Notes from Greymouth. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 10 April 1901, Page 20

Notes from Greymouth. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

GREYMOUTH, April 2.

The Maori Queen had a trial of machinery yobterday. Everything worked smoothly, giving satisfaction. Many little things will Have to be done about the dredge yet before being completed, but next Monday week should see her properly under way. '£ he Grey River Company yesterday bottomed at 47ft. -This 'depth was got in the centre of the river.

The wash in the. New River Company's claim is still only 2ft, -3>ut is gradually deepening. Appearances indicate a fair yield this week if no obstacles are struck.

It is reported the Totara dredge gave a good return on Saturday, but shareholders are as silent as a tombstone.

The Ford's Creek Company's prospects continue to improve. Last week's return was a trifle better than the previous week's. The dredge will soon be clearing expenses. The Totara Flat Company's pontoons were floated this forenoon without a hitch. The bulk of the machinery is on the ground, and work will be pushed on with haste. The Dobson No. 2 dredge stopped to-day. A change in the control of the dredge is being made. It is a change in the size and power of the dredge, and the of the ladder that is required. The dredgemaater did his best with the insufficient appliances at his command.

The Greenstone Creek dredge is working smoothly. The dam is now of the required size. The electric light will shortly be placed on the dredge. The Three-mile Greenstone machinery will shortly be placed. A good return is expected when the dredge is in full work.

The dam confining tho tailings at the Mahinapua Company's iclaim broke away last week. In consequence the manager (Mr Cheverton) has left for "Wellington to consult with the directors. All hands have been temporarily paid off.

The* Greenstone Junction dredge cast off the iron plates from the screen, and yesterday morning cnmnencecT dredging in earnest. The dam is now sufficiently large to allow work being proceeded with. It i» said that areas on the upper reaches of the Arahura River, which were taken up for dredging purposes, have been abandoned. - A considerable amount of work is now being done at the Humphrey Gully sluicing claim. New pipes and -sluice-boxes are being put down, and two pelton wheels are in course of erection, one driving the gear, which will bo utilised for removing stumps and other debris, the other for driving the machinery for the lighting of the claim by electricity. It is anticipated that when the new water race is completed, then the work of washing away the several hundreds of acres which the company have secured will commence.

April 3.

During March 14 dredges — the Mokoia, New River, Greenstone (2), Rocklands, Buller Junction, Reeves's Proprietary, Leviathan, Waipuna, Grey River, Dobson, Pactolus, Nelson, and Ford's Creek — were at work, while three — the Greenstone (2), and Rocklands— were in tha preparatory stage. The Grey River was engaged in boring, and the Mokoia broke down early in the month, hindering work for a considerable time. Ten working dredges, for an aggregate of 29 weeks, gave 4150z. or an average of 14oz 6dwt 4gr per week per dredge. The directors of the Grey River Company visited their property to decide upon further action. The dredge was at the upper end of the claim in 47ft of wash. It was decided to lower the dredge to the lowest bounds, and, failing to bottom, she will be taken up to the shallow part, where the big returns were obtained.

April 7.

Dredging returns : — Mokoia (Buller River), 360z; New River. 15oz 14dwt for 101 hours; Buller Junction, 220z for 100 hours; Pactolus, 17oz for 200 hours; Reeves Proprietary, 14oz for 118 hours; Ford's Creek, Boz amalgam; Waipuna, 3oz.

Battery returns: — The Scotia from cyanide obtained 130oz, of the value of £400, from 450 tons; the Progress Mines for March cleaned up 16950z gold, of the value of £6952, from 4652 tons; the "Wealth of Nations obtained 488oz gold, of the value of £1851, from 1062 tons stone; the Golden Fleece Company obtained 8260z gold, of the value of £3072, from 1279 tons.

The returns for the week are again small, but the tone of the market is firmer, and Nelson Creeks were in great demand on Saturday M Ws*. while JSsrn Rivers fiho.wed_ an upward

tendency. Maori Gully and Shellbacks wcra also inquired for at a small advance, while \Vaipunas fell back. The Leviathan return was soz 14dwt, clearly indicating that the dredge ia off the lead. The material for lengthening the ladder is now on the ground, and the alteration is likely to be made this week. It is believed the worst ground has been passed, and the prospects improving. I do not anticipate a- much better return for a month, when the dredge should then be in payable ground. The New River return of 15oz 14dwt has strengthened the market, but as the wash is only 20in it will have to thicken to cause much, advance. So far it has only increased 4in, and! 4ft of muck has to be dredged along with the gravel for the pontoon to float. The dredge Is throwing up a bank, so as to raise the water and obviate the necessity of uselaes dredging. If the gravel does not thicken the present lead; will not last long. The new dredgemaster on the Dobson No. 2 dredge is at work, but the results are reported to be no better. I understand the former master stated that the ladder required lengthening 29ft, but the directors only agree to 10ft; hence the change. Mr Newall holds that the ladder must "be 40ft to bottom, and as he has tried all over he should know best. He firmly believes in the claim if a dredge capable of bottoming is put on

The Nelson Creek return is not available, but it is said to be an improvement. An offer to buy 1500 shares at 64s could noi be completed, sellers holding for a higher amount. The Waipttna dredge is again in difficulties. She got into a pothole, and will have to wait for a rise in the river to get out. She could! not bottom, and thus when a big" return might have baen obtained she only got 3oz. The Pactolus return of 17oz for 200 hours* work is quite as much as was expected, the bottom not having been reached.

The Buller Junction return of 220z for four days is less than was expected. The dredge is nearly opposite where she werked up to on the opposite side of the river, and will cut right across the stream. A fair average will then be obtained. The next three weeks should show a solid increase.

The North Beach pontoon, a mile from Greymouth, has been launched. The machinery is on the ground, and should start in six weeks. The dredge is a large one, practically the same as the Buller Junction. The North Beach, dredge will be the first on a beach sand claim. If she is a success it will mean scores of dredges between Greymouth and the Razorback, a stretch ox 30 miles of beach, and Greymouth to Okarito. 60 miles. The working of the North Beach dredge is therefore anxiously waited for. Ths difficulty to be overcome is in the treatment of the black sand. If this isaccomplished beach, dredging will be an. enormous industry.

The Waiwera sluicing claim washed up 120oz. for three weeks. There is good ground now, but the extent is limited.