MINING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11993, 16 March 1901, Page 9

MINING.

. ♦ • ' The Hartley and Rilcy Beach Dredging Company (Limited) washed up yesterday for a teturu o£ 430z lldwt o£ gold for 131 hours' dredging. The dredgemaatcr reports that 'the return of the Earnsdeugh No. 2 dredge is 82oz 14dwt for 12T hours.' Tho Secretary of the Inch-holme Gold Dredging Company reports a return of 21oz 18dwt for 130 hour 3. Tho Secretary ot the Central Charlton Dredging Company reports that the dredgernoster wired yesterday that the return was Uoz 6dwt for seven days 17 hour 3. The Secretary of the Inch Valley Gold Dredging Company reports a return of lloz Bdwt for 82J hours. • The Dredgemaster of the Glohe Gold Dredging Company reports a return of 10oz 14dwt 16gr for 126 hours' Work. Still dredging through old workings. The Pleasant Valley Gold Mining Co. washed up last Friday for a return of 240z 14dwt. The ground is very rough, hut the wash is looking well. Mr Peter M'Vicar, -who has been in charge of the Golden Treasure dredge, Miller's Plat for many years, has been appointed dredgemaster of the Ahaura River Gold Dredging Company , e dredge. Mr M'Yicar proceeds shortly to the West Coast to commence his new duties. The Manager of the Majestic Gold Dredging Company reports that on Monday morning last "a flange burst off the winch engine steam pipe, in which tho valve seat is, and as it could not be repaired locally,.the dredge had to.be shut, down till Thursday evening. Dredging opoTations commenced oil Friday morning. The Perseverance Dredging Company have accepted Messrs Knewstubbs Bros.' tender for b« ilding the pontoons for the company's second dredge. \ Tho Waitahuna, Gully Gold Dredging Company havo no less than 20 applicants for the position of dredgemaster. Amongst the applicants are some of the beat known dredgemasters from the Clutha, Waipori, and TFest Coast. This should bo very gratifying to shareholders,. as it is an indication of what these men think, of the richness of the property. The- dredgo will commence operations in about four week's time. The Secretary of the Lafranchi's Freehold Gold Dredging Company reports that the directors have contracted with tho Southland Implement Company for the machinery, nnd havo instructed the company's engineer (Mr E. Roberts) to call for tenders for the pontoons. Messrs Beeves and Co. report receipt of advico yesterday morning from the following dredges:—Alpine Consols: Tables looking well. Central Electric: Stopped; breakdown to winch; expect.to start again in six hours; can do repairs here; still on gold. The secretary of the Arthur Point Gold Dredging Company has received advice that the dredge has had a. successful trial run, and is now working one shift forming a paddock, and pxnects actual dredging operations to start in a. fortnight. ■ ■ ,' It is proposed to increase the capital of the ; Ford's Creek Gold Dredging Company by the issue of 2340 preference shares. These shares will'carry 25 per cent, extra in dividends, and in the event of liquidation of Iho company would have the first claim on the assets. In the notice calling a meeting of shareholders to consider ihe proposal tho directors point out that the. company possesses a. powerful, fullyequipped dredge, aiid that the dredgemaster reports she is working splendidly. As to the prospects of the company, the directors have every confidence in the claim proving ultimately payable, although unfortunately the dredge wns started at a bad spot, resulting in much un-looked-for expenditure and tho hampering ofthe company in its finances. At the special meeting of tho. Dome Creek Gold Dredgiflg Company, held at Wellington on the 12th inst. to considor a resolution that the company be wound up, it was decided to .postpone the meeting for one month,, to permit of further information being obtained regarding certain proposals affecting, the company which have been received by the directors. ■ The Moa Flat dredge will be finished this week, and after a. saVeatl has been fitted up, which was not included in the plan, the dredge will start work.. Mr T. Thompson.bns been appointed manager.—LTonnt Benger Mail. The Alexandra Herald states that Mr D. M'Math, at present dredgemaster of the New Alexandra dredge, has been appointed >to a. similar position on the Caimmuir Company's dredge; and Mr Woodward (also on the New , Alexandra) has been appointed engineer. A Greymouth telegram statee that the return from the Waiwhiro Sluicing Company (near Barrytown) is 12Soz .for the month. A new sluicing company for the Ten-mile North Beach is practically floated.- Another is rapidly getting under way for the Nine-mile Creek.

