GOLD DREDGING.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 15 August 1901, Page 3

GOLD DREDGING.

The Grey River dredge is working on bottom, and this week is expected to show an improvement. The Leviathan this morning broke two of her winch barrels. It will take two or three days to repair. She will wash up at end of the week, but the|return will necessarily be small. The slight rise in the river yesterday was not sufficient to enable the Ruby Creek dredge to get down to her ground.

The Grey River Consolidated continues dredging up the lagoon on the side of the river. Her return will be about as much as last week.

Erickson’s Reward is still hampered by timber, and the dredge is lifting a very small quantity of dirt. Do not anticipate any improvement this week. The New River dredge is cutting a narrow gut up to the ground that was prospectad well. She expects to get on good wash by the end of the week.

The Orwell Creek dredge is expected to be finished in about four weeks time. The opinion of a good many people is that she will be very much on the weak side.

It is understood that the Maori Queen directors, who visited the claim yesterday, will arrange for the necessary increase of capital to pay off liabilities and enable tbe machine to continue dredging. Her cause of non-success is want of power. The Ahaura is looking remarkably well; is doing much better work and a better return is expected this week. There is some friction between the dredgemaster and the directors, and it is reported that the former has resigned or intends doing so.

Mr Smith, one of the Maori Gully directors states that eight bore holes were pot down on the claim by Mr Glossop, who stated that the ground was one of the very best claims be had ever bored and that he only came in contact with one tree Jn the eight holes sunk. As far as the surface prospecting there was no trouble whatever with timber. The dradge.not be completed till November.