Notes from Greymouth.

Otago Witness, Issue 2541, 26 November 1902, Page 24

Notes from Greymouth.

(Fboic Our Own Correspondent.) fjREYMOUTH, November 19. All the dredges are working well, and the returns this week ought to be a Coast record. An additional return is that of the Shellback — namely, 17oz 12dwt. The manager of the Big River quartz mine reports atiikmg a gold-bearing leader in No. 7 lev^l. The No Town Creek dredge is not working this week, but is undergoing repairs. The Greenstone Junction Company's dredgemaster leports that towards the end of the week the wash improved a good deal. He has eveiy reason to anticipate a very encouraging return next week. The ground is a fair depth, looks well, and the dredge is running well, and has j no overburden to treat. The New Greenstone dredge will be ready to start work on Saturday. The Greenstone Ihree-mile dredge is again working steadily. The mine manager of the Paparoa Quartz Mine reports that owing to the extreme boisterous state of the weather last week the men missed a number of shifts, hence they were unable to extend the level as far as was anticipated During the past v eek they put in three sets of timber, and practically under the winze will drive ahead another four or five feet this week so as to be able to lay off the uprise and start to connect with the winze in No. 2 level. The water in the winze is gradually subsiding, having 9ft less water than on my former visit. The total depth of the water now in the wmze is 40ft. November 20. The flood of la3t week brought down a large deposit of silt, nearly filling the Trafalgar Company's paddork. Tins week and the greater portion of next will be occupied clearing out the same. The Blackwater Lagoons is not showing any improvement. The Stony and Mosquito dredge will get a fresh start in the middle of next week. The diedgemaster of the Shellback dredge reports that the diedge is approaching a defined lead, with much heavier gold. He predicts an early improvement. The company is even now making headwiy. The Commissioner's Flat Company's prospects are looking a little better. Nsrrpmber 21. The whole of the returns for last week give 8670z for 27 dredges, being an average of a little over 320z per dredge— the largest return obtained in any week from the West Coast dredges. The present promises to be about as good, notwithstanding the fact that the Trafalgar and No Town dredges have not been working. The dismantlirg of Perry's dredge is finished, and the machinery is now being carted to the Montezuina Company's claim. The Pri'ice of Wales dredge is working well. and good solid returns are expected. The ground is a, bit tight. The Great Woodstock dredge is working ahead up the creek, and as better gold was obtained it is supposed that the dredge will get into better country. The Commissioner'b Flat dredge is workirg into solid ground, and increased yields aie expected. The Maori King dredge has started work. On Monday it is intended to commence work on the old Maori Queen face. Novsmber 23. Dredging prospects are brightening, and 'although the share market remains dull, there is distinct evidence of an early movement. For the week ended the 15th mst. 2S dredges gave 887oz, which constitutes a record for the Coast for the number of machines working and the quantity of gold. Last week the number of dredges was not so great, but the yield will be quite as good, proportionate to the number of dredges working. The North Beach dredge again got on to the former wash, and gave 50oz 9dwt for 125 hours' work. The return should be better this week. The Pactolus dredges obtained 450z. The ground partially worked by the smaller dredge, and being again treated by the larger machine, is not turning out to expectations. The Erickson's Reward diedge got 31 oz 7dwt for 124 hours. She had sundry stoppages and a bit of rough ground. The Leviathan dredge only worked for 102 hours for 270z. She is getting again on to good ground. The Reeves's Proprietary dredge got 20oz 14dwt for 150 hours' work. No material alteration is likely to take place till a more powerful machine is at work. The Callaghan's dredge obtained ISoz for 128 hours 1 work. The ground is not cornice up to J

expectations, but a little ahead there is better gold. The Greenstone Cieek dredge obtained 17oz ldwt for 100 hours' work. The ground n rough, and work is detunientally affected by the recent flood. The Leviathan Freehold diedge get lloz ldwt for 120 hours' work. The ground is improving, and there are yet hopes for this claim. The Mosquito dredge washed up 50oz for 130 hours' dredging. She met with a deal oi timber. The Shellback dredge obtained looz lOdv t for 128 hours. The dredge is being shifted round to get a face on to the mn of gold. The Greenstone Junction dredge got 530z ldwt for 130 hours' dredging. The machine is now on fairly deep wash, with an apparently good run ahead. The Kohmoor dredge washed up 60oz 4dwt for 130 hours' dredging. A larger letnrn was expected, the first half of the week indicating a better one. The Prince of Wales dredge had to go back to thoroughly open out, and was doing a good deal of dead voile. She got 19oz, but this week's return will be double that amount.