GOLD DREDGING.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 14 November 1901, Page 2

GOLD DREDGING.

Tiikeb Mile Geeekstone did not wash up last week. It is worthy of note, says our Kumara correspondent, that no one here was aware that the previous wash up had taken place until nine days after the result had been sent to Dunedin. Comment is needless.

Island Cebek dredge has suspended operations for 14 days, Waiwebeo. —Mr H. A. Bruce, secretary of the Waiwhero Sluicing and Dredging Company, has received the following advice from the mine manager“ Return, 950 z for fortnight’s work.” El Doeado pontoon building is proceeding. The machinery should soon arrive from Melbourne.

Mokoia is working a 20ft face, and the returns continue regular and profitable. The dividend stage should soon be reached. Peemiee— The now Premier is con. sidered by many who have seen her to be the finest dredge on the Duller river, She will make her trial run late next week.

Maesdkn No. I—Owing to the nonattendance of a sufficient number of shareholders to constitute a quorum, the extraordinary meeting of the Marsden No. 1 Gold Dredging Company, to consider the question of continuing operations re going into liquidation, was adjourned till four o’clock next Monday. Bollbe Junction Directors hope to be able to pay another shilling in dividends before the New Year. The dredge is now operating on a beautiful face (of 26ft, and the returns speak for themselves. The directors are duplicating important parts of the machinery liable to breakage. They have acquired freehold rights adjoining the river claim, and are developing their coal mine.

The Welcome dredge, sister vessel to the Premier, will commence work a week or fortnight latter than the Premier. She is also well built, with sound pontoons, and strong holding machinery placed with a view to even lalance. As the Company’s claim is in the Buller Eiver, just below the junction with the Inangahua, the returns should pay the shareholders handsomely. The Eocklands. dredge, operating several miles below the Premier Company’s claim, have not yet come across heavy gold, although richer ground is believed to exist a short distancgjfahead of the dredge. The vessel is, however, considered responsible in a largo'measuro for the past low returns. The river widens out where the dredge is working and the gold apparently does not run in a defined lead, A good dredge should, however, win sufficient gold to much more than pay working expenses. Some of the Company are understood to be strongly in favour of the purchase of a vessel of a more reliable type than the present one. The Old Diggings die Ige immediately below the El Dorado, bottomed for the fi*-st time last Thursday, and in five hours prior to a breakage in the machinery won more gold than for the rest of the week previous to the time of bottoming. The old aud the new machinery on the dredge has not been a happy combination, breakages having caused constant interruptions. Mr AH Smith, who transferred his services as master from the Old Diggings to the Premier dredge, left the former vessel just as he had given the Company the assurance of a bright future. Mr Black, the new master, commences duties under very favourable conditions, md will doubtless soon give the shareholders something to cheer their hearts.

Moktoomkev’s Tkbrick— Mr 0‘ L. Bussell, secretary of the Montgomery’s Terraco Hydraulic Sluicing Company, reports that the tender of Messrs Edgen and Party has been accepted for the construction of the intake tunnel, gravel trap, and six ebains of ditching for £496. The tender is to be completed within five months fiom date. The contractors have made a commencement with the work. The tender of Mr A. W. Morse has been accepted for the remainder of the race. The work is to be completed within eight months from date. Iho manager is still prospecting the additional area secured by the company, with splendid results. Whilst the race is in course of construction it has been suggested, but has not been finally decided upon, to cut a temporary race ac a small cost to utilise the Healey’s Gully water on the now ground. If this is done operations can bo commenced within eight vroek’s time.