GOLD DREDGING IN WAIKAIA VALLEY. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2499, 5 February 1902, Page 24

GOLD DREDGING IN WAIKAIA VALLEY. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,— The vast area of gold-bearing; country which surrounds the Waikaia Valley, and which has for years given profitable employment to a great number of mirers. should draw thp attention of nncstors to the fact that the Valley itself has for countless year" been tha dumping ground for these deposits, and naturally it must retain a large percentage of the gold which in the ordinary way has been fed to it. Taeia have been ia the j?ait f*w

years several unsuccessful attempts to locate payable ground with dredges, owing chiefly to the fact that they were unsuitable for the ground and to various other reasons, such as want of capital, inability to get a fair start, want of energy, etc. The failure of the Nugget Dredging Company to obtain payable gold about 12 miles above the township of Waikaia does not prove that the ground below that point is unpayable. It only proves what has been seen times without number: that when a stream carrying gold emerges into a flat through narrow gorges the gold is invariably found a considerable way from these outlets, and it must be so, taking into consideration the fact that in the natural process of cutting down, those outlets to any flat or valley were at earlier periods a greater distance down stream. The leads above the beds of streams prove that there was considerable fall in these courses, and consequently all moveable matter was gradually forced ahead until natural conditions overcame the power that carried it forward. The failure of the Nugget Company so far does not prove that all the claim is unpayable. The Argyle Company's elevating claim on Winding Creek — a tributary of the Waikaia, situate about one mile from the main valley — has been in active operation for about five years, and during that time, judging from returns occasionally published, there must have been a few thousand ounces won. Their wash-up last Christmas for 10 weeks' running, for a return of 185oz, proves that there is still gold in payable quantities in the district. The same conditions as stated above prevailed in this claim. On opening out the face at the entrance of the stream on to the flat it was found that th-o gold had been forced further down stream. This is a private company of a few shareholders only. They have an up-to date plant and a good water supply, and deserve the success they have attained for their enterprise and perseverance in overcoming the many difficulties which necessarily arise in connection with carrying out extensive works of this kind. Farther up the Winding Creek is another company, called the Winding Creek Gold Mining Company, which has_an extensive mining plant; but the water supply is not as good as could be wished for. The ground is rich in places, and paid handsomely in the early days. About three miles below the township of Waikaiu the Crown Company's dredge started operations about two years ago. The dredge was unsuitable for working a bank claim, consequently it was shut down without in the least proving the major portion of the claim non-payable. Half a mile nearer Waikaia, and on portion of the old Crown claim, another dredge has started within the last few weeks— that of the Mystery Flat Dredging Company, — and its first week's return of lOoz ivas a surprise to most people after so many failures in the vicinity. I venture to say this dredge will give a good account of itself, and m the near future should yield 1 probably up to 30oz per week, which will be equal to a dredge on the Moiyneux River yielding 50oz to 60oz per week, for this reason: that the Moiyneux dredges cost double the money that is requ>recl for a dredge that is capable of treating the deposits here successfully, and there is no stoppage on account of floods. Barring accidents, dredges here could work all the year round ; coal is plentiful, and freight reasonable. During the time mining has been carried on here with primitive appliances in the pa#t there have been a good many tons of the precious metal won, and I am of the opinion that mining in "Waikaia is at present only in its infancy. — I am, etc.,