GOLD DREDGING ON THE WEST COAST.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10635, 20 April 1900, Page 4

GOLD DREDGING ON THE WEST COAST.

In view of the growing interest which is being taken in the subject of gold dredging on the West Coast, we have despatched a special reporter to the district, with instructions to personally inspect as many claims

as possible and send the most trustworthy information regarding their, position and I prospects which it is possible to gain on the spot. The first of his articles, dealing with the Kumara district, appears today. Our readers will, of course, understand "that dredging, although it has been prosecuted with, success in Otago, is comparatively untried on the West Coast. That there are large auriferous tracts of country there is well known, but how far they will offer remunerative returns for dredging operations has yet to be proved. It will be impossible to speak with certainty on the subject until the dredges have got to work. All that can be done in the meantime is to inspect the claims, to see how far the ground is suitable for treatment by a dredge, to state its reputation in the district and its history in the past as to goldbearing qualities, and , to give the results of any actual tests which hare been made, on the authority of the persons who made those tests or ordered them to be made. This we have instructed our reporter to do, sifting his information as carefully as possible, and steering clear both of the "bulls" and "bears" who invariably gather round an enterprise of this kind. We would once more, however, remind our readers who are i disposed to invest in this industry, that for their own protection they ought to be satisfied, not only of the goodness of the claim, but of the integrity and business capacity of t!oe directors into whose hands the management of the company is entrusted. If only a portion of the anticipations which are being formed by some sanguine persons who have visited the Coast be realised, there is no doubt a period of great activity iv store for the inhabitants of Westland. If there is to be any profit in the industry, we should certainly lite to see Canterbury sharing in it. But the previous experiences of Canterbury investors in gold-miniivg ventures have not been very fortunate, and, therefore, it :s probably not necessary to remind them that although there is less risk about dredging properly conducted, than there ia about other forms of goldwinning, yet that caution is still necessary in selecting investments.

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