LATE MINING.

Otago Witness, Volume 26, Issue 2419, 26 July 1900, Page 36

LATE MINING.

(Continued from page 23.)

The statutory .meeting of the Grogan's Point Gold Dredging Company, Caidrona, was held at the Otago Stock Exchange Boons on the 24th inst. There was a good attendance cf shareholders, Mr H. >B. Courtis being in the chair. Mr Neil, secretary, reported as to the progress of the company since its inception, which the-meeting considered satisfactory. The following were* elected directors: — Messrs H. S. Courtis, D. Ferguson. J. H. Bethtme 1 , J. H. Hancock, and T. Johnson. Mr G-eorge BJvth was elected auditor.

The Secretary of ihe Milestone Dredging Company has been advised by the contractors ■ihat the pontoon was sucefisf-jlly launched at the claim at Nokoniai on Saturda3'.

The Bruce Herald states that the Woolshed dredge washed up on Friday for a return of 18oz 7dwL

NOTES FROM CLYDE. (Fro:.i Orn Own Correspondent.) The weather of the past week has been very changeful, high winds prevailing at times, whilst the atmosphere was bitterly coid after sunset. Snow fell to a depth of several feet along the higher mountains, the coating at present upon the Old Man Range being exceptionally thick. The Molyneux is practically unaffected by the winds so far, but the opinion prevailing is that a thaw will soon set in.

The Unity Dredge is undergoing very necessary repairs. The fact is, as was stated by me some time back, the dredge was sorely ia need of repairs, and it was next to impossible to continue work much longer without effecting some slight improvements. The dredge will likely resume work during the course of the present week.

If the New Alexandra dredge were removed to the north-east end of the company's claim, I should rot be surprised t-o hear of splendid returns. Should the directorate be at all desirous ' of obtaining good returns, they might act upon this suggestion of mine. The result, lam confident, would surprise them.

In the appeal, Hyde v. Hewitt and others, his Honor Mr Justice Williams gave judgment for the appellant with costs. The appeal was by way of a rehearing from the decision of Mr Waiden M'Carthy. It may not be the correct thing to say, but one cannot help expressing some little surprise at the number of appeals allowed from decisions given in our Warden's Court of recent years. As a rule ovlt wardens adopt a. course of lengthy consideration of their decisions before giving them. This system of reserving decisions has grown to the enormity of an evil in our provincial coiirts, hut did the custom, even though entailing imnecessary expense to litigants, ensure against unsound law, there would not be so much to justify the, reasonable discontent now manifest at the custom of reserving decisions upon, very often, the most trivial cases. "I shall reserve my decision" has become a byword, and not infrequently does the expiession serve to incita to laughter in our up-coun-try music halls. It is well known that one warden was shamed into avoiding the expression through boing subjected to ridicule by a back blocks minstrel troupe. Singular as it may appear to be, the fact remains that this same var-den v/as ever afterwards most fortunate when his decisions came before a higher court. Consideration seems to be lost on mining law. Delay doe.sn't seem to serve any good purpose in translating it: ofihand decisions are to be recommended to the present system obtaining, since consideration of a lengthy nature only appears to intensify the agony of effort on the part of our wardens. "The law is a hass," but mining law is a veritable mule. Machinery is arriving for the Vincent Extended dredge. Mr Scott, the company's engineer, will commence the work of erection within the course of the week. I have heard it stated that Mr Macdonald, dredgemaster on the Unity, resigns liis position on that dredge shortly. Mr Macdonald is a very capable dredgemaster, and his leaving the Unity is to be regretted, since it is no easy matter to secure the services of co competent a workman to fill the position. There are scores of self-appoiuted, competent men to take up such a position ; but competency m its truest sense should be the first consideration in the appointment of a dredgemaster. We are not all Captain M'Lays, and unfortunately mary would-bo dredgmastsrs never will be. Work is being pushed on vigorously at the Monte Christ:) pontoens. NOTES FEOil CENTRAL OTAG-O. (Fboii Gun Own Corhsspondent.) ALEXANDRA. Juiy 23.— An inspection of the i£anuliGiilaa diedge shows ths?fc the bulk of the machinery is now in xiosition. During ti:e last :iine days the winches have been fitted u-o, also ihe compound vertical engine (Marshall) by which they will be driven; about half r s >the elcvatoi- buckets hsve been put on, and a good deal of the housing is completed. A numbei of otTiei necessary ifliings have also been done. The tables have yet to be put in position, tha Is elder hung, and the ladder buckets put on. The latter, however, are not yefc to hand. Unmistakably it will not be long now ere the dredge will be ready foi "removal to her cloim. Since the Golden Falls pontoons were launched la&t Thursday week, the gantry and toptunibler framing have been elected, and a portion of the deck planking laid. Though it is now several ' weeks since tbe Sailor's Bend Dontoona ware comuleted. there

is still very little machinery forward — only some 20 buckets, crown wheel, grab hooks, bearing' for one of the main shafts, some wice ropes, a part of the gold-saving tables, and a, few links. The winter, season will be over before this dredge commences operations, jusi; on account of the great delay in the delh cry of the machinery. 'ihe building site for the Alexandra Lead pontoons is about ready. It is a little farther from the river than that used forvthe Golden Falls dredge— to allow ior the b ■.<_,!> er state of the river that may be expe'eted in a few. weeks. Only a portion of the tunoer las yet been delivered.

