MINING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1354, 10 February 1898, Page 17

MINING.

The importance of gold dredging in the rivers of Otago and Southland and its payable character have been referred to on several occasions in our columns. That valu able deposits exist in the rivers in the provincial district of Marlborough has long been known, but with the exception of one comparatively small effort, noth ng has been done to gather up the rich stores which nature has been accumulating. We learn that a strong financial. syndicate is being formed to work the Wakamarina and Pelorus Kivers. It is proposed to place two powerful dredges upon the rivers; they will be on the most approved up-to-date principles, fitted powerful machinery and goldsaving appliances, and tenders will be invited both in Wellington and Dunedin for their construction. The special experience of the Otago and Southland foundries in' this class of work gives them the advantage in some respects, but the importance and value of gold, dredging has been so recognised in the southern portion of the South Island as a highly payable investment that quite a rush of orders for new dredges have been received, and tin foundry proprietors hesitate about entering into new contracts for the next three or four months. The contracts for the two dredges will therefore probably be placed in Wellington. The bottoms of the Wakamarina and the Pelorus liivers are known to be exceptionally rich, and it is somewhat of a marvel, that while fortunes have been made and are making every day in Otago in gold dredging, these rivers have been till now neglected. The matter is one of considerable importance to the business men of Wellington, as any large development in the gold-mining industry |of Marlborough must prove extremely valuable to them, the whole trade of that fertile provincial district practica'ly passing through Wellington. Increased attention is being direotßd to the Waiho goldfield. A special claim of 100 acres has been marked out by Mr E. G. Wright, M.H.R. for Ashburton. The olaim i 9 between the glacier branch of the Waiho and the Callary. The opening of the Moanataieri Company’s new crushing mill at the Thames is one of the most important events chronicled on the goldfield for many years. In the mill there are 60 stampers, two rock-breakers, grizzlies, automatic feeders, 21 vanners, 21 berdans, a complete cyanide plant for the treatment of the vanner concentrates and nine Coldish buddies for concentrating the vanner tailings.

Mining returns—Roxburgh Amalgamated Sluicing Co., 138 oz ldwt 18grsfor a month; Golden Terrace Dredging Co., 260 z 19dwt lOgrs for a little over a week. The Buller Dredge return is 290 z 16dwt of gold for 132 hours’ dredging. Auckland, February 4. The Waihi-Siiverton Company crushed 1000 tons during 22 day 3 for a yield of .£1366 worth of bullion.

The Flossie Company, Coromandel, made a trial crushing of 1|- tons, which yielded bullion worth .£77. The Hauraki mine crushed 200 tons of quartz and 1691 b of picked stone for 4120 as Gcwtofr torted gold, valued at .£1237. ■ ' The WoodstocK mine during the past three weeks crushed 716 tons for bullion valued at .£1552. Dry crushing will be abandoned, and wet crushing commenced within a fortnight. Auckland, February 8. The Mahara Royal crashed 320 tons for bullion valued at .£509.