GOLD DREDGING.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 18 May 1901, Page 2

GOLD DREDGING.

The hitherto unfortunate Foley’s Creek Gojd Dredging Company have secured a new lease on the Creek between Marsden and Maori Creek, and have got the greater part of their plant on to same. The name given the claim is “The New Master.” The ground has been prospected with very fair success, and it is to be hoped that shareholders will reap a gold reward, for up to the present their experience has not been a good one. Work in connection with Marsden Nos. 1 and 3 is proceeding fairly satisfactorily, but there is a good deal of machinery yet to come to hand. It will he three months before either get a start. The New River which washed up the other day when the dredge came upon some logs, gave 13 ounces of gold for ITO hours’ dredging. At first it was reported that the machine had got into a very difficult position, but it subsequently transpired that the patch of timber is small and will be easily got rid of. The dredge is at present stopped, the workmen being engaged repairing the road to enable a supply of coal being obtained. Dobson No 2 has had a chequered career. Just when about to start an “ Old Man Flood ” nearly carried her and her then plucky master, Mr Newell, over the bar. With difficulty she was got up stream again, and commenced work, only to find that her ladder was at least fifteen feet too short to bottom. Here, there and everywhere she tried, but without success. Certainly one week she got 18 ounces, but before and since lias not amdhiug like cleared expenses. She is now moored below an island “looking silent and mournful.” What (lie next move will be with tlis singular misfit—a twenty-five feet ladder for forty-five feet of wash —no one knoweth. The consignment of blue gum, 25.000 feet for the Commissioners Flat Gf.D. Company has arrived at Greymouth. Mr Spencer, engineer to the Consolidated Gold Fields of New Zealand, visited the Humphrey's Gully claim on L’ucsday. The recent Hoods have done some damage to the works in course of instruction. The enormous profits reaped by the ■ollicry owners of Great Britain during ho past year are indicated in the Wigan Joal and Iron Company’s report. A

dividend of no less Ilian 17i per cent was declared, the net profits having detailed I'KiS i:tS. At a sale of Crown mining lands recently held in the Klondykc a man named Dawson is said to have purchased a claim of gold bottom for ss: He immediately began digging,'and next day struck a rich streak. Before the week was ended he had been offered £IO,OOO for the claim, but refused to sell at that figure. Mr Payne, the well-known engineer and designer of the dredges, will be in the course of a few days. Mr Boberts is also expected and both these gentlemen will make an inspection of the works in connection with the various companies for which they are consulting engineers.— West Coast Times. Shareholders in the Island Creek dredge must by this time he thoroughly dissatisfied with the slow progress made towards the starting of operations. The dredge was originally to have been ready about the end of last year, but the delays occasioned by the slow arrival of machinery and the necessity for having certain small parts made locally, kept everything'behind. The lengthy delay has meant extra expense and depreciation of the value of the shares,

Zinc dust is now used in prefercnceto zinc shavings in the cyanide process,, the advantages being saving in first cost), of construction of plant, casein handling; precipitated gold, intimate contract ©i: precipitating medium with the and longer time of contract if necessary - .. The Hartley and Riley Beach Gold'. Dredging Company, formed in 1897 witlto a nominal capital of £7OOO. obtained 7692; ozs of gold in 1900, valued at £29,766,, and the total quantity of gold produced' since registration was 17.3580zs lldwOgr,.. valued at £67,348. The total expenditure has amounted to £14,611, and. £56,063 has been paid in dividends. The dredge master of the New Riverreports : 13 ozs for 100 hours, That thelate wet weather had made about 20chains of the road to the dredge so bad that the carters could not deliver coal to the dredge till it was repaired. quentlyhe had been compelled to stopß Thursday morning and put the men to repair. This would take to the end of the week. In the meantime he is taking advantage of the stoppage to put a “ save all” in, as good gold is being lost through not having it in. He expects to start oja Monday.