GOLD DREDGING.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 30 April 1901, Page 2

GOLD DREDGING.

The Maori Queen dredgemaster states; that ha ia now fairly well opened, and. from Wednesday should be gutting good, gold. The dredge is working admirably.

The Pactoluc return is deemed the best test yet obtained of the wealth of Nelson Creek. The dredge is practically in the lighter drift, and when she gets on to the. run the returns are expected to equal Nelson Creek.

Owing to delay in getting Johes,'s Novelty tables fixed, the Waipuna dredge did not get a start yesterday, and it may be to-morrow before she is ready. The dredge-master contemplates their getting three or four months run without further stoppage.

The boiler for the Hokitika River G.D. Company weighs nearly twelve tons. The,Mosquito Company's claim which was recently reported to have been prospected with not quite satisfactory results is to be retested by Mr W. Faithful, the well-known representative of Messrs Cutten Bros, on the Coast. The claim was highly thought of by Coasters until lately, and in spite of the reported unsatisfactory prospecting there is a strong feeling amongst dredging men generally that the • ground is good. The Directors, therefore, have wisely determined to thoroughly satisfy themselves before condemning the property. New River dredge is upon bettor ground than Bhe has yet operated upon. The gold is much heavier, some pieces being a pennyweight. The dredge master expects he will double the returns of last week.

Nelson Creek return though ten ounces t under the previous week does not indicate any falling off in the ground treated. The smaller yields is set down to the fact that the dredge had to stop and get hauled back in order to not interfere with the suspension bridge over the creek at the point of dredging. This week it is behoved will be nearer 80 than 70 ounces. The directors have declared a first dividend of one shilling and we understand that in addition to having no debt that they have a good surplus over after paying dividend. The average for the past four weeks is over 65 ounces, and as twelve ounces pay all expenses, the available sum for dividends is a trifle under two shillings pev month.