Notes from Greymouth.

Otago Witness, Issue 2668, 3 May 1905, Page 26

Notes from Greymouth.

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GREYMOUTH, April 27.

Dredging has been interfered with a great deal during the past 10 days — first on account of freshes in the river, and later by the Easter holidays, — so. that only about half-time has been put in. In the., share market Pactolus shares have changed hands at 29s 6d, while holders are, now demanding— ar higher figure. . Certainly the prospects of this claim fully warrant a higher price. The company has two good dredges, with ground that should, give lOOoz per week for many years to come. Lately the wash hag got % bit coarser, but the absence of large stones makes it fairly easy of treatment. Both dredges are working on a defined lead, which has slightly thickened of late.

Work was resumed by the New Fedderson dredge on Tuesday last, but on Thursday operations had to be temporarily suspended owing to the high flood in the river. By 4 o'clock on Friday, however, the river had gone down sufficiently to allow a fresh start being made. The Amikitea ana Kohikohi dredges, in the Central Buller district, have been working constantly for six or eight weeks, but the returns are not published, though they are said to besatisfactory. - —

Bignell's No Town reports a return of 40oz 6dwt for 174 hours. The wash has still » good deal of timber in it that gives the dredgemasteE considerable trouble. The company is in strong financial position.

It would appear that the future of the ~Ko Town Creek claim is now proved, and in consequence shares have hardened considerably. •Last week's 690z was got from wash about 12ft deep, with a good depth of overburden.

South of Greymouth dredging matters are rather quiet, the returns from the majority of i/iie mines" being barely payable.

aEEYMOTJTEC, April 30. Sluicing claims on the "West Coast- are doing a good deal better lately, there being *. plentiful supply of water. The Waimea section is on rich ground, the Wheel of Fortune giving 80oz for about 10 days' work. Another sluicing claim close by 'the Stafford Waimea dredging claim is giving JE2S per •man per week. /

Kumara. sluicers, with two exceptions, are doing but little" more than giving small wages, and i# is pretty certain thai a- good percentage of them will be unable to meet- promissory notes given to the Government for overdue water aooounfa.

Healey's Gully sluicers are doing well, and will have good returns.

A good deal of attention is being given to the Wilberforcß reefs, and several new areas have been pegged out in the locality. In tho prospecting drive the stone looks fairly 'good, but it is premature to venture an opinion. The No Town Creek No. 1 dredge got 650z for 131 hours' work. The wash is free from timber, and easily treated. The prospects are first-rate. The No. 2 dredge is. still cutting a channel to where wash exists. It will be quite a month yet before -she reaches -the spot where .it is intended to open out The Pactolus Company got 82oz from the two dredges for a fair week's run. In No. 2 face the -wash is improving, but N"o. 1 has fallen off.

Callaghan's Creek dredge has -got a nice face of wash on the flat, getting 30oz for 131 hours. The dredge is small, otherwise 50oz would be recorded.

The Reeves' s* Proprietary Company got 350 a from the two dredges. Both machines had a. number of stoppages, and' are nearing much; better ground. The Blackwater River dredge got 350z 13dwt for 110 hours. The" dredge is working on * fine face of wash, and should have a steady run for many months. The gold varies at certain parts, but it is pretty certain' the average is at least 40oz.

The Blackwater Lagoons dredge is not doing much good, and the hopes, entertained some two months ago do not seem likely to be realised. The Greenstone dredges- did very little work during the week — holidays and silt were the causes.

The Moonlight dredge washed up lOoz 2dwb for U0 hours. The return is a good onp. considering that the dredge had to contend with flood, silt, submerged timber, and huge boulders.

The secretary of the Greenstone Junction Dredging Company received during the week through the post an envelope enclosing a £1 note and 4s lid in stamps, with an undated and unsigned note as follows: — "For damage done to the Greenstone dredge." Conscience money, evidently. Naturally the incident aroused a good deal of curiosity as to what the damage could be, when done, and by whom.