GOLD IN THE KAWARAU

Otago Witness, Issue 3593, 23 January 1923, Page 28

GOLD IN THE KAWARAU

SCHEME FOR RECOVERY. GREAT POSSIBILITIES SUGGESTED. The gold dredging industry in Otago has for some time been at a low ebb, but there are prospects of a revival being brought about by an extensive scheme' which was reported in our issue of Friday last as being seriously considered and which is regarded by its promoters as being sure of success. j.ne project is the recovery of gold that is said to be still existent in the rocky bottom of the Kawarau River. Some say that there is even a possibility of a boom like that of the early 60’s, and that once again seekers of fortune from near and far will be attracted to Otago by the lure of the precious yellow metal. DAMMING THE KAWARAU. idle scheme for recovering the gold provides for the damming of the Kawarau Oliver right at the falls, where it takes its rise from the outflow of Lake Wakatipu at Frankton. A huge concrete dam will be built, and the turbulent waters of the stream, which are confined to a narrow, rocky bed, will be shut off for approximately £C days in the year, when the gold-seekers will set to work. During the winter only will the water be blocked. This means, therefore, that in winter the company will require to raise the lake to its summer level. 'J he Shotover and other small rivers will give the company the water required to carry out the operations. Possible flooding of the Shotover has been taken into consideration, and this contingency has been provided against. This is, in short, the scheme, which, it will be seen, is an - immense one, and will, if it is successful, create nothing short of a “boom.” The members of the company which has been formed are acting on the advice of Mr E. J. lies, the well-known and successful mining engineer, and, if their optimism is any indication, then success will be assured. The promoters have been assured by Mr lies that the project is a simple matter from, an engineering point of view. He has reported fully on the subject, and has thoroughly convinced those in touch with the scheme that the construction of the dam and the necessary works can be carried out successfully. His recent work in damming the lower part of the river for the irrigation purposes of the Cromwell Development Company has won for him a high reputation among mining engineers, -ue throwing of a steel reinforced concrete span across the river and the fixing of steel girders to reduce the width of the waters and raise them to enable them to be pumped into the main distributing race was a task which required ability and enterprise; but, under exceedingly difficult conditions, it was carried to a successful issue. Mr lies is an Otago man, who studied at the Mining School at the University, and subsequently settled at the Thames, where he lectured on geology and mining engineering. CLAIMS TO LET. Another satisfactory aspect of the matter is the splendid opportunity that will be provided for relieving unemployment. From where the Kawarau leaves Lake Wakatipu at Frankton and joins the Clutha at Cromwell to form the Molyneux. the distance is 32 miles, and over the whole of this length the company has applied for full rights. It is not its intention to hold the river, but, to let it out in sections, the length of which will be decided at a later date. The river has been pegged off under the usual conditions. This will mean, of course, that many other concerns will be interested, and it is estimated that no fewer than 2000 men will find employment on the works that will follow. The question of whether there is enough gold in the river to justify the expenditure has been considered. There are few who know anything of the river and the district who will deny that gold in enormous quantities still lies on the rocky bottom of the river, and it is considered thjtt only proper working is necessary to obtain it. People from Cromwell and Queenstown who go out now and again to do a little gold-seekirjg, mostly as a hobby, have obtained quite a lot of gold. During his leisure time one man secured no less than £4OO worth during three months. Some of this gold will shortly be placed on view in Messrs Stewart Dawson’s window. A .famous old gold-winner, the Hartley and Riley dredge, won from its original 32-acre claim on the Molyneux, just below Cromwell, over 30,000 ounces. A great: deal of gold was also dredged from the Kawarau, but operations were brought to a close because of the rocky nature of its bottom, which did nothing but break the buckets of the dredges. The commencement of operations is eagerly awaited by the local residents, who are taking a remarkable interest in the scheme. As the stemming of the Kawarau would greatly decrease the level of the Molyneux after it leaves Cromwell, numerous local residents have already turned their attention in that direction and have pegged out areas with the idea of profiting by the -scheme. One parly, it is laid, has pegged off the old Hartley claim, and another party—to all appearances on a shooting expedition—is said to have pegged an area near Halfway House. Many claims have been pegged out between Cromwell and Alexandra, principally by Cromwell residents. The scheme is at pre sent the topic of all-absorbing interest. POWER FOR QUEENSTOWN. Although the dam to be erected at Wakatipu is primarily to serve the purpose of lowering the waters to enable the gold to be found, it could possibly be used as a source of electrical energy for the town of Queenstown, to provide lighting and power, which will further enhance the attractiveness of the already popular holiday resort. Another very important feature is that the dam could be used to control the water at the times of tho disastrous floods that periodically occur on the Molyneux about the Clutha district. In providing employment, producing gold, regulating floods, and perhaps providing

electrical energy, the project would be a decided boon to many sections of the community, end an instrument to promote the general prosperity of the country and the province in particular. A number of well-known citizens are taking up the venture, which is receiving support from many quarters. Interest is sure to increase as the applications for mining rights come before the Wardens’ Courts in the course of the next week or two.