Mining Notes.

Southern Cross, Volume 4, Issue 42, 30 January 1897, Page 7

Mining Notes.

WORK AT PARR AW A. The Parrawa Gold Mining and Water Supply Company are pushing on with their operations, and expect to run the water into the pipes and make a start about the beginning of next month. Arriving by the morning train from Invercargill last Sat-, urday the writer, not having a particular fancy for a six hours’ stay at Kingston, lett the line at Parrawa, and accompanied by one of the men in the employ of the company, visited the scene of operations. Before starting we called at Mr Selwood’s accommodation house for dinner, and learned from him that the crops there, as elsewhere, were very short, and that they had had no rain to speak of for two months. The Company’s ground is three miles down the Mataura Gorge, which, with the river running through it, sparkling in the sun’s rays, was a fine sight. The rugged mountainson the south side rise several thousand feet from the side of the road, which is fairly level, and not at all a bad one for light vehicles. The first thing that catches the eye afterrounding the spur on the noi’th is the black water pipes (13 inches in diameter) coming down from an altitude of 500 feet on the south side at a very step angle to the river. They are carried across on a suspension bridge and over the flat to tbe terrace on the other side, 400 feet high. Here the water will be conducted by races into two damswhich will give ample pressure for working the fall on either side of the spur. The total length of the piping,, which is of steel, is about threequarters of a mile. The water isobtained at Fiery Creek at the point where at present there are three heads, of water running—a fact which is worth noting, as this has been an exceptionally dry season. The water race is 32 chains in length, being" principally constructed with flumingto carry a good supply of water. MrE. Pearsey, the company’s manager, has six men employed, and as the work so far has only taken about four months, there has been no time lost. Good prospects have been got on the company’s ground, and the result of the undertaking will be watched with great interest, because, if it proves successful, it is expected other claims in the gorge will very soon be worked on the same principle. Anyone wishing to visit this place can easily do so and return the same’day to Invercargill. Mr Selwood, who looks after the parcels and packages for the miners, has a trap which, if previously advised, he can place at the disposal of visitors, or, if inclined for a few hours’ fishing, or wishing to take two days, they will find Mr Selwood’s house as comfortable as they could wish.