BONUSES TO DREDGING CREWS

Otago Witness, Issue 2412, 24 May 1900, Page 22

BONUSES TO DREDGING CREWS

TO THE EDITOB. Sik] — I have just had my attention drawn to rt letter which appeared in your issue of the Bth inst., signed " Shareholder, being a reply to a letter from the Hartley and Riley crew, in reference to the question of paying the latter a bonus on and over a specified number of ounces which they may win per week. " Shareholder '-says he does not see wKy they should ,loe paid a bonus. Now, as one who has had some experience in practical dredging, and ,ibeing a shareholder in numerous dredging companies on the river, I most certainly con"sider the crew "should receive a small commission, as stated above, in addition to their •wages, so as to make it to ..their interest, see,ing that they consider thej are not justified 5n dabbling in the stock of the company, to "eecure the largest return possible; in fact, I -was greatly surprised on reading the crew's •letter', some little while b-r k. to find that they .were not receiving a weekly bonus — that is, of «ourse, providing the leiuiM justified it, — and in future I 'should like to know that not only ;the Hartley and Riley "crew in particular, but all dredging crews, were in receipt of a bonus or commission on and over a specified number ' of ounces which they may win per week, the -irate of the bonus to be fixed according to the ; previous average returns of the dredge. O"or example, where one crew would be paid 5s per man for every lOoz they secured over their average weekly return, another crew working ground of twice, the richness would only ger^ • that .bonus for every 20oz above the average, lor it is a. well-known fact to ail who know anything of practical dredging that whore a lead of gold runs through a river claim a handeoine return depends almost entirely on the way the winchman works his giound. " " Share- . holder," however, when he says a dredgeman • has nothing to do with a good return any more v than with a bad one, gives one the idea immediately that his knowledge of dredging is, to "say the least, limited. "Shareholder" also says, as a dredge is generally worked, a dredgejnan can only get information as to the coni- - ing return by. prying into th?t what does not concern him, etc Might I point out to " Shareholder" that the business and skill of a winchman comes in on being able to trace a lead of gold, which he generally does by prospecting from, the buckets, and in that way also an. experienced winchratui 'can tell to within soz* • what the coming week's return will amount to. Now, I ask, if this is prying' into what does not concern him, can " Shareholder " tell me what does concern a dredgeman? Ln I may add that years ago, when dredging was in its infancy, dredgeowners all over Central Otago advocated paying their crews a bonus, knowing that it was in their interest to do so,.ond in most instances this was done. I hope holders of dredging stock will be alive to their interests in this respect, and not be afraid to saciifice a sprat to catch a mackerel. — I am. etc., Investor in Dredging Stock. May 16.

MJNING NOTES FRO2I THE WESTERN , DISTRICT, SOUTHLAND. ' ~~. TO THE EDITOR. via, — Having had tfee mining industry at jiearfc for many years, and being a constant subscriber to your valuable paper, I have perused with the keenest interest your mining ohimna, and note with satisfaction the steady prcgress made in that line., -.Bucket dredging, which appears to have been a most profitable method of winning the precious metal in the past, has warmed its way into all alluvial districts. We have had a considerable amount of excitement in this locality lately. One ai«dge'is in course of construction, and many fceruted good claims have been surveyed. The Great Western, which is building, will be ptarted shortly. The Ourawera Creek Company have been going forward by leaps and bounds. 'After an inspection of the claim some few days ago the vendors took up some 700 shares, which shows the confidence the local people _have. Altogether there vbave been something "like 1300 shares taken up locally. Judging by the reports o.f experts who have visited the district we liave fields here in this locality equal to any inland claims. The local papers speak the mind of the people when they say ths Southland districts are second to none as investments in mining. We in the south arc practically novices in the matter of dredging, and hail with delight the advent of any one f.'eroe<l in that branch.

