PROSPECTING FOR GOLD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20889, 3 June 1931, Page 10

PROSPECTING FOR GOLD.

MOLYNEUX RIVER PARTIES. HOPES FOR WINTER SUCCESSES. [BY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT.] DUNEDI.N, Tuesday. With the object of proving that gold can 'Still..Jbo taken out of the Molyneu'x River if-the level is sufficiently .low, two Dunedi.h men,, who are well acquainted with early gold mining activities in Central Otago, recently went on an interesting and successful prospecting trip.

Working ainong the rocks on the.river bank with a tin dish and shovel, they ran into a little " colour,'' but subsequently, while exploiting the possibilities of a soft reef, they did jntich better. Finding a dish too slow', they rigged up an old-fasliioned cradle. All this time tho river had been vising steadily, but ' the men were able to get in some three hours of .profitable cradling before (lie water, came up and covered the patch. They secured a pan. of black -sand, in which a .quantity of gold shows up quite clearly.

A few miles further up the river an enterprising party was hard at work with a suction plant, (ho pontoons of an old dredgo having been altered and repaired to assist in the work. The pontoons will be floated down to the party's claim, where a powerful motor engine and plant will be put into action. - On tho opposite side of the river another group of men is constructing a large raft. The manner in which this party intends to carry out its operations is not known.

A low river, such as promises to bo caused by the closing of the Kawarau Dam gates, will be welcomed by all who intend to seek gold this, winter.