DUNEDIN STOCK EXCHANGE., Saks took place vesteidny at the -following premiums:—Hokitika River, 10s 6d; Kohinoor, 83 Gd; Mosquito, 7e; Pactolus, 883; Riloy's Beach (new), 15s 6(1; Trafalgar, 9s. Sajea were also made at the following prices:—Alpine Concols, 12 10s, £2 145, £517s 6a, £216a'6d, £2195, £2 19s 6cl, S3. 19s, £2 183 9d, mid £1 18s 6d; Alpine No. 2, £2 4s, £2 5s 3d, £255.6 d, and 12 7s; Boundary Creek, 27s 6d, 28s, 27s 6d, 26s 6d, • 2Gs 3d, anil 265; Cairnniuir, 35s 6d; Cardrona No. 1, ss, 7s, and 7a 6d; Central Eleotric (10 shares), from 4 10s to £4 83 6d; Dobson No. 2, 12s; Electric, £2 15s, £3 14s 9d, £2 149 6d, and £2 14s; Electric Extended, £2 9s 6d, £2t9s 3d, and £S 9s; Gibbston, 19s Cd; Golden Bed, 19s; Golden Link, i!oa Oi and 20o; Golden Hun, £2 Cs; Great' Central, £2 and £2 Os 3d; Halfway House, £2 6s and £2 63 9d; Hartley and Riley, 16 17s Gd; Inch-holme, 133; Kelly and Casey, , 36s Cd, 375, 36s 9d, and 37s 9d; Magnetic, 335; Majestic, 25a; New Alexandra, 12s 3d u Premier Waikn-ka, 8s 3d; Richards' 9 Beach, 4s, ss, and 4s; Roxburgh Jubilee (paid), 225; Second Magnetic, £223 fid and 12 2s; Upper Magnetic, 38s ,«nd 33s 6d; Vincent Extended, &0s 9d. Lean- - ing Rock shares were sold at 2s discount.. , The following are yesterday's latest quotations, subject to the usual brokerage:— •Ah»ur» River—Sellers 5s 3d. Aldinga— Buyers 6s 3d p. Alpine Consols—Bnyen £3175, spllera £2 IJo Bd. • •;' -.■ .

Alpine No. 2—Buyers £2 6s, sellors £2 7s. Arrow Junction—Sellers £1 15s. Arthur Point—Buyers 16s 9d, sellers 18s, Bendigo—Buyers 5s p. . Blacbvater—Buyers 3d, sellers 9d p. Boundary Creek—BuyersJßl ss, sellers £ lfts. Broad.Creek —Sellers 4s ois. . . Gairnmuir—Buyers £115s. Callaghan'a Creek—Sellers 6a Gd p. Cardfona.No. I—Buyers 7a Gd. ... . Central Charlton.—Buyers 18s, sellers.il. Central-Electric-Sellers £i 14a Gd. Charlton Creek-Buyers £1 12s, sellersrfl 13s, Cromwell—Buyers £4. . Davis Bend—Sellers 2s 9d p. Daylight—Sellers GS die.' Digger's'Pride—Sellers 2s die. ' Dobson No. 2—Buyers 12s. Dunstan Lead—Sellers £1 3s. • Eclipse—Buyers £1 16s, sollers £1 18s. Electric-Buyers £2 12s 6d, sellers £2 14s. Electric Extended-Buyers £2 Bs, sellere £2 3s 9:1. .'■ . ■ . • ■ First Chance-Sellers £1 13i Gd. Ford's Creek—Sellers 12s, Fourteen-mile Beach—Buyers £1 12s, sellers ei-.i4s. • '.■■■■■. Galvanic-Sellers il 13s, ' Garibaldi—Sellers 2s dis. . Gentle Ainie— Sellers & 9s. , / Gibb'a Beach—Buyers 15s 9d,'sellers lGs. Gibbston-Sellers £1 2s 6d. G6ld King-Sellers 18s Gd. Gold Queen—Sellers £110s. Golden Bed—Buyers 19s, sellers£l. . Golden Palls-Sellers £1 4s 9d. Golden Gravel—Buyers 3s dis. Golden Link—Buyers 19s. sellers £1 0s Gd. Golden Run-Sellers £% 8s 6d. Golden Treasure—Sellers £5. Grand Junction—Buyers Gs 3d, sellers 7s p. Great Central—Buyers £2 fls 6d, sellers £2 Is ■ J3. . •' ■ Great Lead-Buyers 7s Gd, sellers 10s. .Greenstone—Sellers 3s p. Greenstone Creek—Sellers £1 11s 6d. Grey Kiver—Buyers £112s Gd, sellers £2. Grey River Consolidated-Buyers 13s 3d, Bellen lJs.' •' Halfway House-Buyers £2 Gs'Gd, sellers £2 7s