Notes from Greymouth.

Otago Witness, Issue 2664, 5 April 1905, Page 24

Notes from Greymouth.

(Fkom Our Ow.n- Correspondent.)

GREYMOUTH, April 2.

Two days of pretty heavy rain have done an immense amount of good to the West Coast, enabling all sluicing claims to resume work. It has also enabled three or four sawmills, which had been partially stopped for want of water, to continue full work. Two or three dredges have also derived considerable benefit, the water in the dams being very low and muddy. Just prior to the rain the whole of the streams and rivers on the West Coast were lower than they had been pince the advent of Europeans to this part of the colony. The outlook was commencing to look rather gloomy, both the Westport and Greymouth bars being seriously affected. The trouble, however, has passed. The mine has an ample supply of water and the bars have had a, good scour, although to-day there is a tremendous kou'west sea rolling home which" may detrimentally affect them, and will certainly stop shipping for the. next 24 hours.

The gold exported from Greymouth during the month of March was 66600z. valued at £22,666. while the expoTt for the quarter was 26,0250z, valued at £104.098. As the banks have a gcod deal of gold in hand at the present time, the April export ought to bo a large one.

The dredging returns for the week so far to hand are fairly satisfactory.

The Pactolus No. 2 dredge got 650z and the No, 1 420z for a full week's run. Both dredges are working well and upon improving ground, with lighter wash. The prospects of this company never looked brighter than at the present time.

The Jamieson's Reward dredge, from much the same character of wash — alternate layers of silt and good wash, — got 40oz for the week. The claim, of course, is not a very large one, but the dredge has work before it for at least four years. The* small price of the shares is therefore unexplainable.

The No Town Creak dredge got 50oz for the week. The claim is looking better than it hss done since it finished the previous cut. There is no timber, and the dredge is working well across three and a-half chains of the face. The depth is about 30ft, only 10ft of which is payable wash. Ifc has a more permanent appearance about it now than ever, and should return regular dividends for some time to come.

Bignell's No Town dredge, working on the poorer side of the face, got 340z 4dwt. The dredge is working very well, but is hampered a good deal with „ buried timber. Next week should give an increased yield. Callaghan's Creek dredge obtained 390z for a full week's run. The prospects of the company have very materially improved during the week. The dredge is now working on the flat, and appearances indicate a thickening of the rim of gold. If this occurs much bigger returns may be expected. The Reeves' Proorietary Company /obtained 390z from the two dredges. The machines are now working towards around that, judged by past actual returns, should give very much greater yields. It is generally held that this company two years ago dredged in the wrong direction.

The Kohinoor and Prince of Wales dredges arc showing an improvement.