WORKING THE AURIFEROUS BEDS OF RIVERS.

Evening Star, Issue 2971, 27 August 1872, Page 2

WORKING THE AURIFEROUS BEDS OF RIVERS.

From the accounts received from time to time of the difficulty of obtaining gold from the beds of rivers, any contrivance fordoing so cheaply must command attention, So certain are many of our mining population that large yields of gold would repay auy effort put forward to effectually gather it from the Molyncux that propositions have been seriously made to turn the current, at enormous expense, and with nearly a certainty that the first heavy flood would restore the river to its accustomed channel. But science promises to provide means of doing the work at comparatively small expense and with, it may be said, absolutely no risk of failure. By the Tararua, a few days ago, Mr Nuttall, of Melbourne, arrived here, bringing with him drawings of the submarine boat that has been in use for many years .in several countries of the Continent of Europe, us a vast improvement on the diving bell. He favored us with a view of the drawings, and, on c-.reful examination of them, we consider the contrivance .such as is likely to secure success at a co't scarcely exceeding the expense of a spoon dredge, and the slucing machinery connected with it. The objects to be attained arc, ability for a number of men to work continuously under water without injury to their health. To this end the submarine boat is so contrived that three or four men can thoroughly work a large area under water, and sluice the wash-dirt without any necessity for raising it out of the water. Light and air are freely supplied, and when one section of the river is completely examined, there are means of shifting the boat without raising it to the surface. Every cranuy, every pocket of the river’s bed can be narrowly looked into. The workmen will be totally independent of floods, and may work as continuously in shifts as they do in quartz mines; thus the whole length of a river m&y be traversed. Mr uttall proposes, in order to prove the utility of the invention, and its adaption to the purposes designed that those interested should subscribe by forming a company for the construction of an experimental boat to be exhibited in the harbor, and that when its utility is thus demonstrat'd, as many additional boats should be built as are necessary to glean' the golden harvest that the experience of years- has proved to be so rich. We hardly think that experiment is required after the plans are understood, for we were surprised to find that every conceivable contingency was provided against. But. on the other hand, experiment imparts confidence, and w’e think it the duty of the Provincial Government to give assistance in this direction, not only to develop goldseeking, but because a boat constructed on those principles might be made mos.t useful for defence purposes of the harbor in a variety of ways that must be obvious. It is said Russia has pressed them into defensive warfare. The plan proposed by Mr Nuttall has had the approval of competent engineers in Victoria. The whole question is one of the cost of means to ends, and we think in this proposition there is every chance of success.