MINING NOTES.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 657, 4 November 1899, Page 2

MINING NOTES.

WAIKAIA. The pontoons of the Nugget Gold J)redging Company were successfully launched at Glenary on Saturday, tbe 28th ult., under the personal supervision of Mr McKechnie, the contractor. Everything being in readiness, with all obstructions removed, and well greased skids beneath, three powerful lifting jacks were placed along one side, and after some five minutes' united exertion by the men, p-eeisely at 10 a.m., the ponderous mass began to move, and although (owing to the lowness of the river) the stern lodged through striking the bottom, yet the stoppage was only temporary, for again with the aid of the jack she was soon moved off, and at 10.15 she serenely flouted upon the placid waters of the Waikaia river. Quite a large group of inteiested onlookers lined tha bank during the proceedings, and although we had not the pleasure of drinking the healths of the enterprising shareholders in bumpers of beer and champagne (usual on such occasions), yet, as the procession filed slowly away to attend to things more mundane, we each and all from the bottom of our hearts wished success and prosperity to the Nugget Gold Dredging Company, Limited. Mr G. Stevenson, of Biversdale, with his two powerful traction engines arrived this week, bringing' some 25 tons of the machinery for the dredge. He expects to complete his contract in another trip, so that the work of fitting up will bs proceeded with at once. Several parties who have taken up special areas throughout the district have been doing a little prospecting lately. Notably among these have been Messrs Mclntyre and Griffiths, who have taken up a dredging claim at the mouth of th* " Old Gully," as it is familiarly called. They have sunk several holes, and I do not think bottom was reached in any, yet nevertheless they have obtained most excellent prospects. Some of the jreturns " your own '• bad the pleasure of seeing, four grains to the dish (the dish holding a good shovelful) being easily obtained after going down a few feet. The " Old Gully " itself was very, good in the palmy days, and it is supposed to be an outlet for thfi rich run that the Messrs Stewart of the Areyle Company have so successfully worked since their advent here. At any rate if the returns from this ground when worked by the dredger only half equal the prospects obtained then the lucky holders have indeed struck a veritable bonanza, and I sincerely congratulate them on their happy selection.- Upper Waikaia correspondent.