Dredging and Mining.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XLIII, Issue 2337, 27 January 1913, Page 4

Dredging and Mining.

Early last week both rivers reached a high level, the result of recent rains, hut with a further spell of dry weather are again falling slowly. There seems little possibility, however, of the gorge dredges getting a start for some time.

Trior to the rise, the 909 made a start, hut was unable to bottom the deep ground in the gorge ahead of Mackenzie s beach. The dredge was then dropped back to the beach, but will be now out of commission until the river falls to a lower level.

Owing to the recent accident to the manager, and the inability to secure a suitable man to superintend the work, the Gal toe More Company’s claim at Lug,gale has been shut down in the meantime. We learn that prospects in the claim are still of a most satisfactory nature, with every prospect of continuing. With an abundant supply of water, the accident is unfortunate alike for the manager and the company, but the shareholders hold such a high opinion of their manager that they arc reluctant to resume work until Mr Graham is again able to superintend operations.

1 hartley is still engaged opening out into the beach on the south side a short distance below the top boundary. The ground is deep and heavy, and the bottom, dipping away towards the hill. Returns so far arc barely equal to expenses. The dredgemaster of the Rising Sun reports for the week ending •January 25th as follows :—Dredged I2(i hours and worked 15 feet ahead on a cut 90 yards wide. One shift was occupied effecting minor repairs. No change to report in the nature of the ground or bottom. Machinery running well. The work of erecting the machinery on the new Shine pontoons is gradually nearing completion. Most of the heavy gear is now on board, including engine, boiler, winches, overhead gear, elevator ladder, and main ladder, and the erection of the housing is well advanced. The buckets have yet to be fitted to both ladders and a lot of detail work altended to, and the dredge is not likely to Ik; ready for work inside three weeks’ time. DREDGING RETURNS. Rising Sun . . . , 41 13

GOLD MINERS’ AGREEMENT

Mr J. R. Triggs (Conciliation Commissioner) presided at a conference held on Friday morning between the Otago and Southland Gold Miners’ Union and the Gold Miners’ Union of Employers. An agreement was come to, the principal clauses of which are as follows :

Eight hours shall be a recognised shift. Time and a-quarter shall be paid for all overtime work, including the washing of mats. When overtime work is rendered necessary by reason of breakdown of machinery or by other special emergency involving damage to property, or danger to life, only ordinary rales shall be paid, provided that running lines, sinking bicker holes, replacing buckets, pins and links, and repairing tlie ordinary wear and tear of the dredge shall not be deemed special emergency work.

The following da} r s shall be observed as holidays;— New \ ears’ Day, 2nd •January, Christmas Day, and Doxing Day. All work done on Sundays and on the four holidays named shall be paid for at double rates.

Tlie minimum wages for dredge hands, including coalers and daymen, for every shift of eight hours shall be as follows : —Ton shillings per shift in the Molyneux river gorges, and in the banks of the Molyneux above Roxburgh bridge, and in the Kawarau and its banks and in the Manuherikia and its banks, and at Xevis, G irdrona, Shotover, ;md Upper Cluiha ; nine shillings per shift in the Molyneux river and gorges, and in the banks of the Molyneux below Roxburgh bridge and at Waipori, Waikaka, Waikaia, Gore, and all other parts of the industrial district. In the above-mentioned localities motormen and greasers may be paid is per shift loss than the wages specified. The term of the award is for two years.