DREDGING NOTES.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 2 May 1901, Page 4

DREDGING NOTES.

The dredgmaster of the Pactolus reports that the ground is improving. An elevator pinion wheel has broken, and the dredge is stopped for repairs.

The whole of the machinery for the Stafford-Waimea Company will be shipped from Dunedin this week and the directors expect to have the dredge working within four months.

The secretai’y of the Three-mile Greenstone Creek Gold Dredging Company reports that the contractor expects to have a trial run in about a fortnight.

The secretary of the Grey River Extcnped Company (Mr C. L. Russell) informs us that boi'ing operations on tiie claim have been delayed in consequence of the flood carrying away the plant after completing No 1 bore and commencing No 2. ft is expected, however, that work will be resumed this week. Over a dozen claims for calls due in dredging shares were dealt with by the Magistrate at Dunedin the other day. The dredgemaster (Mr. P. Me Vicar) of the Ahaura River Gold Dredging GomS expects it will be about four week' efore the dredge will be able to star work. He complains about the delays in getting machinery forwarded on to the claim, but is highly pleased with the look of the claim, and will be greatly disappointed if good returns are not obtained. He thinks the ground will be very easily dredged, and, in his opinion, if there is no gold! in the claim then there is no gold in any of the.rivers of the West Coast.

Mr. H. Nelson, the contractor for the erection of the machinery for the Gro.y "River Consolidated Dredging Company (Limited) reports that ne is making good headway with the work of erection of machinery, etc., and that it is all fitting in well. The boiler, winch, and all gear and elevator arein position, also the condenser and air pump. Mr. C. L. Russell, secretary of Craig’s Freehold Gold Dredging Company, states tnat MessrsjSoudie and party have washed up for 24 ozs. Messrs Bignell and Fitzgerald, of Greymouth, have commenced to build the pontoons for the Commissioners Flat Gold Dredging Company. As the firm are noted for the prompt and satisfactory way in which they carry out their contracts, shareholders may expect to find the pontoons finished in time for the machinery. An extraordinary general meeting of the Tucker Flat Company was held at Dunedin recently to confirm a resolution with respect to increasing the capital of the company, which was passed at the extraordinary meeting of the company on the 27th March last. There were eight shareholders present. The Chairman (Mr W. Howes) moved; “ That the capital be increased to £SOOO by the creation of 5000 shares of £1 each.” The motion was not seconded. The Chairman, after waiting for five or six minutes for a seconder, said that the motion would lapse.. After a silent interval of some minutes the meeting solemnly closed, and the hushed shareholders retired.

The first annual general meeting of , the Trafalgar Company was held at Dunedin. Mr W. R. Frost occupied the chair. A fair number of shareholders were present. The Chairman stated that the pontoons would be launched in about a month, and that the machinery contracts were well forward. The dredge was capable of dredging to 35feet, or by using their telescopic extension 40 feet would be available. The claim had been proven by boring, and care had been taken to made the machinery amply powerful. Mr G. M. Marshall, who recently visited the district, endorsed what Mr Frost had said. Messrs Frost and Nimmo, the retiring directors, wore re-elected, as was also Mr Powell, the retiring auditor. The directors of the Caledonia Gold Dredging Company report that whilst considering the question of obtaining a . , dredge, they learnt that a dredge nearly ready for delivery from the Austral Otis Company, Melbourne, and intended for a local dredging company, was to' be obtained, and after some negotiations with the vendor company and also after a most favorable report as to the suitability of the machinery from the engineer of the Caledonia company, who was also the designer of the machinery referred to, a transfer was finally completed, your directors by this fortunate stroke saving the company several hundreds of pounds as well Fas much valuable time. The machinery is now on the way from Melbourne, the first shipment of .fortytwo tons being already landed at Greymouth, and with the exception of £259, which will not be remitted until delivery is completed, is all paid for. The contract for the construction of the pontoons expires about the end of June, before which the machinery, engine, and boiler will be on the claim. Acting on the advice of a'gentleman who has a large interest in the company, and who has a ' Qomplete knowledge of the ground, the

directors acquired an addition to the claim of a strip of seventeen acres, which was part of the original block, and was cut off to bring the claim to 100 acres. This addition, which is described as firstclass dredging ground, cost the company a comparative trifle, and brings the total area of the claim to 117 acres.

A press cable, received from London, states that the Wailu Gold Mining Company propose to increase the capital to half a million.

The Keep-it-Datk Company have declared another dividend (tho 127th) of sixpence per share.