KAWARAU RIVER.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 June 1927, Page 2

KAWARAU RIVER.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

DUNEDIN, June 1(5.

Sion ly, yet steadily, the Kawarau River is falling, though the absence of comparative data at various poiffts makes it impossible to record the average fall. At Cromwell at ft this morning, a fall of 2ft Sins in twenty-four hours was recorded, while there was a fall of only one foot in the same period last August.

A heavy fall, of from 91t to 10ft has taken place at the Development Company’s dam, and the river there is lower than at any period last year. 1’ urtlier up, the river’s fall varies, but in most places it can be safely said that the fall ill the first day is greater than last vear.

At Roaring Meg, the Kawarau* has dropped 7ft Gins, or Gins below the maximum fall recorded three days after closing last year. One reading on the Flat claims, immediately below the Development Company’s dam, records a fall of ISins below last year’s level.

A heavy, icy fog fell on Cromwell during the night, and the weather today is freezing, although the sun is breaking through at times. Heavy frosts were experienced overnight up the river. There is little snow on the mountains at the head of the tributary streams, aiul with a continuance ot the hard frosts, the Kawarau shoul/ fall steadily. The drainage is slow at places, and the discrepancies in tin? fall along the whole course prove that Hie bars from rock and silt abutments and slips are holding back the water, and there is little doubt that the level will be lower than last year’s. Probably some days will elapse before the maximum low level will he reached. The discrepancies in the falls are puzzling, particularly as the drop at Cromwell has been so pronounced.

No work is yet possible on the river and one company does not propose making a start on mining till seven days have passed. Several miners in the Natural Bridge Coy. prospected in a promising crevice found last year, and collected about £4 worth of gold this morning. The lessening of the fall makes it imperative that bars of rock and silt across the river be blasted away at the earliest date. Down the course or the river is a series of ponds, and low level will not he possible until blasting is carried out, to give the waterfree drainage. The level at Cromwell lias fallen only three inches in five hours. The blasting is said to be the duty of the parent „company. In the blasting of the toes of the slips now blocking the river there is a grave danger of causing the hillside to slit) down into the river channel.