DREDGING

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10626, 3 May 1912, Page 6

DREDGING

INTERVIEW WITH ME J. HESSEY Mr J. Hessey, the well-known mining expert, who has been on a visit to tho West Coast, returned to Masterton this week. Interviewed by a representative- of the Wairarapa Age, Mr Hessey stated that lie had inspected tho Worksop and Success claims and found everything most satisfactory. The working face of the Worksop is about 12 chains in width, and shows a fine even wash. The quality of the ground shows every indication of continuing to yield results quite as good as those obtained during the past few weeks. The. dredge itself is in fine working order, and at the present time three sets of contractors are busily engaged in clearing the dense bush ahead of tho dredge. Mr Hessey also found dredging operations proceeding merrily at the Success claim. The working face at the present time is about four chains in width, varying from 25ft to JOit in depth. Some difficulty is being experienced in stacking the "tailings" pending further opening of the face, and progress is somewhat impeded by the sudden change from the shallow to the deep ground. Everything points to tho present yield being easily maintained, and steadily improving. Questioned as to tho Masterton dredge, Mr Hessey said there was nothing out of the way to report except it was working steadily in dividendlaying ground. Mr Hessey also gave a few particulars of the operations of u Masterton syndicate in a, new reefing venture on the West Coast. The syndicate for which Messrs Hessey, D. J. Cameron, and G. Pettigrew are tho managers, , have acquired the right of a considcrI a bio area of gold-bearing country near

Reefton, known as the "Victoria Range." Some idea of the highly ouriferous nature of this country may bo obtained from the fact that in the past stono to tho value of £50,000 was secured from the top of the range: The aim of the syndicate is-to try and "pick up" this lode, which experts consider exists at a point deep down in tho range. . With this object in view they havo decided to put in a low level tunnel 1500 ft in length, some 1600 ft lower than tho crown of the hill. Those interested fully anticipate that the tunnel will intercept other reefs - in the range. Tho work of constructing the "drive" will take about 12 months.