DREDGING IN FRENCH GUINEA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2915, 26 January 1910, Page 29

DREDGING IN FRENCH GUINEA.

NEW ZEALANDER'S EXPERIENCES. (From Our Ovts Oobhespondent.l LONDON, Decembar 10. Mr D. Gi':son, cf Clyde. Otago, arrived ii London fest week after two years in ihe service of a French gold dredging comyany in French Guinea, West Africa, and .;e desires to give warning to any New Zealand dredge-men who may be going to that part. The warning is very necessary, or New Zealand dred'gemen move about "ha world, and only thia week in London Mr Gibson has met no fewer than five who hsva come from the Dominion. It seems that one has to be very careful b:ior© accepting berths with foreign mining firms en the West Coast of Africa. it is essential that the agreement should bo thoroughly understood, and where this is written in French, as in the case of a French company, then the services of a solicitor should be obtained. The person should know exactly what is in the agreement before signing. He should also leave his interests in charge of a friend in London, and make arrangements for the payment of" his monthly salary into a bank. Mr Gibson said that some Englishmen who had not been over-particular had been content with ' receiving a piece of paper per month, and on presenting these in Paris had been told that they were worthless. A;3. a matter of fact, New Zealand dredgenran would, be well advised if they were to leave French Guinea alone. UNSATISFACTORY PROSPECTS. Mr Gibson, who has had. several years' experience gold-mining in the Dominion, left New Zealand in IPC6. and made for Peru, a country" of which he thinks a great deal. Arriving in London in July, 1907, he got in touch with a French gold dredging company, and signed a two years' contract to work on the company's gold dredging operations in the Tinkisso River, in French Guinea. He says that prospects there are very poor, and altogether, he would not be tempted to return. Great expense has to be incurred in getting the machinery to the Tinlrisso River. First of all it has to be taken 700 miles up the Senegal River, then comes a two days' train journey, followed bv 390 miles up the Niger River, which takes three weeks to accomplish, and finally another 50 miles along the Tink'"sso River. All coal and necessaries of life have to come by this route, and' with such heavy initial expense it is not to be wondered at that golddredging in that part proves unremunerative for shareholders in Europe. They had two dredges, one by Lobnitfc (Glasgow) and the other by Werf Conrad (Holland), but the ©Derations onlv achieved a small measure of success, and, taking l " ; nfco consideration the disadvantages of climate and mode of living, it was not w<-vrth one's wh'le to continue at the work. Although the French oom.pa.nv is still keeping on. Mr Gibson is of opinion that the -nrcspeets are insufficient to cover the workexpanses. The climate is not altogether bad, being much drier than the Gold Cofl*t, but the region is infested with the usual mosQuitos sandflies, and a daily d.->se of ouinine •"* essential for the preservation of health. Mr Gibson mentioned that out of 29 white "-<->n only three finish?'' the!- agreements, ""he neares* twn was 40 mile* nw", and (-.>)<; E'lTAtieans were a few TVpioh '"fficiali'. Th° nat ; ve= pre a helpless rr-.°. incapable cf doino- anvth ; n<r. onir "edeem'ns' feature is th« finr> '"ootinT. Tl"> snortsman has a choice of 1 -~ tta.rr>*> w the sha.oe of leopards and other •~*H ft"!»nfli. o» partridwee. •■-HI ".'.ic 1 ' like. T-ho co'int-v is snakm-in-'jst"d. THe tvO*! service leav* mufli to -) /'/»sirc''. pid wb ov > one is "'old dreda'i' 1 ' i French Guinea h« may almost b* said ' t ho off fbe man. Tudor such conditions. ■i '-,-»"oifore. it i« particularly desirable that .r-.->!d-d rtn dge'-i should r> waminc from -hat Mr bp~- to *■/»!». Mr Gibson leaves to-day for New Zealand. v ot«>B fte-m rrnmwftll. (From Omj Own Cotwespohdent.) CPOMWELL. Jamnry 21. The weather has been unsettled during +1, 0 W, few davs, wi>h several nice showers of rain. Cohsequenlly; [ there is rtvery appeprance of a eood season. Owing to the' Vain the river has risen, end the Hartley and Rilev did not get a. start dredging, aid ib will likel.v be at anotVn- w° : sk or t™o before the conditions will he far.ourft.nle. Both Rise ard Rhine* are now doing exceptionally well, and (here is every indication'of good, returns nonitinuing. The Punt drc'ga has shifted its course slightly this week, so that it should strike

the rich run ahead a little more quickly, as it is now getting the dark gold of this run in one corner.

