MINING.

Dunstan Times, Issue 2482, 24 May 1909, Page 5

MINING.

A meeting of shareholders in the Wakatipu Prospecting Syndicate will be held in Arrowtovvn on Saturday next for the purpose of discussing the matter of forming a company to work the alluvial field in Hay’s Gully, near the Arrow river.—‘Mail.’

The question of successfully working alluvial ground not amenable to treatment by dredges of the bucket type, and where conditions necessary for working by hydraulic sluicing do not prevail, is one of some importance to the mining industry of Otago and Southland Large areas of maiden ground, and also of old worked ground, exist which are known to be payably auriferous, provided a sufficient quantity of material can be treated. This, of course, is the keynote to success in working any alluvial area. The system of installing high-duty, steam-driven centrifugal pumps (of special design) on pontoons has long been in vogue In Victoria and New South Wales. Ttie great advantage of the system as practised in these States is that the bottom is laid bare and thoroughly cleaned, and in this the system compares favourably with the blind stabbing operations of a bucket dredge. We are pleased to learn that a plant ot this description has recently been installed at Pallia, in Southland, and that its operations have demonstrated its practicability in the future working of alluvial flats and terraces. We have no doubt that such a plant placed upon barges and provided with steam, electrical, or producer-gas power (not less than 8o indicated horse power) would enable many of the alluvial flats and creekbeds throughout the goldfields to be reworked at a profit.— ‘Evening Star.’ ,