LEVIATHAN FREEHOLDS GOLD DREDGING COMPANY.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 16 November 1901, Page 3

LEVIATHAN FREEHOLDS GOLD DREDGING COMPANY.

Among the many claims on the "West Coast there are few that have inspired more hope than the Leviathan Freeholds. Bright hopes have been fostered by the investors of this Company, and next year we hope to hear of splendid results from the dredge now being constructed. The Company was formed early in the year, and being warned bj the failure of other Companies through insufficient capital, it made ample provision for any emergency that might be needed. Twenty thousand contributing shares at £1 each are available, but only ten thousand have been offered to the public. These were eagerly taken up by shareholders in different parts of the Colony, and at a time when investors were most discreet in their investments. Ton thousand shares are still held in reserve for future use should it be deemed necessary to put on a second dredge. The claim is situated four and a half miles south of Greymouth and has an area of 222 acres, freehold property, that has been purchased by the company. The ground is lightly timbered and is all of virgin nature, and was thoroughly prospected by shafts and bores under the of Messrs Cutten Bros.

In the old days miners would gladly have worked the claim, but lacked the necessary appliances in the presence of swampy land. The directors are men most interested in the development of the claim, and have lost no time in pushing forward the work preparatory to dredgo construction. Last autumn thirty acres of bush was felled. A site has been cleared ready for building the pontoons, and a dam is being prepared for launching. A tramway of 15 chains has been formed from the Paroa railway station to the claim so that the transit of all material will bo at minimum cost. The plans for the dredge have been designed by Meesrs Cutten Bros, and special attention has been given to every department of the machinery. The

“Marshall” engines are to arrive from England at the end of November. An engine of 16 horse power is to drive the buckets, screen and elevators. The pump will be driven by a separate 8 horse power Marshall engine, while the winch will also have its own engine.

The pins, bushes and tumblers which are being imported from Home, are of the best manganese material and will be constructed to meet the requirements for heavy wear and friction although the ground is light and the wash not deeper than 20ft. Care is being taken to provide ample power and every facility is provided to obviate the many stoppages peculiar to dredging. When finished the dredge will be the most complete and up-to-date machine yet built in the colony. Early next May the dredge will commence working and with such a splendid property and first-class machinery the returns should be of a most lucrative nature.