GOLD DREDGING.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 9 April 1901, Page 2

GOLD DREDGING.

At a meeting of shareholders and directors of the Golden Treasure Dredging Company, held at Wood’s Hotel, Rattray Street, Dunedin, on the 2Cth ultimo, a handsome gold [pendant, suitably inscribed, was presented to Mr Peter M‘Vicar, late dredgemaster of the above company. Mr Grigg, a director, in making the presentation congratulated Mr M'Vicar on his management and tact,

and hoped that in taking charge of the Ahaura River Company’s dredge, Grey Valley, he would be as successful as he had been on the Golden Treasure. The recipient suitably responded!

The past week closed under depressing conditions so far as gold dredging was concerned. The returns, if we accept the New River and Nelson Creek being considerably under expectations while the Leviathan and Waipunayield was about as low as could be arrived at. Yet the tone of the market was firm and even animated Nelson Creeks being in groat demand at C4s, while New River showed an upward tendency. Enquiries at a slight advance were also made for Shellbacks and Maori Gullies, while Teremakaus were also nibbled at and stock on the whole was firmer held than for some weeks past. The cause for this is perhaps to be explained from the fact that investors are now realising that defective plant rather than poor ground is the cause for small yields. The same difficulty of misfits, of insufficient machinery, and of suiting a dredge to the nature of the ground to be operated upon, rather than attempting to make the ground suit the machine was experienced in Otago and for ten years delayed the industry. Here on the Coast we have realised the mistakes in the earlier stage and consequently will not have the disheartening delays and experiments incidental to gold dredging in Otago, and wo confidently affirm that by the end of the year, the mistakes will have been rectified and at least 40 suitable dredgse at work. Only when we have such a number can form anything like a correct estimate of the value of such a mode of gold mining on the WestCoast.

The Pactolus No 3 Gold Dredging Company now intend to push on their dredge with all possible speed. At a meeting of the directors, Mr Faithful on behalf of Messrs Cutten Bros (the company’s engineers) brought forward completed plans for their inspection. Special attention has been given to the preparation of the plans by Messrs Cutten Bros., and the dredge designed is in every sense up-to-date—and admirably adapted to deal with the Company’s ground.

The directors approved of the plans and instructed the engineers to call tenders for supply of iron work, boiler, ladder, buckets, screen, etc. —supply of timber (which is to be stacked and seasoned)—and to cable to their representative in London to order the engine and cash steel graving. These works will be pushed on with all speed, and as the engineers have had the experiences of the Nelson Creek and Pactolus Company’s dredges to assist them in their design tor their dredge a suitable machine should be assured.

Dobson No 2 reports at return of 10oa lOdwts for week ending SOinst. Messrs Taylor and Batson are still going on with the prospecting of their lease at Waiho; the shaft is down sixteen feet and a satisfactory so far.

The prospects of the Four River Plain Dredge have been more favourable during the past week, and there are indications of a change in the company’s luck,

Mr Bate, the newly appointed master of the Hau Hau dredge, who has just arrived from Otagc with Mrs Bate, will take charge immediately and push on work without delay. The Government lias decided to assist in the boring operations on the foreshore at the Thames to discover if the lodes tending seaward can be intersected at a depth. The boring plant is to be lent free of charge by the Government, who also grant a subsidy of 10s for every £ expended by the Victoria Gold Mining Company, who own the claim, the total Government contribution not to exceed £IOOO.

Wo have received from the Christchurch Press Company a copy of “The Investor’s Guido to West Coast Dredging,” which gives in handy form the latest information regarding the public companies formed to work dredging areas on the West Coast. The volume is in handy form, neatly bound and containing maps of the district showing position of the various claims. Copies may bo obtained from the local agent of the Weekly Press. There was quite an exciting scone in Donnelly’s Creek on the day that the reserve was lifted off the area between the Day Dawn special claim and the bridge. About 30 men wore on the ground, some with a watch in one hand and a peg in the other, waiting the hour of S a.m. when the ground was open for selection. The pegging out was simultaneous, as were the applications when the Courthouse was opened at 10-30. It will be interesting to note how a prior right will be established under the circumstances.

The Mine Manager at Big River reports: —Since last report the rise has been, carried up ton feet. The stone has cut out, leaving only a (rack with occasional lumps of stene. No. G level has been extended ten feet in favourable ground. The crushing is finished and resulted in 30ozs lldwts retorted gold from 75 tons of stone. We understand that a Dunedin syndicate has accepted options for Dick Seddon Cascade Extended, and Cascade Dredging claims on the Buller River, starting from the Nine-mile Ferry and extending up the river to the Cascade Creek, a distance of three miles. This part of the Buller is understood to bo rich, as it has been fed from the rich auriferous wash from the Cascade Creek and the slopes of Mount William. The same syndicate have also secured the option over freehold and mining lands at Fairdown. They intend to thoroughly prospect these properties at an early date.

The Shanandoah claim on Tucker Plat, which is now under offer to the Great Woodstock Company has been prospected, with highly satisfactory results. A boro put down by the Keystone drill which was not bottomed, gave results equal to seven grains to the load from top to twenty-six feet. The same hole was afterwards bottomed at thirty-five feet by Mr Appleton with the ordinary boring rods, the result giving twenty eight grains to the load. A shaft was also put down on the same claim and gave results equalling two grains to the load from the surface to the water. This was afterwards bottomed by Mr Appleton with the boring rods, also giving results equal to twenty-eight grains to the load.