] All the sluicing claims me paying m p j manner that causes tho faces of the intciested to be wrePihacl in smiles, and I have no hesitation in saj-ing that when other fields, which are now more piominenily before the public, are thoroughly exploited, oiu dredging fields will bo turned to be sure, if not brilliant, in I vestments. — I vm, etc., -, I lI^TEZECTEt.

THE CROMWELL COMPANY'S DREDGE. The following telegram was received yesterday from Mr Leslie Reynolds, C.E., who v.-ent to Cromwell to superintend the starting of the dreclge: — "Dredge working splendidly. Will wire further on Friday or Saturday."

WAIPORI ELECTRIC POWER SCHEME. On th? Loth a mppti'ig was held of the syndicate which has secured the right to take water fioni Wpipori River for the pmpose of providing an electric installation to supply power and light to the di edges at work in tho Waipori district. Very satisfactory reports were submitted from the engineers who had been lr.stiucted to examine and go into the details of the scheme. The available minimum X>ower has uov. been accurately ascertained, and also the power hkely to be vanted by preceat and future dredges, and the surplus power thereafter available for transmission to Dunedin. The syndicate appointed a small working committee to negotiate with drrdge-owrer 0 terms for the supply of power and light, and generally to take all necessary steps to brir.g the scheme to early fiuitioa.

REPORTS FROM WORKING DREDGES. The Dunedm Stock Exchange repoit the following returns for last week : — Golden Treasure. 270z lidv.'t; Otago. 9oz 3dwt. The Secretai-y of the Golden Gate Dredging Company reports a return of 370z 12dwt for six clays' dredging. River falling. The Secretary of the Golden Beach Hydraulic Elevating" and Sluicing Company reports a return of 4ioz 14clwi 9gr gold. Mr J. D. Buchanan, Alexandra S.outh, reports the following returns : — Alexandra Fureka, 320z 15dwt for the week ; Earnscleuph No. 2, 2707. ldwt 3gr for four days' dredging; Earnscleugh No. 1, &soz. Mr Lauience Ryan, Alexandra, reports the following leturjis : — Perseveiance, 630z sdwt. Nil Des]: eranduni, 16oe 3dwt. The Secretaiy of the Magnetic Gold Dredging Company reports a return of 16oz for three days' work. Ground improving ; silt very bad. The Secretary of the Junction Electric Dredging- Company reports a return of 590z from No. 2 dredge. Much troubled with silt. The Secretary reports that the return from the Waimumu dredge is 21oz for 128 hours' dredging. The Secretary of the Waimumu Central Dredging Company reports a return of 21oz for 132 hours' work. The Secretary of the Empire Dredging Company reports a return of 550z 6dwt 15gr. The Secretai-y of the Chicago Dredging Company reports a return of 21oz 4dwt 6gr for 135 -hours' work. The Secretary of the Alpine (Riley's Beach) Dredging Company reports a return 'of 19oz for last week. The Secretary of the Maori Dredging Company reports a return of 270z for the week. The Secretary of the Vincent Dredging Company reports a return of 450z. Started a. fresh cut on Monday, but only bottomed on Thursday forenoon. Broke cog-wheel on Friday night; stopped for a week. The Secretary of the Matau Dredging Com--pany reports a return of 30oz for the week ended on Saturday. The Secretary of the Charlton Creek Dredging Company reports a return of 240z for 125 hours' dredging. Mr J. J. Gibson, Lawrence, reports a return of 230z Idwt from the Success dredge for 136s hours' dredging. * The Secretary reports that the Waimumu Extended dredge obtained 12oz 2dwt for 107 hours' dredging. Owing to tho dredge having to stop for an overhaul, there was no wash-up from the Inch Valley dredge last week. Mr J. D. Ehichanan reports a return of 12oz 6dwt from the Unity dredge. The Empire Gold Dredging Company obtained 450z 15dwt 16gr of gold last week. > The Hartley? and Riley return to Friday is 2420z 2dwt. The Secretary of the Tuapeka Dredging Company reports a return of lOoz. The Secretary of the Evans Flat Dredging * Company reports a return, of.lloz sdwt. The Upper Waipori Alluvial Gold Dredging Company (Limited) obtained last week 230z 4dwt of gold for 118 hours' dredging. The Jutland Flat (Waipori) Gold Mining Company obtained last week 320z 6dwt of gold for 144 hours' wages time; 126 hours' actual dredging. The Secretary of the Klondyke Dredging Company reports a leturn of 12oz lldwt for the week ended Saturday, 19th inst. The Secretary of the New Alexandra Dredging Company reports a return, of lOoz lOdwt 9gr for 75 hours' dredging. The Secretary of the Adam's Flat Dredging Company a return ol 4oz 15dwt 6gr for 96 hours', work. The Secretary of the Chatto Creek Dredging Company reports that owing to the rise in the river preventing dredging operations there was no wash-up last week.

