GOLD DREDGING.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 16 December 1901, Page 2

GOLD DREDGING.

Last weeks return will practically close the year, as although a number of machines will continue running till Saturday several close down to effect repairs and improvements, to be in readiness for work after the holidays, Pactolus for her last week this year put up her record yield of 109 ounces for 120 hours. The new screw is to be put on and the ladder lengthened. The machine will then be taken over ground already worked, and the bottom cleaned thoroughly up. It is believed this will give handsome returns.

Greenstone Junction had a lot of tailings to get through which caused her diminished yield of 67 ounoer 16dwts. She could have beaten her former yield by continuing up stream but it was deemed wiser to take ground on a face. Hokitika Eiver got a lot of easier ground with the result of a jump up in yield to 58 ounces for 119 hours. If run of wash continues we shall have this dredge running Nelson Creek machines for premier place. A. 1.—40 ounces for 127 hours ; ground continuing uniform. Eeeves Propriety —36oz lOdwts for 114 hours. The wash was rough and a trifle hard but the machine is well handled.

Leviathan— General surprise was expressed at the smallness of the yield, 320 zl3 dwts for 104 hours. The machine had a break down which retarded work, but notwithstanding this 60oz was confidently predicted. There is a great lack of confidence in this company lately.

Bulker Junction return of 32 ounces for 115 hours is explained by highness in the - river, and inability of ladder to bottom.

Kohikahi —Now getting on to smaller wash, though still rough with timber in stream. Her return of 27 ounces 9 dwts is for a small turn over of ground. Grhv Extended —This is the old Dob son No 2, working where the Company was before. The yield last week was 16 ounces, and the week before 6 ounces 7 dwts. The dredgemaster is doing capital work, and we believe is likely to make a success with even the smaU machine at his disposal.

Grey River—l 3 ounces 10 dwts for 96 hours. Machine was retarded by rise in river. Timber is still as thick as ever. No doubt but the best and richest gold is left untouched.

Maori Queen for 72 hours gave 10 ounces 16dwts. The extra grabs evidently are doing a little good, but still the quantity of wash dirt treated is small, compared with what would be expected from a capable dredge. Ked Jacks was hampered all week with logs and cramped space. It machine had more room to work in the timber difficulty would be easier overcome. This will be obtained in a few weeks. The return of 9 ounces 10 dwts was quite as much as was expected. The Mosquito dredge started on Friday, and tables already look well. Machinery is working well.

Maori Gully is down about 15 feet. She may have washing up on Saturday but cannot expect much as she will not be on bottom.

Totaea Flat we understand hid a wash up on Saturday. The result is said to have been disappointing. Ruby Creek is still in loose shingle 23 feet deep. She is two chains from the river, and about an equal distance from where the prospects were obtained. The second week in January should indicate the worth of this ground.

Orwell Creek dredge is getting on well but will be quite a month before she gets down to bottom. When a little further down, the water in the dam will be materially lowered. Grey Consolidated is at a standstill. A reconstruction of the company is spoken of. The Auauea will be a couple of weeks yet ere she gets on to the lead that is said to run through the claim.

Additional Returns December 7th. The following additional returns for the week ended on Saturday December 7th have been recorded: —Mokoia 29ozs sdwt for 118 hour*, Stafford-Waimea lOozs for 100 hours, Grey River Extended 6jzs 7 dwts for opening out, Grey River Consolidated 7 ozs 9dwts for 120 hours, Ahaura River oozs 14iwb 4grs, and Docklands Beach 19ozs lOdwt of amalgam, yielding probably 9ozs of gold. Tho above returns make the total for that week as 516czs 12dwts 4grs from 19 dredges or an average of 27ozs 3dwt 19grs per dredge.

Garibaldi —The whole of tho machinery, lOOtons in all, for the Garibaldi dredge left Dunedin per steamer Rirau for Greymouth to-day. The contract for erection is for two months, so that the dredge should be at work about the middle of March. North Beach will soon rival its neighhour the Leviathan in the number of its breakdowns. Last week tho elevator was continually in trouble and consequently little dredging was done, and no wash up. However, tho manager now thinks he has discovered tho cause of tho trouble, and hopes to prevent it in future. It is to be hoped so, as this ground is quite good enough now for 30 to 35 oz per week, if fair lime is got in.

Greenstone Ceeek dredges have had from one cause and another to face a, number of difficulties quite unforeseen. This week or rather last week brought its quota to supplement the previous chapter, and as a result there is another spell

of inactivity for one of their number# The Greenstone Three Mile was reported on Saturday to have broken a shaft. Inquiring further I learn that it is the top tumbler shaft that has given way. This is doubly misfortunate as a new face had just been opened, and the bottom reached, Besides the old tumbler was about to be removed, as a new one arrived, and was taken to the claim on Friday evening. There will bo a delay of a few days or a week at least before a new shaft arrives, hence >Ve need not look for a return before Xmas, jbet u& hope that. things will take a turn for the bettbr in this dredge after the breaking of her tumbler shaft, as was the case with the Junction, Believers in omens might find a consolation in this sapient reflection;

The Gebenstone Cheek too met with a couple of accidents towards the end of the week, and ,so prevented a fair trial being made, thirst a couple of teeth on one of the wheels in connection with the winch broke. When this was repaired, dnd the ladder lowered to the full depth

(the ground has deepened to over 30ft), only a couple of coils of rope were left on the barrel of the winch. As a consequence these slipped, and the rope flying out got almost hopelessly tangled. It was late on Saturday when matters were set right and,the ladder once again lifted. The Greenstone Junction is the only one of the three that ran the gauntlet of the week’s work scathless. Although the return 67ozs Ifijdwts is not so good as local prophets predicted, it is nevertheless highly satisfactory, particularly in view of the fact that about 9ft of tailings carrying no gold has to be shifted on about half of the face. There will probably be a period of rest for necessary repairs after this week.