The Keystone borer is still working away steadily, having now put down about 16 holes, of which most are showing payable ground for a largo dredge. It is intended to put- down 20 holes on. the present claim, and several other claims ahead will be then prospected. The hydraulic sluicing claims at Nevis were in a bad way for water, but the rain will improve matters considerably. The New Luggate Hydraulic Co. was also short of water, and besides got off the nice run of gold on which it was working, but the water supply will now be bettor. It is rumoured that there is likely to be a number of men employed on the Carrick Range in the near future, as some of the old reefs have been prospected and will be given another trial under modern working conditions, which should be a much cheaper way of handling the quartz. Soles from Grey moil th. (From Our Own Correspondent.) GREYMOUTH, January 18. Pumping operations at the Ross pumping shaft, which have been stopped for the last two weeks owing to the necessity of getting a new casting in connection with one of the pumps, were expected to be resumed today. No work has been done at the Wheel of Fortune claim at Stafford since the holidays. It is proposed to make some slight alteration in the future working of this property. Hence some little time will fhupse before returns will be coming forward. Prospecting operations are being continued at the Westland reefs, Wilherforce, this season, with more than usual vigour. Caliari and party, whose claim adjoins that of Bauoke and Fiddes on the north side, are about to commence driving on. the reef. Provisions and appliances went out yesterday, arid it is hoped to commence work on Wednesday. The reef discovered on Caliari'.sclaim is highly thought of. W T hen visited by the Inspector of Mines, the office* i was very favourably impressed by his inspection' from the lay of the country. Good .results are expected from t.he driving operations within tlhe first hundred feet. The elaimholders are confident and hopeful as to the prospects of success. NEW ALPINE COMPANY. (From Our Own Correspondent.) GREYMOUTH, January 20. The New Alpine mine manager's report, dated 18th inst., is as follows:—"The drive going south from No. 7 cross-cut was extended 21ft in fairly hard ground. This measurement will be improved on next week, as a lot of extra ground had "to be taken out to get the truck line round the bend, •it being nearly a full bend. An extraordinary general meeting of shareholders will be held on Wednesday next for the purpose of considering the following motion:—'That the capital of the company be increased from £25,000 to £35,000 by the creation of 20,000 new shares off 10s each,. and that the directors be, and they arc, hereby authorised to allot such shares to such persons and on euch terms as they think fit.' " CONSOLIDATED MINES. (From Our Own Correspondent.) GREYMOUTH, January 20. All the mines in the Consolidated group, Reefton, are looking well, and hold out bright prospects for the new year. The reef seems to bo yielding stone of more than average value. In the Black water every face in work carries the reef. The reef" has thickened in the Wealth of Nations, and shows gold freely. The tributors in the Golden Fleece must be doing well, as 210 tons crushed yielded 2540 z lldwt, which must be regarded as exceptionally s>cod. The Progress is also behaving satisfactorily. Everything is working smoothly, and the sfone continues payable. Altogether Reefton can be said to show a brighter outlook than the old qua.rtzopolis has seen for some time back. LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE. LONDON, January 17. Waihi Grand ] Junction—Buyers £1 15s, sellers £1 17s 6d. THE SHOTOVER VALLEY. A writer in the Wakatipu Mail describes a visit to the far-famed Shotover Valley, the scene of great excitement at various periods in the olden days. "Mr Ward's "claim," he says, " i 6 being worked on the suction pump principle, the ground being very shallow and the river very narrow. This class of mining appliance is found to be the most suitable to get at the unworked pot*-holes and crevices which always exist in these narrow gorges. Close by this claim is the mining property of Mr J. Robertson. This claim is worked on the same principle as the former, has