EARLY DREDGING

Evening Star, Issue 21811, 29 August 1934, Page 5

EARLY DREDGING

History is repeating itself, and the investing public’s fancy is turning to dredging; consequently the following may be of interest (says the ‘ New Zealand Financial Times’): The primitive spoon dredge, worked bj’ hand only and of use only in shallow, calm water, gave way in 1868 to the current wheel dredge, which was placed in midstream and driven by the force of the river itself. A small spoon dredge, worked by steam, was in use as early as 1870, but in 1881 a steam dredge of modern type was designed and erected by Charles M'Queen, of Messrs Kincald-M'Queen. Dunedin. In 1890 the first electric drdege was built and operated on the Shotoyer. in 1899 seventy dredges were working in Otago, and iii 1900 the dredge-building boom started in earnest, and by 1906 there were 167 dredges operating in various parts of New Zealand. The most famous dredge was the Lady Ranfurly, and during the six days ending November 4, 1904, established a record wash-up of 1.2730/,. A dredge such as Goldfields, with its large capacity and cheap running costs, could pay handsome dividends on ground averaging 3d a yard, but care must be taken to thoroughly test the ground before putting a dredge on to it. The Nevis is an instance of putting a good machine on to a badly-tested ground. However. Investigations are putting down a further twenty bores at their own expense. Had these been put down in the first place one of two things would have happened—(a) The area would not have been taken up, (b) if values war-

ranted it the dredge would have boon worked into the lead, and to-day shares would have been at a substantial premium.