The site of the station is a rather unwholesome-looking swamp.
The sluicing operations are vastly improving matters all round.
The swamp, besides being swept clean to the "bottom" by the powerful jet of water, is being filled to the level of the line by a fine deposit of gravel from the paddock on the company's own ground.
The operations form a highly interesting sight to passengers on the halting of the trains.
Old miners have a high opinion of the appearance of the wash and pipeclay bottom of the present paddocks; and as this company has some 300ft pressure of ample and never-failing water its prospects may be described, on the appearances, as promising.
The Waitahuna Sluicing Company (Mr R. Webb, manager), having finished a long run of rich ground on the old "gully" workings, is now back to the river, operating near the Waipori road.
Seemingly it is making down to the old dredge tailings, which are expected to prove a good thing under the potent persuasion of the powerful water treatment.
Whether it works up the river or down on to the tailings it has yet many years' operations before it.
The Sailor's Gully Sluicing Company (Mr P. Kearney, manager) is also reported to be a good dividend-paying concern.
It is practically locally-owned.
The nozzle is just now kept going with great energy, taking full advantage of the plenteous water supplied after a wait of several months, caused by the dryness of the summer and into autumn.
Thompson and party whose claim is more widely known as the Norwegians', have probably the most powerful water supply of any of the plants in the district.
They have pretty well worked out their low-lying alluvial ground, and are, and have for some years back been, sluicing in the "cement" high up on the terrace.
This ground will hold out for quite another generation of time.
Mr C.Thomson, the manager, has held that position, I believe, since the great palmy days of this highly successful claim.
Ferris and party are said to be on satisfactory gold.
They are also on the terrace workings.
This party also felt the effects of the dry summer, but are now working with a will.
- ODT, 4.8.1910.