fid. Happy Valley—Sellers 5s dis. Hartley and Kiley-Buycrs £6 lGs, sellers £7 Is. Hokitifca River—Sellers lls p. Inchdale-Sellers lGs. Inch-holme—Buyers lls, sellers 12s Gd. j Island Creek-Sellers G» p. i Junction Electric-Buyers £1 lls-3d, sellers I £112s. ■ Kia'-Ora-Buyers 10a. : "Kawarau Bridge—Buyers 12s Gd, sellers 14s 62. ' Kelly and Casey-Buyers £117s 9d, sellers £1 18s 3-1 ■ KoMnoor-Buyers 7s Gd, sellers 9s p. Lady Chnilton —Sellers Is M dis. Leaning Rock—Buyers 35, ; sellers 2s Gd dis. Leviathan—Buyers £1 2s Gd, sellers £1 ss. MacCharlton-Sellcrs Is p. Magnetic—Sellers £113s fid. Main Lend Hercules (paid)-Buyers lls, sellers 15s*. Jfajestic—Sellers £1 Cs. Maori .King-Buyers Is Gd, sellers Is Gd p. Manuherikia-Sellers £4 2s. Merrimac—Buyers £1 13s. ' ■Meg and Annie—Buyers £3 7s, sellers £3 13s. Moa Flat—Sellers £1 Is Gd. ' . Mqtoia-Buye'rs £1 Is, sellers £1 Gs. Monte Chrisfo—Buyers £115s, sellers £118s. Morven Ferry—Sellers Is dis. Mosquito—Buyers 7s p. .Naurhai—Buyers £1 3s 9d, Bellers .-61 4s. Kelson Creek—Buyers £216 a 6d, sellers £2 ISs. New Alexandra-Buyers lla 6(1, sellers 12s Gd. ■Ngapar'a No. 3—Sellers £1 2s. No Town Creek-Sellers 5s p. North Beach-Buyers 4s, sellers 5s Gd p. Nugget—Buyers Is. Oia Dunstan-Sellers Gd dis. Otago—Sellers £1. ' Otama-Sellers 10s. Pactblus—Buyers £1 7a, sellers £1 10s p. Pac'fohis No. 2—Sollers 2s p. Perseverance—Buyers £1, sellers £4 10s. Premier, Waikaka—Buyers 8s 3d, sellers lls. Reeves Proprietary—Sellers 16s 9d. Richards's Beach—Buyers 3s 6d, sellers 4s Gd. River Mojyneux—Buyers 4s Gd p. Bosapay Down—Bivyers 2s dia. Sailor's Bend—Buyers £2 2s Gd, sellers £2 4s. Second Magnetic-Buyers £2 Is Gd, sellers £2 2s. ■ Three-mile Greenstone—Buyers £1 Is, sellers £12sGd. ■ ■Trafalgar—Sellers 9s 3d p. •Unity—Buyers £1, sellers £15s. Upper Magnetic—Buyers £117s 9d, sellers £1 18s 6d. , • .Upper Waipori—Sellers 17s 9d. Victory—Buyers 8s 6d, sellers 9s 3d p. Vincent—Sellers £2 lls. [Vincent Extended—Buyers £2 Is 9d, sellers £2 4s. Waipuna—Sellers £1. 3s 6d p. ' ' OTAGO STOCK EXCHANGE. .Sales'were made yesterday at the following premiums:—Buller Junction, 9s 9d; Eiley's Beach, 15s fid. Sales were also effected at tho fallowing- prices:—Alpine Consols, £2 12s; Alpine No. 2, £2 6s; Boundary Creek, 245; Charlton Creek', 335; Electric Extended, £2 9s; First Chance, 33s 6dj Fourteen-mile Beach, 335; Halfway.House; £2 6a Gd; Kelly and Casey. 35s Gd and 87s 9d: Nelson Creek, £2 16s; Sailor's Bend/£2 25.6 d; Second Magnetic, £2 2s 63. The following are yesterday's latest quota- \ . • . • . Ahuura Eivcr—Buyers 4s 9d, eellers 5s 93. . Aiding—Sellers 63 3d p. Alpine'Consols—Buyers £2 16s, sellers £2 19s, Bβ. ■ . . ■ . Alpine No. 2—Buyers £2 5s 6d, sellers £2 Bs. . Arrow' Junction—Sellers £1 15s. ;. Bendigb-f-Buyers 7s, sellers 8s p. ' Boundary Creek—Buyers £1 4s 3d, sellers £1 Is. ■...'.'. Buller Junction—Buyers 9s p. Cairnmuir—Sellers £1 17s. ' Caledonia—Sellers Is p. ' . Cardroha No] I—Buyers 4s, sellers 10s. ) ' Central Electric—Sellers £4 10s. Charlton Creek-Buyers £112s, eellers £114s ed. •.