DXJNEDIN STOCK EXCHANGE. May 16 — Ahaura River, lOJd ; Alexandra Lead, 9s 6d ; Aylmer Lead, 3d; Diggers' Pride, is 9d ; Fourteen-mile Beach, 37s 6d ; Gold King. 7s 9d, Grand Junction, 6d; Gieat Cejiual, 17-j 6d; Grey Rive.-, 10s 9d; Lady Koxbuigh, 2s 3d an s 2s 9d ; Mplone's BeaiJi, Is; Mokoia, Is 9d; Pactolus, 15s 6d; Rise and Shine, 3s 3d, 3s Cd, and 3s 3d; River Molyneux, 15s 3d j Trafalgar, 6s; Vincent Extended, 30s 6d; Waicuna, 2s Ocl. Sales also took place at the folio-ring r-iccs: — Alpine Consols, 39s Gel, 40s, and 445; Central Electric, £5 10s; Elcctiic, 60s and 60s 6d; Golden Terrace, 6s 6d; Hartley and Riley, £14 7s 6d, £14 10s, £14 12s 6d. oi-A £U 355: Vincent, 63s and 63s 6d. May 17. — Ahaura River, lOd; Bendigo, 16s, and 15s 9d; Boundary Creek, 8s 6d; Cairnmair, 17s; Davis Bend, 9s 9d and 10s; Dob°on No. 2, Is 6d; Erickson's Reward, 6s; Golden United, par and 9d , Grey River, 11s; Leviathan, 7s 6d; Pactohis, 16s; Rise and Sbine, 3s 3d and 3s; River Molyneux, 16s; Roxburgh Jubilee, 3s 3d; Sai-Oia' Bend, 455, •16s, 455, and 45s 6d; Vincent. Extended, 31s. Sales also took place ai the following prices: — Central Electric, £5 12s 6:1, £5 ]ss, £5 16s, and £5 15s; Dunstan Lead, 465; Electric (40 shares), 61s 6d and 6is 6d : Golden Terrace, 6s 6d, Hartley and Riley, PAI 7s Cd, £14 10s, and £14 12s 6d; New Alexandra, 28s 6d; Vincent, Css, 64s 9d, and 6is 6cL Maj ]9 — Ahpura River, Is; Cairnmuir, 37s and 17s 3d; Davis Bend, 10s 6d ; Dob' on 2\ r o. 2, is 9d; Fourtcen-nnle Beach, Sis; Gibb's Beach, Is 6d; Gold Deposit, pjr: Golden Ripple, 2s 3d; Mar^dcn Lead, 7s; Mokoia, Is 6d ; Moonlight, 6d; Orwell Creek,- Gs 6d ; Rise and Shine, 3s 3d; Three-mile Greenstone, Is 3d; Vincent Extended, 325. Sales also took place at the following prices : —Alpine Consols, 41s and 40s 6d; Bald Hill Flat," 3", dis; Charlton Creek, 28s and 27s 6d; Electric, 6U and 64s 3d; Gold Queen, 395 ; New Alexandra, 273 Go ; Vmcent, 64s 6d and 655. ] May 21. — Digger's Pride, 2s; Fouiteon-milo Beach, 365; Golden United, fid; Greenstone j ounctio.l, 7s; Kohmoor, 6<3 ; Mokoia, Is 6d, Nelson Creek, 225; Rise and Shine, 3s 3d and 3s ; River Jiolyneiix, 14"? 6d ; Roxburgh Jubilee, 7s 6d; Tacon's Caidrona, Is; Three-mile Greenstone, Is 3d, Is 9d, and Is 101 d; -Vincent Extended, 325; Waimumu Central, 7s. Spies were also recoided at the following prices: — Alpine Consols, £2; Alpine No. 2, £2; Central Electric, £5 10s; Electric, £3 ss; Golden Terrace, 7s 6d and 9s; Hartley and Riley, £14 and £13 15s; New Alexandra, £1 8s 3d; Vincent, £3 4s 6d, £3 3s 6d, and £3 3s; Waimumu, £1 9s 6d and £1 9s. The following are Monday's lalesi quotations, subject to the usual brokerage . — Ahaura River — Buyers is, sellers Is Id p. Alexandra Lead — Sellers 9s 3d p. Alpine Consols — Sellers £2 Is. Alpine No. "2 — Sellers £2 Is. Aylmer Lead — Sellers 6d p. Beaumont Lead — Sellers 3d dis. Bendigo — Sellers 16s p. Boundary Creek — Sellers 0s 3d p. Brandy Jacks — Sellers Is p. Cairnmuir — Sellers 17s 6d p. Central