NEW GOLD DREDGE.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19463, 9 November 1928, Page 15

NEW GOLD DREDGE.

OTAGO COMPANY'S ENTERPRISE I £TfIE PEESS Special Service.] DUNEDIN, November 8. A large, modern gold dredge is at present being constructed by the Dunedin , engineering firm of Sparrow and Sons to the order of the Golden Terrace Extended Gold Dredging Company. It will operate on the company's claim in the Shotover river, where a miniature township is already springing up. The enterprise is expected to bring about a mining revival in Wakatipu, for the new dredge is the most up to date and massive yet built in Australia or New Zealand. The dredge will be operated by electricity obtained from a local power scheme, developing 500 k.p., which will more tnan suffice for all requirements. High pressure pipes are to be used, and a pressure of 6501b to the square inch will be attained, the power being conveyed a distance of about ten miles. The buckets are made of Manganese steel, and one of them alone weighs a ton with pins Sin in diameter. One of the tumblers weighs 10 tons, and the lower tumbler, circular in shape, is 7j tons in weight These are coming from the firm of Messrs Hodfield, Sheffield The pontoons are 40ft wide and 9ft deep, and" are fitted with watertight bulkhead compartments. In order to provide for an abundance Of water for washing purposes, the pumps, which are of the latest British make, are in duplicate. The whole of the operating gear will be worked from a pilot house by means of a system of levers. The oilot will therefore be able to command a view of the claim, and will also have it in his power to stop, start, or shift the dredge simply by working a lever.

EXPORT OP FRUIT.

LAST SEASON'S OPERATIONS. (raisss teleoeam.) NELSON, November 8. Mr H. E. Stephens, London representative of the Now Zealand Ffult Control Board, is at present in the Nelson distriot. Addressing the growers on the result of the paßt season's operations, he said the depressed state of trade in Great Britain and the largely increased supplies had meant that high prices were out of the question. Still, Now Zealand secured from 2s to 3s a case above fruit from other countries. There would be practically no call on the Government guarantee. The high standard of New Zealand grading had been warmly commented on at Home. The prospects for next season were, he considered, brighter, due mainly to the lighter Australian crop. He thought probably the heavy American carryover Would not Bflect the market to a great extent, as the demand was always for fresh of the Fruit Control Board's policy, which does not include price-fixing and consists mainly in directing fruit to the best markets offering at the moment, Mr. Stephens said representatives from other countries had been specially sent to examine New Zealand s policy. All admitted that the Board had instituted something new and something which was working extremely well. Two outstanding facts were that the growers had been given legislative control of their own business, and had a Government guarantee which enabled the growers to maintain their principle of independence. All were agreed that the Government guarantee made the Control Board's polioy possible.

ALEXANDER MINES, , LIMITED. REPORT FOR OCTOBER. Full Reefi Crosscut —This crosscut lhas been extended a further 48 feet, making the total distance from surface 88 feet. A reef track • carrying a few inohes of stone in places has been passed through. The country Is still favourable for stone in the face. MoVicar's Reef—No. 2 level south drive: A small prospecting drive was started west of the one previously reported and driven 40 feet to date. After driving a few feet, stone of varying widths up to 5 feet caffle in but values bo far have been qnly fair. The face shows boulders of stone which way make solid as driving proceeds. Mullocky Creek—No. a orosscut: Two men have been employed for a footage of 25 feet, making a total of ISO feet from surface. There is at present a few Inches of boundary stone In tho face, but the stone Deing driven for is still some distance ahead. Prospecting—Surface prospecting has been carried on, and b new reef outcrop discovered •bout midway between "Downey s and "The MoVicar" blocks of stone. carried out has been exposing this_ lode by trenches showing stone of 110 feet in length on the surface, from 8 to 11 feet wide, with neither end showing. Gold has been seenjn the stone, and samples takon show payable reef outcrof has been discovered about a chain to the westward but running on a different bearing to the previous lode. Where exposed in two trenches the reef is about Bft wide, the one sample taken giving highly payable values. Stone on which no work has been done is showing on the surface about 50ft to the eastward of the south end of Loftus reef. This stone will be trenched and values proved later on; fine gold can be got by panning. Aerial Line-rThirty-flve chains of bush have been felled and a walking track cleared of fallen bush for a considerable distance. This portion of this work will soon be completed, when the erection of the aerial can be proceeded with. , . Ereotion of Battery—The framework for the main buildings was completed and is ready to receive the roof as soon as/the iron arrives. The concrete foundations for the mortar blocks have been placed in position add the blooks have been got ready. A start has been made to erect the storage bins for ore at the bottom of the aerial tramway. Returns —The final clean-up of the cyanide plant took place for a return of 68os 15dwt from 60 tons treated. Estimated value £174.

newspaper insurance. "A recent development in the life insurance world of Australia tnd New Zealand," writes the "Mutual Provident Messenger," "is the entry of certain newspapers into the field with schemes for granting to their readers death benefits payable within limited confines. It is, of course, no part of our duty to criticise the actions of the papers referred to," the "Mutual Provident Messenger" continues, "for if adventitious aids to circulation have to be sought by them that is their business. We refer to the matter because it has been made apparent to us that eorae members of the public have been misguided enough into imagining that theee free insurance schemes relieve them of any necessity for continuing life insurance provision for themselves or their families, uul that they were therefore free to tmrrender jwliciea which they had effected with reputable offices. We would point out that in none of the schemes put forward by the newspapers .is »ny provision made for payment of claims where the death of the subscriber ensnes from natural causes. In every case it is expressly mentioned that the benefits (death or disability) are only available where the death or disablement of the subscriber is the result of an accident, sustained whilst he is a passenger in course of travel or through being knocked down by motor-car. etc. Whilst free newrpaijer instance may therefore be looked upon as an adjunct to ordinary Ufe insurance, it in no way takes its place.' AUCTION SALE OP MOTORCARS, ETC. tt 0 Smith of the City Market, held a clearing' sale on «««t of the debentureiintHur on the premises known as the Station n*r*ee There was a Teeord attendance, and we re cleared. The principal prices sed were: Buick car £5. Studebaker £3 Ifls Scripps-Booth £8 10s, Buick £l7. Ford X in" l Oakland £2O. Buick £3l 10 5 . Buick 11? 10s* Swift £l7 10s. Studebnker £2O. An£43 10s. Buick £2O. Dodze £27. Ohewlet £56. Buiek £sl, Chevrolet £B7. SmlhT £7O Dod?e £2l; motor-rycles. £l3. £9 £25 £36 10s. £3 10s; bowser £3O. ts Xss. barrel erease S3 ss, three oil bo\vsera £7 IBs duplicator ». « two vices £3 3s, two endless r .%fis W °truck top £7. tyres to £2 ss. lot. Over 300 lots were o"ff«ed »nd disposed of with good competition.