GOLD DREDGING.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 10 July 1901, Page 2

GOLD DREDGING.

The contractor for the Kohikohi machinery erection has made a start.

The Mokoia dredge is on good wash; and the Bullor Junction dredge is work- - ing steadily on fair wash. The contractor for the building of the Fairdown pontoons has made a start, and will no doubt be finished up to time ( ' The contractor for tbo erection of the Wareatea machinery is hampered by having to fix the road before the tools, housing, and material could be tat en to the claim. The water has been turned into the dam, and when ready, the gauge will bo closed. Mr J. Park, Managing Director of the Waiho Hydraulic Sluioag Company accompanied by Mr Seeves' hydraulic expert, arrived at the Waiho on Tuesday evening. We understand Mr Beeves' report to Mr Jair os Park was very encour.

ajring, i.e. the property in the WaihoFlat, which we believe is to be worked very shortly under the*blow-up system. Mr Gr. Park (Manager) with Mr Reeves has been some days prospecting the Company's old lease, about eight chains from the old face. The wash they put through a box, which panned out the splendid average of two dwts to the load. They have tried several places up the gorge with the same encouraging result. The contractor for the Fairdown pontoons has secured himself against the weather bv putting a roof over the building site. The bluegum is on the ground but there seems a great scarcity of kauri at Auckland, each of the companies having more orders than they can execute for -ti»e next three months.

wsPN| rs Taylor and Batson have now got their pumping plant fixed in the prospecting shaft, they are down 21ft and are fixing up a water whoel. Mr J. Irwin is putting down a prospecting shaft in his property near the Callery Junction. The boulders are very large, which necessitated a lot of shooting and very slow sinking, but the " Wombat" will get through. He ia down eleven feet.

The secretary of the Rocklanis Beaoh Gold Dredging Company has informed the Westport Times that the dredge master's report for last week is very encouraging. Splendid progress towards the claim has been made and if the weather keeps fine the dredge should be on the company's ground very soon. It will be noticed that the returns from the dredge are improving as she approaches the claim. The return from the Mokoia for last" week was 48ozs lOdwt for 118 hours. It is understood that the Old Diggings dredge machinery will be placed in position m'about three weeks from date, and when everything is ready to be handed over, Mr Alfred Smith takes charge. Mr Smith's long experience as a dredgemaster on the Buller river places him in jho first rank in this class of work.