Charlton — Sellers Is 3d p. Central Electric— Sellers £5 10s. Charlton Creek — Buyers £1 7s, sellers £1 Bs. Chatto Creek— Sellers £1 12s 6d. Chicago — Buyers £2 10s, sellers £3. Clyde— Sellers £4 15s. Crown Diamonds — Sellers 9d p. Cromwell— Sellers £3 15s. Davis Bend — Sellers lls p. Eiectric — Buyers £3 4s, sellers £3 ss. Electric Extended — Buyers 13s, sellers 13s 6d p. Enterprise — Buyers £4 ss. Erickson's Reward — Buyers 5s 9d, sellers 7s 3d p. First Chance — Sellers £1 7s p. First Taieri — Selleis par. Ford's Creek — Sellers par. Fourteen-mile Beach — Buyers £1 15s, sellers £1 17s 6d p. Galvanic — -'Sellers 6s p. Gibb's Beach — Sellers 2s p. Globe — Buyers 6s, sellers 7s 6d p. Gold Deposit — Sellers Is p. Gold King — Buyers 7s 6d, sellers 7s 9d p. Gold Queen- — -Buyers £1 17s, sellers £1 19s. Golden Beach— Sellers £2 17s 6d. Golden Bed— Sellers 7s 3d p. Golden Palls— Sellers lls p. Golden Gate — Buyers £7 7s 6d. Golden Glen— Sellers par. Golden Molyneux — Sellers 4s 9d p. Golden Ripple — Sellers 3s p. Golden River — Buyers 2s, sellers 2s 3d p. Golden Terrace — Buyers 8s 9d, sellers 9s 3d. Golden United— Sellers. 9d p. Great Central— Sellers 183 p. Great Lead — Sellers 6d p. Greenstone, Junction — Buyers 7s, sellers 7s 3d p. Grey River — Buyers lls, sellers lls 9d p. Grey River Consolidated — Sellers 4s 6d p. Hartley and Riley — Buyers £13 ss, sellers £13 17s 6d. Hokitika Extended — Sellers Is 9d £>• Kawarau Bridge — Sellers 2s p. Kawarau Consolidated — Sellers 2s'dis. Kelly -and Casey — Buyers 9s 6d, sellers 13s 6:1 p. , v Lady Cardrona — Sellers 2s 3d p. Leviathan — Selleis"9s p. Magnetic — Buyers £3 2s 6d. Malone's — Biiyers Is, sellers Is 9d p. Manuherikia — Buyers £5 5s p. Marsden Lead — Buyers 4s 6d p. Matau— Sellers £6f Mikonui River — Sellers 6d p. Hoa Flat -Sellers £1 6a. Mokoia — Sellers 2s p. Moonlight — Buyers par, seller 39d p. Naumai— Sellers £1 Bs. Nevis — Sellers £1 Bs. New Alexandra — Sellers £1 9s. New River— Sellers 2s 6d p. Nil Desperandurn — Sellers £\ ss. No Town Creek — Buyers 2s p. Nugget — Buyers 10s, sellers 15s. Oceanic Steam — Sellers 2s p. Orwell Creek — Buyers 9s, sellers lls p. Pactolus — Buyers 14s 3d, sellers 17s 6d p. Pactolus No. 2 — Buyers Is p. Paul's Beach — -Sellers Is p. Perseverance — Buyers £5 Bs. Point dOr — Sellers par. Richards's Beach — Sellers 8s 6d p. Rise and Shine — Sellers 3s 3d p. Roxburgh Jubilee — Sellers 7s 9d p. Royal Maori — Buyers 8s 6d, sellers 9s p. Ruby— Sellers 6d dis. Sailors' Bend— Sellers £2 7s 6d p. Saltwater Creek — Sellers 6d p. Second Magnetic — Sellers JB"i 18s. Three-mile Greenstone — Buyers Is 9d, sellers Is lOJd p. Trafalgar — Buyers 5s 6c!, sellers 6s p. Ut>i3er Magnetic — Buyers 7s 6d, sellers 9s 6d p. Victory — Buyers 2s 6d, sellers 7s 6d p. Vincent— Buyers £3 2s 6d, sellers £3 3s. Wrimumu Central — Buyers 6s 9d, sellers Bs- p. Waimumu Extended — Sellers £1 ss. Wnipuna — Buyers 2s, sellers* 2s 6d p. Watterson's Consols— Buyers Is, sellers Is 6d p. Westland— Buyers 3d, sellcis 6d p.

