CARDRONA.

Dunstan Times, Issue 313, 24 April 1868, Page 2

CARDRONA.

(From a Correspondent.) Mining matters are pretty brisk here just now, and in no other loca ity, taking population into consideration (number about two hundred and fifty), is there so much universal prosperity. Cases of individual success are more the rule than the exception, many of the claimholders realising from £25 to £IOO a week. I am informed, upon the best authority, that, ibr the last twelve months, the yield from several claims has averaged between five and six ounces per week for every pick employed, The favorite claims are the Sir George Grey, Homeward Bound, Pirate, the Italians' and Rise and Shine. The ground in all these claims is all worked by drives, the sinking being from forty to fifty-five feet.. The underground drainage is very great, but the water is successfully overcome by powerful pumping machinery. In all pases the machinery in use is of the most elaborate description, and if any one wishes to see water wheels and pumps in perfection thry shoulrl visit the Carrlrona, for 'here is nothing approaching it on any goiddeld in the-province. With but

two exceptions, the wheels are overshot, from eight to ten feet in diameter, are made of wrought iron, and constructed by Messrs. Kincaird, M 'Queen, and do., of the Otago Iron Works, Dunedin. The pumping gear is by the same firm, and everything is properly fitted, the " bearings" being as highly finished as in engine work. There is no waste of water, as is usually the case with overshot wheels, the buckets beiug set mathematically correct The cost of a Avheel and pump laid down at Cardvoua is from £l4O to £l6O. Some claims are worked by tunnelling from the creek, and some by paddocking in the usual style. A new company, the "Rip and Tear," Eetherington, Quain, and Co., have just opened out' some first-rate ground. They have also just completed a large water-race, and, considering tlw wholesa'e manner they are enab ed to work the. r ground, they should be on the high road to fortune. There is evidently a vast field open for mining e terpri.se at Cardrona, which at the present time may with truth be said to be only in its infancy. This field Is attached to the Arrow district, from which place it is distant about twenty miles ; but the road is exceedingly hilly, and a trip over the Crown Range is no joke in the best of seasons, and when the snow lays thick upon the ground it is positively abominable. One worthy storekeeper, noted for his rotundity of person, assured me that a journey to and from Arrowtown laid him up for a fortnight. From Cromwell the Cardrona is distant fifty-five miles, but may be made in twenty miles by a short cut across the Mount Pisa Ranges, which, however, are as bad to cross as the Crown Terrace. For my part I would rather travel the filty-five mile route along the banks of the Cluth than either of the other two. The Warden from Arrowtown has of late visited the Cardrona about once a month, but the p ople require that a Court should be held monthly, and also that a police officer should be permanently stationed there for the preservation of the peace. The strong objections against going to Arrowtown to obtain redress of grievances is by no means unreasonable, and should deserve the attention of the proper authorities.