GOLD DREDGING.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 30 September 1901, Page 2

GOLD DREDGING.

Last week opened with heavy rain aud flooded rivers that looked ill for dredging and few and poor returns were expected. The conditions improved as the week advanced, and when all returns are in it is likely that the yield will be about the largest yet obtained on the West Coast, The North Beach dredge around which great interest centres, gave 17oza IGdwts for threc-and-a half days through some trifling breakages otherwise tho yield would have been over 30 ounces. Although a little silt still is present there is so marked an improvement that the local director tips 33 ounces for this week. - . / The Gekt Eivee dredge is now on good ground near the mouth of Stillwater Creek as may be noted from her return of 20 ounces for 86 hours. This ground is sliallowerjthan most parts of the claim, the dredge for some weeks should give 30 ounces per week. When this spot is worked out the ladder will be lengthened and efforts made to get at the deeper drifts.

Greenstone Junction as predicted fave an improved return of 21 ounces 16 wts. This claim which has got over a good many difficulties, is now on a good run, and is expected to give good average yeilds for a considerable time. Greenstone Creek: operating in worked ground got 8 ounces for 115 hours. Wo do not anticipate much improvement for some time ; indeed this ground has been turned over in many parts where solid was expected that it will, be difficult to form an estimate of future work beyond stating that where unworked ground is come across good results will follow.

Maori Queen- dredge with 12 ounces 11 dwts for 128 hours has little variation a good claim hampered for want of a better dredge. Pactolds, which oailier in the week promised better, only got 16 ounces for 184 hours. Of course where timber is struck the quantity of dirt cannot bo put through, and this was the case with the Pactolus.

Grey Consolidated has given at length some evidence of the staunch faith reposed in it by those who know the ground by giving 18 ounces 10 dwts for week. When the machine gets on the run of gold that old miners declare runs thro ugh this ground big returns should be obtained. Boiler Junction got the fine return of 23 ounces 5 dwts for 140 hours during which she was engaged opening out at the lower end of the claim. When a face is obtained much larger yields are expected, those knowing the ground declarlog she will head the Buller list. The present depth of wash is 22 feet. A 1 gave her record of 45 ounces 17 dwts. “ The steady increasing returns in this claim are very assuring when we re* member that those increased yields are obtained height ground in some places as hard as Maori Queen dirt. The great difference, however, lies in the fact that the A 1 has a dredge capable of dealing with the wash.

Erickson’s Reward return is 9 ojss 10 dwts. Mr Erickson informs us that the ground is rich enough and the timber difficulty being got over, If the quantity

of dirt was being treated that should be, excellent results would be obtained, but the dredge bucks and jumps whenever any extra strain is put on. Azuuba dredge only’ worked 108 hours and was, of course, in the early part of the week hampered by the rise in the river. The yield of 19ozs 7dwts lOgrs is perhaps as much as could be expected.

Maksdex No I is meeting with the difficulties incidental to dredging. After getting down to a depth of 19 feet she came across “a hatch of timber” that could not be dealt with, and after running for a considerable time the drcdgomaster decided to shift the machine further up stream where it is to be hoped better success will attend operations,