WAIKAIA NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13250, 5 April 1905, Page 6

WAIKAIA NOTES.

(Fbom Otra Own Correspondent.) J . WAIKAIA, April 3. Tho Hessey Company's dredgo is now nearly through tho tailings whore dredging'was started on tho claim, nnd tho main body of wash will soon bo'met with. Prom now the returns should show, an improvement on thoso recently obtained. The dredge is being kept in tbo best of order, and is consequently almost continuously, at work. Early last' woek ono of tho driving belts on tho Mystery Flat Company's parted, and 'some necessary repairs were carried out while a new ono was being procured from Dunodin. Tho wash in tho claim is fairly good, and should continue so for somo time. Probably better ground will bo met with as the dredi;o works ahead towards tho top boundary of the claim.

Tho returns from tho Duko of Gordon <iredgo have-not been so good recently as those obtained a few months back. This dredge has some rich ground to operate on later on. The'yield of gold from the Maslerlon Company's claim has so far been very satisfactory, and, judging' from the prospccts obtained on the property while boring was being carried on, the shareholders will have no roason to complain of their investment. The pontoons of the Fairdown dred»o have been ro-CAulked in places and freshly tarred. Dredging will probably he gone on with when the river rises. sufficiently high to float the dredgo oft from its prscent position, I expect to hear of .fome good returns being obtained from this claim when dredging is r&iuncd, The Garryowen dredgo is being shifted lo a claim below and adjoining tho Muddy Creek Company's property. The Muddy Creek Company's dredge is on goad wash, and tho dredgo is being kept in good orfcr. • The Argyle Company's dredge is about completed. and a start, dredging will bo made at an early date. The Kia-Ora Company's dredgo hss been closed down for some time, owing to tho water supply for the paddock running short, The other dredges aro riftming steadily.

THE WILBEHFOBCE REEFS. lIOKITIKA, April 4. The prospectors of the Wilberforce Roofs find, interviewed, state that the total length of'tho tunnel driven on behalf of the Beefton Syndicate was 200 ft, 43ft of which required timbering. ,Thcy have now been driving 15ft in solid stone, which, thev assert, is ot even quality, carrying highly payable prospects. During driving they met with a good deal of water. They speak hopefully of the prospects of the field. A tunnel was put in 170 ft below tho outcrop. Other parties are prospecting in tho locality, nnd Jiave discovered fresh outcrops in tho vicinity. In, one case the find isr believed to be particularly good, while in other cases indications are very encouraging. A good area, of ground has already been marked off, and several water and other rights have been applied for. I It is expected that tho Government Geologist | will visit the district at an early date.