GOLD DREDGING

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 18 February 1901, Page 3

GOLD DREDGING

There was a good deal of excitement in town on Saturday evening, when the gold returns began to come in. The BulletJunction started business with the excellent return of 42 ounces. Then the Grey River, which was not expected to give much being dredging among submerged logs, sent in 18 ounces. Later in the evening the Leviathan with 1220zs of amalgam, put a very healthy tone into the industry. It was, moreover, generally understood that Nelson Creek had a big return and Dobson No. 2 was improving. As a consequence of all this, certain stock took a decided jump, and this week’s business, it is believed, will be particular good. The New River dredge has been moved up stream 400 yards and was expected to start dredging to day. The ground she was previously on was not payable. Bho is now nearby where the bore boles were put down and this week should give an indication of the nature of the new locality. Mr S. Cook, who has been prospecting for the Grey-Arnohl Company, has bottomed at a depth of thirty-six feet, and has got first class results. Ho got gold all through the wash, and the company are so well satisfied with the prospects obtained that wo believe they will shortly tike steps to get a dredge built. Their property adjoins the Grey River and experienced miners consider a splendid future is before the river claim i for several miles up the river, especially those near the outlet of the various gold producing creeks. The Grey River dredge has at length got clean of logs and this week should got a fair run once more. A gentleman connected with the company while at Christchurch the other day informed the Press that it is the intention of tho directors to work all tho ground possible with tho present bucket ladder, and to ascertain the depth of tho wash before altering its length. In tho meantime, before these alterations are made, if tho dredge can work the bottom from where she - now is from tho claim, dividend-paying returns will result, and tho area should take about two or throe years to dredgo without there being necessity to alter tho machinery. If it is found that she cannot bottom, the claim will be bored, and when tho greatest depth is ascertained, the ladder will bo lengthened accordingly. Tho dredgo will then be shifted back to tho lower end of tho claim, where she originally commenced operations, and tho claim will then bo worked systematically from the bottom boundary to tho top. If it is decided to work the back portion of the claim it will bo necessary to lengthen the elevators, ”

The boring experiments on the Princess claim, says a West Coast correspondent of the Lyttelton Times, were not very successful, and the claim will probably be abandoned.

The bottom of the pontoons of the Totara dredge has boon worn through and a new and larger dredge is considered necessary for the heavy work on the claim.

A meeting of Lock’s Freehold Syndicate was held at Goldsborough on Friday when specifications for sinking a shaft were prepared. The mooting adjourned to Friday night 22nd instant when all members are requested to be present, as the specifications will bo submitted for their approval. The Mokoia dredge which was stranded some months agn has resumed dredging operations and returns may bo expected this week. It will be remembered the dredge was getting good gold when a flood caused mishap. Mr G. S. Simpson, the secretary of the Red Jacks Gold Dredging Company, has received a telegram from Greymouth stating that the Chinamen obtained 4ioz from a paddock 20ft by 10ft by 12ft. The Secretary of tho Foley’s Creek Gold Dredging Company writes to the Otago Daily Times to say that Mr Duncan JBringans is in charge of the prospecting operations on tho New Marsden claim, and not Mr Fleming,

The Grey River No 2 Company have decided to extensively bore the claim before putting on a dredge. The property is believed by mining experts to bo rich gold-bearing ground and easily dredged. The Kawarau Dredge Company have taken up 1000 shares in the Reeves’ Proprietary Gold Dredging Company, in lieu of £IOOO cash final payment on account of the dredge purchased by the latter Company, and the shares have been issued accordingly-. The 3£awar.»u Company’ is an English syndicate. The Cromwell Argus bears that a local party engaged in blocking out a claim at quartz reef, have cleared over a thousand pounds per man during the last two years, and are st 11 on the run. In one place (he prospects went a pound weight to the dish.