a very extensive plant, and has a good water rijrbt; hnfc I certainly cannot compliment anybody, either County Council or otherwise, on the not-much-better-than-a-gcat track which leads to these claims. Getting on to the Main road once again and reaching Deep Creek, a very extensive mining plant is erected here, but no work seems to be carried on just at the present. " Still further On Davis Bros.' claim comes in view, and shows sign 3 of many years' past work With a fair amount of ground vet to operate on. Tho next terrace is Pleasant Creek, the greater portion of which is now owned by a Dunedin company, and is worked under the management of Mr j. Corbett. a well-known mine manager. A considerable amount of open-ing-up work seems to have been done on this terrace. " The next thing that meets the eye is a great break in the Skippers road, on which nobody appeared to be working. This place is certainly dangerous to both man and beast. Not having time to go to Skipper's Point, I followed the Branches road, and noted in the distance that the once famous Aspinall's claim is still working,"and rumour says still gives s;ood returns when the water is plentiful. I also noticed that the Shotover quartz mine is still being worked. " A little farther on, at Peat's Terrace, more alluvial mining meeta the eye in tho large minim? plant and claims owned bv Mr J. A. Johnston. Adjoining this property are Mr Lea's extensive' hydraulic claims —lower and upper I call them, fl" there are two separate plants on. and both ire working under the able management of Mr P. Lynch, who to have a thorough grasp of his work.

" The next claim that is met with is Messrs Smith Bros.', who seem to hold a long .stretch of tho river. This same party, in conjunction with Mr A. Helms, has purchased Mr J. E. Davis's river claim, wihere several alterations in the working- plant have now been carried into effect. " The last, claim is that owned by Mr J. S. Collins and others, known as the Branches Syndicate. This claim comprises the ground which some neighbouring miners tried to jump at a recent sitting of the Warden's Court, but they appeared on the scene a bit, too late, and consequently lost the coveted prize. No doubt the shareholders will now have double the confidence in their property, as Dame Rumour says that ono of the anxious applicants stated in the witness box that he knew there was an unworked run of gold in this property. So much the better for the lucky owners. The water and plant to work this ground were purchased from Messrs Sainsbury Bros., and it is, I believe, one of the best water rights in the valley. No doubt tho Branches will receive a good deal more mining attention, as there still remains a considerable area of unworked virgin ground in the locality." THE MUDDY TERRACE CLAIMS. During the sitting of the Warden's Court at Waikaia last Tuesday the Muddy Terrace Sluicing Company was granted a special claim of 19 acres on the Muddy Terrace and a site for a dam at Steeple Creek. This will enable the company to conserve the water available, and thus have a constant supply to enable operations to be carried on during'long spells of dry weather. During the same sitting of the Warden's Court Mr F. Hamer applied for a special claim of 100 acres on the Muddy Terraces adjoining the Muddy TerraccSluicing Company's claim, also for a tail-race from the claim in Long Gully and a special site of five acres for the deposit of tailings. The Muddy Terrace Sluicing Company objected to the applications on various grounds. Mr Bowler appeared for Mr Hamer, and Mr P. Duncan for the company. Mr Duncan' wished the applicant to be placed in. the- box to-prove that he had complied--with the act, but Mr Bowler contended that the latter had been complied with, and the warden ruled that Mr Duncan would have to prove his objections. Mr Duncan said the company . had no objection to the applicant getting the claim applied for so long as the applicant did not interfere with the company's workings. He refered to the company's race, which would be damaged by the applicant's workings. The company had bought Mr Hamer's water rights and ground, and now the 6ame applicant was asking for ground and l going to bring in a big body of water to work that ' ground and injure the company's