GOLD DREDGING.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 17 July 1901, Page 2

GOLD DREDGING.

The Greenstone Three Mile dredge is expected to give a better account of herself this week than heretofore as she has been working in solid ground sinoe Monday.

The Greenstone Junction Dredge was floated on Monday morning and started dredging at noon. It will take the rest of the week to clear the accumulated silt oat of the paddock so no return need be expected for some time, The manager of the Beefton United Gold Dredging Company received a wire from Mr Maynard, manager of the Keystone Borer on Tuesday stating that he had bottomed at S 3 feet with moderate prospects. The Bocklands Beaoh dredge did not wash up last week having her bottom tumbler. A new one arrived by the Haupiri last night. Dredging, it is expected, will be commenced again in a fortnight. The contractor for building of pontoons for the Welcome Gold Dredging Company has finished his work. .This dredge is of much the same design and dimen. sions as the Premier and should commence operations in about ten weeks. The claim consists of 100 acres and has been surface-prospected with a result of nearly eight grains to a cubic yard. The average depth of wash is about 25 feet. Mr Fache (late of Waipuna dredge) has been appointed dredgemaster of the North Beach dredge. The Mokoia dredge was stopped part of last week in order to have her boiler inspected. Tho contractor for erection of machinery on the Premier dredge will shortly make a start. This area has been prospected by the Cocksparrow dredge (until reoently the ConsoJidatad Company) whioh obtained 35ozs from about four thousand cnbic yards. The "•■ elson Creek dredge is undergoing an overhaul and will be ready to resume operations about the end of next week. A consistent gold winner from the commencement of operations the future of this venture will be noted with interest.

The contractor for the Ruby Creek dredge expects to complete his work in about a week. The dredge will then bo floated clown to the lower boundary of the claim where she will start operations. Ford's Creek dredge has been laid up in order to get her ladder lengthened three feet. Last week she only dredged for a short period on the bottom, hence the small return. The timber for construction of the pontoons for Mosquito Gold Dredging Company, is nearly all on the claim. The site for their creation has been cleared, and a start with the construction of the same is expected to be made shortly. It is reported that the Reeves Proprietary dredge has struck good wash, and it is expected that future returns will be considerably increased. It is unofficially stated that the Ahaura dredge obtained lOozs of gold for 10 days work.