GOLD DREDGING.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 14 January 1901, Page 2

GOLD DREDGING.

Ox the West Coast gold dredging, as an industy has scarcely yet begun, but in Otago, where it. is in full swing, we can get figures that give some idea of the importance of the new method of extracting gold. Last year the increase was very marked, as compared with the proceeding term, the figures being: Year Ounces Value 1900 ... 02,275 ... £242,825 1899 ... 4(5,152 ... 179,992 Increase for yr 1(5,120 ... £(52,823 A detailed return shows that the highest number of dredges that worked any week during the twelve months was 44, which was on August 13th

anJl December lOt i. whilst the smallest number ; f cl edges operating during a like period vas on January Stb, when only nine ••• jre in operation, and December 31st when only seven were working. The average number of machines working for the twelve months was 34, and this gives an average yield per machine for the year of of nearly 1832 ozs of gold, which valued at L 3 18s Od an ounce, represents a monetary value of about L 7,144. The largest yield obtained in any one week was on September 17th, when 2407 ozs were netted, 2285 ozs being obtained on July 9th, and 2075 ozs on March 26th, During 30 weeks run the yield was more than 1000 and less than 2000 oz j . per week, whilst with the exception of nine weeks the yield was less than 900 ozs. The smallest yield for any one week was for that ending December 31st last, when only 185 ozs was recorded, but as this was the result from only seven dredges, the average is over 26ozs per week per dredge. Taking the returns as a whole it is a marvellously good one, and shockd encourage the industry on the West Coast, which so far has proved infinitely better than the initial efforts in Otago. As all Otago experts who have visited this part of the colony entertain very high opinions of our rivers, lagoons and low lying country there seems little reason to doubt but that the future of gold dredging on the West Coast will be a profitable one, and possibly ere the end of the present year we will be able to beat the best Otago records.