Dredging and Mining.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 2211, 5 September 1910, Page 4

Dredging and Mining.

Strong winds with rain at the lakes caused the river to rise slightly on Thursday, but it is not sufficient to materially effect the gorge dredges. The weather is still unsettled but the fiver is falling again. Riley's Revival started to day just above Knobby island, and expect to bottom the deep ground in the river the Revival dredge could not handle. The 909 dredge had to shift last week, as an old sunken dredge blocked the river. Dredging was resumed some distance ahead but so far the prospects are poor. Jijth .Electrics are on poor ground just now, the No 1 is working through a slip, but should get some better returns ahead over the old ground where the yields when worked before were large. The No 2 evidently struck poor ground as they had no wash up, and pulled ahead 25 feet. There is not much hope of working expenses being returned on the present ground, much less the cost of shifting, and it is more apparent every week what a mistake was made in going down the goige instead of the (Jlutha. When pulling ahead to cross the rip on Friday the head line broke and the winch pinion stripped, but the ladder and preventer held the dredge. The master and crow have hail an anxious time since then in repairing right in the rip, and will probably get through to-day. The New Luggate Hydraulic is on fairly rich ground, having washed up for i) 0 >zs ldwt for two weeks elevating. The Shine returns are not any better this-week but the present yields will pay a monthly shilling dividend. The No 1 ground is not showing any improvement so far but it is expected to get better at any time. The No 2 is on a coal bottom which never gives a good result. The Excelsior dredge is being dismantled ami the machinery and timber are for sale. The Lowburn dredge is doing fairly well, keeping up good steady returns considerably over expenses. Our Bannockburn correspondent writes :—On the Oarrick Mr E. Evans is making preparations to.erect a battery, and several loads of props etc, have been carted up, but it will take some time before he gets everything in working order. At the Caledonian Reefs, for which the company is reported floated things are very cpiiet, but as the head man, Mr lies, has been away up north for some considerable time, perhaps when he returns things will be pushed on a bit more expeditiously. DREDGING RETURNS,. Shine 11. . . .. 40 5 Shine I .'sl 3 Hartley .. .. 21 16 909 .. .. 20 10 Electric I . . .. Ki 7 The local Quadrille Assembly holds its Wind-up Night on Wednesday, 1 Ith hist. At a meeting of the commmiltee on Saturday evening if was found that although the quadrille had been a great success in attendances the financial position was considerably lower than last year, owing to lack of members. It was therefore decided that for the concluding night that ladies be asked to contribute baskets, while the committee will also provide in the way of sandwiches, jellies, etc, thereby allowing the finances to remain on the right side,