GOLD DREDGING.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 26 April 1901, Page 2

GOLD DREDGING.

Mr John Catnoron is making good progress with the cartage of the Hokitika Kiver dredge machinery to the site at Kanieri. Messrs Coyle Bros, arc also busy carting the Zior's cargo of kauti timber to the Commissioners Flat claim in the same district.

The contractor is making good headway with the dismantling of thcKlondyke Oo.'s dredge, and the material is being despatched as speedily as possible to the Stafford-Waimca Co.'s claim on the West Coast. The Jubilee water-race is repaired and all the claims are now at work. There is still a splondid supply of water, and there should bo some good washings from the various claims in consequence. The pontoons for the Woodstock claim are now well advanced, and will, bo roady for launching by the time the dam is excavated.

The Greater "Woodstock pontoon which

was partly constructed has been dismantled and is now under removal to the Shenandoah claim. Another batch of twelve special claims appear to-day in the Boss paper, Mr J. T. Pctrie being the applicant. Messrs Harrop and party surveyors, certainly have their hands full for a long time to come in locating and defining the boundaries of the numerous claims.

At the Totara lagoon, it is reported that several areas formerly held under prospecting license, aro about to be applied for as special claims. Several of them as I am told being more or less completely iloated into companies.—Ross Correspondent Guardian. The dredges may get thousands of ounces from the riverbed in our gorges, says the Cromwell "Argus," but they will leave behind in the rocky banks as much, perhaps more, than tbey take out. All along the course of the Karawarau and tho Clutha, on each side, is a bank of boulders beyond the power of any dredge to shift. It is among these boulders that the rich gold of the early days was got, and where the Chinamen have been fossicking for years. It is quite feasiblo to move these boulders with suitable derricks, and then the gold below them, which must bo richer than the gold above and among them, would be accessible, and then what records would bo put up. It makes one's mouth water to think of the gold that could thus bo dragged to light, Tho Island Creek drodge had a trial run on Tuesday and yesterday and worked very well. The buckets aro being put on, and everything will bo ready for a start by the middlo of next week. Seeing that this is the first purely local dredgo to get to work it is only natural to expect that the directors will have an opening day. Next Thursday, the halfholiday, would bo most suitable. —News. The Mokoia dredge worked for only two days last week, and did not wash up. Tho mine manager at No 2. Big River reports the contractors have mado a start to drive the tunnel, but so far have not done much work. The ground is hard, but is standing very straight in tho face of the drive, and has a promising appearance for stone.

The mine manager at Big River reports since last report have repaired Nos. 3 and 4chambers, also the intermediate chamber. The distance driven in No 6 levol since taking charge is 20 foet. The ground has been very hard, but has now changed for the better.

The Kocklands dredge is working well and getting every day nearer her own claim. Tho gold at present showing on tfto tables is mostly drift —very light and difficult to save. This is to be expected as the dredge is not going deeper than necessary to make headway. Tho Buller Junction is doing well and putting through a lot of wash. The returns arc expected to be very steady, as the wash is uniform, and now that things are being worked satisfactorily, that is from side to side of the river, each week will bo good, with probabiy an extra dab now and then when a heavy deposit exists.