WEST COAST NOTES.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11131, 25 November 1901, Page 3

WEST COAST NOTES.

" (SPECIAL to "thb pbess'.") V- GREY3.IOTJTH, November 24.. Last- -week's returns were a good deal better than was anticipated. The weather and the flooded rivers prevented : full and efficient work, yet a number of dredges gave substantial yields. ' . The Pactblus Company's return, though 40 or below the previous week's, is still an excellent result for the -week. The dredge has now thoroughly proved the ground, and last week's return of 630z is ample evidence of the worth of the double area possessed by the company. Like the "Selaon Creek Company's rlfum, certain portions are richer than others, but as the poorest part has given: substantial return?, there is no longer any reasonable doubt as to the whole area being more than payable. _ :'. The Greenstone Junction Company's dredge, which was working under Hayes's Terrace, in a sheltered part of tbe creek, had a run of 136 hours for 440z lldwt. Liks tie Pactelus, this claim ,is*being proved well ■ across the stream, with satisfactory results. ' The Leviathan Company's dredgo is on gc-od £TO__d, ; and a better return thvn Slos 14dwt for lIS., hours' work was expected. The dredge is, however, scarcely yet fairly into tbe ground, but this week should see her properly into it. The tiokitika River Company's dredge gave 21ns Bdwt for 117 hours' work. The machine is close to the c"d*>, wbfre thp boulders are largo _and numerous., In addition to this, there is timber also about- So far the amount of material treated by this dredge is very little indeed for the time worked. The" Buller Junction Company's dredge, though much hampered, fc.- floods, gaye-SSoz 4dwt for'9o'hours' work. The ground continues free and easy to work. The Reeves* Proprietary Company's dredge could* only work on gol„n wash for 75 hours,

for which 20o» were obtained. For the time worked this is up to the average of th« claim.

The Ncrth Beach Company's return is 21oz J Idwt. and is aa "improvement of 6oa on the previous week's/return. The Fed Jacks Company's dr?dgv» 2R~(? 25 cz sdwt for 75 hours* work. The dredge was hampered for nearly four days -with logs. Better appliances are being sent to deal witn the same.

The Erickson's Rewsrd Company's dredge reports- a return of _lox. The top clay is getting thinner. er.d it is hoped that the -wash will gradually come to near the surface. Extra power is greatly wanted - on this dredge. Reports from the Ahaura River Company's dredge show that she has got into the boil at the turn of the stream. Just ahead, however, there is good wash that should give satisfactory returns.