WEST COAST NOTES.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10867, 17 January 1901, Page 3

WEST COAST NOTES.

(SPECIAL TO "TOE PBESS.") GREYMOUTH, January 16. Owing to the recent flood the Grey River dredge has had a lot of dead work in removing the deposit of silt from the paddock, and, in consequence, the return this week is not expected to be up to the late average. The Shellback Gold Dredging Company are calling for tenders for machinery for their dredge. The Waipuna dredge is working well, and the,return this week is expected to be in the vicinity of 30oz. Tho alteration to the machinery and tables of the Leviathan dredge are now completed, and it i 3 reported to be working much better than heretofore. The New River dredge is expected to make a start within two or three days. The Buller Junction dredge reached her ground and will commence work to-morrow. The "Greymouth Star" says:—That F. Mellish, engineer in charge of the Nelson Creek Company's dredge, writes to us as follows: — "On reading the dredging notes in your issue of to-day I see that you state that the Nelson Creek dredge is not working satisfactorily, and that alterations will have to be made. This is altogether wrong. The dredge is working very well indeed, and I'll wager that there i 3 no dredge on the Coast has got over as much ground in the time she has been working. A visit to the dredge will satisfy you on that point." Tho Fairdown Company are understood to be negotiating for the purchase of a dredge. The Wareatea Company purchased in Dunedin a dredge which was originally intended for a southern claim that proved, on prospecting, to be not sufficiently payable to jußtiiy the directors in putting the dredge to work on it. The dredge is expected to arrive almost as soon as the pontoons are ready, so there should be little delay in constructing it. The directors of the new Scotia Companyhave appointed Mr Wm. Ar.near to the position of mining manager. The directors of the Foley's Creek Gold Dredging Company have decided to get a new j claim for the Company, and Messrs Fleming and Wilson are eugaged prospecting a jpropertv on the New River. The Foley's Extended Company are also loking out for a new claim. Messrs Reynolds and Mcßeath have been instructed by Messrs Cutten Bros, to build the pontoons for the Roes Day Dawn Gold I Dredging Company. j The Greenstone Creek Gold Dredging Com- i pany aro taking special precautions against i damage from, drifting timber in flood times, j They have oidered £100 worth of extra wire j rope as additional head gear. The "Westport Times" says the beach claims at Birchfield should be working before the end of the year. The present holders hava | obtained the best and most reliable into-::.a- ! tion re the appliances for saving the gola from the claims. The tables they propose will be different from, anything yet attempted in gold dredging. Having adopted a sound, commonsense view, they feel confident they will be able to save nearly the whole of the gold at : a minimum expense. ; The present year should see many of the dredging properties held in the Buller district floated and in active work be'ore its close. There are about fifteen good claims situated on the Buller and Waimangaroa rivers, on Stoney Creek, and the well-kncwn rich leads on the beach between Birchfield and Granity Creek. Each of these claims should yield good returns, and pay handsome dividends. The Orwell Creek Company's pontoon, which was successfully launched on Monday last, is lOUft loiig, 31ft beam, 7ft aft, and 6ft fore. • (PKESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAMS.) : AUCKLAND. January 16. '' At a meeting of the Wsiihi branch of the : Thames Miners' Union Messrs Drumm and Morgan wer« appointed to act for the Union '. in conjunction with the President at the Conciliation Board sitting, which is being arranged to cite certain companies for a permanent standard and a schedule for wages affecting ail work. i Mr Earl, solicitor for the Thames Drainage Hcaid. waited upon the Hon. J. McGow«n iv connection with the stoppage of the pump- ' ing at ihe Thames. Tiie were • private, but it is understood tTiat ihe Minister, while fully recognising the gravity of the pres- : er.t position could not indicate definitely what steps would be taken by the Government until the warden gives his decision upon the question of the Board's power to recover contributions. Should that decision be aaversa to the Board, Mr "McGowan was of opinion that the Board would not be left without power to carry on operations. , DUNEDIN, January IC. I Eunedfn Exchange sales at. premiums—Al- i dinga, 4s; Maori King. Is 9d, la lOJd; Rox- I burgh Jubilee, Us Gd; Wareatea, 4s 3d. Paid up—Alpine Consols, 425: Central Charlton, j 15s; Charlton Creek, 33s 6d; 493 6d; '■ Endeavo.tr, 'Ha; First Chance. £3-? Cd: Gentle j Annie, 45s 6d: Grey River, 60=. 53s Gd, 595, j 565, 555; Halfway Hoes.?. 425, ileg end • Annie, G6s 6d; Metallic, 21s Gd; New Alex- I andra. 17s 9d, 19s, 18s 3d. 19s. 18a 9d, 19s. { IS3 Gd. 18s 9d, ISs 10id; Reeves's Proprietary, | 255; Wnipuns, 29s 6d, 295. At discount— Eos* Dn; Dawn, Is 3d. Otago Exchange Sales at premium—Cale- \ donia, 4s; Mokoia (preferential). Sa. Paid j vd —Ford's Creek. 20s 6d; Golden Bed, 253 > Gd, 25s 3d; Gold 31s; Great Central, | 33s 6d: Hartley and Riley, £6 14s, Merrimae, ! 3d : Upper Magnetic, 345. | Equitable Exchange sales at premiums— ; Mosquito, 3a, Watterson's Consols, 2s. Paid ■ up—Alexandra Lead, 13s Cd; Boundary ; Creek, 245: Cairnrcuir, 32s Gd; Dobscn No. j 2. 265: Electric Extended, 40s, 40s 3d; Levis- j than, 375, 37s 6d. I