DIVING FOR GOLD

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17132, 7 September 1926, Page 10

DIVING FOR GOLD

TRY-OUT IN LAKE WAKATIPU QUEENSTOWN. Aug. 28. Diving for gold is lo ho tried out in Lake Ayakatijm soon. Tjns will create another stage in modern mining, and the lake divers will have the honor of being the first in don diving suifs in search of gold in New Zealand, and probably in the world. Five-mile Creek, on the way to Uleiiotchy, on the Queenstown side of Wakatipu, has been (daiined in the Warden’s Court here by W. E. Year, an Auckland diver, who worked on the wrecks of the Wairarapa and Wiltshire (both on the Great Barrier Island). and was one of the divers to go into the kavvarau at Frnnkloii Falls during the construction of till' lliiin.

About forty or liftv years ago the creek was worked for alluvial gold, good returns being reported. Later the lake along the bank near the crook was scratched by seekers, who used a cow-hide scoop with a lip; and, although gold was obtained, the method of working proved unprofitable. About a mouth ago \Car dived from a launch at the mouth of the creek, which appeared the most favorable part of the lake 1 o start on. After digging through ft of old tailings he got lo file actual wash, which he obtained few colors, lie was then under wafer lo a depth of Iqf! to 2nfl. For four -days his party worked Five-mile creek.

“I am confident the gold is there, ’ he told a .Star reported to-day. “I am sanguine, and all niv own money is going into i). II is inn going to be a company. Tlml there is iu> gold in Lake Wakatipu is a fallacy. All along the terraces workings have been made,

find if gold is on the terraces if must ijo in tin' lake, too. ’’ At tTio creek the lake edge falls away rapidly, hut Vear states that he will go down to 80ft, and probably J Oil ft,' if profitable, At. a 'depth up to trill ft be had worked under water for six' hours, and for greater depths the shifts would lie ol three and a-half lo lour hours. Goar is being obtained, a sand pump being among the equipment. Mr. Venv and his partner. H. Tomkies, will probably start within a week on their (daiin, or at latest within Jive weeks. The Jirst diver to go down in Wakaijpu, Vear made his record a. month ago. when lie dived near .lardine ’s wool sheds to pick up piles for the Public Works Department.