MINING NEWS.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 505, 24 January 1906, Page 4

MINING NEWS.

Tenders are invited in this issue for the purchase of the Earnscleugh No. 1 dredge. The Ohatto Greek dredge and claim are advertised for sale or to let on tribute.

The Golden River dredge, which was sold some time ago to a party at Millers Flat, has successfully reached her destination, after travelling a distance of over thirty miles down stream through some dangerous parts of the river.

Ths Chicago has struck better wash, and washed up last week for 38ozs. The dredge is working well, and the prospects continue good.

The Alexandra Lead washed up for 19ozs Bdwts for 70 hours' work. The dredge is forging her way into the high bank, and there is a slight improvement in the wash. We understand that a party of local prospectors have succeeded in striking what is likely to prove a rich alluvial claim on the Old Man Range. No authentic information is yet to hand, but we hope to be able to confirm this good news in the course of a few days. We understand that the Surprise (Coulson and Party), on the Manuherikia, is doing well. Since the beginning of the year three wash-ups have taken place with good results. The wash is reported to be good and easily treated, and our readers will be pleased to hear that this enterprising party are winning good returns. We learn that the Crewe No 1 dredge on the Upper Nevis is, as stated last week by our Nevis correspondent, still on good gold, with every prospect of continuing. Two good wash-ups have taken place, and there is every reason for the shareholders to be jubilant, as a considerable* amount of money has been expended since the company was formed ; and it is to be hoped that the dividends will be large and frequent. Moonlight has (says the Grey Star) long been noted for its nuggets of gold, but the washings-up before the holidays this year brought to light more than the usual number. One nugget was got by a fossicker weighing 68oz, while in an adjoining claim several nuggets up to 15oz in weight were obtained. All the gold was studded with lumps of quartz, and were, generally speaking, good specimens. All the nuggets purchased by the local bank during the holidays have since been re-purchased by the Government, who intend to exhibit them at the forthcoming International Exhibition at Ohristchurch.

CROMWELL. "(Own Correspondent,) In the course of the next few months the Olutha River above the Lowburn will present a very busy appearance, and will also receive a good test as to its future as a dredging field. The Alpine 2 is moored on her claim, about a quarter of a milo above the Lowburn punt, and having undergone a good overhaul, is awaiting the arrival and erection of a Peck and Payne elevator to enable her to commence operations. The claim extends into the flat on the Lowburn side of tho river, and adjoins the Revival.

Tho Riley Roach is waiting below the punt in a handy placo to put on an elevator, which is being dismantled from the Grand Junction dredge, when she will proceed to her claim on the Lowburn Creek.

The Morning Light is making steady progress up the river, and will probably bo up to the Cromwell bridge at the end of this week.

All the now dredges are powerful and up-to-date machines, and should they prove as successful as is anticipated, it will be a good thing for the district, for it will probably lead to more dredges being put on. A piece of machinery arrived last week for the Rising Sun Co., and is to be put on in place of the screen as an experiment. If successful, this now patent will, no doubt, later on be used on most, of the dredges where a large quantity of heavy wash has to be treated to obtain payable returns. It is made similar to a large box about the same length as the screen, and is fitted with perforated plates on the bottom, and the whole will have a rocking or shaking motion fore and aft, The advantage it will have over our

screens, which so quickly wear out and are so expensive to repair, is that new plates can be put on in a very short time and with less expense. It is, I believe, the invention of Mr J". Jones, the engineer, and if it does what is ex* pected ot it on the Sun, its success is assured, as she treats as great a quantity of wash as any dredge in the colony.

DREDGING RETURNS

oz dwt gr Golden Bed, Millers Flat 91 0 0 Golden Run, Millers Flat 70 10 0 Masterton, Waikaia 53 10 0 Perseverance No. 1, Alexandra ... 53 0 0 Waikaka United No 1, Waikaka 50 7 0 New Roxburgh Jubilee 49 1 15 Waikaka United No 2, Waikaka 37 0 0 Chicago, Alexandra (126hrs) ... 33 5 0 rVaikaia, Waikaia ... - ... 29 14 0 Muddy Creek, Waikaia 28 18 0 Golden Treasure, Miller's Flat'.;. W 0 0 Charlton Creek, Gore 26 4 0 Rising fcun, Upper Clutha 24 3 0 Molyneux Kohinoor, Roxburgh... 22 2 0 Mystery Flat, Waikaia 21 17 0 Punt, Clutha River 21 0 15 Central Charlton, near Gore 20 12 0 Matau, Clyde (8 days) 20 0 0 Golden Gate, Miller's Flat ... 20 0 0 Hessey's Waikaia ... ... 19 9 0 Alexandra Lead, Alexandra 19 8 0 Lady Annie, Waikaia 18 12 0 Hartley and Riley, Cromwell ... 18 0 0 Otago No 1, Millers Flat 18 0 0 Perseverance No. 2, Alexandra... 17 0 0 Upper Waipori, Waipori 16 12 0 Junction Electric No. 3, Cromwell 15 1 0 Olrig, Manuherikia 14 16 0 Garden Gully, Waikaka... 14 10 0 Rise and Shine No. 2, Cromwell 14 9 0 Ettrick, Roxburgh Total 11 3 0 896 4 6