DEEP STREAM.

Otago Witness, Issue 2850, 28 October 1908, Page 40

DEEP STREAM.

- October 24. — Farmers in this district Ijave sow about got their orop in, and some of jibem are cropping very extensively-. Some fentlo rains have fallen during the. loot week. This is helping things along wonderfully, and there is quite -a considerable imount of young grass springing- now, and the hillsides are once more wearing their welcome and pleasing garment of green. Lambs are plentiful, as we are just in the middle of the lambing in this neighbourhood. Mining. — Men are now coming back almost Cverr djuv to their claims on -tite mountain, and already Mr Mason, of Lawrence., has begun carting material with his bullock-team to the Canadian Flat Sluicing Co. on the Upper Taieri. The roads are in excellent trim for carting over the Lammerlaw this year, although feed may be rather scarce yet. The Lammermoor Sluicing Co., whose claim is about four miles from the Swamp Hut. will also be carting- material up to their claim this season, and Mr Stevenson and a fine team from Out-ram "have been up with a .heavy load, which eafe-lv reached the claim. Altogether there is likely to be a busy season over tho range, and as the Lammermoor Co. propose cutting a long race to take water to their claim work will be very plentiful wp there. At the Deep Stream itself the i>e-ep Stream Co. have now been sluicing for some weeks. The last paddock was a success, and a. highly satisfactory wash-up vie result. There is every prospect of a Tery successful season as long as the water holds out. Bince winter this company have installed one of O'Brien and Knight's patent hydrant operators, and it was used with great success in the laet paddock, but would prove more effective and of iiyreaiter t»e in deeper ground. This is quite the iatest thing in. sluicing and is really very simple. There is a small overshot waterwheel fitted on a triangular frame on a .wheel barrow for convenience im shifting. A rod is attached b> means of a geared cranik to the lever of the hydrar-it, and as the water-wheel revolves the nozzle moves backwards and forwards along the face. The water to work the wheel is taken from the main pipe line through a rubber hose, •rod by means of a tap the speed of the wheel can be regulated. . The cost of .the 'nvention is a mere nothing, and as by means of the invention the nozzleman is set at liberty io break stones or attend to the tail race. »ae £10 (the original cost) is 6oon, saved. There ie a small annual royalty of £2, I believe, and ifc is probable that before long all sluicing claims of any size will find it to their interest to make use of this unique invention. Bachelor's Ball.— On Friday evening, the 16fch mat., a very successful aad enjoyable Hajwe was given by the gentlemen of this district in the Deep Stream Schoolhouse, Shannon Hill. There must have been quite 50 people present, and this is a great number for this scattered district. Mr David Ballinga!, ev^ courteous and affable, made an exoe''ent M.C., and tho music was provided very kindly by Me«srs J. M*Hardy and H. Sinclair. The good things provided for supper very speedily vanished, so they must pave been- excellent, and all present spent a very pl«t«rant evening. Suet functions in this district are too Tare, and it •is to be hoped that the success, of this dance will set the ball trolling, and we rruuy Jiavd ofcher dances' and socials to record ■ idimng the coming summer season. Political. — Mr Thomas Mackenzie ie, I bear, to visit us on November 3, > and will fcotd a meeting in the Rccklands station ;w©olshed t3»t ev^ninft. but of th*t morep anon»