GOLD DREDGE AT CLYDE

Evening Star, Issue 22464, 8 October 1936, Page 8

GOLD DREDGE AT CLYDE

LAUNCHING STILL UNCERTAIN OPERATIONS CONTINUED TO-DAY After more than 12 hours’ continuous work yesterday, tho attempts to launch the Molyneux Gold Dredging Company’s 700-ton machine failed. Hundreds of people anxiously watched proceedings throughout the day, it being expected that the huge steel frame of the dredge would plunge into the treacherous waters of the Molyneux at any moment.: Hitch after hitch occurred until late in the afternoon, when cheers echoed across the gorge as the dredge moved slowly down the skidway. The excitement, however, ended abruptly when the dredge, after advancing 50ft, halted for no apparent reason. The skids were liberally covered with grease and there appeared to be no fouling of the bottom of the dredge. The halt was described as mysterious, and on© might fancifully assume that the dredge was displaying justifiable obstinacy about entering the deep and fast-moving water. Further efforts to move her failed, and shortly after 6 p.m. work was postponed until 6 a.rn. to-day. A telephone message from Clyde this afternoon indicated that owing to tins fall in the level of the river and the likelihood of a rise occurring to-mor-rowing (owing to rain falling in the back country) an attempt to complete the launching would bo made to-mor-row. Bain early in the morning somewhat hampered opera* tions, but the level of the river, although down about 2in, was still sufficiently high to justify the launching endeavours being continued. It was reported that an attempt was to be made to pull the. dredge into the river by means of a winch rope fastened on the other side of the river. Yesterday afternoon tho dredge was started down the skidway by the use of two powerful jacks and a winch rope slung round a huge rock about 50yds below tho dredge. Launching operations are being controlled by Mr J. Knewstubb, representing Messrs Stevenson and Cook, of Port Chalmers, who are the contractors for the work as well as for the erection of the superstructure on the dredge. Yesterday, however, he received valuable assistance from his brother, Mr F, Knewstubb, who is at present on a holiday from Malay, where he is employed as a dredgemaster for one of the tin companies. Other officials present at Clyde yesterday were Messrs R. P. Opi© (engineer-manager of the English company, J. Edmond (representing th* New Zealand attorneys and agents), and S. Chapman (dredgemaster).