THE KAWARAU DAM

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18763, 20 July 1935, Page 15

THE KAWARAU DAM

GOLD-SEEKERS ACTIVE DATES'CLOSED RAIN KEEPS RIVER HIGH Gohl-seelcers were busv on the hanks of tho KaWarau River on Wednesday, when •the river had dropped another foot overnight. The gules of the hlarii at tho o’nt.let of Lake Wnkatipii iwbre dosed oil Siinday. hut the river failed to fall io the expected level lowing to rain in the mountain eoun!trv.

j The winter has been most mild and little gold-seeking has taken place owing to the prevailing high' winter level. The gold-fossickers started, to take an interest in tlit* Kawarau River on Tuesday, and on Wednesday many (parties were luisy with pick and pan above the natural bridge.. The river has .yet to fall considerably .before reaching,me level, of two years ago, when the gates were closed last.

There is nowhere near I lie number 'of seekers on the river this 'I i ill i*, rilbst (of the activity being in a stretch of river, for, 100yds.. above the natural (bridge, Thrise who are engaged have taken life preeau.l ion of taking timber 'jacks. wii'li t.liem to lever away the (large boulder's which cover the crevices.

I . A WOMAN AND A MASCOT One ph’fity which shifted several large honhlriis hits obtained almost two ■mihetS; of* .&bhl. A woman is a member of flits, parly, arid she is panning Soli’ 1 lie dirt .as it U» scraped .out of, the ier.c.Vices. ;>Sho hits,as a .mascot a small (black kilton. wgieli surveys the busy 'scene from a nearby rock. A wing dam above -the natural bridge gas begun 1 ,‘hv another, party in an at teriipt to laN bare a, .hole, but the level or’, fiie river refiia'iri's too high for (lie work to he complehid. Among the’acj-iye shekel’s are, three I directors of the Knwarnn Amalgamated, who were,’, responsible for the (closing of the gates. One member of the party is. Mr R. Munt’o, of. Lon,dori, who has heen in New Zhrilrind for (several- months awl hopes to take some :samples of Kawarim gold to London.

Not very lUrirtv knew thh't the gates of the dam wore lo iVe•.closed, and it was stated that; seeking for gold on the hanks would not.be permitted when the gates were.closed this time. Steyeral parties, however, were on the river and no attempt, was made to stop them.

DETAILS OF RETURNS SOUGHT Mr J. Ritchie, a director, said that the company did not mind unemployed and others seeking gold if only they would give them .returns of the gold won from , the Kawarau. When the gates were closed, two years ago the river was at; ti very low level qnd it was a known fact that good, returns wore obtained by many .parties. At Waitiri, above the. spot, where the activity was taking place at. present, Mr Ritchie said, some sensational rewards Were had by unemployed, arid others who were early on the scene. One party- wina reputed to .have obtained over 50 ounces, while many other returns reached double figures. ' Mr Ritchie said it was disappointing that the river had not gone down, hut the gates would bo kept closed for mother week, and as The weather was clearing 'there would probably be some frosts which would immediately lower the river level.