The plant consists of four ordinary barrels well braced together with wire rope, and enclosed in a wooden fra ue forming a pontoon ; a shaft running across with a small water hole on each end (after the Myle of the old currentwheel dredge), on th© > centre of which is attached a double-acting forcepump, this forcing the .rater through leading pipes to any desired height or distance. . On Mr Bowden's garden it throws the water to the height of 80ft or 100 ft without any signs of the pressure diminishing. The whole structure, minns labour, only costs about £5. If such results can be obtained on a email scale at such small expense through liin pipes, it is only a matter of power and expense to apply the same principle on a large scale to a volume of water thai would nil an 18in pipe capable of working the largest sluicing claim. Should Mr Bowden be able to substantiate his claim to entitle him to get a patent granted, I believe he has a good things — one that will prove a great acquisition to the fruit-growing and mining industries. DREDGING. The Golden Bed dredge is working its way for the second time out of the flat into the river, in order to make a start on the upper portion of the claim, where some private property belonging to the Ormiglade Station formerly obstructed dredging operations. I believe this h»9 now been purchased by the company, which can work the most valuable part of the claim to the very best advantage. This- dredging company has now probably a longer life ahead of it than any other claim on the Clutha River. The, . Golden Treasure dredge still keeps good its reputation aa a dividend-payer, and will shortly, if it is not co already, stand at the head of the list as having returned more ' money" to the fortunate shareholders than any other dredge in New Zealand. Mr Johns and party have entered on another new venture, in the purchase of the Ettrick dredge, and removing it to another claim down the river, where it is to be hoped the party will meet with success. The Golden Run dredge has changed hands. If there ia anything to be made of the venture, it is now in the hands of el capable and energetic man (Mr* W. Adams), who will no doubt, with his usual ability, make things hum. The last two machines are two powerful and up-to-date dredges, which, if placed on payable gold, would keep in constant empleyment 14 or 16 men. That would be a great asset to the business people of the district. Sports. — Our Sports Committee has got up a very respectable programme for the holiday sports. Something between £60 and £70 is to be expended in prize-money. This in itself indicates a certain amount of prosperity for a small district for the year that is now about to terminate its existence in the history of the past.