THE DREDGING INDUSTRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2430, 10 October 1900, Page 18

THE DREDGING INDUSTRY.

PROGRESS OF CONTRACTS.

DATE FOR COMPLETION 03? MACHINERY.

WHEN THE DREDGES WILL COAIMENOE.

The following concludes the articles that have from time to time appeared regarding the position of the ooniracts, etc., of dredging companies. Every effort Jia3 been made to make the list complete, but some few companies ha^o not been enumerated, for tho reason that secretaries at a distance havo failed to comply with the request to supply die necesbtiry information. Whether it is from indifference or because, it is preferred to keep the affairs of the companies strictly private, it is difficult to say, but ample time has been allowed for replies to the communica-. tions sent, without eliciting any response. .Secretaries ha.ye, however, in a great many instances readily and courteously complied with the requests made for the information, desired : —

Al, flat claim at Redman's Creek, Reefton, Westland. — The pontoons are now probably launched. The engines are landed at fjcroymouth, and the machinery it, nearly all finished. It is anticipated that the dredge will start some time rhis year.

Broad Creek, 'Waipori. — A contract for pontoon construction has been let, and the building of them is in a state of progress, and the work is to be finished in December. A contract for the manufacture of the machinery has aLo been let, and about half ot the work ia done. Three progress payments have been, made on this cordract. The boiler is included in the machinery contract, and the engine has been ordered from Home. This dredge should start about February or March.

Cairnmuir, Molyneux. — A tender lor the building of the pontoons was lot on the 28lb_ November for £1475. Tho engine and boiler have been ordered from Home. The contract for the machinery was let on the 29th, January last, but through the difficulty in. getting material car Led theie has been considerable delay. However, matters in that direction are improving, and the machinery is now arriving on the claim daily, and, no further delays occurring, the dredge may be expected to be finished and ready for work in three months at the outside.

Charltou Valley, near Gore. — Contracts have been let for a dredge, and the contractor for the pontoons is making arrangements for having the timber car Led to the ground. The machinery contract is under way, and the dredge should be working within nine months.

Commissioner's Flat, near liokitika. — -Plans and speoifipationt havo been prepared and tenders for the machinery are about to bo called for.

Dome Creek, Waikaia.— -The erection of the machinery upon the pontoons at the company's claim, near Waikaia, is approaching" comploiion, and dredging is expected to begin in October.

-Earnscleugh No. 3, flat claim near Alexandra. — The pontoons have been launched. The contract for the machinery was let in Ghrisfcchurch 011 the 17th March, and expire 3 in. January next. The last report from the contractor was that ho was making good progress, and expected to be finished with tha work within contract time. The pipe line for -the race is just about completed. The whole of the electrical plant arrived by che Rangatira, and will be forwarded to the claim early. A start to dredge should be made about the end of March.

Enfield, Waipori. — The pontoons are completed and ready to be launched. The machinery is all ready, and now being carted to the claim on a contract providing for delivery in the middle of October. An engineer has been engaged, and construction v/ill commence at once, and will proceed simultaneously with the cartage. It is= expected that the dredge will commence running the first week in N November, just 12 months from registration of company.

Erickson's Reward. Grey "Valley, Westland. — The contract time for the machinery expires about the end of October, not December, as we were informed, and the work oE dredging will probably begin in the early part of January.

Golconda, near Greymonth. — The company's representative is now in America, armed with authority to let a contract, to a 'Fribco firm for the construction of the machinery. It is expected that everything will be ready to start work about January next.

Gold Deposit, Molyneux. — All the contracts are let. The machinery is being constructed in Sydney, and rapid progress has been mad© with the work. The contractors expect to have the work finished, wichin the contract time — namely, November 11. More thani half the contract money has been paid over, and it is quite possible that the work will be finished even before contract time expires.

