Notes From Tuapeka. (From Our Wetherstones Correspondent. July 19.

Otago Witness, Issue 2471, 24 July 1901, Page 21

Notes From Tuapeka. (From Our Wetherstones Correspondent. July 19.

The Happy Valley dredge made another start diedgmg on Wednesday. Shoitly after making the first start, about a week ago, a benm or piece of scantling broke, which stepped them for a while. It will take a few days' dredging before they get to the bottom, the dredge beii'g short of room. When Mi Donaldson, the mnnager, gets room enough he will be able to put through 60 tons an hour. There are two save-alis underneath the run of boxes, which project about 30ft over the stern of the dredge. The first save-all is a string of small boxes, about 16m ip width, underneath, parallel with the main run, aild dropping close to the stern. There are iron false bottoms 111 the under run, to catch any gravel that 'liops 'fiom the buckets ovei the side of the main line of boxes. The second save-all is at the ta.il of the iuii of boxes, and of the same width, with matting in the bottom. This run is 20H in length, and running back towaicU the stem of the dredge. There is a small box across the lower end of this run, projechng a few fpet on each side. This save-all is made to catch the sediment and fine gold, while the 111 am bulk oi tliA waW and the coarse giavel gkocts

straight out. As a comparison between what the dreclge will dc in one hour and a man's work in the same ground, it may be mentioned that a man's work in three days of 10 hours a day was to strip a piece of giound 6ft along the face, about 12ft back, and about lift in depth — that is, to the wash, which another party of men put through the boxes about a run of 30ft. The Golden Rise's Klondyke dredge will be soon stopped for repairs. There is a lot of ■Rork to be done about her. At pres-ent she is like a half-tide lock, being so low in the water that her decks are almost awash. The ripple caused by 2 fall of dirt sends the water over her bows, and along her decks, and the tail of the boxes is so low that the tail box sometimes gets blocked. It is the owners' intention to build m the well hole with another pontoon in the centre. Besides this, they require a new tumbler. The Golden Crescent still remains idle, the race being blocked with snow.