DREDGING THE MOLYNEUX.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1276, 13 August 1886, Page 3

DREDGING THE MOLYNEUX.

(“ Evening Herald,” sth August.)

That the bed of the. Molyneux contains huriferous deposits of extraordinary richness is 'a belief entertained by numbers of practical miners who are well acquainted with the gold bearing country through which the river passes. Dredging operations have been carried on, with more or less success, for some years,past, but up to the present ho great effort on a largo scale has been made to work the bed of the river. Now, however, operations are about to be commenced in good earnest, which, if successful, will result in the realisation of a big fortune to those who are about to undertake them. A syndicate has recently been formed in London under the title of the hew Zealand Gold-dredging Company (Limited), tor the purpose of dredging the Molyneux. The capital is L 12.000, and among the' subscribers are Major-general Agnew, Colonel Howard, and several other well-known London gentlemen. The principal promoter—Mr Alexander Gibson—is now in Dunedin, making preparations for the commencement of the work, and-thls morning our reporter interviewed him at the Grand Hotel. After the customary introduction, the colloquy proceeded as follows i

Rep.: 1 have called to glean a few facts relative to your projected operations on the Molyneux. MrG.: It will afford me much pleasure to give you all the information in my power. Rep.: I presume yon know the country around the Molyneux?

Mr G.: Remarkably well. I have had considerable experience in mining operations in the neighborhood of the Dunstan in the early days of the diggings, and it was observation, then taken that induced me to embark on this venture.

Rep.: Excuse me, but 1 fancy 1 have heard the name of Alexander Gibson mentioned in connection with saving the lives of some men who.lost themselves in the Old san Range many years ago. Have 1 the pleasure of addressing the same man t Mr G. i Yes, I believe I am the identical individual ; but years of travel since then in all quarters of the world had well nigh banished from my recollection the incidents to which you refer. Rep.: As you have not been in New Zealand for a considerable time, may I inquire if this project of dredging the Molyneux has occurred to yon recently t Mr G.: Not at all; it is the result of many years’ consideration. We are not, always, yon know, masters of our own fate, and’if it were not for circumstances which required my presence in olher countries I should have returned to New Zealand long ere this to proceed with the work which I now have in hand.

Kep.: Yon are aware, 1 suppos", that Messrs Kincaid, M’Queen, and Co, have been conducting dredging operations on the river for some time t

Mr G.: Oh, yea; but the system of dredging with buckets, although partially successful, dees not accomplish any great results.

Rep.; Tho machinery which yon intend to use ia constructed on a different principle, I opine t Mr G : Quite different. Pray look at these drawings. Mr Gibaoa hero exhibited a plan of a large dredger which is on ita way out from Home. He explained the principle upon which it is worked, and argued that it is capable of sweeping the bed of the river "perfectly clean. Rep.-. I have seen hydraulic machinery Of that character working at the Blue Spur and at Ross,

Mr G.: I think you are making a mistake. The centrifugal pump system .is, I grant, not new. but you have never seen a nozzle constructed similar to ours.

Rep.: Well, perhaps not. Mr G.t You will observe that by means of tubes and pipes we can drive the nozzle down to any depth, cud then with the enormous force of water which our engines will enable us to bring to bear on it wo can sweep everything up clean to the bed rook. The buckets now nsod only root up the mud and skim the surface, but our nozzle will drive the hardest stuff rig! t up to the top, when it will be shot out on the banks through the piping which yon observe hero. Mr Gibson again pointed out on the diagrams the method by which the stuff will he hoisted.

Rep.! I have heard that in many parts of the river there are seams of slate, in tho crevices cf which the coarse gold gathers. Will your nozzle smash up tho slate t Mr G. • To v.se a Herbiacism, it will smash np everthing but tho bed rock into “smithereens.”

Rep.! Then you are confident of saccess T Mr G.lf I were not confident I should not expend both brains and capital in mating the experiment. Rep.: Who is the patentee of the dredger T Mr G.: To Mr James Welman, of Poole, belongs the principal credit of bringing to perfection the hydraulic machinery, and he and I are the patentees. Rep.: On what part of the river do you intend to begin operations ? Mr G.; Close to Alexandra, near the Old Man Range. Rep : Have you secured the right of •.working from the Government ? Mr G. : We have secured 50 acres at present, but of course our operations will not be confined to one locolity. When the advantages of our patent dreiger are fully known we expect to accomplish a great deal of useful work throughout the colony. Rep.: If what yon state be correct, your enterprise deserves to be crowned with success. •JIV ti A ' . Mr G.l And I anticipate it will be. It yonr Government really anxious to develop the mineral resources of the colony, they will soon have an opportunity of doing

80. Eep.i I expect yon wjll employ , a good many hands } mA ' !! v> Mr G. s' Yea. It is one intention to cQU’ elrnct races, open up gullies, and divert streams in places, all of which, work will afford employment to a large quantity of lahorr, 4 , 1' • ■ .• . . j;J>rebn'

Hep.: What amount of -gold do yon expect to save per week I , Mr G.: 1 anticipdte above LCOO worth weekly, but of couise Iscannot say for certain. It may be more and it might be less. sStnrn* ■

Rep.; When do yon expect ypnr plant to arrive!

'last. Mr Welman is also on the road out. and if everything goes right we expect to be in full swing about the middle of September.

Rep.: Well I sincerely trust that your enterprise may receive its reward, and that your anticipations may be realised. MrG.i To quote “Richelie” “in the bright lexicon of youth there’s no such word as fail,” and although I have passed the “ bright lexicon of youth” I have no such word as “ fail ” in my vocabulary. The interview then terminated.