MINING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2401, 8 March 1900, Page 29

MINING.

March 5. — A syndicate of several Alexandra sharebiokers and wgil-known dredging experts has left Alexandra for the West Coast with the object of ascertaining, first hand, the value and practicability of coastal claims as dredging ventures. No doubt the syndicoate will secure properties and place them on the market for flotation. Should they secure on the Coast pioperties which they may deem woith the public's money, then investois may feel stue m venturing their money on properties placed before them and recommended by the experts.

Dredge Owners' Association. — I have been making inquiries as to the work this association is doing, and find that to all intents and purposes they arc alive to the wants of the dredging industry as far as it affects Central Otago. A few clays ago a deputation of this body waited on the Hon. the Minister for Public Works, and bi ought under his notice the necessity for bridging the Manuherikia adjacent to Alexandra. Mr -Kehnan pointed out to the Minister that the railway bridge which will cross the Manuherikia about a mile above Alexandra might be, at an early date, constructed and used as a traffic bridge in the meantime. He aiso pointed out to the Minister the necessity for a road clown the .Molyneux liiver from Alexandra, at the same time impressing on the Minister the fact that the Government had done but little in helping the development of the dredging industry in Central Otago. He thought that the construction of this very necessary road was a matter tliaL the Government might reasonably be asked to take up. The Minister in reply said that his department had not quite decided on which side of the, Manuherikia the railway would be brought ; but if it were determined that the line be constructed on the east side of the river, then the construction of the railway bridge would be put in nand at once. With refeionce to the road, the Minister thought the request a reasonable one; but he could not authorise expenditure on such work without the sanction oi Parliament. In the meantime he would authorise a survey ■of the road, and have an estimate given of the probable cost, and at the next sitting oi Parliament a vote would be, in all likelihood, placed on the Estimates for the work. Notwithstanding the good work the association has done, and is doing, to assist the dredging 'industry, it is surprising how few dredging companies deem it necessary for them to become members. I am not in a -position to say how many companies have joined the association by paying the necessary subscription of 2gs, but I am led to believe that the number is very small considering the interests involved. If the companies that have .offices in Dunedin look coldly on the work of the Central Otago Gold Dredge Owners' Association, why no they not form an association in Dunedin, having branch associations in all dredging centres? 'Xhe time is. surely ripe for such an association to watch over the interests of the industry as a whole. There can be no queption as to the expansiveness of the industry. , It is growing rapklly, and in its growth many questions affecting its" welfare's a whole are' bound to ciop up. .To my 'mmcl suoh a central association would have considerable weight With the Government in affecting changes /ln< the mining laws' where deemed necessary ; whereas the efforts in the same direction pi individual companies would be simply futile. I hear that' a start has been made with the erection of the pontoons for the Pioneer Eureka Company's dredge at the Lmdis. All the machinery, as well as the timber, being on the ground, quick time should be made in getting the dredge at work.

The Vincent washed up off Friday 28Joz for five days' work. I understand that the dredgemaster will in, future wash up on Friday instead of Saturday. This arrangement will avoid sending the gold to Alexandra to be banked, as the manager of the Bank of New Zealand visits Clyde every Friday. The Unity is on very rough ground, and is almost unable to cope with the hard wash and heavy boulders met with near the head of the claim. I learn that ,the dredge is to be removed to the lower end of the claim, where easier worked ground is to be met with, and where better results will accrue to the owners. I learn that 6oz was the return for last week.

The Mntau had anoxher good return of 670z for last week. Lucky shareholders — there must be another big dividend looming near at hand. The New Alexandra is making her third effort to get into her claim on the east bank of the river. The manager has commenced operations a few chains below the lower boundary of the claim, and well out on to the Duustan Lead. It will take about 10 clays to prove th« existence or non-existence of an inner channel. All old miners who have worked the top seams assert most positively that there is an inner channel ? How have they proved it ? Did they sink on it? ISTo! they did not; for they could not do so owing to iniiux of water. Jfy faith in the hazy stories of old miners has been badly shaken in several instances, and the -existence of an inner, channel in tbe New Alexandia claim — against my own convictions — is one of the instances. However, before this sees the light, the fact of an inner channel or otherwise will be proved

The Kimberley Claim. — I note that this claim is again being pushed on the market for flotation. I trust that intending investors in this company haye taken my advice aiid visited the around. I hflve already deaciibed the lcaaiiqn

of the claim, and say nothing as to whether it be rich in gold or not, for I do not know, neither do those men who report so highly of it, for they have not prospected the ground. It was stated in the Dunstan Times of Friday last that the Alexandra broker had telegraphed for 3000 shares for placement fii Alexandra. The same statement was also made in a Daily Times of last week. Now, this statement is open to question, and I have the best authority for saying that it is not correct. JSTo sane man or woman in Alexandra would dream of taking up shares in this company, no matter what efforts be taken to get the public to bite. The time for this company has not yet come, and vendors and brokers should withdraw it as quickly as po&sible.

The Perseverance, working steadily during the week, had a good wash up, amounting to 54|oz. The Molyneux Hydraulic has moved down to the lower end of her claim, and in consequence did not wash up. The Chicago washed up for 19oz lldwt. This company would have much better returns with a more powerful and up-to-date dredge than the one now in use.

The Moa had a capital^ return of 51oz for last week.

The Chatto Creek having been idle for nearly thies days did not wash up, nor have I heard oi any return from the Galtes More. The Nil Desperandum had a return of 15oz. On the Manuherikia tho Monorburn appears to be the most successful of the fleet of dredges, washing up for tho week 21oz. This dredge is ably managed by Mr Leicester.