Notes from Greymouth.
(Fbom Our Own CoREEsroNDENT.)
GREYMOUTH, October -%1. Yesterday the Dobson No. 2 dredge machinery was given its fiist trial. Although no gravel was lifted, the machinery seemed to revolve in good order without any hitch. A large number were present during the day, chiefly to view the tables. They were designed by the dredgemaster, Mr Newall, and are constiucted m such a manner that they will give a drop o£ 3in from mat to mat on three occasions. The tables axe topped with a wire netting, underneath which is the ordinary cocounut matting and hessian mat. The spread of "the tables is 18ft by 12ft. The tables are of iron, and have a fall of ]\in to the foot. Provision is made to save fine gold by a distributing box, which equally dislubutcs the flue sand over the tabler. Iha -whole of the raLichineiy is &o housed in that tho winchmen will not be .'""quired to go
outside to see if the tables are properly working, as is found necessary in other dredges. Seven men in all will be employed. The dredge will start work proper about a quarter of a mile below tho top boundary. There is a " save-all " to catch drippings from tho screen as well as from the buckets. The engineer states that this is not in use on all other dredges. It is the dredgemaster's intention to thoroughly prospect the river bed before working into the bank. On and after Monday three constant shifts will be kept going. The Waipuna dredge has been working well throughout the week. She is now dredging at a depth of 37ft, and I am reliably informed that on Tuesday she had obtained Boz.
Oc ober 25. The week's return for the Waiwuiia- dredge is 7oz 4dwt. The dredge has still* a good way to go before getting on to proper ground. — [It is understood the dredge is at present on ground that was worked by miners by wingdamnimg the river.]
The Westland Foundry Company's shares are going off beyond expectations locally. The allotted number for here has been exceeded.
October 28. There is no return from the Grey River dredge for this week. It is understood the dredge will be taken over the bar on which she is now working to where the Hapuku dredge prospected, and on the strength of which the company was formed.
It lamed heavily last night and to-day till 6 o'clock. The river rose rapidly in the afternoon.
The moorings of the Dobson No. 2 gave way, and the dredge was carried half a mile down the river, where the men stopped her by diopping the ladder. Two men got off in a boat. The other two are still on the dredge. Captain Connor, harbourmaster, has gone to their assistance with the rocket apparatus. The river is in high flood, and operations will not be resumed for a few days. The Ahaura dredge pontoons were launched on Saturday evening.
Reef ton -returns- — Kirwan's Reward, 1230z amalgam from 114 loue — top plates only; Con-, aolidated dredge, Boz gold for~lls hours; Buller' dredge, 16oz 16dwt for 120 hours. The Keep-it-Dark returns for October are • — Battery, 2050z gold from 955 tons ; cyanide, 138oz gold. The Grey River is running strong, and there is a very rough bar.
Notes from Greymouth.
Otago Witness, Issue 2433, 31 October 1900, Page 20
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