Notes from Grey Valley (W.C.). (From Our Own Correspondent.)

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 17 April 1901, Page 20

Notes from Grey Valley (W.C.). (From Our Own Correspondent.)

April 9.— At Nelson Creek the Claughesey's Freehold cl*im is about to be put to a severe miospectrcg test to prove its auriferousness, and /Ihe nature of its wash. It is contemplated to itink four or five shafts on different parts of llhe claim, and a gang of competent and practical miners have ben specially engaged for what I fear will be a rather arduous underlUking. Mr J. P. Smith is the expert in charge. The Pactolus dredge is not working to the ftest of advantage. Some minor defects in the machinery must be attended to before a smooth ftnd steady working can be accomplished. The gold already obtained is sufficient evidence to t>rove the richness of the ground when conkidering the very irregular way in which it has SWen lifted.

The pontoons for the adjoining cla^m, the 'Trafalgar, are well advanced. The contractor, Mr Enckson, is to be complimented on the tare being exercised m their efficient construction. This is a very important factor, for I fear trouble m this direction is inevitable with tome of the West Coast dredges after a few ■Jnonths' working. The Nelsoa Creek dredge is being well bandied by her master, and will ere long have her claim sufficiently opened up for steady and constant working.

The Ahaura River dredge will shortly make » trial working. Should the returns come up lo expectations the othei claims nnmedittely Joining will undoubtedly prove satisfactory. Last week the pontoons for the Totara Flat Company were successfully launched. The maihinery will be erected without delay. The l\'reat redeeming feature with this claim is the Absolute absence of buried timber and big \itones, consequently an immense quantity of Uurt can be treatejj without interruption. The construction of the pontoons for the puffer's. Creek Company will shortly be commenced by Mr Fitzgeraid, the well-known contractor.

The returns from the New River dredge have ■keen anxiously watched for some time. Some West Coast shareholders were beginning to proyhesy -a "duffer," when the pleasing intelligence of an lloz wash-up for 61 hours' work faane to hand. Since the dredge commenced toork 31oz have been obtained, and when remembering that the dredge is a secondhand Tme, causing continual stoppages for repairs md alterations, I think shareholders ought not 4o have the slightest fear of disappointment. tDn the contrary, the claim as it now stands \s as promising as anything- on the We«t Coast. *he rare quality of the gold which is open for

public inspection in Mr Lloyd's window, at Greymouth, is indeed a treat to look at, and seldom seen elsewhere on the Co?st. The company have the services of a capable and trustworthy man in the person of Dredgemaster B. Naylor. A shareholder in the company informed me that by the valuable mechanical skill of the master heavy expenses have been curtailed thiough his being able to efficient'y complete work entirely outside of a dredgftlnaster's calling. Buried timber has been met with in places, which has been very troublesome.