THE GREENSTONE DREDGES.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 14 March 1901, Page 3

THE GREENSTONE DREDGES.

Two Machines Start To-day.

(OUR KUMARA CORRESPONDENT )

The long delays in finishing the dredges on tho Greenstone Creek has at last ended, and to-day is to see the official opening of at least one of them. Several directors of the Greenstone. Creek Dredging Company are in town for the purpose of attending tho ceremony. Tho race for pride of place as to which the Greenstone Creek or Greenstone Junction dredge would got to work first, has been a ko'en one. Indeed, so keen has it been and so close tho c jmpetition, that even as I write, there is a doubt ns to which will be foremost. First, it was a question of weeks, then days, now it has dwindled to hours. It is just probable that this 14th of March, in the year of grace 1901, will see the two dredges in question start on their career of gold winning. Let us hope they will bo successful. This is a wish that will find an echo in every heart in district. As tho directors of the Greenstone Junction have determined to dispense with any display at starting the hour, and may be the day, will not bo generally known. A few particulars of both claims and dredges will bo of interest to your a t the present time.

Tho Greenstone Junction as its name indicates lies at the Junction of tho Tereraakau River and Greenstone Creek. It bounds tho Tcremakau Dredging Company's claim, and tho whole flat up to within a few chains of Foley’s Hotel, Westbrook, extending in tho creek bed right up to the hotel. The area is 122 acres approximately, 34 of which is freehold purchased by tho Company. Tho deedgo will start to work where she now lies, close to the river, and take a face up the creek towards the mouth of Little Fuschia. This course has been determined on by the directors, on tho advice of their consulting engineer, and their dredgemaster. It is held that there will bo no difficulty in coming down the creek again and into tho river to work the lower end of the claim, thus obviating the danger of breaking tbe breastwork of the dam which is several feet above the river. The further fact that good gold is known to lie in the direction it is proposed to work is another reason for taking that course.

Tho Greenstone Gold Dredging bompany’s claim lies immediately above the Greenstone Junction. Immediately above that we come to the Greenstone Creek Dredging Company’s claim. It runs from tho mouth of Big Fuschia creek up to the suspension bridge at the Junction of tho Greenstone and Blackwater Creeks embracing about one mile of creek bed and Hats. The area is 97 acres. Portions of this claim are known to bo very rich as for instance the famous Bung Tuck which is embraced within its boundry. There wore throe prospecting shafts sunk one at the top end the other in the middle and tha third at the lower end of tho claim. The latter was sunk close to where tho dredge now lies so we should bo favoured with good returns from the start. Tho spot where the dredge now lies is a tew chain above tho mouth of Big Fuschii. It is intended to turn and work down towards this tho lower boundary, as tho creek mentioned is known to have been very rich, A party of chinamen are yet working the deeper grounds in the creek with, so rumour says, rich results. The dredgemaster, Mr Robinson, thinks very highly of the claim, and we all hope that his confidence will not be misplaced. Indeed there need bo little fear of that.

Tho pontoons for this dredge are Soft long by 29ft beam. 6ft forward and 6ft 6 n aft. The laddi-r is capable of dredging to a deptli of about :30ft. This is ample considering that the deepest shaft was only 24ft. Tho capacity of tho buckets is 4ift, tho engine is 12 horse power, Marshall. Tho boiler is made suitable for burning wood, or coal, and I understand, it is intended to use both. The winches are tho latest up-to-date patents. Tho lower end of the screen has had slots cut to admit of the exit of any >6eavy gold and nuggets, and there may be expected in this local! y. I must not forget to mention tho inevitable elevator. Indeed the dredge is thoroughly up-to-dato as regard its fittings and general workmanship, and reflects great credit on tho engineer in charge of tho erection of ‘<tho machinery, Mr Young. I will reserve f, r another time the particulars of tho Junction dredge, as it has some improvements not generally found on most dredges, and as dredging is somewhat on an experimental stags on tho Coast owing to the many obstacles to bo mot with and overcome, a general knowledge of any improvement cannot b«t bo acceptable.