Central Otago.

Southern Cross, Volume 5, Issue 41, 15 January 1898, Page 5

Central Otago.

(Own correspondent)

The old year out and the new year in and wa find ourselves quietly settling down for another twelve mouths work after the break caused bv the usual holidays. These have not been marked by very much stir. On New Year’s eve the usual number of small fireworks were floating about. The young- men of Alexandra seem determined not to allow the old Scotch custom of first footing to die out, which they very much overdo. It must be only with moderate feeling of welcome that any person answering the raps on their door finds as many as twenty or thirty of all and sundry waiting for admittance, and at the same time hospitable treatment. Still this is what they may expect on New Year’s eve in Alexandra. The Alexandra Athletic Club held their annual sports on New Year’s Day. They were very successful.

The weather this season seems to be even more changeable than usual, and we’ve had now more than our share of vyind. We have also experienced a few particularly warm days, notably the last day of the year, which was a scorcher. The sun was very bright, and the thermometer stood at 104 in the shade. As the result of this two cases of sunstroke are reported—a child at Ida Valley and a man at Bannockburn. The fruit season is now fairly in, and there is no scarcity of it. Most of the dredges are again at work. The Eureka, after extensive alterations and repairs, commenced operations last week, and is working very satisfactorily, great credit being due to Mr J. McDonald, the manager, and Mr Trevetheck, the engineer of the dredge. She should now give a good account of herself, as the claim is a good one The Clyde dredge was recently floated, down from her old claim to a small piece of ground near Alexandra, but is shut down in the meantime, not having made a start. There is no doubt she would do well here if she could work the ground, as the Moa dredge won some very large returns at this same place. The Hydraulic Company’s dredge had the misfortune to carry aw .y some of her posts last week, the weight of her immense elevator being evidently too much for them to sustain. It will be some weeks before she wid be ready to start work again. She has been floated down to the lower end of her claim to take up another cut. The company have proved that dredging will pay where bydraulie sluicing puts them to the verge of liquidation. Her full capacity is 120 cubic yards an hour. One grain to the vard will thus give a very fair wash-up at the end of the week, considering that onethird of it will pay r expenses. Mr H. F. Nees is making good progress with the pontoons of the Hartley and Riley, and will very soon have them reader for the water. He had a narrow escape of being put in an awkward fix with the recent flood, but through good management avoided any serious mishap to the dredge or any loss of timber. January lOth.