property. He would ask that the applicant shift his pegs two chains above the company's race. As to the tailing site, the granting of it would hamper the company's working, as they were now actually putting tailings en part of it. Part of the land applied for was held by the company under lease transferred from Mrs Kenneth M'Kenzie, and she or her husband , had no right to consent to Hamer's application. Mrs M'Kenzie had transferred her interest to Thompson, who had traiusfefired to the company. The tailings site was some distance away from the claim, with which it had no natural connection, but the gully through which the tail race was to run was a natural water, course, and open to tailings from any claim. He repeated that the company had no objection to the grants provided it was protected. It had spent something like £30.000 and expected to get its money back, and would require a good deal more of the ground before it was done. Mr Bowler asked the court to consider that the company had no right by reason of its workings to assume the position it was taking and make everything and everybody else give way to 't. It was trying to shut any other party out of getting a right to work, but the court would assist in protecting any privileges granted. It was suggested that these applications were not made bona fide, but he would prove that they were. It was alleged that Hamer had sold his rights to the company, but there had been a conflict between Peter Gordon and Hamer, and Hamer had been adjudged to have the first right to the water and Gordon to the second. Gordon, on appeal, was granted the first right to the claim and Hamer was left with the water rights and no claim. Negotiations followed, and Hamer sold! his water rights to company. Hamer had since acquired other water rights from Nelson from the Eob Roy Gully to work the claim now applied for; he was a practical miner and knew what he was about. The company had only acquired three-fifths interest in the branch race it wished to protect, and that only after Hamer had filed his applications. The branch race had not been used for three years and had been ploughed un and cropped on two occasions. It. had been abandoned all that time, and it, was some time after Hamer had filed his applications that the company p-ot the transfer and started to clear up the race. When abandoned the race became merged in the freehold, or in this case in the leasehold, Hamer had no notice of the transfer of the lease from Mrs M'Kenzie to the company or anybody else. The comnany's rights were already secured under the act, and no order of the court would make them more secure. With reference to the tail race, if Long Gully was a water course then evervbedy had the right to send tailings down it. After taking the testimony of several witnesses, the warden (Mr 11. A. Young) inspected the locality, and, on resuming, he sdiourned the application for the special claim for survey bv Mr P. B. Macdonald, half a chain to be reserved on the top side of the company's race and proupd on the lower side of tho race within the area applied for to be cut out by tb a surveyor and kept, as a reserve for tailings. The tail race was granted for a length of 100 yards from the starting point, (he balance to be reserved as a general tail race, tho warden finding Long Gully to be a natural watercourse, and should be reserved for tailings. The application for the tailings site was adiourned sine die. the company to hav<> t'-'e riiht to put tailings on the site in the course of the reasonable working by the company of its claim. RISE AND SHINE GOLD DREDGING COMPANY. A statement of affaiis just issued by the Rise and Shine Company shows that the company's nominal capital is £12,000 fully paid, the shares being now held by 172 shareholders. Nineteen men are em-

ployed on the company’s dredges, which have won 23,4270/, 4d\vt 7gT since the registration of the company, of a total value of £90,832 13s sd, of which 43260 z 14dwt 6gr, valued .at £16,854 8s lid, was won last year. The total disbursements since registration are £76,516 15s 2d. The total dividends paid to date amount to £22.800, and the company has £2542 4s 5d in bank deposits, and no contingent liabilities —an extremely satisfactory state of affairs for the shareholders.

