GOLD DREDGING RETURNS.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 25 March 1901, Page 3

GOLD DREDGING RETURNS.

Saturday night saw a decided lift in dredging matters and an inclination on the part of investors to do business. The reason for change is not very clear, as the returns in most cases came up to expectations were by no means good. Yet the tone was more hopeful. The New River and Ford’s Creek which heretofore have been regarded as but slightly removed from “duffers” arc steadily improving, and those who put their faith in these two claims are telling the unbelievers “I told you so, it was only a question of time.” Neither dredge is yet giving payable returns, but a gradual improvement is shown, which if continued will soon place the two on the list of dividend payers. The Pactolus return is considered good, as the bottom is not yet reached and the greater part of the time was taken up with dead work of getting into position for future operations. Nelson Creek return of 2:1 ounces for 111 hours work shown! an improvement. The Grey River Dredge has not been working for three weeks past owing to quantity of timber and length of ladder being insufficient. A bore hole was put down 37 feet without bottom. The dredge then moved to the opposite side of river put down hold 24 feet, not getting bottom, dredge moved further up stream and another trial was made when 24ft again reached without bottom. This morning boring with rods was resumed. The proposal is, we understand, after finding the depth tolcngthcn ladder 15ft and if necessary lengthen pontoon also. The cost of this will not exceed £SOO, when a machine in every way capable of treating the ground will be available. Waipuna return of 18 ounces for two weeks is an improvement, but not quite enough to clear expenses. The tailings j are now giving trouble through piling up.

WEST coast. The Paetolus return is 24 ounces 4 dwts for 350 hours, including opening out without finding the bottom. Duller Junction. 5(5 ozs amalgam for 105 hours, estimated to yield 30 ozs gold. Leviathan, 5 ounces for 130 hours. Waipuna, 18 ounces for 250 hours. Grey River, did not work last week. Nelson Creek, 23 ounces for 111 hours. Dobson No. 11, week ended Kith, Oozs P.klwts.

The returns from the Nov/ River, and Ford’s Creek arc not known

(per press association.)

Dunedin, March 23. The following returns arc to hand. — OTAGO

ozs chvts Electric 230 10 Earnscleugh No II 103 0 Perseverance ... 82 13 Hartley and Eiley ... 07 13 Magnetic 03 0 Empire 01 13 Meg and Annie 00 2 Enterprise II ... 55 12 Central Electric 53 13 Enterprise III 48 1 Success 40 2 Majestic Bo 11 Wairaumu Central ... 25 10 Golden Bed 25 0 Tuapeka 20 8 Molynoux Hydraulic... 19 10 Inch Valley 19 7 Incholmo 19 0 Waimurau Extended... 17 2 Waimumu 17 0 Ngapara III 10 0 Old" 15 19 Alpine II 15 0 "Waikaka Forks 14 0 Nevis 12 0 Golden Link ... 8 14 Magnetic If. ... 7 13 Central Charlton 7 12