DREDGE GOLD-MINING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 16 November 1937, Page 8

DREDGE GOLD-MINING

OPERATIONS IN MURCHISON COUNTY result OK PAST YEAR'S WORKING [Special to "Tlic Mail"l WELLINGTON, This Day. The Mines Slalement presented in the House by the Minister oT Mines (the Hon. P. C. Webb) contains the following references to the Matnki and Mat ak i .1 uiiet ion d redges:Matnki Dredge, Murchison County (T. [5 Gillooly. Dredgemasler): This steampowered dredge, with 7 cub. ft. buckets, operated throughout the year in the Matald River; 416.548 cub. yards wendredged for a return of 17230 z 12dwt 15gt- of gold, which realised the sum of £12.5.77 Is lid During the year dividends were paid amounting to .172811 13s 2d. making a total of £7029 13s Kid paid since the commencement of operations; employment was given to an average number of seventeen men. The total quantity of gold " woii" to date amounts to 58900 z Bdwt tgr., worth £42.728 3s 2d. Matnki Junction Dredge, Murchison County (S. C>. Lyon. Dredgcmaster): This Diesel-electric powered dredge commenced operating early in 1936. and during the year treated 764.100 cubic yards for a return of 25260 z 18dwl 9gr of gold, and 220 z 2dwt. of silver, which together realised the sum of £18.656 8s 4d. The average number of men employed during the year was sixteen The average depth of the ground is 20ft. The dimensions of the hardwood pontoon are—Length, 104 ft; beam. 36ft: depth. Bft: there are eight water-tight compartments There are sixty-six manganese-steel 6 cub. ft. buckets moving., at twenty-one per minute. Water is supplied by three pumps, directcoupled to individual motors: Low-pres-sure pump. 150.000 g.p.m. against 50ft head. 55 h.p. motor; No. 1 high-pres-sure pump. 96.000 g.p.m. against 100 ft head, 70 h.p. motor; No. 2 high-pressure pump, 27.000 g.p.m. against 100 ft head 23 h.p motor. The screen is bf the revolving single-shell type 37ft long by 6ft in diameter, perforated with j to i|in diameter holes. Gold-saving is effected by expanded-metai and’ coir-' matting tables, the tails from-which are delivered aft by long chutes and deposited above the screen-rejected debris. This power plant consists of. a 400 volt 3-phase 50-cycle generator; direct-coupled to a 5-cylindcr 370 h.p. Diesel engine, the plant being on board.