α-a

68

Cromwell. A party of Chinamen have obtained good returns for many years from a claim on the banks of the Kawarau River, above Cromwell Township. In December, 1904, the claim was abandoned, owing to loss of fall for discharge of tailings. Sluicing operations are also conducted on a small scale around Lowburn and Quartz Reef Point. Dredging. —On the length of river from Waenga to Cromwell Township there are five dredges which operate during the winter season, while the three dredges owned by the Junction Electric Golddredging Company are now at work on the Kawarau above its confluence with the Clutha River. During the past two years, considerable attention has been given to the Clutha Basin, between Lowburn and Cromwell. There are now six dredges in active operation in this locality, all obtaining good returns of gold. The ground is deep and heavy to work, and requires machines of an efficiency equal to that of the Rise and Shine and Rising Sun dredges. Bannockburn. A. T. Aitken's Claim. —A ground-sluicing claim of 2 acres, in which two men find employment. Crabbe Bros.' Claim. —This claim is still being worked by ground-sluicing with water brought in from Shepherd's Creek in the Wealth of Nations water-race. Three men are employed. Gair and Murray's Sluicing Claim. —Two men are employed ground-sluicing in this claim. There are several other miners in this locality holding small areas and working with intermittent water-supplies. Kawarau Gorge : Robertson's Terrace. Last Chance Claim. —T. Craig holds a claim of 5 acres, on which he is engaged driving out the auriferous washdirt. Mining on this terrace is now almost at a standstill, owing to the patchy nature of the auriferous wash and the scarcity of water for sluicing. There are several fossickers earning a living in Kawarau Gorge. Dredging. —The stretch of the river for three miles above Bannockburn Bridge over the Kawarau River has proved phenominally rich, as proved by the operations of the Cromwell and Electric Golddredging Company's dredges. The Cromwell claims became worked out during the year. Cardrona. Walter Little's Hydraulic Sluicing Claim, Cardrona Valley (Ed. Barker, Manager).—Operations have been steadily continued during the sluicing season with moderate success. Owing to the heavy class of material operated on progress is slow. Six men are employed in the claim. A. Loft and party have discontinued driving out the wash in the valley above Cardrona Township Magnus HendersonTand party continue sluicing on Branch Creek. E. Barker and party hold a claim on Branch Creek, but have not yet constructed the water-race or plant. Courtney and Fleming are still sluicing on Criffel Face. There are three dredges at work in this district, two of which are worked by O'Brien's application of water-power for dredges. Luggate. There are several sluicing claims in the locality which are worked on a small scale. Dredging. —The Albertown dredge, owned and worked by working shareholders with moderate means, is the only dredge at work in this locality. Knewstubb's Upper Clutha dredge lies sunk above Luggate Ferry Matatapu. McLaren Bros.' Hydraulic Sluicing and Elevating Claim. —Sluicing operations are still being carried on in this claim with a moderate degree of success. Arrowtown. Fealey and Hay Bros.' Sluicing Claim, Arrow River. —This is the only claim at work in the neighbourhood of the township. It is worked on Smith's jet principle of elevating material. Arrow River. Arrow Falls Sluicing Company (J. A. Millar, Manager).—Area of claim 25 acres. The work entailed in opening out this claim was of considerable magnitude, but operations have been carried beyond the gorge into the flat and steady work may now be expected. Progress is, however, retarded by occasional floods in the Arrow River. Seven men are employed. Bremer's Claim, Bracken's Gully. —This claim has been worked throughout the year on behalf "of an Arrowtown syndicate, which had purchased it. The claim has an area of 2 acres, and is worked by ground-sluicing. Robert S. Cooper and party, Bracken's Gully. —A ground-sluicing claim of 3 acres. ' ! Peter Henderson and party, Bracken's Gully. —A ground-sluicing claim of 4 acres. In the Arrowtown district there are a number of fossickers on Whitechapel Flat and at the junction of the Arrow and Kawarau Rivers.