DREDGING AND MINING NEWS.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 27 March 1901, Page 3

DREDGING AND MINING NEWS.

The heavy fall of rain has given a sufficiency of water to last the sluicers for some time. All sluicing claims in the district are busily engaged, and their holders are hoping for good Eeaster washings.

The shaft on Lock’s ground has been bottomed on a high ridge of reef. It was expected that the bottom would be found some 14ft lower thsn it was. The shaft has been sunk the distance mentioned in the reef, and a tunnel has boon commenced to try and get the bottom out in the hollow.

The flood in the Bailer River caused by the recent rains, enabled the Old Digging Company’s Dredge to be taken down over the Three Channel and Thompson Creek falls safely. The first named is considered one of the most dangerous falls on the river to negotiate, and shareholders are to be congratulated on the success that has attended operations so far. There is still but little change for the better in tho prospect in the fortunes of of the Grey River Dredge. The Company wore unable to drive the last bore hole to the bottom, The layer of wash on the bottom was too hard or the pipes too weak to resist tho strain. Tho dredge will bo taken close to the upper boundary of the lease, whore no timber is expected to bo met with. Having arrived there, a hole will bo dredged as deep as tho ladder will enable it to bo done. Then the boring appliances will bo sot to work again in tho hope of reaching tho bottom. The ground seems to be considerably deeper than anyone had reason to anticipate previously. By this means the directors hope to get an accurate idea of tho depth aud value of the ground, _so as to guide their course of action. Owing to the di couraging nature of all operations lately, holders of stock became more or less discouraged, and tho quotations have steadily and persistently fallen from a high premium to only 10s above par. "When another good return w.ll bo announced it is hard to say at C, Times.

The A.l. dredge near Eeeffcon is getting a finished appearance. The machinery is in place and the intermediate gear being put on. The housing is nearly complete, and the tables will be put on as soon as possible. About four weeks should see this dredge at work. On dit that the Consolidated claim, which lies between the Mokoia and Buller Junction, is to be secured by one or other of the latter companies. The top end, Adjoining the Mokoia’s claim, is believed to contain a rich patch. The lower end has not yet been thoroughly tested. If the claim is secured by one of these companies. or divided between them, the shareholders should benefit considerably. At Omoeroa, South Westland, things are a bit lively. Friend Bros, are driving a tunnel into the terrace about two miles up the river and I (correspondent of the “Times”) hear they are getting a good sample of gold. There are some more claims pegged out above these; one of the prospectors told me he washed six grains to the dish.

Tho Wheel of Fortune claim broke into old ground, and allowed a quantity of water to escape from tho old workings. This should help to drain tho flat towards Lock’s ground and Kelly’s terrace. With this claim draining tho ground on ono side and the drainage tunnel on tho other, much ground should soon bo available for tho individual miners. Tho contractors for tho driving af tho drainage tunnel, at Stafford, arc now erecting a paddock that they may wash tho dirt taken from the tunnel. It was reported—tho Times cannot say how truly—that from a load of wash nearly a pennyweight of gold was obtained. Considering there are no signs of the bottom, this should bo considered very satisfactory, It may not bo generally known that any shareholder in a company registered

under the Company’s Act (nearly all dredging companies are under tho Act) can inspect, without fee, the register during office hours.

Tho West Coast Times Waiho correspondent writes :—Tho Waiho is very busy just now peg-sticking, Mr G Park on behalf of a Christchurch firm has taken up ono mile of the river from tho wire bridge; Mr W. Patrick has also taken up ono mile of tho river extending from Mr Park’s bottom peg on the south side of the river. Messrs Taylor and Eatson have taken up one mile of the flat and are now sinking a shaft to prove their ground. The W aiho Company have again taken up their old lease on tho north side of the river, and we are looking forward for a busy time in the near future.

Next Saturday’s dredging news (says ho Westport News), from the Biillcr ■iver should be more interesting than

those of previous weeks on account of the .Rockland and Mokoia being now at work. As the Eocklands will probably only dredge sufficciutly to allow it to pass through the shingle bank to the company’s claim, the returns arc not expected to ho large. Shareholders in tlie Eocklands and the adjoining company's will, however, watch with interest the operations of tiro dredge. The Mokoia in tiie past has been unfortunate, but there is every indication of successful working in the future. Eesidonts in the vicinity of the dredge and also shareholders in Dunedin, judging from the way the shares have kept up, have every confidence in the dredge. With the Mokoia, Bailor Junction, Eocklands, and Old Diggings dredges at work, the latter being expected to reach its claim shortly, tho Bailor's gold carrying capacity should he thoroughly tested.