Notes from

Otago Witness, Issue 2528, 27 August 1902, Page 23

Notes from

(From Otjb Own Corkespokdent.j

GREYMOUTH, August 19. The Grey Extended dredge is ngain floated, and an examination shows that the damage is not very great. Ten days should see her again fit for work.

The damage to the Mam Gully dredge is conBitierable, and as the company is already a long ■way behind the prospect is not good. The Kelson Creek return last week would have been larger than it was but for the dredge ccimng across an awkward pothole that was difficult to clear oui. The prospect this vreek is good.

'ihe Pactolua Company's 6econd dredge will start to-morrow. She is n powerful machine.

The Aldinga dradga is doing good work opening out. The wash is 15ft deep, md improving. The Trafalgar dredge -a in 40ft of wash. There are indications of the gravel shallowing, when better returns are expected.

The Victory dredge is in the gorge, in loose dint wash. It will be some time before sho gets out to the river bed, which widens out at the top and bottom, with good wash. The company should get good returns. ' The Enckjon's Reward dredge ib working well on improving ground.

The No Town dredgo will be idle *he whole of the week repairing. The machine will start ccxt v*r>ek on. good giound.

The Hoki'ika dredge as not doing much good. The Wish she is row dredging as poor. The Leviathan Freehold Company, which got 19oz for ICC) hours' opening out work, is likely lo be one of the successful companies. The Mosquito diedge is getting clearer of timber, but it is still interfering with free v.ork. Were it not for this the returns would be much better.

The Red J:»ck3 dredge is not jet clear of the gorge, but should be through in a foitmght.

August 20. The official start of th 3 Pactclus Company's second dredge was made to-day m the presence of a large number of visitors. The machine had been much aftered and improved since sh° came from Otago. She starts en Ihe ground worked, but not bottomed, by the first dredge at the spot where the fir3t machine got 63ofe per week. She will be a fortnight getting through the tailings. I; wii3 stated that the tctal ocst was £"8600, which had been paid by the profits from the first dredge, so that had tha amount gone towards dividends 12a per pound share would have been returned to shareholders.

Ail the Nelson Creek dredges are working well. The Nelscn Creek Company's return will not be as good this week as last. The machine is drawing awiy from the bluff on the return cut.

August 21. The Leviathan dredgs it, now on a rather narrow face. The blue pug is \ery difficult to treat, and large quantities, with gravel attached, nay be seen going over the elevator. It is quite evident that a percentage of gold is lost.

Reports from the Hokifika River dredge are rather disco lragmg.

Ihe Hau rl».u' dredge is shut down for the present.

Ihe Stony arj "Mosquito dredges will get a. trial run to-morrow

The Leviafnau Freehold Company's machinery will receive a gcod deal of attention ere it can be got to work smoothly.

Tho Lagoon dredge got a fair start on Tuesday. The wash was easily treated.

The North Beach dredge is having a. new set of elevator tumbleis fixed, and in consequence will only get half a week's dredging this week. 22u .Welcome &odf t flbtei&ei iS» fex 1&

hours' dredging. The prospects are iniprov-ln-j

August 24.

Dredging affairs livened up towards the end of the week. Nelson Creeks were up to 655, while a parcel of Pactolusej was sold at 80s. Leviathans and North Beaches wore inquired after.

The Leviathan return of 50oz for 106 hours waa a surprise. The wash is very shallow.

The Mosquito dredge obtained 48oz sdwt for 123 hours. This ground is pretty free from timber, and is likely to improve.

The Stafford Waimea raturn of 30oz 12dwt gives proof of the quality of the wash. With a, good dredge the claim would about lead the West Coast returns.

The Pactolua Teturn is 30oz, taking the shallow ground. The new and larger dredge, which commenced on Friday last, is dredging at right angles from the first machine, and about eight chains further down the stream. When clear of tailings she will turn up stream, taking the deep ground, and get alongside the small dredge, when they will work a land face.

The Greymouth Lagoons dredge got a fair start on Thursday. Ihe screens are boarded up to enable a face to be opened more expeditiously. It will be a. (fortnight before any return can be obtained.

Tlie North Beach got 49Joz amalgam for three days. She will get a stai-t again 011 Monday.

The Maori Gully return is hkely to be completed on Tuesday. The company i 3 on gocd ground, but is £2000 in debt

Tho Grey Extended diedge started dredging on Thursday afternoon.

The Totara Flat dredge was partially floated several times, but only to sink again. Mr Miller, who floated the Grey Extended dredge, lias gone up to try his hard.

The Totera River dredge, near Ross, was sc'tl on Saturday for £3Po. It is understood the machinery will be taken away to drive a flaxmill in the North Island, and so ends the cyreer of this much-vaunted enterprise.

The Hokitika dredge is down 10ft, but is doing very little good. There is a good deal of silt to be dealt with.

The Callaghan's return is 230z for 130 hours. It will be six weeks before much improvement is shown.