•■ •,. . Clyde-Sellers £3 12a. ' Cromwell-Buyers £i 2e Gd. Davis Bpnd—Buyers 2.1 3d p. ■ Dobsoh No. 2—Buyers 12s, sellers 14s 6d. Dunstan Load-Sellers £1 3s Gd. ■ Eclipse—Sellers £1 IBs. ••Electric-Buyers £2 13s Gd, sellers £2 15s Cd. • ■ .-' ' E'cctric Extended—Buyers £2 7s 3d, sellers £2 10b; . Endeavour-Sellers £1 Os Gd. Ericltson's Reward—Sellers Gs 6d p. ' Kttticlc—Sellers 2s dis. ' Excelsior—Sellers Is' , dis. Extended Fourteen-mile Beach—Buyers Is p. ■ Firrt Chance-Buyers £1 12s Gd, sellers £1 133 od. '. ' ' ForcVn Crcclt—Buyers 9s, sellers 12s. ' Fourteen-mile Beach-Sellers £114s 6d. Galvanic—Sellers £1 15s. ' fieritlc Annie— Sellers £2 Bs. Gibliston— Srtlere £1 Is. Opld Deposit—Sellers.par. ' Gold King-Sellers 19s. Gold Qiipci—Buvefs £1 63, sellers £1 9s. OoUlen £1 Is. Golden Falls-Buyer* £1. Is. sellers £1 ss. ■ Golden Horseshoe—Sellers 2s dis. 0 olden River—Buyers 5s Gd. sellers Gs 3d.. • Gold"" Run—Buvers'£2, sellers £2 Bs. ■ Grarid'Junction—Buyers Gs 3d, fellers 7s 6d x>. Great Central-Buyers £1 17s Gd, sellers £2. Greenstone—Sellers 3s Gd D. . Greenstone Creek—Sellers .-61 13s. Grey'Hivnr.Consolidated—Sellers Ms Gd. • Halfway House—Buvcrs £2 sellers £2 7s. Hartley and Rjiny—Buyers £l\ 15s, sellers £7. Hokitika F.xtendecl-Sellors Gd dis. ' Hokitika Hiver-Sellcrs lls 6d p. • • Inch-holm"—Bnvers' 10s. Junction Electric—Buyers fills Gd, sellers £1 12s Gd. ■ ' .- Kawaraii Bridge-Sellers 14s. Kelly and Casey—Buyers £1. 17s Gd, sellers £1 18s. ; • -. .-. •■ - Lady Chnrlton— Buyers 2s Gd, sellers Is dis. • Leaning Rook—Buyers 4s dis'; sellers par. Leviathan—Buyers £1 h, sellers £1 39. • Magnetic—Buyers £1 llr,, sellers £1 13s. • Majestic-Sellers «l-12s Gd. : Maori Kinp— Sellers 2s u. Manuhorikia—Sellers £4 Is. ■ No. I—Sellers Is u. . Meg and Annie—Buyers £3 5s 6d, sellers £3 lie. ■-■,'' ■ '.■'-.' ■ Mertimac—Buyers £1 15s, sellers £1 19s Gd. Metallic—Sellers 19s; -■ Millar's Flat Electric-Buyers ss. Moa. Flat-Buyers £1," sellers £1 0s 9d. ■ Mokoia—Buyers' £1 Oβ Gd. sellers £1 4s. Monte Christo—Buyers £1 13s. • Naum&i—Buvers £1 2s, sellers £1 4s. ■ Nelson .Creek—Buyers £2 15s Gd. New Hiver—Bayers lls, sellers 13s. No Town Creek—Sellers 4s p. • Old Dunstan—Sellers <?cr. ■ Orwell Crc»k—Sellers 2s Gd p. • Otago—Sellers £1 3s, Pactolus No. 2—Sellers 2s p. . Premier Waikaka—Buyers 8s 6d. ■• Reeves Proprietary—Sellers 16s 9d. Richa-rdc's Beach—Sellers Ss. JRiicy.'s Beach— Buyers 15s Cd. sellers 19s Gd p. Bivcr Molyneux—Sellers 4n 6d r>. ' Royal Maori—Sellers £1 2s Gd. Sailor's Bend—Buyers £2.25. sellers £2 3s. ' Second Magnetic—Buyers £>, sellers £2.2s 6d. :■.'. •"•• ■ Teremata—Sellers 3d dis.- ■ Three-mile Greenstone—Sellers £1 Is. ' TJnner Magnetic—Buyers £116s 6d, sellers £1 189 Gd. •■■'■•■ "■•■• • Victory—Buyers 8s Gd. sellers Oβ 9d,0. VincenV-Buyers £2' 5s 6dj sellers £2 10s. ' Vincent Extended—Buyers £2. . ' Wftimurau—Buyers £1 4s 6d, sellers £17s. Waimurriu Extended—Sellers 9s. • Waipuna—Sellers £1 Is. Wareatea—Buyers 2s, eellers 4s p. "Watterson's Consols—Skiers Is p. Woodstock—S'llf-rs 4s 6d d. ■ Yellowstone—Sellere Is 6d dis.

