WEST COAST NOTES.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11245, 10 April 1902, Page 3

WEST COAST NOTES.

(SPECIAL TO "THE PRESS.") GREYMOUTH, April 9. A comparative return of the yield of gold from the West Coast dredges for the first -three months of 1901 ~nd 1992 shows a very substantial increase, and gives evidence of the advancement of the industry. During the thirteen weeks of 1901, the total gold yield was 13530z ldwt 22gr, an average per dredge per week of 220z 2dwt. For the three months ended last week, the yield was 71160z 13dwt sgr, or an average of 270z sdwt per dredge per week, The number of dredging weeke recorded in the first quarter of 1901 waa 61; the greatest number of dredges working in any one week being ssven. In the first quarter of the present year, the number of weeks was 261, and. the largest number of dredges in any week being 23. Ihe expansion of the industry is very satisfactory, the yield having increased nearly six-fold. This is in a great degree owing to the large number of dredgC3 at work, but a particularly bright of the industry is the fact that the actual yield per week per dredge during "the three months just ended was 502 3dwt in excess of the average of the corresponding quarter, and reaches the highly . payable sum of jEIOS. Thia, at the lowest estimate, means a profit per dredge per week of ' JKO. The half-yearly report of the Greenstone Junction Company shows that the liability of £2500 has been cleared off, the profit being £2400. The report says: "The dredge has been i working on a flat at the foot of Cape Terrace, on the north side of the creek, and is safe from floode. Xotwithstanding the' fact that a good height of tailinge above water level have been treated with the wash proper, the average weekly return has been over 450z, the actual return being 1061oz of gold for 22 weeks' dredging. The wash treated at times was rough and tight, and trees< buried by the tail- ! ing henps occasionally gave trouble, and caused j loss of time. The dredge i 9 expected to be J out of the tailings in a month, when better i returns will be obtained. The screen is greatly worn, and will shortly have to be replaced. " The Garibaldi Company's dredge is finished, with the exception of the tables, which will j take three weeks to complete. ! The Lrrey Eiver Consolidated Company's , dredge has been repaired and altered. She I got a start on Monday morning. It is ex- | pected that with improved tables the claim will turn out a success. The Maori Gully Company's dredge is working well, and a fair return will be forthcoming ( on Saturday. The Kapai-Great Lead Company's dredge is still "on the hard," waiting for a flood to be • floated into her former position. ' The Ahaura River Company's dredge Iβ j j working well in 30ft of wash. A fair return is I expected. The Hokitika River Company's dredge is working the ground where the old dredge worked, and it is expected that the present week will see a large return. Mr J. A. Sligo, of Dunedin, the secretary of the Trafalgar, Watterson's Consols, "Victory, Erickson's Reward, and the Orwell Creek Dredging Companies, ia at present on the West Coast, looking after the interests of the several claims, l ■