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Dunstan Times, Issue 541, 30 August 1872, Page 2

Now that the existence of gold in large quantities in the bed of the Molyuenx has been proved, beyond the shadow of a doubt, there is every reason to believe that efforts will be made to obtain some of it from its watery b“d, not after the manner hitherto chimsilv pursued, but by more scientific and perfect means. As a corresponden in a late issue writes us there is a regularly defined lead of gold running down the course ot the river, equal if not exceeding in richness any iff the far famed claim* at Ballarat, and says as an instance of tire quantity of gold obtainable when fairly on the lead ; one dredging spoonful, say abou. five hundredweight, has yielded nine ounces of gold, while shareholders in dredges have netted, after paying all expenses, from 100/. to 160/ weekly, such re., turns as these, were perhaps never before obtained from any alluvial workings, and go to thoroughly demonstrate the fact that fabulous quantities of gold lay untouched at our feet, only awaiting some suitable appliances to extract it. Wr. Siedeberg has introduced steam into dredging which must prove a greatimprovementover manual labor, but before we can hope to obtain the great bulk of riches from this veri. table “ Tom Tiddler’s ground, 1 ’ we fear that something more perfect must be substituted for the dredging machine now in use. The difficulty of contending against the enormous flow of tail

ings or light gravel pursuing its unbroken course down the river, is of no mean order, as with our present appliances do sooner is a hole dug than it fills up again. Many persons suppose that this flow of gravel is caused by the sluicing claims in the banks, such undoubtedly augments the difficulty, hut it is not the primary cause, as in all our rapid running rivers there exists this never ending flow of gravel. This was thoroughly demonstrated at the Upper Shotover by Messrs. Greaves and Co., who, while dredging near the bra ches above the sluicing claims experienced-he same difficulty wheu they came upon the lead of gold in the run of the current. This patty tried a diver, and when he could keep down and direct the spoon or dredge into the crevices where the gold existed were successful, but it was impossible to keep him in one place, even when weighted beyond all precedent. The existence of gold in payable quantities in our river beds is gradually becoming known, and mans’ ingenuity is being taxed to deviseaproperapparatus of recovering it. The diving bell system has been ever 100 l ed to as being the only feasible one, and as a proof of the first assumption being somewhat near the mark, there are now two inventions on that principle 1 efore the public, and it rests merely on the question of capital whether they are to answer the purpose, Mr. M'Ldlan, the patentee of one’ invention, in seeking his capital in another province, while Mr. Arnott, the patentee of the Villaine principle, presents his scheme to Otago. Of the former,Jthere is not much doubt of it- practicability, as it has been tried for sinking purposes in the Rangitato river, a stream running with nearly as swift a current as the Molyneux. Of the latter, it has only been tested in smooth water, therefore no opinion can be expressed as to whether it will answer in a strong current. At any rate, it is foi those who are interested, not only in dredging, but have the interest of the district at heart, to give each system the utmost support.