THE RIMU DREDGE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 March 1931, Page 3

THE RIMU DREDGE

V-. : V. ,v A- WONDERFUL RECORD. £440,630 IN TEN YEARS. The present dredge of the Rimu Cold Dredging Company, which is shortly to. be- replaced , b,v a n all-steel structure, .has..been in continuous operation for adperiacl of. ten years.

During,./this- .ten years fiJie dredge lias dug, washed, and extracted the go.ld content from an area comprising 23(1 ae!res : located in Rimu Flat, near Hokitika, bn the West Coast. r l lie above area represent a total of 15,-,' 592,359 cubic yards of gravel, which has all been treated and from which bullion •to a value of £140,630 mis b(ien -won, representing an average goj^r, content of 6 ; .79d per cubic yard. Of..the. above, £440,630, approximately £350,000 has been expended in New Zealand in the payment of wages, supplies, rates, and other expenses incidental -to the operation. ,The dredge is, electrically operated throughout, the energy being supplied by the -ivanieri Electric Ltd., a «ut>'vi d 1 plant located on the Kanicri river. A LONG LIFE PROBABLE. Owing, to the deterioration of the structural timber in., the dredge through decay,, together with the wear and tear, .the company has been obliggjcl to. erect, a. new dredge with which to .treat tilt'gravels still remaining in the, property. The new dredge will be an all-steel structures of more powerful design, and having, in increased: capacity of about 30,000 cubit yards per month. With this dredge in qjieriitipn,. Miggiug should be s'lylisTaAtidl'lyAQredneed, thereby, per-, ill it Trd;l tjftien t' of gravel having 4ti^p^ec?'gpl4|phh!!bej4U:iahd,. resulting in aih‘jjacrVase.d period of- opera ting actrvitjS&f It-: js 'now' estimated that the he in active operation for : :or more yea rs. with its subsidexpends an average ol £26, 6()(j '■annually jin Westland County made throughout'Mother parts of the Dominion, ''Undpt ,'normal .operation there is a; of/:350 sduls directly and inth.e operation of tiie two (ompames