Messrs Knewstubb Bros, commenced the construction of th« Dunstan Lead pontoons last Monday, and for a week's work have made a very creditable show.

Messrs Nees and Co. are piishing on the building of the Fraser Flat pontoons. There have been no further consignments of machinery for the Golden Link dredge lately. The hull, owing to a change in the course of ,the- Manuherikia River, is hard and fast on the gravel on the west side. There should not be much difficulty in floating her when required.

The Olrig dredge is expected to Lave a trJal ■run this week.

The carpenters have got all the ft a ruing ir> on one of the First Chance pontoons, and four frames lip on the other one, past the solid portion of iho hull. The rest of the framing will be up in a few days, as the frames are all ibolted together ready for putting in their jplaces. Mr G. Wilson, contractor for the iism-mtling of the machinery on the Galtee More dredge for the Foley's Creek Company expects to be finished. early next week. None of it ias yet •been carted away. The Old Dunstan Company's pontoons will be commenced by the contractor, Mr J. C. Ritchie, after he has finished the C&irnrmur •Company's pontoons. The highest return for the past week in this district is that obtained by the Vincent dredge — 178oz, of which 940 a were obtained in three idays. The buckets were being re-lipped during the week, which meant a stoppage for two hours daily. The Moa is at present working in mid-stream, and was uonsequently hampered early in the •week by the drift set travelling by the rise in the Molyneux and Manuherikia .Rivers. Notwithstanding, she managed to improve her previous week's Teturn by goz. Better .returns are probable, from the appearance of the wash. The Molyneux Hydraulic dredge struck better wash during the week, with the result that she obtained her highest return for a long time on Saturday — viz., 30oz sdwt.

The Enterprise Company's ground proved patchy la&t week, "but the return was a little better than for the previous week. The Earnscleugh No. 2 dredge resumed work during the week, and for three days obtained over 220z. The return from the Earnscleugh No. 1 was about the same as for the previous week.

The Chatfco Creek obtained a much better return on Saturday than usual of late, showin? that better wash" has at length been struck. * May it prove so. The return of IGoz odd was just for 41 days.

The return from the Morning Star dredge last week was somewhere about Soz. I understand the dredge is getting into deeper ground.

The New Alexandra- dredge has been v.-orking: all the week, having replaced "the broken pinion wheel. As she was getting on to good wash, at the time of the breakage, some decent returns are expected. The Fourteen Mile Beach "dredge is ready except for the electrical' plant, a lot-*! which- is - still on the road.

The pontoons for the Voltaic Company's dredge are expected to be finished this week. They will be launched as soon as winches ax- _ rive, for without them the launch cannot "be effected.

The Ida Valley correspondent of the Herald states that the Ida Valley Company's claim is to be fvirther prospected with boring rods, as the prospectors cannot get any—farther on accouat of the water .^ Prom the surface to the water level in this ground prospects have gone exactly 4gr to the load. " ' In regard to the baseless rumour that has been circulated in Duneflin to the effect that . the Golden Beach claim is about worked out, I may state from a personal knowledge of the claim both TDefore and since the dredge commenced operations that I cannot see any reason whatever why anyone could come to such a conclusion. In my opinion the rumour was set afloat by some designing person. The property is a very valuable one, and of the 95 acres or so yet to be worked, a good portion will prove • as rich as any yet worked, if not richer. As a good solid investment, this company would be hard to beat, and, indeed, there are not many properties that will excel it. - The annual meeting of shareholders in the Dunstan Pioneer Investment Dredging Company takes place here to-night. The directors in their report state that they regret more satisfactory progress has not been made in the construction of a dredge, but the delay was entirely due to the fact that sufficient capital was not provided for that mirpose when the com- - pany was promoted. They did their utmost to arrange a contract with the capital at their disXDOsal. but were unsuccessful, the tenders received, being too hi?h. The capital was increased by* J22000, and no time will now be lost in pushing on the construction of the dredge. . The specifications and plans are complete, and tenders will be invited, for the work. The area of the claim has been increased very materially by the purchase of -"-hat they believe to be highly payable ground. The Mamiheriki? Eiver to-day is running very high, on account of the mild weather melting the snow, and the Moiyneux River rose eight or nine inches last night, but is jiow falling again.