OTAGO STOCK EXCHANGE. Sales were recorded yesterday at the followMay 16.— 8e-idigo, 16s 6J and 17s; Cairnmuir, 17s; Davis Bend, 9s 6d: Endeavour, 14s; Ford's Creek, par; Gold King, 6s 9d ; Grand Junction, 6d ; Grey River Consolidated, 3s 9d and 3s ; Marsden Lead, 5s 6d and g»x Mafcgis^ is Hi old Dimgiaa,, 3bx Pftßtetoa

No. 2, Is 3d; Woodstock, 2s 9d. Sales were also made the following prices : — Alpine Consols, 40s; Alpine No. 2, 40s 6d; Hartley and Riley, £14 ss," £14 103, JEld 15s, £14 10s, and £11 15s; Lafranchi Freehold, Is dis; Vincent, 62s 6cl, 6is 6d, 635, and 64s 6cl. May 17. — Ahaura River, Is; Boundary Creek, 8s 6d and Ss 3d; Cardrona No. 1, Is; Monte Christo, 17s ; Prince Arthur, gar ; Royal Maori, 9s 6d; Stillwater Creek, par. Sales also took place at the following prices: — Dunedin, 10s; New Alexandra, 275; Richards's Beach, 27s 6d; Vincent, 62s 6d and 635. May 19.— Alexandra Lead, _ 10s ; Bendigo, 16s 6d; Davis Bend, Ss ; Electric Extended, 13s 6d; Moonlight, 9d ; Royal Maori, 9s 7£.d and 8s 9d. Sales also took place at the following prices: — Alpine No. 2, 425; Central Electric, £5 15s; Vincent, 64s 6d. May 21.— Gold King, 7s 9d; Golden Ripple, 2s 6d; Grey River Consolidated, 4s; Moonlight, 9d; Rise and Shine, 3s 3d; Royal Maori, 9?, 0s 9d, and 10s ; Sho lover, par and 3d ; Wet Lead, Is 3d. . Sales also took place at the following prices: — Gold Deposit, 6d discount; Hartley and Riley, £li 7s 6d and .614 10s; Lafranchi, 3d discount; Majestic, 27s 6d; Vincent, 635. THE EQUITABLE STOCK EXCHANGE May 16.— Alpine Consols, 38s; Bendigo, lCs p;C'enartl Electric, £5 Ss ; Erickson's Reward, 5s p; Fouiteeu-mile B^ach, 35s Gd p; Galvani-j Central Electric, £o ss; Erickson'3 Reward, 5s ; p ; Fourteen-mile Beach. 35s 6d id ; G alvanic, 5b p ; Halfway House, 32s 6d p ; Meg and Aunie, • 25h 6d p ; New Alexandra, 2Ss ; Olrig, 20s ; < River Molyneux, 15s 6d p. ( May ]7. — Bondigo, 17s p; Dob~on No 2, 2s 6d j p; Gold King, 7s 6d p; Golden Banner, 6cl p; ! Mokoia, Is 9d p ; Old Dunstr.u, 2s yd r> ; Ross * Plat, par; Vincent, 63s 6d and C4s. " » May 21. — Alpine No. 2, 40s: Cairnrnuir, 17s p; Central Electric, £5 10s; Cronra ell. 72s 6d;~ Galvanic, 5s p; Gold Deposit, 3d p; Golden Ripple, 2s 3d p; Gunton's Beach,' 2s 9d p; Mokoia, 24s 6d (paid) ; River Molyneux, 15s p ; ; Waimumu Extended, 21s 6d; Shotover, par; ' Vincent, 655. j

