DREDGING IN SIBERIA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 179, 2 September 1909, Page 4

DREDGING IN SIBERIA.

XEW ZEALAXDER'S EXPERIENCES. Since leaving the Dominion six years ago. Mr. 11. 11. Watson, of Duncdin, has fsavs .the London correspondent of the Wellington Post) had a very comprehensive ■experience of gold dredging in other climes. First olf all he spent some time in West Africa, then two years in Ticrra d"l Fuego, and now lie lias just returned to London from a sojourn of twelve months in North-Eastern Siberia. .In the course of an interview with the correspondent. Mr. Watso n said the company in whose service he went to Siberia was formed for the purpose of exploring mil drcduing a concession, on a tributan- of the l"ila viv-r. which flows into lln Okhi',4: «ea. 11,. made the .journey to the *■>;>.• In- win- rf the TransSiberian railway to Vladivoslock. a. slow and wearisome journey. I>nt as comfortable as one might wish. From Vladivost'ock he .proceeded by train to the railhead at Ilabapnfsk. -a, large and thriving Itown. on the banks of the Arnir, thence by riteinnlboint a three days' jour"ney to Xieolaicosk and a .two days' voyage to tlie mouth of the Uda. The filing* there, Ohnmikan. is inhnDited by nomadic Tungnscs 'and Yakuts, who spend the summer in fishing salmon and the ■winter in. hunting bear, moose, fox. and sable. In the local market Mr. Watson has seen the best ip'aiity sable sold at C7li for a single skim. The country about the sea of Okhotsk is thickly wooded >,md well watered. So far gold and other minerals have not been found in payable <pumtities, but on account of the natural' difficulties which- have to be surmounted it is not explored to any exVnt. The slimmer is shod, and most of the exploration is carried on, as in Alaska, during the winter, when the snow ranges from 7ft in depth on the coast to .one or two 80 miles inland. 'Hie frost where Mr. Watson ivas registered 45deg. lleaumur in ■Taamary. Only .Russian labor was allowed for working tine concession, and it was n. matter 1 of the utmost difficulty to get any that'was satisfactory. It took Mr. Watson two months of solid travelling ,to reach London from 'the eonces'sion. and he is not at all sure .vet whether .lie will -return. It will lie either Siberia or South America.