Dredging and Mining.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 2210, 29 August 1910, Page 4

Dredging and Mining.

Very mild weather during tbe greater part of last week held out every prospect of a sudden sise in the river, but it was only a matter of inches. On Saturday a cold southerly set in, with snow on the high country and it still remains at a very low level. The party of tributers who have taken the Prince Albert dredge to work Bowman's Flat, have everything in readiness for a sta't, but are awaiting a rise to get the dredge off the bench where she was left at a higher level, when operations last ceased. Tbe 909 dredge washed up for two days dredging the fine return of 63ozs 1 Idwts. The crown wheel required [latching and this, as well as some other necessary repairs, has been carried out and dredging was resumed on Friday. Both Shine dredges are again down in the returns and the average for both machines is considerably less than for a long time past, but the pre- 9? sent yields will easily pay a monthly f dividend of a shilling.

Hartley is working some very deep ground just ahead of tbe famous beach which had not been bottomed before, but so far prospects are poor. Electric II is working into a nasty rip, and if the present low river continues a few more payable returns should be got there. The ground is very rough and considerable risk is involved working in such a nasty current.

It is reported that the Punt dredge is to be given another run, but whether in the present cut or lower down k the claim is not known. The claim is generally supposed to contain payable gold and the success of this enter-prising company would be very welcome in dredging circles.

A Nevis correspondent writes that the miners are now returning to make another start. The Lower Nevis Sluicing Claim made a start last Wednesday—and the coal teams are expected out any day now to get coal for the dredges. The winter has been a very mild one. and although there is not a great quantity of snow on the low country, the early fall was a good one on the high levels, so -with a few good rains during the summer the water supply .should be better than last season.

A considerable portion of the Athenajum endowment is supposed to contain payable gold, and on Several occasions applications have been made to the Trust for the right to dredge the fiat which runs parallel tvith the Rise and Shine and Rising Sun dlaims on the east side, but the trustees had no power to grant any right. in "The Mining Amendment Act" now before Parliament provision is made to do this, so there is every prospect of the local athenjeura receiving a large sum for the privilege, as there is little doubt that the ground would pay handsomely for dredging. 'f he Excelsior dredge, working in the Low burn Creek, after dredging about three weeks with very poor results, has stopped and will now be dismantled. The ground got very shallow and there was little or no wash showing as they worked ahead, consequently the risk of dredging across the county road would necessitate several weeks work and considerable expense.

The Riley's Revival dredge has pulled out of the corner where they have been working for some considerable time past, and is moving about a quarter of a mile up the river to above Knobby Island, where it is intended to start dredging. It is more than likely unless there is a rise in the river, that some dredging will have to be done to get there, as several shallow bars have to be negotiated. When a face is opened out it is almost certain more than payable returns will be made.

Our Bendigo correspondent writes: " Work at the mine is going ahead and a number of men are now employed erecting the pipe line and removing the machinery from the engine shaft to the site of the tunnel mouth. The surveyor has been up taking levels and getting measurements for the tunnel, and from what can be heard the driving of this tunnel should strike the shaft nearer the 500 feet level than was supposed. From the way things are shaping they should stai t driving about the end of September, then look out for striking something good, as there must be numbers of reefs in the hill, and the tunnel should strike some of thcA for a certainty.