THE "WEEK'S DREDGING RETUENS. -During the week ended Monday, 21st inst., returns were reported from the following 31 dredges, the total yield being 1020oz Idwt, or an average of 320z per dredge : — Oz. dwt. gr. Hartley and Pdley, Cromwell . . 242 2 0 Perseverance, Alexandra . . . . 60 5 0 Junction Electric (No. 2), Cromwell 59 o 0 Empire, Waipori 55 6 15 Vincent, Clyde 45 0 0 Golden Beach, Alexandra . . 41 14 9 Golden Gate, Miller's Flat (6 days) 37 12 0 Earnacleugh (No. 1), Alexandra . . 35 0 0 Alexandra Eureka, Alexandra .. 32 15 0 Jutland Plat, Waipori (126 hours) 32 6 0 Mafcau,, Clyde 30 0 0 Gclden Treasure, Miller's Fiat.. 27 14 0 Earnscleugh (No. 2), Alexandra (4 days) Q7 1 3 Maori, Lowburn, Cli'tha .... 27 0 0 Charlton Creek, near Gore (125 hours) 24 0 0 Upper Waipori, Waipori (118 - ' hours) 23 4 0 Success, Waipori (136J hours) .. 23 1 0 Chicago, Alexandra 21 4 6 Wahnumu, near Gore (128 hours) 21 0 0 Wairnurmi Central, near Gore (132 hours) 21 0 0 Alpine, Eiley's Beach, Cromwell 19 0 0 iSTiI DeSjperaudurn, M anuherikia . . 16 3 0 Magnetic, Cionrwell (3 days) .. 16 0 0 Klonclyke, Maiakanui .... 12 11 0 Unity, Clyde 12 6 0 Waimumu Extended, near Gore (107 hours) 12 2 0 Evans Flat, Tuapeka .... 11 5 0 New Alexandia, Alexandra (75 hours) 10 10 9 Tuapeka, Tuapeka Flat .... 10 0 0 Otago, Miller's Flat 9 3 0 Ad-tin's Flat, Tokomairiro (06 hour?) 4 15 G TpM >-. *« c» tw m. «, V&Q 1 0