THE SEARCH FOR GOLD.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 February 1921, Page 5

THE SEARCH FOR GOLD.

NEW WESTLAND VENTURE. BUILDING OF LARGE DREDGE. The prospects of a revival of the gold-, mining industry on the, West Coast were referred to by the Prime Minister during his speeches at Hokitika and Greymouth last week. Mr, Massey expressed the opinion that the auriferous riches, not only of the West Coast but also of the Coromandel Peninsula, could not be considered as exhausted, and he strongly urged that greater efforts be made to exploit these fields. “No one will ever make me believe,” Mr. Maasey said, “that the gold in these districts has been all won. I believe that there is a lot of gold waiting for the fortunate people who will find it.” Mr. Massey stated that the Mines Department is at present subsiding 27 prospecting parties on the West Coast, and there has been paid during the past ten years in subsidies bo such paxties over £184,000. Perhaps the most important and interesting feature connected with gold mining on the West Coast at present is the possibility of a revival of gold dredging. Many people in all parts of the Dominion have recollections —some pleasant and some painful—of the initial attempt made about a quarter of a century or more ago to obtain gold on the West Coast by dredging. It is now recognised that the dredges of those days were far too light in construction, and that the machinery was not nearly powerful to deal with Hie extremely rough ground and the big boulders met with. The result was that breakages of machinery were frequent, causing delay in operations and adding to the cost of the gold won. The determination of the Rimu Gold Dredging Company, an Ameircan concern, to build a large and powerful dredge, at its claim about three miles from Hokitika, has revived interest in the industry. Last Thursday Mr. Massey visited the company’s claim, where the dredge—which /has* a length of Msft—ds being constructed. Work is being carried out with characteristic American thoroughness. Quite a number of auxiliary industries, including a small sawmill plant, are in progress. In his speech at Greymouth, Mr. Massey referred to his visit to the Rimu dredge, and said that if the company proved successful it would mean the beginning of a new era on the West Coast. There was plenty of room for more of these dredges. The motors of the Rimu Corapanv’s dredge will develp 500 h.p._. and will be driven by electricity generated from the Lake Kanieri race, which the company has acquired. The dredge will be capable of dredging to a depth of 50ft.