OTAGO NOTES.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10941, 17 April 1901, Page 5

OTAGO NOTES.

(SPECIAL TO."THE PRESS.") DUNEDIN, April 16. Nearly all the machinery of the Island Creek Company ia fitted up, and a trial run out of the dredge is expected by the end of tho week. The gold brought in from Arthur's Point is cramful of quicksilver, and the dredgemaster has had to wurn it to get the former out. Tacon's Cardrona Company is in a bad way, and as a last resource it has accepted the offer of the dredge hands to work the dredge foi- gold won until it reaches tho eastern boundary. The Molyneux river has risen owing to the heavy xr.ins. Tho Moa Company's dredge has mads a start. A well-known dredging man has expressed the opinion that boring is not a. fair test, as the pump never reaches within an inch and a half of the bottom, and consequently could not bring up from the bottom gold which must have been washed down during the process. He condemns the system, because the last inch and a half of the bottom was never lifted by the sand pump. The directors of tho Galvanic Company have been empowered to issue 300 debentures, each for £5, having a currency of one year, and bearing interest at 12J per cent, per annum. Tlie White Star at Cardrona obtained 2oz JOdwt for four days' dredging. The Alpine Consols has had the first motion shaft of tha winch bent, and cannot start for a few days. The Central Electric Company has stopped for a few days. New grabhooks are being fitted. The Central Charlton Company reports that the dredgemaster wires: "The wash is improving right across the fall, and the mats are looking very well. I hope to. have a payable wash-up on Thursday."