GOLD DREDGING.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 2 April 1901, Page 3

GOLD DREDGING.

The Maori Queen had a turn out of her machinery yesterday, when everything worked smoothly and giving satisfaction. There are many little things to be done about the dredge yet before she is completed, but next Monday week should see her properly under way. The Grey River Company yesterday bottomed at 47 feet. This depth was got in the centre of the river. If the dredge could work this ground what rare yields might be expected. The Greenstone Junction dredge cast off its iron plates from scren and yesterday morning commenced dredging in earnest. The dam is now sufficiently large to allow work being proceeded with. It is said that the areas on the upper reaches of the Arahura river, which were taken up for dredging purposes, have been abandoned. The Totara dredge hid (says the West Coast Times) a splendid washing on Saturday last, but it is still being kept a secret.

The Greenstone Creek is working smoothly and the dam is now of the required size. The electric light will bo shortly placed on this dredge. The Three-mile Greenstone Dredging Company’s machinery will shortly bo in its place. The engineer is using the utmost speed towarcls completing all necessary work. A good return is expected from this claim when in full working order.

The dam confining the tailings at the Mahinapua G. D. Coy’s claim broke away last week. In consequence the manager, Mr Chevcrton, has left for Wellington to have a consultation with the directors, and all hands have been temporarily paid off. It is anticipated that the work of erecting the machinery on theHau Hau dredge will be completed in about three months from this date. The pontoons for this dredge have been made water-tight. At Callaghan’s between Gqldshqrough and Kumara, is a small mining district, in which a number of claims have been taken up. In connection with one of these, the company is practically floated, although the prospectus lias only just been issued. The vendors, including several investors prominent in Westland and Otago mining affairs, spent a considerable sum in prospecting, and, as a result, have themselves taken up half the contributing shares, which arc fixed at 11,000 of £1 each, as a large dredge will be necessary. It is encouraging to find vendors ready to prospect and support the venture, and the promoters are to be congratulated on establishing the company at a time generally regarded as inopportune. Considerable amount of work is now says the West Coast Times being done at the Humphrey’s Gully sluicing claim. New pipes ahd sluice boxes are being put down and two pelton wheels are in course of erection, one for driving the gear which will be utilised tor the removing of stumps and other debris that may accumulate from time to time in the working of the face which will considerably facilitate the progress of work in the claim. The other is for driving the machinery for the lighting of the claim by electricity. It is inticipated that shortly the now water race will bo completed and then the work| o( washing away the several hundreds of acres, which the company have secured, will commence in real earnest. It is to be hoped that the company will be recouped for the outlay now being made.