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Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 18 March 1901, Page 4

DS DQINCt AND MINiNi NOISS

The dredgomaster of the Mokoia dredge (says the Dunedin “ Star a return of 390 x retorted gold since launching her.

..Many of the' miners at Back Creek, Capo Terrace, and other parts of the Kumara District are at a standstill for the want of water.

*' An injunction taken out against the ’Waimnniu Queen and Waimumu Extended, (Otago) by the farmers, for polluting the water, has had the effect of bringia: down the prices of all stocks in that locality. Tno balance of machinery for the Island Creek Dredge is on board the Corrinna, which is expected to arrive at Westport at the end of this week, The Island Creek should commence operations within a month from now.

The directors of the Map.nmka Eivor Geld dredging Company, Ltd., have (says the Tost) concluded'the purchase of the of the Imperial Company’s dredge. Additions are to bo made to the length of the ladder, and extra steam power to be provided. Messrs Crabtree and bon, who will have the work in hand, expect to have the dredge working upon the Mapourika Company’s within three months

It is understood that the Tucker Elat G. M. Company's shareholders are to be called together for the purpose of considering the position of the Company. The prospecting proved hgbly satisfactory, but the working capital, ȣoo<>o is considered too small, as a suitable dredge would cost T9OOO. It is probable a fresh issue of shares will be made.

The information that the shares in the Waihi Company had dropped £3 in consequence of the labor difficulty between the company's manager in New Zealand and the Miners’ Union was not obtained by the Premier direct from London. Mr Seddon was informed from a reliable source in the colony that the market value of the shares at Home had receded £3 immediately on the receipt in London of the news that a labor complication had occurred at Waihi. —Wellington ‘Post.’ Mr Nelson, the contractor for the erection of the machinery of the Grey Eivor Consolidated Company’s dredge, was to leave Christchurch for Grcymouth on Tuesday with a complete staff and all material necessary to complete his contract.

Tlie Dunedin Stock Exchange have Voted twenty guineas to the fund being raised to defray the expenses of Mr Patrick Tanscy, of Kumara, which he incurred in prosecuting the Lawsons for salting the. Foley’s Creek Extended Company’s claim.

Tne rumours in connection with an alleged swindle in forging reports on dredging areas have, says the “ Westport News, ” no reference to the Bailee river, At a meeting of tho shareholders in the Ahanra River Gold Dredging Company, hold at Dunedin on Monday night, to consider the question of providing further capital, the following motion was unanimously agreed to : —“ That this meeting of shareholders in tho Ahaura River Gold Dredging Company request and authorise the directors of the Company to obtain an overdraft from the bank sufficient to meet existing liabilities, until the dredge has obtained gold ; and, further, that the shareholders request tho directors and authorise them to give tho bank a joint and several guarantees, and to secure themselves that they be empowered to take a mortgage over tho whole of tho plant and property of the company ; and, further, that the directora bo empowered to obtain a marine insurance on tho dredge to protect themselves and tho company in case of accident.” It was stated that tho dredge would probably bo completed by the end of the present month. Mr R. A. Mathowson, secretary of the Golden Banner Gold Dredging Company, states that Mr Payne’s West Coast representative reports that owing to the nonarrival of some particular kind of timber the contractor for tho pontoons has been delayed, but he promises to hurry on the work with a big staff as soon as the timber arrives. The pontoons are, however, well under way. Mr H. A. Bruce, secretary of tho Marsden No. 1 Gold Diedging Company, states that the tender of Mr Cederwell for the erection of tho machinery, has been accepted, and tho successful! tenderer will commence operations at once.

It is stated as being probable that the Leviathan Company’s dredge will suspend operations next week in order to have her bucket ladder lengthened. There appears to bo some diflicully in getting boring plants on the Coast, the directors of every claim of any consequence having decided that it is absolutely necessary to bore the areas hold by their respective companies. Despite the difficulty alluded to, the directors of the Grey Monarch and Grey River Extended Companies have succeeded in obtaining a plant from Messrs Cutten Bros , and operations on the respective claims will start this week.

The activity of the dredging business (says the Wellington “Times”) may be seen from the fact that within the last twelve months Mr W. Cable has sent out six dredges for the West Coast, and has four others now building in his workshops. Those completed are for the following companies Four Rivers, Leviathan, Greenstone Creek, Abaura, Erickson’s Reward, and Nelson Creek. The orders now being completed in the foundry include dredges for the Hau Hau Creek, Totara Flat, Kohikohi, and Ross Day Dawn Companies, and a considerable portion of the gear for these has already left the shops. Mr J. D. Gillies and a staff of assistants are making rapid progress with the survey of the Montgomery’s Terrace Hydraulic Sluicing Company’s claim, and it is anticipated will have it completed within a week; when tenders will bo called for the construction of the race. At a meeting of directors it was decided to close down so as to enable the head and tail races to be enlarged to accomodate the extra supply of water. Mr John Hay, the well-known Kumara sluiccr, has been appointed working manager from a number of applications. The final wash-up by the vendors has taken place, and though the the exact amount has not been received, it is anticipated to bo over 4oozs for the month of February, working throe hours a day with twelve head of water.