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Report on the Geology & Gold Fields of Otago

Alluvial Companies

Alluvial Companies.

Arrow Flat Deep Lead Company.—This company, of which Mr. Elliot is the manager, obtained very rich prospects from what appears to be an old channel of the Arrow River, trending across the present River Flat towards the old Lake basin beyond Arrowtown. In trying to work the ground a large amount of water was, however, encountered, issuing from a loose shingle bed, about 10 feet beneath the surface, and being fed, as examination proved, by a strong creek, which joins the valley a short distance higher up. The erection of strong pumping machinery was, therefore, resorted to, but even this, though consisting of two 12in. drawing-lifts, page 223driven by turbine, and working incessantly day and night, has hitherto failed to make any sensible impression upon the water in the shaft. A dry season would no doubt greatly assist the company, but as this might be hope too long deferred, I see no other way of quickly beating the water than the erection of additional or more powerful pumps. A Victorian plan in such cases of emergency might also deserve consideration, viz., to sink a good shaft in the rock near outside the water-bearing drift-bed, drive from this a rock-level underneath and in the course of the lead, and to open and work the latter by means of rises from it. The putting down of a number of bore-holes, for the purpose of ascertaining the depth and trend of the lead, would of course be a necessary preliminary.

Sons of Fortune Gold Mining Company.—This Company, under[gap — reason: illegible] the management of Mr. Miller, is at present engaged in a highly promising enterprise, viz., in driving an adit into an enormous land-slip, which Backs up the Arrow River, considerably over 100 feet in height, [gap — reason: illegible]at a place lying about four miles up the river from Arrowtown. Judging from the workings higher up, there is no doubt rich washdirt existing at the bottom of the valley above the landslip; but all attempts to reach it by shafts, one of which is 42 feet deep, have hitherto failed, on account of too strong a pressure of water. The adit is intended for draining the little basin, and thus affording access to the washdirt, and it might also afterwards be made use of as a tail-race. It was, at the time I saw it, about 70 feet in, and would, according to Mr. Miller’s calculation, have to become about 300 feet longer. The working requires very great care, on account of the uncertain nature of the ground—large boulders, dangerous to remove impeding the way frequently.