MINING AT CROWELL

Southland Times, Issue 22073, 21 July 1933, Page 4

MINING AT CROWELL

OPTIONS STILL SOUGHT? PROSPECTORS’ OPTIMISM. The position in the mining world at Cromwell is still that, in the absence of grants, very few new ventures have been put in hand (reports the Otago Daily Times). Frye-Giddens and Hom and party are operating steadily on their claims back in the flat, and Mr Ritchie Bell is shafting on his freehold area. In the Bell-Smith claim downstream, adjoining the Bell-Hooper, six men are at work, and in the back are operating in two tunnels, to test the ground in opposite directions in the area covered by the claim. Option seekers are still moving about quietly, and capital is now coming, from a new centre. It is authoritatively reported that Invercargill interests have secured areas during the last few days. Dr. Marsden, Director of the Department of Industrial and Scientific Research, was in the district over the week-end. The geophysical party is still working on the northern area of the fiat towards the Clutha.

It is generally considered that two propositions which will take definite shape in the near future are the reconstructed Cornish Point Company and the Nevis Gorge proposition. Neither of these is in the position that the grant has not been issued. A trip along the Kawarau to Waitiri reveals that an immense amount of work is being done by prospectors at numerous points. Here and there some are sluicing small areas with any trickle of water that is available. Others, judging by the heavy nature of the ground, are taking on almost Herculean tasks in opening out tunnels from the river frontage to test supposed deep leads at the back. Outstanding is the wonderful spirit of optimism with which these parties face their tasks. For instance, one -ros-’-ector met last week was tunnelling through a wall of heavy boulders by blasting, and had only one drill available, but was nothing daunted, though with one sharpening of the drill he could bore only a matter of inches. It is a pity a little plant was not available for such men. Some three months ago word was received that £l5OO from an art union was available for the Mining Association for'assistance in such cases, but nothing further has been heard of it.