THE EQUITABLE STOCK EXCHANGE, report as .follows :— Sales.—Csurnmuir, 365; Charlton'r Creek, 335; Electric,' 51s, ,51s; Galvanio, 33a; Halfway House, 45s 9dj Iterrimac, 40a; MoaFJat, 21s; jSTelsbn Creek) 565; Second Magnetic, 42s 3d; Vincent Extended, 41s. ' Buyers.—Ahaura Rivei, ss; Alpine Consols, 51s; Electric; 50s; Electric Extended, 525; Endeavour, 19s; Galvanic,32s; Gibb'sßeach, 15s; Gold Queen, 26a;-Great Central, 345; Grey Eiver. 32s 6d; Halfway House, 44s 6d; Kelly and Casey, 34s MjKia-Ora, 10s; Long Valley,

28s; Majestic, 27s Gd; Merrimac,'3Gs 6d; Moa Flat, 19s; Monte Christo, 325; Nelson Creek, 555; Roxburgh Jubilee, Is p; Royal Maori, 19s 6d;.Second Magnetib; 41s; Upper Magnetic, 335; Vincent, 465; Vincent Extended, 40s. Sellers.—Alpine Consols, 52s Gd'; Bannockburn Creek, 17s Gd; Bendigo, 8s p; Boundary Creek, 25s 6d, Broad Creek, par; Cairnmuir, 36a Gd; Caledonia, 2a p; Cliarlfon Creek, 375; Clyde, 745; Duke of Wellington, Is p; El Dorado, Gd p, Electric,'s4s 6d; Electric Extended, GGs; Endeavour, 225; Ford's Creek, 14s; Fourteen-mile Bqach, 345; Galvanic, 355; Garibaldi, Is dis: Gentle Annie, 50s; Gibb's Beach, lGs 9d; Gold King; 18s Gd; Gold Queen, 295; Golden Bed, 20s, Golden Chain, Is dis; Golden Falls, 235; Golden Gate, 150s; Golden Link, 22s Gd; Golden Reward, 6d p; Golden River, Gs 6d; Great Central, 37s;' Grey River, 42s 6d; Halfway House, 475; Hokitika Extended, 13s; Junction Electric,, 325; Kelly and Casey, 3Gs; Leaning Rock, par; Majestic, 32s 6a; Meg and Annie, 763; Merrimac, , 41s; Moa Flat, 21s Gd, Monte Christo, 34s Gd; Morning Star, 8s; Mosquitoes p; Naumai,2Cs; Nelson Creek, 60s 6d, Ngapara. No. 3, 26a; Oceanic, Is p; Old Diggings, 4s Gd p; Olrig, 18s; Orwell Creek; 2s Gd p; Premier Waikaka, 12s 6d; Reeves Proprietary, 20s; Eemarkables, 16s; Eichards's Beach, 7s 6d; River Molyneux, 5s p; Roxburgh Jubilee, 3s p; Saltwater Creek, 2s Cd p; 'Second Magnetic, 42s Gd; Sixteen-mile Beach, 183 Gd; Teviot, par; Upper Magnetic, 36s Gd; Upper Waipori, 20a; Vincent, 50s; Vincent Extended, 42s Gd; Waimnmu Central, 21s; Wairaiimu Extended, 8s Gd; Waipuna, 19s 6d; Wareatea, 4s p; Watlerson's Consols, Is p; Woodstock, 4s p; Yellowstone, 2s dis. SLUICING COMPANIES, The Dunedin Stock Exchange report the. following quotations j'esterday:—. I Bakery Flat—Sellers Gs. j Deep Stream Amalgamated-Sellers 17s Gd. ENGINE-DRIVERS' CERTIFICATES. About 25 dredgemasters and.engine-drivers attended a meeting in the Oddfellows' Hall, Gore, on Thursday evening, 1-ith inst. (says tlio Standard), to discuss, the provisions of "The Inspection of 'Machinery Act Amendment Act, 1900," relating to enginedrivers' certificates. Those preßent included representatives from the Waikaka, Waimuruu, Charltou, and Mataura dredges,, and several directors of district dredging companies. Mr H. Parsons (Waikaka) presided. Mr F. Brown (Wainrurnu), convener of (he meeting, explained the purpose for which he called them together—viz., to take .'steps to endeavour to have the act altered in regard to the matter of dredge engineers' certificates. A similar meeting bad been held at Waimurnu, but .as it was not representative of the district it wns decided to postpone it to Gore. The Waikaka dredgemen had held -a meeting and telegraphed the Tesult to Mr Frnser, M.H.R., who had sent a reply io the effect that he bad had considerable correspondence with the Minister of Marine, who admitted that it was premature to construe regulations of the act too strictly, pending necessary alterations. Mr T. Green said he had wired to Mr Bennet, M.H.R. for Tuapeka, asking him to endeavour to suspend the provisions of the act in the meantime, and had received a reply from Mr Bonnet that .he would assist, and that he believed the Minister would accept reasonable suggestions in regard to alterations in the act. Mr M'Nab, M.H.R., who was present by invitation, stated that Mr Fra9or had telegraphed that tlio Miuister had admitted that alterations were necessary. They wanted that night to find out what alterations they required, and then the Minister could be asked to suspend 'tho more stringent clauses of the act until he introduced amended proposals in the Legislature. Dredge mining was a practically new thing in bis district, and when the act was passing through the Honse he did not think it could affect dredge hands as it was doing. The act was passed more with tho intention of dealing v/ith dairy factoi-y engines and such like. They would, however, discuss what alterations were necessary, and have the result conveyed to the Minister, He gathered from conversation with a number of those affected that it was a general contention that there should be no tliSerence between first and second-class certificates. A difficulty existed also in a number of cases of second-class certificated drivers qualifying