GOLD DREDGING.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 21 March 1901, Page 4

GOLD DREDGING.

The Amikitia Gold DredgiLg Company has bem floated in Wellington, to work a claim on the Matakitald river. Mr Peter M'Vicar, who has been in charge of the Golden Treasure dredge, Miller’s Fiat, tor many years, has been appointed drcdgcmascor of the Ahaura Eiver Gold Dredging Company’s dredge. . A telegram (says the Press) has been received by the secretary of the Leviathan Gold Dredging Company stating that the return for last week, as anticipated, was small, viz., ISez amalgam, but that the prospects were now better. The directors did not expect a largo return, the dredge having been going t '.rough ground full of rubbish and timber. In fact, vorv little virgin ground has yet been touched save once, when over 50oz of gold was the week’s return. Material for lengthening the ladder was shipped on Friday by steamer. This will entail a short stoppage this week, but when completed should make a very considerable addition to future returns. The Chairman of Directors of the Island Creek Company reports, after a visit to the claim, that there is a splendid supply of fresh water ; that there is no timber whatever ; that there appears to ho no large stones; and that the wash is nice free, pebbly stuff. When complete the dredge will bo one of the best on the Coast. The last of the machinery has been shipped, and should now be on the claim. The greater portion of it is new. Referring to the action of the Dunedin Stock Exchange in voting £2O towards the expenses incurred by Mr P. Tansoy, of Kumam, in the prosecutions connected with the Foley’s Creek “salting case, a'corrcspondcnt of the Otago Daily Times suggests that the other Dunedin exchanges and those in Christchurch and Wellington should follow the example set by the Duncdiu Exchange. He concludes :—“ The far-reaching effects of this £2O subscription cannot be too highly valued. It will make rogues think twice when they sec money will not be wanted to chastise them, while investors will have more confidence in an industry which is so manfully protected by the Stock Exchanges of New Zealand.” It is proposed to increase the capital of the Ford’s Creek Gold Dredging Company by the issue of 2,310 preference shares. These shares will carry 25 per cent extra in dividends, and in the event of liquidation of the Company would have first claim on the assets. In the notice calling a meeting of shareholders to consider the proposal, the directors point out that the Company possesses a powerful, fully-equipped dredge, and that the dredge master reports she is working splendidly. As to the prospects of the Company, the directors have every confidence in the claim proving ultimately payable, although unfortunately the dredge was started at a bad spot, resulting in much unlooked-for expenditure and the hampering of the Company in its fin inces. The Rockland’s dredge is all ready to start work, but requires arise of 4ft in the river before she can move from her present position to the place where she begins dredging. The intention is, wo understand, to cut through a shingle bank in the El Dorado’s claim to the company’s ground. The dredge is a fine powerful one and well balanced, and, therefore, should prove a gold-getter. Late information states that the dredge has commenced operations. The Cocksparrow dredge also requires a rise of 4ft before she can bo floated down to the Old Diggings’ claim. At Dunedin on Friday, (say the Press) a practical demonstration of Jones’s patent- goldsaving tables was given before a large number of spectators, most of whom expressed themselves wellsatisfied with the working of the model. These tables arc for use on dredges, batteries, or sluicing claims, and unlike most other tables, the wash passes on to a wide sluice box or table, below and running parallel with the screen. From the end of this table the stuff which has been thoroughly mixed passes into a distributing box of sufficient length to carry it to the extreme end of the table. This box is provided with openings through which the stuff passes into the hoil-box, which runs parallel to the distributor, and is provided with doors by which the flow into each department of the tables can be regulated so that each table lias an equal amount of stuff to treat. By means of doors attached to the boil-box the flow into any particular table can bo stopped, the mats removed, and clean ones laid down in the space of a few minutes. The chief points claimed for these tables arc that an even distribution of a thoroughly mixed material over the entire goldsaving area can bo secured; that by means of the boil-box the stuff is delivered on to the tables in such a way as to ensure the deposition of the gold at the head of each table ; that by classifying the gold according to size the saving of each class can be conducted much more cflcctivcly; that a wash up can be made when required without any loss of time whatever ; and, finally, that so large a percentage of gold is saved, that what is now unpayable ground, could, by use of these tables be worked at profit.