The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25. 1931. DREDGING DEVELOPMENTS

Hokitika Guardian, 25 March 1931, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25. 1931. DREDGING DEVELOPMENTS

.Just now Wt’sthmd is in a dredging era. There is the proposition ueai Gkarito rapidly advancing under most favourable prospects; the renewed enterprise at Awatuna, where an electrically driven dredge will be in operation shortly; the important function at Rimu Flat to-day when Rinui Dredge No. 2 will he launched. The event on the south side of Hokitika H occupying the public mind a good deal. This is but natural, for about (cii years the present dredge has been working the Flat, and obtaining successful results. The best evidence of that, is the extended enterprise how about to be entered upon. It is very encouraging to have this forward move in dredging registered, for it is a pmetical indication that the golden age is still with us, and that there are still gold mining possibilities for the enterprising to win. profitable returns. The industrial value of those ventures is considerable. At a time when a depression affects most industries, mining is finding room, for more men and yielding a commodity which is of the greatest value commercially at this juncture. One of the notable tacts in connection, with the Rimu Flat dredging proposition is the thorough manlier in which the area lias been prospected in advance. Those returns encouraged the enterprise at the outset. Now, after ten years lucrative dredging. the Company feels justified in building a larger hull to carry more machinery to operate the remainder of the holdings. The country ahead has been well tested, and even with the increased mechanical power to turn over more of the country in a given time, the life of the claim lias been estimated at from 18 to 20 years. Tin's knowledge adds to the importance of today’s event, which moans the ro-est"b-nf an important phrase of gold-min-ing in the neighbourhood for a long period ahead. It is pleasant to know that the mineral resources of the district are equal to such results, and in this instance we have evidence of the potential possibilities of Westland in regard to gold-mining. In this era referred to above, there is the encouragement for prospectors to look further afield in tile search for gold bearing country whore tiic industry could ho extended und oxtuhlisJied as firmly as it is at South Hokitika. What lias been said of the prospecting methods of the Company indicates the policy of the management throughout. It has been thorough, always, and the result is to make as.suran.ie doubly sure before launching out. The enterprise has been of great advantage to this locality from every point of view, and there has been a happy spirit of co-operation between the Company and the town. The now arrivals made themselves quite at home here, and the happy relations which have subsisted has caused the occasion to-day to bo marked by a special appreciation of the many kindly acts by the management in the public interests. It is a very happy issue, indeed, after ten years’ intercourse, to find such a congenial feeling prevailing- So far as the people of the district are concerned, the most cordial wishes go out to the Company in wishing its enterprise continued good fortune, and an increasing reward worthy the spirit of enterprise being shown.