GOLD DREDGING.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 23 September 1901, Page 2

GOLD DREDGING.

Last week was for the Coast a moist period with high rivers, and consequently but little dredging. The returns are not, therefore, up to expectations. The tone of the market, however, is hardening, and there is more confidence in the industry than for months past. The early commencement of half-a-dozen new dredges is looked forward to with much confidence; and No Town Creek ground, which for a long time has almost been neglected, is occupying a good deal of public attention, quite a number of investors having visited the locality during the week, all returning back with a high opinion of the spot. Bed Jacks, too, has come in for a good deal of attention, while Callighan’s and Caledonia dredges have also been spoken of hopefully. The North Beach dredge, from which much is expected, gare 23 ounces for 124 hours. A good deal of dredging was partially interfered with making slight alterations to tables and other minor but necessary improvements to save gold that is at present being lost. This week some further improvements arc contemplated which may, as last week, affect the return. The lagoon silt, too, is extending further than was expected, and it will be a fortnight before this barren stuff is got rid of. Prospecting at the point where the silt terminates warrants the belief that from 30 to 40 ounces per week can be relied on. The expenses attached to this claim will be much smaller than on inland and river dredges, the material being free and easily treated, with a total absence of timber. In consequence of the success already attained, a number of other beach claims will be started shortly. The Maori Queen, though putting through but little wash consequent;upon hardness, gave 14 ounces lldwts for 123 hours. The ground appears to be improving, and if a capable dredge was at work 30 ounces a week would even now be obtained. The Grey Biveb, consequence upon the state of the - river, was idle all the week.

Ford's Ceeek dredging intermittently owing to flood, got 11 ounces 7 dwts. She was for a few hours on the bottom. She

is now dredging towards the mouth o: the creek.

The A hauea was also troubled with

the flood, working but 82 hours, 44 of which was on the bottom. The return of 18 ounces 14 dwts was, therefore, as much as could be expected. The Pactolus, which is now working smoothly, got 19J ounces for 143 hours, with every indication of an improvement.

The Bulker Junction dredge started work on her lower boundary on Thursday. She will wash up on Friday, and is expected to give a fair return for opening up work. She should get good face of wash to dredge on in about a fortnight.

The Greenstone Ceeek for 118 hours fell back to 9 ounces 3 dwts, but the rise in river was partially responsible for this.

The Greenstone Junction resumed work on Saturday and should get washing un this week.

The Greenstone Three Mile commenced this morning, her tumbler having been replaced.

The New River dredge has been working for a fortnight. The returns are, howeyer, small,

A 1 with 41 ounces 5 dwts is satisfac--tory and the record yield for the cmim. The ground, is free and drodge working well. Maesden No. 1 has scarcely bottomed and did not wash up, there ’being a good deal of silt to contend with. Caledonian.- -But for an jinfortunate delay in the delivery of some ..few parts of machinery from Dunedin, uhe V a *T donian drede at the foot of Me 'onhghfc, would have been ready to start to-di W- IMr Pearson is the contractor for the ei 'ectaon of machinery, and Mr Wylde is tht' Engineer in charge of the work for * him. Mr Wylde and his staff have n\aUy made famous progress since they star 'ted a few weeks ago. ,

The secretary (Mr C. L. Russel) of tit 9 Montgomerys’ Terrace Hydryulic Slmo" ing Company states that the Mr John Hay, has been busily employed during the past few months putting in tunnels and jump-ups to thoroughly prospect the weole area. This has been donei successfully, and in the last tunnel, Mr* Hay made a valuable discovery of wash going one penny weight to the load. l’m consequence of this the company havei taken up extra ground. Mr C, L. Russell, secretary of the Grey • River Extended Company, reports that Mr Albert Crumpton, late master of the-. Duller Consolidated Company’s dredge,, has been appointed master of the Grey River Extended Company’s dredge. Theprice paid by the company for tho Dobson No. 2 Company’s dredge—£2loo—hlsid included the Dobson No. 2 claim.. JL meeting of the directors will be hoi® at an early date to go thoroughly into the> question of lengthening the ladder of the', dredge, and also to consider the- best, means of working the claim and of bringing the company’s operations to a successful issue. The secretary (Mr B. Tyormaa) of tha Maori Queen Company, in intimating to shareholders that the time for receiving applications for debentures has been extended to September 28th, says“ The. last reports received from the dredgemaster, after further experimenting with dynamite on the hard wash, all. point to< successfully working the claim when extra grabhooks are put on the dredge. It now becomes a question for the shareholders; either to assist in findine the small amount asked for, or face the necessity of winding the company up. If this latter contingency eventuates, the directors feel sure the shareholders will have the mortification of losing their property, and seeing it worked to a successful issue by others.'*