GOLD DREDGING.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 28 September 1901, Page 3

GOLD DREDGING.

The following additional dredging returns were reported lor last week yesterday :—Mokoia 38oz 15dwt for 168 hours; Erickson’s Eeward lOozs 16dwt for 125 and Grey Consolidated 6oz for 40 hours. . Mr All Morel, of the Paotolus dredge has been appointed to the management, and Mr Simpson engineer of the Orwell Creek dredge, which will start in about ten days. Messrs Bundle and Co report the forwarding last week of the balance of the New York machinery for Westland Aldinga, Victory and Moonlight Companies, This machinery is very strongly made, ais evidenced, by the fact that each bucket with link weighs l,ooolbs, the usual weight being 600 lbs.

The Perry’s Reward dredge is expected to commence work again tc-day The dredgemaster intends to taka a narrow and shallow cut with the view of reaching tho prospectors shaft where it is hoped the ground will prove to be more i s ? Enckson’a Reward dredge return will r be'about the same as last week. The di idge is still troubled with timber. The Grey River dredge, which will wash up this afternoon, is working steadily in shallow ground. Pair returns are expected next week. prom a shaft sunk at one of the bends in the Waimangaroa river, some miners In the early days extracted 95 ozs of gold. Twenty-five men* including the foreman, are reported to have left Neville and Perkins’ claim as a r suit of the recent prohibitory notice and strike. The new bottom tumbler for the Old Riggings dredge was taken up to the - o ' a im yesterday. Under favorable circ instances the dredge should be able to commence work on Monday. As the V dd-ioit has been silted up as the result of the recent floods in the Roller river, we can hardly anticipate a retorn till this day fortnight. «

The Mokoia dredge has suspended operations for overhaul and erection of brger tables. This will enable the dredge to save the finer gold thus materially increasing the already highly payable returns. Another start should ,be made early in the week. The Premier and Welcome dredges will be ready in the course'of a short time, so that by the end of the year, the number of dredges at work in the Buller district should be fairly considerable.

The dam excavated for the reception of the Kohinoor pontoons has been completed and passed by the Rois director —Mr Grimmond—so that pontoons should be launched in the early part of the week. As most of the machinery is on the claim a start should be got shortly before Christmas, and dredge in thorough working order by the New Year. It is in contemplation to put down a shaft in another part part of the claim for further evidence as to the extent of the auriferous gravels. Messrs Gillies and Faithful will shortly inspect the locality, and report their impressions as to its value. Messrs Fitzgerald and Bignell, the contractors for the construction of the pontoons for the Commissioner’s Flat Company have commenced operations and intend to push the work on so that they will be ready to receive the machinery which is due here about the end of November. The dredge will be the largest and most powerful one on the Coast. Tho Buller Junction Company’s dredge which gave a return of 22ozs sdwt for 140 hours, was engaged last week in opening up but has not yet bottomed. When bottom is reached it is expected that the average returns he about 30ozs. per week. The dredge continues to run steadily.

The first general meeting of shareholders in the Shetland Terrace Sluicing Company was held at Dunedin on Wednesday night. Mr J. Rhodes was chairman. The following officers were duly elected: —Directors —Messrs J. Rhodes, A. James, T. J. Milnes, John Campbell, and John Watson; secretary, D. G. Davidson; auditors, Duncan and Power. The claim consists of 200 acres adjoining Moonlight Creek, Westland, and consists of highly auriferous terraces. If reports count for anything the company should have one of the best sluicing properties on the Coast, and no time will be lost in getting to work. Flans for the race, three miles in length, are now being prepared, and in two months’ time contracts for erecting same will be let. The company possess 39 heads of water, and the rights constitute a valuable asset.

Mr Hayne, 0. E., and Boss, have according the Westport Hews completed the boring operations in the Buller district on behalf of the Buller United Company. The best prospects were obtained we understand, on the beach claims between Birohfield and Granity. In one place the prospect was 9Jdwts to load. Although some very rich ground was prospected in the upper parts of the Buller, near Millar’s Point, the difficulties for dredging were recognised. Owing to the scarcity of beaches it would be almost necessary for the claims to extend over a larger area than is usually allowed. The dredge could then work from beach to beach and might in this way meet with highly favourable results. In the crevices very rich gold has been found, but a dredge could not readily work these. A possible method of working would be with a suction dredge, fitted up with a scraper. As the wash is very firm the suction pipe would make little impression unless the wash was first loosened. The river, in the part prospected, passes through an auriferous country.

Ingestre Street, Wanganui. September 23rd, 1901.

(To the Editor.)

Sm, —In your issue of September 11th, I noticed a local stating that “ a wealthy syndicate had taken the Lake Mahinapua Golden Gravels, and floated the claims,” also that “ five dredges are likely to be built forthwith and sent out to work the ground.” I have made careful enquiry from one of the two trustees who states that he has received no advice from Home or elsewhere conveying such news of flotation, or the five dredges. Now, sir, as I have no reason to doubt this gentleman's word, I should be very much obliged if you would state publicly if you or your reporter saw any communication from England bearing out your statements concerning the five dredges or flotation.—Yours truly, Thos. Vance. [We have our information from the best possible authority; have also seen copy of cablegram on matter. —Ed. E.S.] Dredging Share Transaction. Dunedin, Sopt 27. In the Magistrate’s Court to-day a compromise was arrived at in a peculiar share case in which J. E, Cunningham sued E. A. Cogan claiming £53 10. The plaintiff bought through the broker shares in the Vincent Company, of which defendant is secretary. He received the transfer which he lodged at defendant’s office, The shares it appeared belonged to the wife of the clerk in defendant’s office, and instead of the transfer being passed it- was presumably destroyed by the clerk, whose wife disposed of the shares again. It was sought to hold Cogan (the broker) responsible for the act of his clerk, but a compromise was arrived at.