SEARCH FOR GOLD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23595, 2 March 1940, Page 16

SEARCH FOR GOLD

WEST COAST DREDGES REMARKABLE DEVELOPMENT LOW-GRADE GROUND WORKED [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN COK RESPONDENT. ] GREYMOUTH. Friday In more recent years gold mining on the AY est Coast lias proved that it is not merely a speculator's gamble, for with the commencement of each new dredging plant it is taking its place as one of the major industries of the province. This most satisfactory position has only been possible, through the systematic procedure of cheek boring. Whereas large areas of semi-waste lands have remained unproductive for decades, to-day there is activity where even the most astute old gold digger would never have dreamed of such amazingly rich results being obtained. In view of the ever-increasing production and the commencement of now dredging ventures, it is not difficult to visualise that the industry will be further expanded in the future. At the moment, however, the inability to import steel supplies has retarded progress a great deal, and the proposed construction of further large plants will inevitablv be delayed.

Quartz mining still plays an important part in gold production on the West Coast, but there are only three productive mines, the Blackwater at Waiuta, the Alexander at the Alexander River, and Big River Gold .Mines, Limited, at Big River, operating successfully at the present time. Prospecting and development work is being carried out on various other propositions in the Reeftoh area, but there is no actual production of ore. Quartz-bearing Areas

Hopes are entertained in many quarters that there may yet be a revival of production in quartz-bearing areas in the vicinity of Capleston, Globe Hill and Merrijigs, but much depends on what action, the Government will take following the proposed intensive geological survey of this mining field. One of the most notable services so far rendered by the Government has been that of bringing power across from Lake Coleridge to provide lor the larger types of dredges which have commenced work in tiie past two years, thus obviating the necessity for a large capital expenditure to provide power locally. The winning of alluvial gold by sluicing lias deteriorated in recent years, and only about three small claims are now being operated on the West Coast, one at Waitahu. one at Hukarere, and the other at Holioiiu. near Kumara. This is explained by the fact that this simpler and cheaper method of winning gold was employed on an intensive scale in the early days of gold production on the West Coast, leaving few payable and accessible areas to work at the present day. There have been several hydraulic elevating plants, and one of these, Golden Sands, Limited, at Barrytown, which is still operating, lias proved the most successful.

Blacksanding on tbc sea beach extends from far South Westland to "West port in the north, and after heavy seas many families along the coast at times secure some highly payable returns for their energy in stripping off the black sand and sluicing it through a small table plant. Dredge's Great Capacity The latest dredge on the West Coast is Ngahere Gold Dredging. Limited's, plant, one of the largest in the world, situated on the Blackball side of the Grey River. It is expected to have a capacity of 4.000.000 cubic yards a year and to provide employment for 50 men. The Blackball area now has a concentration of dredges, for there are three working within a radius of three miles, Argo, Blackball Creek and Ngahere. Ngahere is a ready proving a valuable addition to the West Coast fleet. Its cost was in the neighbourhood of £IBO,OOO. It is the twentieth dredge to become actively engaged in winning; gold on the West Coast since the revival in the industry six or seven years ago. in the past 40 years, there has been a tremendous development in materials and methods of construction of gold dredges, and. thanks to the pioneering work of the early designers, both in New Zealand and abroad, the designer of to-day can find much to aid his judgment. Further, the development of hydroelectricity lias placed at the disposal of the industry a most economical source of power. It is well known that the first dredges worked only the richest spots and that, judged by modem standards, their efficiency was appallingly low. A large machine to-day costs' up to £250.000, and will dredge profitably suitable ground containing only two grains of gold to tho cubic yard.