Golden Standard : Claim on the Clutha. — • The machinery is being built in Glasgow, and! is to be ready and shipped some time next month. The sum of £1000 has been paid otjj account. The whole of tho timber has beeni cut for the pontoons, and the contractor left town last week to commence building them. The company are taking over the engine and! boiler ordered from Home for the Upper Clutha Company, which is now on its wayout to the colony

Golden Elbow, Molyneux. — The material for the pontoons is all on the ground, and the contractors are actively proceeding- with their construction. The machinery contracts have all been let in (Jhristchurch, and are due in abovit five months. The engine and boiler were ordered in ample time to go forward! with the rest of the machinery- It is expected that the machinery will be running i» time for next winter's river.

Gibb's Beach, Molyneux. — The machinery is nearly all on the claim, and the remainder is now being carted. The pontoons have* been floated, and the contract for the erection of the machinery has been let. Theengino and boiler are at Lawrence, and it« is thought that the dredge will be completed and ready for work early in. December.

Hokitika, River. — The pontoons are nearly.

completed. The steel pins have arrived from •England, and satisfactory progress is being made with the construction of the machinery. The dredge will be at work the beginning of the year.

Hokitika Junction, Hokitika River.— This company is in precisely the same condition as the Waimea Creek and TTlat Company as regards contracts and probable date of start. Island Creek Company's claim is situated ab,Qi\t eight miles from Westport, on the ■Pakihi Swamp at Fairdown Creek, adjoining Waieatea. The pontoons are to be ready Sqv the machinery by the 20fch October, and 5t is estimated that the dredge will be ready {to commence operations hy the end of November. Lady Charlton, near Gore. — The whole of ithe machinery is finished, and is now being iforwarded to the claim. The construction '6f the pontoons is well advanced, and they are expected to be launched in a fortnight's Jtime. The engine and boiler should arrive the end of this month, or, at the latest, the •beginning pf November. The dredge may be expected to be in working order by the end of November.

Lioness, Molyneux. — A contract for the machinery was iet in Wellington, and the contractors report that the material is coining 4o hand v-ery slowly, but they anticipate (being able to deliver within contract time. The engine and boiler have been ordered from Somg, and will be here in ample time for the rest of the machinery. The engineer reports that a start is about to be made in building the pontoons. The Lioness Com.pany has amalgamated with the Union Jack. Prince Imperial; Great Beach, and Royal Sovereign Gold Dredging Companies for the purpose of testing each claim, and the dredge aiow being built for the Lioness will prospect each of the above claims.

Marsden No. 1, near Greymouth.— The pontoons will be finished by the 14th October. The engine hps been ordered from Home, and was due here in September last. The balance of the machinery is to be completed by the 14-th October, and 2s far as can be judged the contractor will finish by that date. Dredging should commence six weeks to two months after completion of the pontoonp.

Monte Christo, Molyneux.— The building of the pontoonp was let to a contractor in Gore. They are completed, and ready for launching, but as the river is very low the contractor has decided not to launch them until a lresh in. the river occurs, as it is considered injudicious to incur any risk of injuring the hall iby dropping it in from the present position. The machinery contract is iet in Sydney, and 63 tons of the machinery have been landed in Dunedin, including the ladder and screen. A portion of the machinery is now on vhe way to the claim. The contr-ict price for fie cartage is £4- 10s per ton, including railage to Wcdderhurn. The engine find boiler were landed in Dunedin early in September, and are now on the way to the claim. Tendeis for, the erection of the machinery are now being called for, and it is not expected tnat the dredge will start before Christmas.

New River, near Greymouth. — It is anticipated, that this company's dredge will be .tvorking by the end of the month.

Old Dunstan, near Clyde.— Plans for a dredge and machinery were approved by the directors, after amendments, m May. A tender for pontoon construction was let on July 7, and one for machinery in Melbourne on the same date. The engine and boiler have been ordered from England. Taking into consideration the delays that may be expected in getting the material for the pontoons and the machinery on to the ground, •this dredge cannot be expected to be ready for work until March or April next.