for examination for a first-class certificate. The minimum number of circular inches in engines might also be raised from 200 to 250 for second-class certificates. Mr Brown said that it was not necessary to have three,men holding first-closs certificates on one dredge. One was quite sufficient; and if it were compulsory to have three, it would amount practically to having three engineers. Two firemen and one holder of a first-class certificate was sufficient. Mr C. Benne' (Charlton Creek dredge) thought the present second-class certificate for ordinary drivers was all that was required, no matter what'size the engine was. Mr M'Nab stated that one point in the act ■was that it. evidently did not contemplate the driving of dredges for 24 hours at a stretch. Perhaps it contemplated that one first-class certificate'! man should bo employed on 'each dredge, and tho other two drivers second-class. If that wero what was required, that particular clause , could be altered to provide for one senior engineer nnd two second-class drivers. Tlic ocean-going steamers had that principle of Working. One man had a chief certilicate, yet tho fotirht engineer woudl huv-j to look after the engines perhaps for years before he could get his chief certificate. The Chairman said that one provision was that a driver must is 12' month's working a second-class engine before he was qualified to go up for examination for his first-class certificitte. -.That provision was ridiculous. He did r,ot think there should be any difference between the two classes. ..Both suggestions— that the minimum should bo raised to 250 in, nnd that a dredge should only require one firstclass certificated driver—were good ones. If the minimum were raised ns suggested, it would cover most of tho dredges in this district. The power could very well bo raised from 15 horse-power to 20 horse-power, Mr Bennet moved—" That tbo'prr?sent act be amended so as to raise the minimum of engines to 250 circular inches; that one man 0.1 a dredge bold a first-class certificate, to be .obtained by examination, and two. drive'vs hold second-class certificates; thnt tho boiler be raised from 15 horse-power to 20 horde-power; and that tho six months'.service before going up for examination be abolished.' Mr Ayson seconded the motion. Mr Green thought that tho operation of tho net should be suspended until .Parliament met, and he moved—!' That the Minister of Marine be rcspectfnlly nsKed to. suspend tlio operations ■ of 'The Inspection of Machinery Act,'l9oo,' to ■,meet the special case of the' engine-drivers on dredges until legislation bo introduced dealing with their case." The mover. o£_ the.amendment stated that, if the provisions of the act wero put rigidly into force, many dredges would have to stop work, as there were now not nearly enough men in the district lo work the drrrlgea under its provisions. Mr T. Barnes seconded Mr Green's motion, which was carried. Mr Ayson considered it too stringent that men should have to work six months on dredges before being qualified to go" up' for examination. . ~ ■ ■ Mr Charleston was of opinion that it was wrong that second-class drivers should have to bs 12 months-holders.of sccond-.class certificates before qualified for examination for first-class, A great deal more discussion took place, and lit Bonnet's motion was ultimately put !>ml 1 carried, ns ngainnt the following amendment by Mr Gait:-"That a first-class certificated driver be employed on racli dredge, aii3 a secondclass driver also; that it be riot necessary for tho third man to hold ft certificate, but that ho qualifies for examination by working on a dredge irrespective of the size of the boiler or measurement of cylinders." Sir A. A. MfcGibb'bon moved—" That examii:ntio!i3 bo held at convenient centres, an; 1 , thai the examinations for drivers in tho Gore district be held in Gore." Mr Collins (Waiimimu) seconded the motion, which was carried. It was decided to forward copies of the resolutions to the different members of. the House, ■nnd a vote of thanks to Mr M'Nab and the chair concluded the. meeting. GOLD-SAVING TABLES. A practical demonstration of the working of •Jones's patent gold-saving tables for uso on dredges, batteries, or sluicing claims.was.given at Mr A. G. Kidaton-Hunter's laboratory yesterday afternoon before n large number of spectators, most of v.'hom expressed themselves as' being well satisfied with the working of tho model. In Jones's tables, unlike moat others, instead of tho material or , wash passing direct on to tho tables, it first passes on:'tp a- wide sluice-box, or table, place;! below and running parallel with the screen.' From the end of this sluico or table the material, which is now thoroughly mixed, passes into iv distributing box of sufficient length to carry the stuff to