DREDGING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2399, 22 February 1900, Page 20

DREDGING.

TO THE EDITOB. Sir,—l have been reading with a certain amount of interest the many long letters re the dredging boom." I do not intend to touch upon dredging matters myself, or to express my opinion on this, that, or the other claim, becaiise a very long experience in dredging speculation has taught me to know that you never know what is in a claim till it is tried. I am one of those who could have bought Hartley and Rileys at ]Bs, but, like a few more, I listened to the opinions of one or two of " A Ttecent Country Visitor's " type, and so am now lamenting. My advice, therefore, to would-be correspondents, and to the general public, is to treat such advice as that which has appeared fiom the pen of " A Recent Country Visitor" with the ridicule which it deserves. I nijght also state that it is in consequence of the dredging industry and the ■•njiginficent returns from the same that I am able to sit down in my easy chair, a good fnt cigar between my t?eth, and the best xic-5-paper m the colony (Daily Times) before me, and read war news and miniue: news. The only.

sorrow I have is that your valuable paper has been the means of expressing the thoughts and opinions of one who, by his own showing, has no idea and no experience of the mdustiy which promises to become the backbone of the country. —l am, etc., Alexandra. Alexandra, February 13. REPORTS FROM WORDING DREDGES. The Hartley and Riley Beach Dredging Company washed up on Friday for a return of 390z lldwt of gold for a week's dredging. The secretary of the Inch Valley Diedgmg Company reuorfcs a return of 21oz for_ 114 hours. There is evidence that some of the grcund gone over during the past week had been previously worked. This no doubt accounts for the small return. The secretary of the Golden Te:race Dredging Company reports a return of 14oz 4gr for the week ended Thursday, 15th in&t. The Earnscleugh No. 2 dredge washed up for a return of 370z 12dwt Bgr for last week. The Chicago obtained a return of 17oz lOdwt lor last week. The Secretary of the Matau Dredging Company leports a leturn of llioz for the week. The Secretary of the Clyde Dredging Company reports a return of 350z for the week. The Secretary of the Cherlton Creek Dredging Company' reports a return of 18oz 15dwt for 130 hours dredging, The Secretary of the Morning Star Dredging Company reports a return of lloz lOdwt for 120 houis' work. The Manager of the Klondyke Gold Dredging Company (Matakanui) reports that he washed up a small paddock in the sluicing claim for a return of 19oz sdwt. The dredge has started to open out; prospects very satisfactory. The Dredgemaster reports that the return from the Golden Gate dredge for last week was 41oz lldwt. The Golden Treasure Company's dredge resumed work on Friday, after an overhaul, which included the putting on of a new set of larger buckets. It is confidently expected that the returns will now improve. The Secretary of the Waimumu Gold Dredging Company reports a return of 20oz for 135 dredging liouis' work. The Secretary of the Dunedin Gold Dredging Company reports a return of 12ioz for 105 hours' dredging. The Dunedin Stock Exchange report the following return for last week: — Otago Dredging Company, 13oz 2dwt. The return from the Junction Electric Gold Di edging Company (Limited) No. 2 dredge is 9oz; prospects improved. 'x'he .Secietary of the Magnetic Gold Dredging Company (Limited) reports a return of 51oz for seven days 15 hours' (hedging. The Secietary of the Chicago Dredging Company reports a leturn of 17oz lldwt lSgr for five days' work. Mr J. J. Gibson, Lawrence, reports a leturn of 21oz 2dwt from the Success dredge. The Secretaiy of the Alpine dredge reports a return of 12oz ior 30 hours' dredging. The Secretary of the Golden Point Dredging Company reports a return of lOoz for three days' dredging. The .Secretary of the Chatto Creek Dredging Company reports a return of 13 oz for 10S hours' work. The Secretary of the Manorburn Gold Dredging Company (Limited) reports a return of 17oz Silv/t for the week. Mr J. ,7. Gibson, Lawrence, reporls a return of 21oz 9dwi from the Lpwrence dredge for last week. The Secretory of the Enterprise Dredging Company repoiis a return of 48oz 9dv/l for 12G hours' dredging. The Secretary of the Junction Electric Dredging Conxsany reports a return of 12oz 4dwt tor the week from No. 1 dredge. The Secretary of the Macraes, Flat Dredging Company repoits a return of soz 1-ldwt for 123 hours' dredgin.g The Secretary of the Evans Flat Dredging Company reports o return of 18oz 7dwt for' the week ended Saturday, 17th inst. The Secretary of the Galtee Mora Company reports a return of 9oz Sdwt for the week. The Jutland Flat (Waipori) Gold MiningCompany (Limited) obtained last week 20oz 2dwt of god for 144 hours' wages time; 134 actual dredging. The Empire Gold Dredging Company's return last week was 360z 17dwt, valued at .-6141 17s sd. In consequence of an accident to the winches, the No. 1 dredge was in idleness for four days, and this accounts for the week's return falling below the average of the preceding three or four weeks. The manager reports that the wash in both claims now piospects niueh better than has been the case for several months past. Mr J. D. Buchanan, Alexandra, reports- — Return of 31ioz for five days' dredging from the Unity dredge.