MINING NEWS.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 387, 8 October 1903, Page 5

MINING NEWS.

The river his continued to fall slowly during the week, the height at the Alexandra bridge last evening being 4ft lin above the " normal" mark.

The gold exported for September totalled 58,542 ounces, valued at £227.164, against 57,7830z valued at £222,466 for the corresponding month of lass year. The silver exported last month totalled 67,5530z, valued at £6 950. For the nine months up to September 30 of this year the export of gold is 401,7160z, valued at £1,532,135, an increase of 28,8700z, valued at £98,169, for the corresponding reriod of last year. We would direct the attention of those interested in dredging to the advertisement of Messrs Xoyes Bros., appearing elsewhere in this issue. Messrs Noyes Bros, are agents for Fried Krupp, of Germany, and are prepared to supply tumblers, screens, beaters, pins, Ac , made of the famous Krupp steel, the wearing qualities of » which are already well-known to dredging men. Mr L Ryan has been appointed local agent, and will be glad to receive orders on behalf of the firm. We understand that several local

diedging companies have already given orders for the supply of tumblers and gear wheels from Krupp's. The half-yearly statement of the New Bendigo Dredging Company :hows that the finances of the company are in a very satisfactory state. On September 30th, there was a reserve fund of £6OO and a credit balance on current account of £768 4s lid. Against this there were accounts owing . to the extent of £226 16s 3d, and a contingent liability of £3BO for the purchase of an elevator. The Stafford-Waimea Dredging Co. advertise for the services of a dredgemaster and engineer. Despite the fact that the Manuherikia dredge lost two days last week, owing to a broken shaft, she succeeded in once more topping the list, and again breaking the record, with the handsome return of 4400z 2dwt. Repairs to the damaged machinery were promptly effected at the local foundary, and the dredge resumed work on Monday morning. As the run of wash shows no signs of running out, the . dredge is a strong favourite for premier position on next Saturday's list. The directors of the company have declared a dividend of 7s 6d per share, payable on the 10th inst. They have also recognised the services of their dredgemaster (Mr L Anderson) and crew by voting them a bonus. The amount distributed in this last dividend (one " of several very handsome ones returned to the fortunate shareholders this winter) is £4,500.

SUNDAY DREDGING. The following resolution has been I Bent to the Inspector of Mines in answer to. enquiries from the Department respecting the many urgent applications from secretaries of dredging companies for permits to work on Sundays on account of travelling drift: " Our union affirms the desirability, in the interests of the industry, of the /Mines Department granting permits for Sunday labour to dredges operating •in the gorges; but to no others.— J. H. Davidson, secretary Otago and Southland Gold Miners' Union." NEW GOLDEN BEACH GO'S DREDGE. A few days ago a representative of this paper paid a visit to the New • GoMen Beach Co.'s dredge, and was both surprised and delighted at the entire transformation which has been effected between the old and the new. Some four or five years ago, we had pleasure in recording, weekly, hindsome returns from the ' Golden Beach,' and it is difficult to realise that whnt at that time was one of oar crack dredges has for so long a time been relegated to what might be termed • Rotten Row.' As to the causes which led to her being laid up, it is not within our province at present to deal. It is sufficient that we welcome her re-appearance on the field, which we •do with much hope, and indeed without a fear, of future prosperity.

A contract was entered into some time ago between the Company and Messrs Stevenson and Co, of Dune din, for the thorough overhaul of the dredge and machinery. This work has been ably carried out under the supervision of Mr J. Outram, who is the contracjors' representative and an engineer of considerable ability. Looking only at the machinery it was hard to realise that we were not viewing a new dredge. Beginning forward, we noted a new bottom tumbler, supplied by the contractors, and equipped with Stevenson's patent 'Acme' bushes, which have given every satisfaction whereever they have been tried. The main • buckets (44 cubic feet), links, and pins are all entirely new, and were manufactured by the contractors. A number of new rollers have been supplied, and the ladder has been stiffened throughout by means of a number of angle-iron braces. The 6in Tangye ' pump in the starboard pontoon (used for breaking down the face in front of the buckets) has been supplied with a pair of new water-cylinders, the old ones having burst 'during the late severe frost. A crab winch has also been erected on this pontoon, and the winches have been thoroughly overhauled. On the port pontoon are situated the boiler, engines, and pumps, and these also have undergone an extensive overhaul at the hands of the contractors. For the first motion shaft new plummer blocks and a tiew slider for the t fration gear have

been provided. An installation of thiee powerful ejectors has been added to an already efficient plant, on© to e ich wing pontoon and one to the main pontoon. These, together with the bilge pump attached to the main en- L gines, will prove of the utmost serviced in keeping the pontoons dry. A uew top tumbler has also been supplied, and below it an especially strong dropchute. The pontoons have been thoroughly overhauled, new oakum and new pitch being observable (and smellible) in all directions. * Going aft, we noticed that instead of the old system of two screens, only one is now in position, but with a double set of tables, three on each side of the screen. These six tables are fed from one main table running athwartships, and the supply to each is regulated by a sliding door communicating with the main table,thus enabling the process of mat-washing to be carried out whilst the machinery is in motion. The number of new bushes, bearings, itc, was, to our lay mind, astonishing, but at the same time furnished evidence that the directors are very much in earnest in their endeavors to do the best for the shareholders. The elevator, too, has been through the fire, having been straightened, and supplied with new rollers and an entirely new set of trays of an entirely new design, being in fact a matter of two trays in one.

To say that we were highly impressed with the capabilities of the machinery but feebly expresses our opinion, whilst the possibilities of the claim are visions only for our slumbers. The process of washing off the top loam is being vigorously carried out by Mi J Thompson and a competent staff, and we are reliably informed that ere our next issue is in the hands of our readers the wheels will be going round in earnest. Much is expected of this dredge and we earnestly hope that it will soon be our pleasing duty to record her returns in the front rank of dividend payers. Mr W. Bringans is master of the dredge, and Mr W. Kerr engineer; and toth these gentlemen hold high reputations locally as being highly proficient in their respective capacities.