OPENING OF THE MUDDY CREEK DREDGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2513, 14 May 1902, Page 24

OPENING OF THE MUDDY CREEK DREDGE.

At the invitation of the directors, a party of Gore residents visited the Muddy Creek Company's claim at Wenclonside on Wednesday last to witness the formal opening of the dredge. A large number of Waikaia and district settlers were also present (says the Mataura Ensign), and evinced keen interest in the proceedings. Tremendous obstacles were encountered in removing the dredge, but the staff (under Messrs Browne and Collins) overcame them all. It is probable that the dredge will be lighted by electricity shortly. After the inspection the Chairman of Directors (Mr J. Holland) welcomed those present, and in the course of his remarks sketched out the company's career up to the present. The claim was taken up by a small Gore syndicate on the representations made by old_ miners and other -residents in and around the district. The prospecting proved satisfactory, but 'as the dredging boom had burst it was impossible to float a company. The Dome Creek claim, however, proved a failure, and that company's dredge, which originally cost about £5000, was secured by tha Muddy Creek Company at a considerably reduced price. With the improvements effected by Messrs Browne and Collins (their dredgemaster and 1 engineer, to whose skill and energy he paid a high tribute)

ha thought the dredge would; now compart favourably with any of the same class in the colony. He also acknowledged the assistance ' rendered to the company by their bankers. At that stage Mrs W. F. Inder stepped forward and broke the orthodox bottle of champagnes over the. buckets, christening the dr<edg~6 with, the name of Muddy Creek. An adjourn.-' nient was then made to a spacious marquee, where an admirable lunch was served by Mr T. Thomson, Gore, assisted by a bevy of ladiesr. Later in the afternoon a formal gathering was held in the marquee, Mr Jas. Holland presiding. Mr Cruickshank (Warden) proposed *' Success to the Muddy Creek dredge and to thedredging industry generally." In doing sq he, said that he believed -the company were getting^ good returns, which they richly deserved; His wish was that the dredge would eclipse even* the phenomenal returns of the Hartley and! Riley. Mr W. F. Inder responded, and said so far,* they had not disclosed their returns, ag theC company was not a public one. However/ the returns would be published in due course." He could assure those present that the dredga had paid handsomely, and he was satisfied! there was a good dredging field round WaikaiaThe speaker made an appeal to the Southland*; County Council to provide road-and-bridge facilities, to develop the mountain of coal iuthe neighbourhood of Waikaia, so that thef^ dredges could keep the money in the district,^ and not have to beg and pray the Kaitangata'i Company to supply them. There was room for ' 30 dredges within -a radius of a few miles of-> Waikaia, and the industry would be vastly" stimulated if the coal could.be got out. Mr T. Taylor proposed " The- mining and! banking interests," and said the Waikaia district was one of the mast prominent mining centres .in the colon}'. They had had pre- j vious dredging ventures which were cripplec!" ~" by bad management, and he prophesied that some of those would yet be revived and mada to pay well. He referred to the manner in, which the township of Waikaia was handi- " capped by the School Commissioners owning from 7000 to 10,000 acres of land .above the : township, which was held by one or two, and? which should be made to support 500 or 600> families. The toast was responded to by Messrs R. T. Stewart (mining) and D. Montgomery (banking). : Mr J. W. Kelly, in proposing "' The Southland County Council," said that efforts to bring about reform in the matter of the. commis- - sioners' fertile land locked up in the district had failed in the past, but it was a very shortsighted policy on the parb of the Government to allow those splendid lands to remain locked! up in the Waikaia district while the Land: Purchase Board was buying land absolutely unsuitable for settlement. The toast was responded to by Mr Colin Robertson (county chairman), who promised that if the coal were quarried he would do his utmost to secure road-and-bridge communication. The trouble in that district was that all the coal-bearing areas were on the School Commissioners' land, - an<? another great injustice was that the goldr revenue from claims on the commissioners.* land was spent in making roads to their tenants. Other toasts were " The Staff," proposed by, Mr A. Hartley and responded to by Mr Browne (who said if the present returns kept up the capital would be returned in a year), " The Chairman, ' and the Press."