NOTES FROM CENTRAL OTAGO.

Otago Witness, Issue 2426, 12 September 1900, Page 38

NOTES FROM CENTRAL OTAGO.

(Feoh Otjb, Ow Coerbspondent.) ALEXANDRA, September 10.— Again I have the pleasure of chronicling another batch of excellent -returns fiom the local dredges. The total yield from 12 dredges is 7640z 4dwt, giving the -very high average of 630z 13dwt. Including the returns from four dredges near Cromwell the total yield is 16570z ii-om 16 dredges, ■or an average of a little over lOooz. The Manuherikia dredge is getting better and better returns, and already, for 14 days' work, she has obtained a little over 3430z. - As was intimated by the manager through the week, a large return was obtained on Saturday from the Moa— almost 171oz. There is wery indication of good gold bein^ obtained for some time to come. This company's claim adjoins that of the Manuherikia Co., bo that the yield of 3620z for a week from, the two dredges will -give one an idea of the richness of, this portion of the rivei. , The Perseverance dredge beat her own record again on Saturday by getting 114oz odd for the 'iveek. The wash looks very well, and a conthruance of high returns may be looked for. i.SFhe last 16 returns total HOooz lOdwt. The Golden Beach dredge is steadily approaching the lower end of her claim, with consistent and satisfactory returns. The Vincent is getting better returns now as ihe wash is improving. The dredge ib working fpretty steadily. The Earnscleugh No. 2 dredge had another .large retur" last week. It -is intended to re-lip and Jnrsh Hie buckets this week, and to do so the -dredge will be stopped for a short while \flaily. The Matau dredge did not wash up this jWeek. * The Moiyneux -Hydraulic -dredge will not be peady for dredging 4ar some days .yet. The Vcneen has iome to hand during the v/eek, and it 18 a very big one. The Alexandra Eureka -dredge has been repairing nil the week, and will be putting on a pevf sciieen. The Unity dredge was not working last week

owing to the screen driving gear breaking. The new hcreen will now probably be put on. 'l'he Golden Point has struck bettei ground lately, and the returns are more encouraging. The wash tip on Saturday was 360z, making 720z for 16 days There is nothing to report about the Enterprise «dredge except that the returns are even and work is steady. The wash in the Chicago claim is improving, and the best return for some time was obtained last week. I am glad to be able to record a considerably higher leturn from the IMorning Star dredge for last week. She is sticking to it well, and it is to be hoped that the improvement will be lastThe Olrig dredge lost two days last week, and consequently the wash up was not so good. Tho Chatto Creek dredge resumed dredging on Friday night. A continuance of the high returns lately won is expected. The First Chance Company's pontoons will be finished by the end of the week One pontoon had been clocked, and part of the other is down, and the greater part of the upper framing is in position. The framing of the Alexandra Lead pontoons should be about all up by the end of the week. Six loads of timber came to hand last week. Good progress is being made with the erection of the machinery on the Sailor's Bend The bottoms are nearly in in the Dunstan Leid pontooQ.s, and a portion of the side planking has been put on. The training of the Eraser Flat pontoons is about iip. The timber is coming forward freely. A start "at planking should shortly be made. The erection of machinery on the Golden Link dredge has had to be suspended until the cliedge is properly afloat. The winches and boiler came to hand on Saturday. The prospecting operations on the West Matou. claim do not hold out any inducement whatever for the company to go on with the con- j stivction of the dredge, foi which, indeed, the present capital of the company would not be sufficient. Mr M'Queen's prospecting operations show that he got only one-third ot a grain of gold to the cubic yard. One speaker (a dredgemaster) at the recent meeting of shareholders held that to allow a dredge to lift the 60ft of top stufi' on this, claim, the wash on the bottom would have to go ldwt to the shovei. The reports of the prospectors satisfied most of the shareholders that the claim would not pay, and the motion that the directors be requested to call an extraordinary meeting of shareholders for the purpose of liquidating the company, as local sliareholdeid were satisfied that sluicing would not pay, and ihat a dredge could not be built to work the claim without a large increase of capital, was carried by a majority of 1590 votes. The Arrow Junction Company's pGntoons have been taken over by the company from the contractors, Messrs Nees and Co. The boiler and engine areon the ground. The fiamework of the Gentle Annie pontoons is being erected. Hie Arthur's Point Company's pontoons should be completed shortly. The Moa Flat -pontoons were successfully latuiched last Wednesday. . . Further dividends were declared by the Golden Gate and Golden Treasure Companies last jveek. The Gibb's Beach pontoons should be ready for launching in about a. fortnight. The timber for the- Roxburgh Jubilee dredge w'U be on the- claim shoitly. The engines and boiler ha-ve arrived at Port Chalmers. All the machinery for" the Golden Run dredgej , except the boiler and a few steam pipes, lias arrived. A start should soon be made fitting up. The Gold Queen dredge resumed work on Fiiday. The Moiyneux River has been falling steadily all the week, and is to-day about l|ft above noimal.