CHARLTON VALLEY DREDGING FIELD.

Otago Witness, Issue 2437, 28 November 1900, Page 20

CHARLTON VALLEY DREDGING FIELD.

By a Recent Visitoe. „ Having some business to transact in Gore a few days ago, I took the' opportunity of having a look at the Charlton Valley, which has come into some" prominence of late in dredging circles. A few notes of the impressions formed may be of some interest tp your readers. • 'A brisk walk of a-'little'-over an hour over a splendid road brings the visitor right to -the mouth ' of the-, Charlton Valley, and the scene of dredging, operations. Less than half a mile up the valley the Charlton Creek Company's dredge is steadjjy eating her way through the country. This machine has already turned over a considerable amount of ground, which, to one accustomed to see the class of wash that the Molyneux dredges operate on, does not look particularly inviting. But recently-secured results go to show very conclusively that the wash, although overlaid with a strata of clay in parts 4ft or sft thick, must have gold well and evenly distributed throughout the gravel wash underneath. That it is highly payable is amply proved by the Charlton Creek dredge's returns, ranging from 250z to 520z a week. This dredge works her claim very well, tend the system of treating such mixed-up wash by means of a long run of boxes is, in my opinion, one of the secrets of her great success. A screen does not give the wash sufficient treatment, and a great proportion of the gold would be carried off with the clay owing to the water not being able to break it up. If several lengths of heavy chain fastened to a swivel at the head of the screen were used it might give better results by retarding the progress of the dredged material, but even that would not give the results that are obtained by the sluice box. The next claim up the valley, and adjoining the Charlton Creek, is the Central Charlton. To my mind, this is 'the best piece of dredging ground in this particulai district, and it should, when it is properly opened up, give even better results than its successful neighbour lower down the flat. There seems to be more wash and less top clay in this claim than in any of the rest of the Charlton group. The dredge was being put in working order on the day of my visit, and seems to be a pretty powerful machine, quite capable of coping with the ground so far met with. It will take three or four weeks at least to get a paddock ■opened up, and shareholders need not be surprised to see good returns come in at any time before that. On the left-hand side of the Central Charlton there is a likely looking area called the Mac Charlton, at present being bored with,

I I understand, first-class results. More will no doubt be heard of this claim, as it has lately been floated into a company. Further up the creek, and taking in a side block as well as part of the main valley, is a claim known as the Charlton Valley Gold Dredging Company, and a very likely looking block it is.' It should give shareholders a good return for the capital invested. They have not yet made a start to erect pontoons, but I understand will do so shortly. The Lady Charlton adjoins this claim, upstream, and is in about the centre of the proved ' gold-bearing block. The contractors are actively engaged in erecting the machinery or what look a first-class set of strongly-put-together pontoons. I noticed a screen and elevator lying alongside. With the example of the Charlton Creek's success without the screen, I should have thought the directors would have well considered this question before going to this extra expense. As the dredge has a good height of framing erected, it is not yet too late to remedy this. The directors should all -certainly visit the claim, and see for themselves what type of dredge does the best work. I am strongly of opinion that all directors should see the claims they are entrusted with the management of by the shareholders. It gives them a- much better' grasp of the position, and is often the mean^s of saving scores of pounds of the shareholders' money. On the south-east side of the Charlton Valley and the Lady Charlton two other areas are taken up, and companies to work them have lately been floated. One is called the Royal Charlton, and the other I did not hear the name of. Above the Lady Charlton another area was in course of being prospected. This, I learned, was owned by a local farmer — a Mr Fletcher. Some likely-looking wash was lying at the mouths of the various shafts, and very good prospects could be obtained by a dish — up c to three-quarters of a grain to the dish in some of the seams. It would average, taking it from top to bottom, about 3gr or 4gr to the yard at least, and should be a good 'property. The clay, however, was a bit thicker in this block. But, .after seeing the Charlton Creek working, I came to the conclusion that a good strong 4-foot bucket dredge, with high tumbler framing, and long run •of boxes, would earn good dividends for many years on such ground, provided it was not over-capitalised. 1 There are still 'a good many acres of similar ground stretching up to the foothills, all of which will no doubt m time be prospected and "floated into companies, when some of the dredges now under construction get to work and prove to the Dunedin public that a dredging field that for uniformity of higly payable gold-bearing -wash, ease in working, and cheap ' fuel, cannot be beaten as a sure investment. It should yield at least 25 per cent. •per annum on every JEI invested, and may in some cases go as high as 50 per cent. There is no risk from floods in this district, and, owing to the field being in close proximity to the main line (about four miles from G-ore railway station), repairs, coal, etc., can be landed cheaply and with despatch on any of the claims. I would strongly advise investors who are afraid to venture in Molyneux stock to go and see for themselves what 'the modern dredge in the hands of a good manager is capable of doing. The trip can be done in two days with ease, and at a cost of under £2. This includes return railway fare and all other expenses. The Government mines inspector (Mr Hayes), in reporting on this field, remarked that its .possibilities were not realised by Dunedin speculators, but that in time they would be forced to turn their attention southwards, as the returns that would be obtained would bring the field into strong light as 4 much more permanent and safer investment than the great bulk of the Molyneux claims. Actual results •are proving the truth of these statements.