GOLD DREDGING.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 13 August 1901, Page 2

GOLD DREDGING.

Nelson Creek, with 27 ounces, though not up to its former average, shows that the machine is again getting into good wash and can be relied upon to show to better advantage this week. The Ahaura dredge with 19 ounces 8 dwts—its best return so far indicates that initial difficulties are being got over. The machine itself like many others is too weak, and if the wash continues to deepen there will be trouble with the ladder. The depth of wash on Saturday was 29 feet. Erickson’s Reward 9 ounces 13 dwta is somewhat disappointing, but it must be remembered that in addition to the submerged timber difficulty, the quantity of dirt treated is very small last week’s amount not being much more than 1000 yards. The ground is good enough, but the dredge is weak.

Grey Consolidated is now endeavourngto get through a shallow bar that separates it from the" river. When once through excellent results are anticipated, the wash having been thoroughly proven. Grmnstonb Creek dredge did not wash-up last week. This dredge ia still hampered with the Chinese tailings, which are being sluiced into the paddock in which the dredge is working. The Chairman of Directors —Dr Jennings— was expected to arrive on the Coast from Dunedin on Saturday. Perry's Reward dredge which has not been working since mid-day on Wednesday resumed operations last evening. The cause of the stoppage was owing to illness of some of the hands and advantage was taken to re-lip a number of the buckets. For some time the dredge has been working without bottoming, but the has now deepened considerably and proper bottom is reached at 26 feet. Kohinoob Dredge.— The excavation of

the dam for the floating of the Kohinoor dredge is taken by Hamond and Co., the agregate price being £126. The party is made up of young men (ten in number) who are to carry out tne work in the stipulated time viz. three weeks from the date of signing the contract.

Fbddhhson’s —The result of the prospecting of the Fedderson Gold Dredging Company’s claim on the Duller River shows it to be highly payable for dredging. Mr Faithful, who prospected the claim on behalf of Cutten Bros, in his report says that four bore holes were put down, the average depth being 20§ feet, and the average result of gold 14grs. The wash passed through was rough and stony, carrying gold throughout on to a soft blue reef bottom. Surface prospects tried in a dozen different places averaged five grains to the yard. In calculating tests, no allowance is made for stone, and .the value per cubic yard is based on the dirt being of equivalent value to that extracted from each bore.

New Claim —A powerful limited liability company has been formed (says the Boss correspondent of the Guardian) to dovelope the alluvial terrace opposite the Koh-i-noor claim on the south side of the Mikonui river. The prospects obtainable through many feet of wash most certainly appear to guarantee the “ spec ” a very payable one. Some men are now at work driving a tunnel through the sandstone reef which dips considerably. This piece of ground has been thoroughly prospected for some years by Mr