tho extreme end of the tables. This box, which is l£in wide, is provided with openings, opposite which aro placed cross bars of varying lengths, which direct tho stuff through the openings. From this box the stuff passes into the boil-box, also 18in wide and provided with a centreboard raised some 3in or 4in from the bottom. This box runs parallel.to the distributor, but lies perfectly horizontal, and, being provided with small doors along the front eigt,- the flow i'ltn each department of the tables can be regulated so that each table pets sn equal amount to treat; and rs the stuff has before reaching this point been thoroughly mixed, it follows that each table gets similnr stuff to treat—a most important condition to successful gold-saving. By the Temoval of the heavier class of gold in tlio first part of the process—viz., on the table below the screen which is provided with ripples for that purpose—the other tables can be better adjusted to the saving of the fino gold than if the two classes had to be save;! in one part. By means of tho doors attached to the boil-box the flow into any particular table can bo stopped, the mats removed, a clean one laid down, and the door again opened in the space of a few minutes, and without in any way stopping tho dredge; so that a complete - washing can, bo made when required without loss of time. Briefly put, then, the chief points clafmed for these tables are, that an even distribution of a

thoroughly mixed material over the entire goldsaving area can be secured; that by means of the boil-box the stuff is delivered on to the tables in such a way as to ensure the deposition of the gold at the head of each table; that by classifying the gold according to size the saving of each class can.be conducted much more effectively; that a wash-up, can be mado when required without any loss of time-'whatever; and, finally, that so large a percentage of gold is saved that what is now unpayable ground could, by use of these tables, be worked at profit. Mr Jones, the patentee, is at present there on a visit from the West Coast/and has appointed Messrs Russell and Hunter his representatives in Otago. MOUNT LYELL MINING AND RAILWAY COMPANY. ■ MELBOURNE, March 15. Mount Lyell returns from February 7 to March G (inclusive) are as f0110w:—18,336 tons of ore were treated, in addition to 7288 tons purchased. The ore and fluxce' converters produced G75 tons of blister copper, containing 6G6 tons copper, J5.2420z of silver, and ]G79ozgold. NOTES FROM CROMV/ELL. (F3OM a Correspondent.) CROMWELL, March Ifi. The Electric dredgo return will probably be equal to last week. The Magnetic dredge will hardly have much this week as the drift is troubling her a bit. Next week a. return may be looked for. Tho Electric Extended is still busy working near the boundary. She has about three weeks' work in front of her. The Richards's Beach dredge is closed down at present, The reef proved to bo a rising one, and a higher river ia necessary to gel her in properly to her claim. The Alpine Company's dredge starts on Monday, also the Upper Magnetic. The Alpine Consols dredge is supposed to be on good gold, and has bottomed at about 32ft. This seems to prove the. gorge hardly as deep as was generally anticipated. The erection of machinery on all the adjacent claims about the Halfway House is still being gone on with. The Second Magnetic dredge waa not working for a clay or so owing to the ladder hangers breaking. I hear she is at work again now, and that the wash is still very good. The Bannockbiirn Creek dredge will bo finished in a fortnight now, and is a splendid big specimen of a dredge, The Merrimac started dredging on Thursday last. NOTES FROM CLYDE. ' (Fnou Our Own Correspondent.) CLYDE, March 15. The Vincent Extended dredge is still undergoing necessary repairs to her gear. The Vincent is working full time. The Messrs Nees Bros, have a great part of tho machinery erected on the Cairnmuir dredge. Tho Unity is undergoing slight repairs to her ladder and top tumbler. The river is still falling steadily,. NOTES FROM ALEXANDRA. (Frou Our Own Correspondent.) ALEXANDRA, March 15, The Molyneux is steady, being the sa>no height as yesterday—namely, about 4ft 4in above normal. The returns this week are expected to be about the average. The dredge Moa starts dredging on Monday morning. Preparations are being made for the launchiug of the Bendigo pontoons. THE WEST COAST. (Fbosi Oue Own Cohrkspondent^ GREYMOUTH, March 15. Tlio boro in the Grey River claim is now down 37ft, and no bottom. Prospecting operations on the Blackwater River Company's claim are now completed, and have shown that the properly should prove one of the most consistent producers on the Coast when dredged. Mr Taking, representative of a London syndicate, who proposed to take an option over