DUNEDIN STOCK EXCHANGE. ! The share market has been decidedly quiet during the past week, and many stocks have been allowed to pass unnoticed. On the whole, however, values have been well maintained, and the bulk of the mining stock sales has been confined to Thames ventures. Old Hamakis have pro- I vided the major portion of sales, and a j large number of shares changed hands during" the week at prices ranging from ' 4s id to 4s 7d, closing on Friday with 1 4s 9d as a selling quotation. In addition, j to the sales on ’Change, a number of parcels were included in outside sales. Con- i - sclidatod Goldfields formed the basis of i several .sales at 19s bd," closing on Friday at 19s 3d buyer and £1 seller. Waihi Grand,, ,Jimeticns have ranged from £1 15s to £1 13s lOd, and there was a reported .1 sale on Friday at £1 13s 6d, flic closing quotations being £1 15s 3d and £1 14s buyer ; and seller. Ross Goldfields have 1 been steadily to the front, but values have 1 declined a little from a reported sale at j 9s to a buying quote of Bs, and no seller. • Talismans accounted for an outside sale/ i at £2'. 4s 6d. but hardened yesterday to £2 4s 9d buyer and £2 5s 5d seller. Tasmanian Coppers have changed hands at 6s, but buyers offered a penney loss ves- • ter day, whilst sellers asked 6s 2d for that scrip. Waihi Extendeds found a buyer at 3s 6d‘, “ but Waihis have been entirely • neglebted. ‘ , Dredging stocks have engaged but small attention during the week, and sales have been confined to Golden Beds, several 1 parcels finding purchasers at £1 2s. Other 1 stocks have been quoted to a small extent, but only excited languid interest, ( due in a measure to the fact that the influence of the holidays is still, being felt. j This also apparently applies to investment stocks, which have not been in much demand. New Zealand Drugs changed hands at £2 7s, and National Insurance shares found buyers at £1 7s 6d, closing with a buyer at £1 7s 3d, and no seller. Trustees Exectutors changed hands at £3. Otago Daily Times shares have been offer- : ing at £23, with no buying offer, and : Union Steams have been on offer at £1 12s 3d and £1 12s. Buyers have been try- ‘ ing to secure M'Leod’s Soap at £l3 7« 6d without success, no selling offer being recorded. National Banks have ranged from i £5 l?s to £6 in buying offers, but. sellers are firm at £6 ss. the latter being the closing quote. Milbuvn Limes have been freely quoted at £l. 9s for the large and ( 14s 9d for the small, and a hardening tendency. New Zealand Shinning Company shares are in demand at £7 10s. but none are offering, and an offer cl £1 17s 9d ■failed to secure New Zealand Portland j Cement shares. Westport Coals have not figured on the lists of late, but Stocktons ■ have had sellers at 8s 6d, and no buyers. j . Old Haurakis experienced another sharp rise on Monday, and accounted for the only sales recorded on ’Change. Three parcels changed hands at 4s lOd and one at ss, with a reported sale at 4s lOd. The only other reported sale was one parcel of New Zealand Drugs, which changed hands at £2 7s. The remaining stocks were flat, and , several showed a downward tendency'. I The following are Monday's latest quotations, subject to the usual brokerage:— Dredging Stocks. Alexandra Eureka —Bayers 2s, sellers 4s. Electric—Sellers 4s. Enterprise —Buyers 4s. Golden Bed —Buyers £l, sobers £1 2s 3d. ‘ Hartley and Riley—Sellers" 17s. Island Block—Buyers 2s 3d. Masterton —Sellers £2. Manuherikia —Sellers 10s. Pactolus—Sellers 7s. Rise and Shine—Buyers £2. Stanley Paracale —Sellers £1 Is. Mining Stocks, Muddy Terrace —Bayers £1 3s 9d, sellers ' £1 ss. j Consolidated Goldfields —Buyers 19s. ! Karanui Caledonian —Buyers Is, sellers Is 4d. _ New Zealand Crown—Sellers 5s Bd. New Sylvia—Buyers 3s 3d. Old Hauraki—Buyers 4s lOd. sellers sa. Tasmanian Cooper—Buyers 5s lOd, sellers 6s Id. ‘ ' | Talisman Consolidated —Buyers £2 3s 9d, | sellers £2 4s 6d. Waihi—Sellers £9 18s. Waihi Grand Junction—Buyers £1 10c 9d, sellers £1 11s 9d. Jan. 18.