Perry's Reward, near Hokitika. — The directors have purchased the RiverLunk Company's dswlge for £3500. It is expacted that it will not be necessary to call up more than 15s per share, and "that actual work will commence [within five or six months. Premier (Buller). — The construction of the machinery is in progress in Wellington, and the engine has been ordered from England. 'A tender 'for supplying the timber for the pontoons has been accepted, and it is hoped tthat dredging will be going on in March. Record Reign, Shepherd's Creek, Waikaka. ■ — Work lias been going on since December last, and three shifts of men are working continuously. All contracts are completed. Reliance, Tuapeka Flat, near Lawrence. — The pontoons have been launched, and several payments on the machinery made. The contract time for supplying the machinery expired in August. Some of it has gone to the claim, and the remainder is practically ready to go forward. A contract for the .work of erection will be let immediately. Tne engine and boiler are expected to arrive by the next boat, and a start to dredge is timed for about the end of November.

Reeves Proprietary, near Reefton, Westland. — The pontoons were out of the contractor's hands on the 19th September. The machinery is now being put on the pontoons, und the manager expects to get a r-bavi at dredging the first week in November. Royal Sovereign, Molyneux. — No contracts liave yet been let owing to die company being one of those that agreed to the one dredge prospecting the claims. The dredge that i& to do this is being constructed for the Lioness Company.

Sandy Point, Molyneux. — The dredge is expected "to start in about three weeks' time. Saltwater Creek, Paroa, South of Greymouth.—This company is awaiting the result of Mr Raymond Payne's visit to America. The plans for a dredge have been sent thither, and on receipt of word from Mr Payne steps will be taken to obtain a dredge. Stafford YVaimea, Waimea Creek, Staffordtown, Westland.— The plans are 'in course of preparation, and in all probability the dredge ,Tvill be ready in six months from date. '. Switzers, Waikaia.— The Ettrick dredge ,\vas purchased by this company, and is now being dismantled, and is expected to be on the claim at the end of the present month. iho work of erection will then begin, and should be cempleted. within two months, at the expiration of which the dredge will start .work. Thomson's, Bullock Creek.— A Wellington firm has contracted to complete the dredging machinery by the end of January. The engine is to be delivered the same month from England. The company's engineer is arranging for the construction of the pontoons, and dredging is expected to start in April. United Morven, Kawarau.— The directors of this company (which was registered in January) lost no time in getting contracts under way, and nrpgress payments have been made for machinery to the Melbourne .contractors. "Unless hampered in some unforeseen, way, they will have the dredge working jearly in the year.

Waiora. — This company holds somewhere 'over half a mile of the Kawarau River between the claims of the Metallic and Eclipse. The contracts for the pontoons and machinery ihaye been lei for some time, and as, on inquiry, we learn that they are well forward, it may be anticipated that the company will

be able to commence fitting the dredge up very early in the year. Ihe machinery is being made in Melbourne, pnd h duo in the colony towards the end of January next.

Waimea Creek and Flat, Waimea. Creek, Webtland. — Plans for a dredge have been tent to America, where the machinery will in all probability be made. According to present advices work should start about April or May. The engines and boiler have been ordered from England, and will be here in time. The timber for the pontoons will be ready as soon as it is required.

Waitahuna Gully, Waitahuna River.— The pontoons are being built, and the contract for them and the machinery expires about the middle of October. The dredge is expected to be at work by the end of the year.

Waiwhero Sluicing and Dredging Company, Barrytown, Greymouth. — The contractors for the big race should finish by the middle of October, but on account of delay in getting timber rafted to the claim it will probably be the first week in December before the full supply of water is brought in. Three or four creeks are being taken into the race on the way, and these will give a permanent seven heads of water. It is the intention of the

directors to commence sluicing with this water supply in about six weeks' time. Welcome, Buller River, Westland. — The contracts for supplying the for the pontoons was let some weeks ago, and when sufficient has been cut the contracts for pontoon construction will be let. It is confidently expected that the dredge will be completed by contract time — namely, February. Suspended Contracts. — Contracts have not yet been let pi the following eases : — Blue Bell, Fox's Creek, Great Greenstone (awaiting results of operations at Three-mile Greenstone's claim), Two Creeks, Tasman, Davis Bend (awaiting a reduction in the price of material, and not making any call?), Gothic (stripping is being- done), My&tery Flat, Pile Up, Lafranchi's Freehold (contracts are jvtst on the point of being let), Prince Arthur, and Waipori King.