MINING NEWS.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 360, 2 April 1903, Page 5

MINING NEWS.

The height of the river at the Alexandra bridge lis eveuing was 6ft fiiu above the " normal mark. The;barnscleugh No. 3 dredge is working-steadily, and g adually getting down. .. .'Bottom has not yet been touched:.: MV Bj Davis ib at present carrying out the work, of fitting the auxiliary po t6qns to the First Chance Co.'s TnV feV remaining shares in the lfew Golden" Beach Company are now open for appliq«fion at the office of Mr L, Ryao, the local broker. Applications must be in by Saturday next. The Molyneux Hydraulic dredge is at present working very deep ground. At the statutory meeting of the New Bendigo Dredging Company, held at Dunedin on Monday evening, the following gentlemen were elected directors:—Messrs Kelman (Alex andra), Cochrane, Kyle, Short, and Capt. Sundstrum.. The Sandy Point Co.'s dredge commenced work at the beginning of last week, and washed up on Saturday for the very satisfactory return of 230z 2dwt The dredge was occupied most of the time in cleaning out the paddock, and, when the face is clear, good returns may be expected. The Dunstan Lead dredge has been dropped down to the lower end of the company's claim, and resumed work at midnight on Sunday Instin the paddock lately vacated by the Perseverance No. 1 dredge. : ; By advertisement in this issue, the Enterprise Dredging Company invite tenders for the supply of coal to thentwo dredges. Mr Hogg, late of the Kelly and Casey, has been appointed dredgemaster of the New Vincent dredge, which is expected to start work shortly. The time for receiving applications for shares in the New Dunstan Dredging Company has been extended to Iprilllth. The liquidator of the Leaning Rock Dredging Company has declared a final dividend to shareholders of £1 7s per .share. _ The work of re-erecting the Main Lead Hercules dredge at the Fourteentnie Beach Co.'s claim is proceeding vigorously- The dredge should be ready in time to take full advantage of the low river season. ITh 4 directors of the Stafford- Waimea Dredging Company have purchased the Great Woodstock Co.'s dredge for £I SOO. The Company's present dredge has been found to be not powerful enough to work the claim to advantage and has been shut down. This dredge was previously at work on the Klondyke Go's claim at Matakanui. The Enterprise No 2 dredge is stopped at present, undergoing some necessary repairs. The dredge will probably be ready to resume work rieort week- • m Sevice certificates have been granted

to the following dredge-masters:— Messrs J M'George, A G M'George, E * Lawson. J Hay (Dunedin), J Tough, W "A Grogan, H ,Coutts, (Miller's FJat), B A Johnston, C Weaver, G R Macgregor, (Alexandra South)', J M'Donald, & M'Kay, j R M Wood, (Cromwell), £ Clarke, (Fort Chalmers), JA Louden (Clyde), A Magnus (Roxburgh), J B Crowley (Edendale), and J M.Graham (Gore). . The Minister of Mines has decided to defer his visit to the South Island till after the Easter holidays. . Mr Jas. Rivers has completed building his masonry reservoir at Speargrass Greek.'- The height -of the wall is 47| feet above the valve, or 56 feet above the foundation. The Speargrass water-race has 1 been improved and enlarged to double its previous carrying capacity, while the Mt Campbell race has also been put in order. Mr Rivers ia now in a position to supply the Borough with the head of water arranged for as soon as they are ready for it; and in addition will be able to put on three shifts at the Tucker Hill claim, where sluicing operations will be commenced this week. An extended and larger pipe-line has been laid from the level of the Borough reservoir, and a double line in the vicinity of the workings, so as to have a second ditch and director working when required. Saye the u Cromwell Argus ":—Mr Blair Mason, under whose supervision the Voltaic is to be moved up sta-eam to the original Voltaic claim, has made a start. The bucket line is already stripped, and a move should be made at an early date if the river keeps at its present level. The possibility of effect ing the removal of the dredge past the various obstacles on the river is causing much discussion among dredgers, who aver that the feat is extremely difficult, not so much on account of the current as on account of the want of what a sailor would call sea room. However, we trust that Mr Mason will carry out the job safely, and confound his critics by success.