LOSS ON GOLD SAVING.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 14 October 1901, Page 4

LOSS ON GOLD SAVING.

On the subject of loss of gold as a consequence of the employment of defective saving appliances, a correspondent in the Buller Miner makes the following interesting calculations: —When a drtdge is paying shareholders probably do not stop to think what a small loss of gold means per week. Take a dredge lifting 100 tons per hour, and averaging 120 hours per week. If Igr of gold per yard only is lost, it means a decreased return of 250 z, or £IOO worth of gold, lost; if 2gr per yard is lost it would be 50oz, or £2OO. Most dredges on an average, go about 68 tons per hour. Well, if through want of tables, water, or proper care, Igr per ton is lost in a week of 120 hours, it means 15oz of gold is being lost weekly. Now I maintain that the saving of the gold is the greatest point in any mining enterprise. T« be satisfied with, say, 50ozs per week, when OOozs should be secured, is ridiculous, and should not be tolerated. I would say to every dredgemaster, “Test your tailings often, ascertain what is being lost, and make every effort to save it.” On one dredge not 100 miles from Westport the tailings will go 4gr to the yard, another 2Jgr, and one actually went 14gr in one pkce. It may seem outrageous, but it is nevertheless true. Directors, it is your place to visit claims. See how the company’s ground is being dealt with, and if you find such glaring faults as above mentioned see them rectified, and then your shareholders will have cause to thank you for hundreds of pounds being paid to them in extra dividends.'