MINING NEWS.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, 27 August 1903, Page 5

MINING NEWS.

The river has been falling steadily during the week, the height at the "Alexandra bridge last evening being 3£ft above "normal." The Perseverance No 2 dredge returned work on Monday. The No. 1 is working steadily. The Moa dredge is working in the current immediately above the Alexandra bridge. Mr Thomas Noble, a young man employed on the Davis Bend No 1 dredge, met with a nasty accident last Thursday week. It appears that whilst working about the deck, he by some means fell through one of the hatchways, and received rather severe injuries about the back He is progressing satisfactorily, under the care of Dr Gregg, but it will be some little time before he will be able to resume work. Mr J. Rivers has at present five men engaged cleaning out the water nees leading to Tucker Hill, and it is expected the water will be in before the end of the present week. The large reservoir in Speargrass Creek is nearly full, and now presents the appearance of a small lake. About six months ago, the Olrig Company's dredge had dredged more than half way to the top boundary of ker lease, and was on payable gold. It .was then decided to turn the dredge and take a cut towards the lower boundary on the Calloway side of the out. The result proved disappointing • and as caused th- company to make •* a serious breach into the reserve fund. • The dred .e has now reached a point . just ah .ve where she originally started and ha_ been engaged the last nine i £ ys (excepting some stoppages for want of coal) dredging across the elevated tailings, at a narrow and convenient place, with a view to taking a eut towards the upper part of what is . known as the Spnngvale claim, the dredge having the command of a large area of ground in that which • ia expected to give payable returns. The Company have recently had the claims re-surveyed and the boundaries altered, leaving out the worked and valueless country, and should now be - entering on a new lease of life. ft jfThe Davis Rend Co., invite tenders supply of coal to their No. 2 dredge at Clyde. About a week ago the people at Evans Mat got quite a surprise when it was noticed that the ground had all been pegged off for mining purposes (says the "Tuapeka Times"). This was especially the case as the pegs took in a few of their holdings. All the Gully known as Monro's has been taken up by a party of gold-seekers. That the f. warden will have a busy day on the next court day is clear. The Manuherikia dredge resumed work on Sunday at midnight. The dredge was not working last week, and we may explain that the return of 28oz recorded on Saturday was the result of a clean-up made by the dredgemaster after dredging was stopped by reason of the flood. The river is stall too high for the Sailor's Bend and First Chance dredges. They will probably be able to start on Sunday night. The Earnscleugh No 2 dredge is at , present undergoing repairs, which will probably be completed by the end of ( the week. The No 3 dredge resumed work on Saturday. The Alexandra Eureka Company are at present having the Kelly and Casey dredge floated down the river to Alexandra. It is expected that the New Golden "- Beach Co.'s dredge will commence work shortly. A largely-signed petition has been forwarded to Government praying that the water-race and reservoir of the Alexandra Bonanza Company be acquired ao that the same may be held as a national asset, and that water from the same be let for mining and irrigation purposes. The petitioners point out that there is a great deal of payably auriferous ground on the slopes of the Raggedy Ridges, but these cannot be worked owing to the want of water; and, further, that this water supply would be largely utilised by settlers on the Manuherikia Flat, many of whom purpose going in for poultry and fruit raising. 1

UPPER CLUTHA. (Prom our own correspondent) On the upper reaches of the Clutha nothing of any consequence has been struck so far, but this part of the river has never been a golden locality to be spoken of in the same breath with the part from Bendigo down, and the inactivity on the upper part is more than counter balanced by the pushing on of the work down about the Lowburn and vicinity. Events are coming on apace, and things are developing here abouts pretty fast, and there is a general movement of dredges from the Kawarau and Molyneux to the Clutha on account of the success of the Rise and Shine and also of the different boring operations. The Upper Magnetic is now being dismantled fcr re-erection at the outlet of the Five-mile; the Central Electric is on the road up to the lately prospected ground on Mr G Partridge's farm; and the New Royal Maori is going to Messrs Kloogh and Talboys' claim opposite ths Lowburn, There have been new claims taken up lately, and I feel certain that the Clutha will get a proper trial this time as the steady returns from the Rise and Shine has inspired confidence in permanency of the field. Dredges will he forthcoming gradually, as the Kawarau is getting worked out, and I don't think it is presumptuous to say that inside of two years Cromwell will be leading the way as the most important dredging centre in vtaf*