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Hokitika Guardian, 20 March 1931, Page 4

Tun launching and christening even; set down for next Wednesday afternoon on Rimu Flat suggests quite an interesting milestone in the gold mining history of the district. In the days of the gold-dredging boom, TUmu Flat was spied out by not a few. At the time it: was utmost- standing forest, and the large holes of the trees did not sugge-t a very inviting problem. Certainly to the lay mind, it appeared to be an insuperable barrier to successful dredging. But the Flat was known to be auriferous, and there is no doubt had water been brought on to the gold-field in the substantial quantity once proposed from Lake Kanieri, the ground would have been worked b.v methods other than dredging. The field was surveyed at otic time for the construction of a sludge channel, emptying into Mahinanua lagoon, and had that project gone forward, the ground would have been worked on the same system as Kumara. But there were harbour and ether objections to the sludge channel,, and in any case, though actually started from Sunny Bight locality, the water race from Lake Kanieri to Seddon’s Terrace and the Rimu goldfield, did not materialise. So the mining speculators again turned their attention to a dredging scheme. By then the millers were accounting for much of the standing timber on the Flat, and ultimately a Company was promoted. Like- most of earlier dredges built for the C-wist, it was not powerful enough to deal with the heavy alluvial ground, and the first venture by New Zealand enterprise could not treat the ground. Then came a combination of Australian and New Zealand capital with . a more powerful machine. This effort at least demonstrated the intrinsic value of the field, and was the- -attraction ultimately to induce capital further afield to come into the proposition. Then matured the present Company, which built- a larger and stronger dredge, and soon demonstrated its possibilities, winning good returns from the cutset. For upwards of a decade now the dredge lias worked most steadily, and must have won much golden treasure. Tt is an experience to view the area of ground turned over in the period of operation. The masses of boulders indicate the nature of the ground, but miners familiar with the alluvial strata will tell you, that the big stones were necessary to hold tin 1 heavier gold in the period of deposit. Be that as it may. the gold is there, evidence of which has confirmation in the long life of No. 1 dredge and. the complementary fact that next week No. 2 dredge is going to he launched. For a wooden hull subjected to the strain put upon it over so many years. No 1 hull has surely done good servile. The No. 2is larger and more powerful in every way. Tt will ho able to do a larger job—turn over more ground in a given time, and thereby win greater returns. The enterprise of tin Company is most commendable, and is a matter for general congmtultion. Tt is a fine organisation holding and treating its staff well. Hud it not attained the success as a mining romouuy it has, it would certainly have deserved it. It had. as it were, commanded success by the comnletcness of its organisation and the thoroughness of its work, and next Wednesday there will be further tangible evidence of that organisation and thoroughness when the leviathan will take the water.