BENDIGO G0LDLIGHT

Evening Star, Issue 22032, 18 May 1935, Page 13

BENDIGO GOLDLIGHT

I DREDGE BEGINS WORK

To-day tho Bendigo Goldliglit dredge begins opening out. Her claim is on tho Dunstan side of tho Upper Clutha, about opposite the old Mount Pisa Homestead, on the other side of the river. It is a “ paddock” claim, situated perhaps a mile from the left bank of the Clutha. Looking towards the Dunstan foothills, one sees immediately above the zig-zag leading to the New Bendigo Company’s quartz reef, now in the preparatory stages for fresh exploitation. Further in the recesses of the Dunstan Range is the area to which Logan and Party’s reefing progpecting work has attracted tho investigation (and capital) of oversea mining inters ests. _ The title of tho last-named enterprise revives memories of an early and successful d.redging company on this particular goldfield—the Rise and Shine. Two dredges owning that title worked tho river bed of the Upper Clutha, and so did another dredge, the Rising Sun. Their tailings-heaps may be seen both above and below, Lowburn Ferry, but only a past generation will' remember the time when dividends wero regularly paid by those companies; and it requires the memory of a generation further back when the quartz battery of the Bendigo mine pounded out its handsome returns, totalling two-thirds of a million pounds’ worth of gold—when gold was worth far less an obhee than it is to-day. Tho latter-day revival of gold mining in Otago, due to tho premium on gold, .to unemployment, and to restricted avenues for other industrial investment, rather overlooked the Upper Clutha feeder to the Molyneux. The Kawarau monopolised public attention, and when the lure of tho river bed above Cromwell faded the Cromwell Flat drew some attention from speculators. _ln the meantime persevering prospecting of the Upper Clutha bank on the Dimstan side was undertaken, until, some miles up-stream, the alluvial deposit now to be worked by the Bendigo Goldlight dredge was located. Its testing has been thorough. A shaft was sunk to tho depth of nearly 80ft, and, as good dish prospects were obtained practically from just below the surface all the way downwards, a considerable area was tested by boring, 1 and. as there was then no longer any question about values, the best means of working the ground were considered. That was between two and tluree years ago. A dredge won out as against a gravel pump or sluicing. Dredging to a depth of nearly 80ft necessitated a powerful machine. One was available in the Waikaka field.. It was purchased and transported. Necessarily the business has been a lengthy one. It was not merely a case of re-erection. _ A new second-hand dredge ” is the easiest way to describe the machine which began her career to-day on tho new claim, for much new material and some new features have been worked in. An elevator 90ft in length has been installed, in keeping with the depth to which it is proposed to dredge. Hie shaking tables system of treatment ot the wash has been adopted in preference to the revolving screen, and the gold-saving appliances are of the latest type. For the operation or thes© a diesel engine has been installed, while steam power operates the winches, bucket belt, and elevator belt. A tew days’ delay in starting work has occurred through awaiting the arrival ot the diesel engine expert on the claim. Prior to that there had been a longer delay due to the dry summer and autumn. After the launching!of the pontoons into a paddock created by the scoop and fed from a race, it was thought inadvisable to install heavy machinery until a greater depth ot water was ensured. - That has been achieved by tho bringing in of water from other sources, and now tho supply is much more than ample for requirements. Altogether, the operation ot “ opening out ” begins under conditions as favourable as experience and thoroughness can provide. . On the goicifiolds (as a recent tour has confirmed) there is a feeling of confidence that this venture has an assured future, principally for two reasons that there is a big deposit of wash of tested value ; and that the machine to work it is well fitted for the task.