Koss Flat, is now at Rosa. As is well known,' the Government voted £15,000 as a, subsidy on this work. It is understood that tho char.ee of floating the concern in the English market is very good. There was considerable excitement yesterday at Greenstone over the starting of the Greenstone Junction and Greenstone Creek dredges. After months of snstaincd etlort, scarcely two hours divided thorn at the finish. The creek dredge got going at about 2.30 p.m., and the Junction at n few minutes past fonr. The Junction dredge is in dimensions similar to tho Greenstone Creek, the pontoons being Gin deeper aft to curry an extra length of elevator. In other respects they arc the same. A material difference, however, is that the ladder of the Junction ia capable of drciigimr to a depth of between 35ft and 40ft. This allows a projection beyond the bows of the pontoons of about 12ft. This is n wise provision, on account of extra depth. II also allows of corners being taken out without difficulty. THE BONANZA COMPANY. TO THE EDITOR. Sm,—As another victim, I heartily endorse tho indignant strictures of "Shareholder" in this peculiar undertaking. On, the faith of the glowing reports, and the clear- understanding that there were 100 acres in tho clalmj I became a shareholder of 20 shares. Now' the directors talk of looking for another claim., To this I object. Let the miserable affair be wound up. I for one will not pay a farthing more, for legally I believe I could not be compelled. Union in this case is essential.—l am. etc., Another Victim. DOBSON NO. 2 DREDGE. . TO THE EDITOR. Srß,—On reading the report of working dredges on the Grey River in Monday's issue, I was very much struck by the words used by your correspondent as regards the working of the Dobson No. 2—" Nobody knows and nobody cares " being the expression used. A bad stato of affairs, everyone interested in dredging must remark. Surely it is somebody'a business to seo that the Dobson is worked to tho best advantage. Such remarks emanating from the field should rouse up the directors of the company to make it their business to see that the dredge is worked to the best advantage. Or has the drcclftcmaster sole control of the company? II looks very much like it. When on n, visit to the dredges six months r.go I saw some snlendicl prospects obtained from where tho Dobson is now working, a»d yet up to the present time she has' done nothing, excopt running away; ar.d now to cap all the directors " talk" of lengthening the ladder. Let us hope they will do more than talk, and pet things put in a workmanlike manner on tho Dobson, and I am certain from what I know and have seen that she will turn out one of the best dredges on the Grey River , .—l am, etc., Old West Coaster. REEVES PROPRIETARY COMPANY. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l notice a paragraph under the above heading in your issue of to-day's , datfc, with reference to tho Reeves Proprietary Gold Dredging Company's claim, which, if allowed to pass uueontradicted, is likely to mislead shareholder. The paragraph in question states " that the Reeves Proprietary Company's dredge is a steady 10oz producer, which is slightly under working expenses." I may that whilst tho avenge retnrn from the ured?e since starting is about lOoz per week, yet that this does not justify the statement that tho dredge is only a. lOoz producer, thereby assuming that this is the value of the ground, The return for last wash up was 9Joz for 98 hours' dredging, and the amount of wash and overburden put through was 4CG yards, which is equal to about OjgT p?r yard for tho whole of the spoil put through, and were the dredge able to copo with the tight wash ami lift her full capacity the return would be a very satisfactory one indeed. It may be as well to point out that this company's dredge was started at n certain part of the claim where it was found best to build the pontoons, and where it was not expected to get any big returns; but because wo were fortunate in getting gold from the start, some shareholders, were disappointed that the returns have not been equal to about 40oz per week. As a matter of fact, the dredge has not yet got to her proper dredging ground, the creek still being about 40ft ahead of it. The expenses of miming the dredge are about B£o7. per week,, and I may add that in all her returns she has more than paid expenses for the time dredging. I would again point ont to you, afl I have already previously done, tho advisability of referring these renorts to the office for verification before publishing them. Tho directors aro most anxious for shareholders to have every information regarding tho dredgo, and it is not fair to shareholders or directors to publish thesestatements obtained from irresponsible persons.—l am, etc., H. A. Bruce, Secretary.