BANNOCKBURN.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IV, Issue 175, 18 March 1873, Page 5

BANNOCKBURN.

(From an occasional Correspondent.) March 15, 1873. Among our numerous complaints on this side of the Kawarau, we have no reason to include a scarcity of fuel as one. We have four pits at work steadily getting out coal, and another which has not yet got into working order. 1 notice, also, that Mr Stuart, of the Ferry Hotel, has men at work on your side of the river, opening out a face for the purpose of putting in a tunnel. This seam has been worked previously, and I am informed was acknowledged to be of excellent quality. Mr Stuart, when he gets fairly to work, ought to be able to supply Cromwell largely, since his pit will be much nearer than those at the Bannockburn, and the extra expense on account of puntage will be saved. Another claim has been taken up on the deep lead near Smith’s Gully. This lead, it is plain, is an old course of Smith’s Creek. Numerous shafts were sunk some time ago, and rich ground struck; and although a good deal of ground was worked with amply payable returns, it was found at last that the appliances then used (whims and pulleys) were not sufficient to cope with the water, and all the claims worked by means of a shaft had therefore to be thrown up. The only claim on the lead at present is the All Nations’, who work their ground with a tunnel, which they have driven through the reef something over 700 feet. The new claim will have much more reef to go through, but if it pays as well as the All Nations’ is reported to do, the party will be well rewarded for their trouble. One would think that ground of this description ought not to lie idle very long. A company might easily be formed, and a small engine procured to work their claim. Coal could be obtained at a very cheap rate, as there are coal pits quite close by. The late rains have freshened up all the creeks in a wonderful manner. All the races are now full, and everybody connected with mining looks cheerful once more. It is not likely that water will be scarce for many months again,—to anything like such au extent as lias been the case of late, at any rate, for the sun is fast losing the power to dry up the ground, and there is now some quantity of moisture falls at night.