GOLD DREDGING.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 11 March 1901, Page 2

GOLD DREDGING.

Saturday's returns all round were disappointing, and as a consequence, the anticipated improvement for this week is not likely to take place. The reduced yield in the Buller Junction is easy of explanation. The dredge, for the proceeding four weeks, had been dredging back and forwards half-across the Buller, and having got a bit ahead of starting ground early last week, decided to go back to the commencement and dredge across the other half of the river. This will provide another three weeks work to bring the machine level with the portion already dredged. When this is acoomplished, the work will be carried right across from bank to bank and the whole of the stream worked. This process will take the poor with the rich ground, and a uniform return of the claim will be always obtained. The Grey River Co. are apparently determined to adopt a better plan to work their groundr The past six weeks has shown the directors the necessity of working with a longer ladder and with elevators. The latter is now being put on,.and it is likely that the ladder will also be lengthened, the present length being lot down on Saturday without getting bottom. The amount of dredging done last week was very little and consequently no washing up was done.

The Leviathan return of 12 ounces was under what was expected. This week should show an improvement, as a more solid ground will be operated upon. There need be no funk in regard to this claim, owing to a few bad returns, for there is a large area of ground which once got on to will average sixty ounces a week. Such, at all events is the declaration given us by disinterested miners, who have known the locality for 25 years, Messrs E. Sweetman and Party are pushing on expeditiously with the building of the Lake Eyan pontoon, Cobden. The contractors have planked all sides of the hull, and are now engaged caulking and tarring as well as erecting uprights for the elevators, etc., prior to nailing the deck down. Given a fortnight's fine weather, it is probable that the dredge will bo ready for the water Mr Hurst is engaged cutting a water race, which it is expected will supply sufficient water to float the dredge. There is also a quantity of machinery from Marshall and Son's, England, on the ground. The Waipuna with 11$ ounces for a good deal of broken time for actual dredging is fairly good and with tho prospect, of more and that of coming upon a rich run, will always make this company a favorite one with investors. The New Eiver shows little improvement yet. Gold will be got the creek but results so far indicate the dredge was built at least half-a-milo too low down the stroam.

Fords Creek is pretty much in a like position. She is pushing along to get on to the solid ground where fair prospects have been obtained. It, however, is taking longer to get there than was anticipated, and a month is now set down as tho probable dato of obtaining gold, Dobson No. 2 continues on so far as people here are concerned as "No body knows and no body cares." Tho results are unknown, but it is patent to all that where the gold is there tho drodgo is not, her ladder being of insufficient length. She is now out in mid-stream. Prospecting is being carried on by Popplewell in Maori King with satisfactory results. The boring of tho Maori Gully Company's ground was commenced on Satur" day last under the control of Mr Glossip*