Dredging on the Molyneux.

Otago Witness, Issue 1764, 12 September 1885, Page 20

Dredging on the Molyneux.

TO THE EDITOR. Sik, — In late issues of the Witness disgusted shareholders have been airing their grievances with regard to the Macetown reefs. lam sorry to say that shareholders in other goldraining companies can say ditto to the expressions of ■disgust. The Dunedin Gold-dredging Company carrying on operations near Alexandra, is a case an point. The dredge, built by Messrs Kincaid, M'Quden, and Co., of Dunediii — who are large shareholders in the concern — was the most wonderful specimen of experimental bungling imaginable, as with the exception of the steamengine not one solitary article, from the dredge herself downwards, was fit for the purpose for which it was intended. Renewals and alterations, all supplied by the original builders, have been going on ever since the Company started work. The legal manager and board of directors are all in Dunedin, and meet once a month to ■discuss what they know nothing about, some of them never havingseen the dredge, and as to the practical working thereof, or the machinery required for such work, they are iv a state of the profoundest ignorance. During the latter part of last year the dredge Had to undergo considerable alterations and repairs. The directors sent up one of their friends at a salary of £7 a week and expenses to superintend those repairs, superseding the Company's engineer, who was present all the time, and who is paid to do this work. A reduction of the number of hands employed about the dredge could very well be made, and the duties of the master might very easily be increased without doing him any injustice. It is to be hoped that steps will be taken by disinterested shareholders to supplant the supine clique hitherto ruling this Company, thereby ensuring shareholders returns commensurate with the earnings of the dredge. — I am, &c., \ SHABEHOI/DfiK, Alexandra South, September 7.