—Island Block, 2s lOd; Old Hauraki, 4s Id. 4s Id, 4s Id; Waihi Grand Junctions. £1 15s. Sales Reported.—New Zealand Drugs, £2 7a,

* Jan. 19: Waihi Grand Junction, £1 £1 15s; Old Hauraki, 4s Id, 4s Id, 4s. lie ported sales: Consolidated Goldfieldß, 19s 6d; Golden Bed, £1 2s; New Zealand Drug-, £2 7s. Jan. 20: Old Hauraki, 4e Id; Waihi Grand Junction. £1 lis 6d. Reported sales: Talisman, £2 4s 6d ; Tasmanian Copper, 6s: Old Hauraki, 4s Id, 4s Id, 4s 2d. 4s 2d; Waihi Grand Junction, £1 13s lOd; Ross GoMfields, 9s. January 21.—01 d Hauraki, 4s lid, 4s l£d, 4s 2d. 4s* lid. 4s 6d, 4s 7d. ! Reported Sales.---Old Hauraki. 4s Id, 4s 2d, 4s 7d; Tasmanian Copper, Os; Waihi Grand Junction, 33s 6d. January 22.—Golden Bed. £1 Is 9d; Old Hauraki, 4s 6d, 4s sci. I Reported Sale: Rone. £1 3s. ! January 24.—01 d Hauraki,- 4s lOd, ss, 4s lOd, 4s 10d. Reported Sales: New Zealand Drug. £2 7s; Old Hauraki, 4s lOd. ! AUCKLAND STOCK EXCHANGE. AUCKLAND. January 2*. ; The following Slock Exchange sales were mode at. last call: —Auckland G-as, £ls 7s; , Waiotahi, 4s 3d; Old Hauraki, 4s lid; ■ Kapangia (con.), lid; Rova.l Oak (con.), ! is 4d, Is sd; Crown. 5s 3d, 5s 2d, 5s Id; Taira Reefs. 2d; Waihi Reefs Consoilida-bed. i7s 9d: Waihi Extended, 3 S 2d; Waihi '.Grand Junction. £1 10s 9d. I STOCK EXCHANGES. AUCKLAND, January 24. The conference' of representatives f>f Slock Exchanges, which has been sitting at Auekarud, has decided to recommend the federa.I tion of the Stock Exchanges of the Do- : minion, each exchange to have equal representation on the Federated Council to be created. Provision was also n.'ide for I the admission of licensed share-brokers in I towns where no exchange exists. The pro- : posal will be submitted to the various Stock Exchanges for approval, and if approved the Federated Council will bo •et up. LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE. LONDON. January 23. ! Waihi: Buyers, £9 15s; sellers, £9 , 17s 6d. Waihi Grand Junction: Buyers, £1 ! 13s Id; sellers, £1 15s.

DREDGING RETURNS. Rise and Shine No. 2. CiomOz. dwt. gr. well, 138hi-i-i 83 12 0 Rising- Sun, Cromwell, ISOhrs Rise and Shine No. 1. Grom76 2 0 well, 138 hrs 64 10 0 Alexandra. Eureka, Alexandra Electric No. 2, Cromwell, 64 1 0 66 hrs Waikaka United No. 1, Wai53 5 0 kaka, 131hrs Central Charlton, near Gore, Ova go No. 1, Miller’s I 1 kit, 31 12 0 week 26 0 0 204g hrs Waikaka No. 2, Waikaka, 26 0 0 133hrs 20 2 0 Manuherikia, Manuherikisc ... 20 0 0 Masterton, Waikaia, 131 hrs Golden Treasure, Miller’s 16 3 0 Flat, week Electric No. 1, Cromwell, 15 10 0 131hrs 14 15 0 Waikaia, Waikaia,- 1361m 13 15 0 New Roxburgh Jubilee. 97hrs 13 13 0 Punt, Clutha River, 122hrs ... 12 16 0 Paterson’s Freehold, 132hrs ... 12 0 n Chicago, Alexandra, lOohrs ... Koputai, Waikaia, 1681m ... 10 0 o 8 16 0 Total WEST COAST. 528 2 0 Ox. dwt. gr. Worksop, 210 hrs 54 17 0 Pactolus 44 6 0 BLackstone Creek. 120hrs 28 15 0 No Town Creek, 186hrs 24 0 0 New Trafalgar, 136hrs 15 5 0 Total ; 167 3 0