UPPER SHOTOVER.

Evening Star, Issue 3556, 16 July 1874, Page 2 (Supplement)

UPPER SHOTOVER.

(From our mm Correspondent )

. . July 8, Owing to th« limited time at my disposal when closing my last letter, I was unable to enter so fully into detail in reference to the workings of the Shotover Company as the importance of the subject required. The fact that the Company has not realised the expectations Which were justly indulged in at its inauguration has exercised a most paralysing influence upon the mining district, and caused an amount of distrust, which has stifled other promising undertakings which had been mooted. It is possible that if the present management develop brighter prospects, and if the prospects recently struck by v the Arrow United Company prove of importance, a alight revival of confidence may follow, and a few new claims may be started. At present mining enterprise here has never been, at any previous period in the history of this field, in so depressed a condition. Although the season has been unusually favorable for working the nvere, yet there are fewer miners at work on the Shotover river, and fewer claims getting gold,i than at any previous time in my remembrance. Nothing short ef actually visiting the claims, which I have been doing during the past few days, could give any adequate idea of the nature of the hardships and difficulties to be dealt with by the miners. The valley of the Shotover is one of the most rugged and formidable pieces of country in New Zealand, although the traveller by the main track via Maori Point escapes all its worst terrors, and no better route could have been adopted. About four miles from Queenstown, at Arthur’s Point, several important claims are at work, viz., two Chinese parties at the Big Beach,' which are monuments of that co-operative enterprise in which the Chinese so especially excel; an immense expanse of river beach—which had defied the efforts of Europeans with pumping machinery has been successfully worked, with most remunerative results. At the upper side of Arthur’s Point are the Morning and Evening Star Claims, and a number of wages men are generally employed in them. The former claim has the reputation of being a paying affair; and the latter, although possessing splendid pumping machinery, driven by an overshot wheel of about forty feet in diameter, has been struggling with difficulties financial, although good patches of gold have been from time to time obtained. It will, however, no doubt be successful, as this part of the river is known to be rich. Arthur’s Point 1?. * about a mile square, round which the Shotover winds, and it is generally believed that the old course of the river will yet be found running through it. It is held under mining lease by parties who have endeavored to prospect it, but are at present stopped for want of means, and should any revival of confidence take place, it will be one of the first undertakings likely to be taken up by a joint stock company, as should the lead traverse it, it is almost sure to be very rich and extensive. Leaving Arthur’s Point, the traveller follows a good beaten track almost over the top of the range, about 4,000 ft high, which brings him To' ol n s * x m^ei a place known as the Wire Rope Company’s works, I was unable to visit the claim now working just below the junction of Moke Creek, which is one of the most interesting on the river, as I was advised that the track was impassable from ice. At the best of times it is highly dangerous, a man having been killed on it some months back. I can, however, speak of the locality, as I was working m the same claim a few years back, and its peculiarity consists in a deep and wide gutter, which was, at the time I speak of, full •f neb washdirt, giving about Hoz to the load. A flood swept away the machinery—an underand the claim was consequently abandoned. The present party have re-opened the ground, and are doing very well at the present tune. I think this portion of the Shotover below the Moke Creek junction is considerably richer than any of the higher portion of n^ r - In the neighborhood of the Wire Rope Company, which I may briefly describe aj an abandoned water-race undertaking, crossron J wire at an altitude of about I,oooft and a span of about 200 yards, are the Blind Stab and other claims. The Stab has yielded largely during recenr, seasons, and, although not turning out quit* so rich at present is paying very well. The other claim, in the vicinity are paying very little indeed, although immense labor and expense has been bestowed upon them. Only one-the Horace Greelyhas yielded a few pounds’ weight of gold lately • ou- 61 1 •m' Ve i ® <^ ICBI 7 bee » Paying “tucker,’’’ and it u difficult to get at them to .upply the miners with provisions. Mr M‘Arthur a storekeeper, who died so suddenly a few days back, used to supply the miners, and he will be much missed, as it will be difficult to get any one to Pack anything in this formidable part of the nver. The St Patrick’s Claim (M'Arthur’s) has failed to strike gold. Like some of the others they found the bottom of the river quite bare either of washdirt or gold, and nothing but loose drift lying upon the bed rock. After leaving this part of the river no claims are met with until Maori Point is reached, and here are Workings of the New Channel Company, who have not yet succeeded in meeting with any adequate return for the enormous outlay in cutting* a new channel for the river through solid rock. This ground is most difficult to work as it is deep and the flow of water to be pumped is enormous. It is, however, a most energetic party, and they are determined to work the ground. The Hibernian Claim, above Maori Point, is on gold, and their machinery is of the very best description, with apparatus for hoist the wheel in case of floods ; and their claim, extending up as high as the Shotover Company s works, is expected to turn out well. Of the resources of this part of the river, the most important is that of the quartz reefs at Skippers, and I propose to treat fully upon them in my next letter.

_ „ Jnlv ]3. The Scandinavian reef at Skippers and the Nugget Reef on the Shotover, although not commanding much attention for some time

past, are sure to obtain great importance in the future, and few are aware outside the district of their value. The enormous expense of carriage of the heavy machinery necessary to work them, and the severity of the winter have been great drawbacks to their progress, but the results of the previous limited workings, and the prospecting which hasbewn done show that an immense field of enterprise is to be found here.

The hi tory of the Phoenix claim on the Scandinavian reef is an instance of the great perseverance and spirit shewn by some men in carrying out such undertakings. This claim is at present lying idle, although steps are now being taken to start it again in active operation. The prospectors of the claim obtained a very large amount of gold at no great depth of working, and then sold it. It fell into the bands of Mr Bullea, who expended some L 15,000 in crushing plant, and about L 7,000 in thoroughly opening up the reef under the management of Mr Fred. Evans, and the arrangements of the mine with a view to its thorough and economical working cannot be surpassed. The quartz raised and crushed averaged 7 dwts. per ton, and the water power then available was insufficient to crush a sufficient quantity of stone requisite to pay at that average, but it is now proposed to bring in enough water to keep the thirty head of stampers in constant work—which will ensure highly remunerative results, as the supply of quartz is practically unlimited, over 10,000 tons being in view in the drives, and the claim extends some 2,000 feet along the reef. The working of an undertaking of this magnitude will have a striking effect upon the present sparsely peopled neighborhood.