THE SEARCH FOR GOLD.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15456, 26 February 1921, Page 6

THE SEARCH FOR GOLD.

THE WESTLAND VENTURE. BUILDING OF LARGE DREDGE. Tho prospects of a revival of the goldmining industry on the West Coast were referred to by the Prime Minister during his speeches at Hokitika and Greymouth recently. Mr. Massey- expressed Hie opinion that the auriferous riches, not only of Hie West Coast, but also of tlie Coromandel Peninsula, could not be considered as ex hausted, and he strongly urged that greater efforts be made to exploit these fields. ‘‘No one will ever make me believe,” Mr. Massey said, “that the gold in these districts has been all won. 1 believe that there is a lot of gold waiting for the fortunate people who will find it.” Mr. Massey stated that the Mines Department is at present subsidising 27 prospecting parties on the West Coast, and there has been paid during the past ten years in subsidies to such parties over £184,000. Perhaps the most important and interesting feature connected with gold mining on the West Coast at present is tho possibility of a revival of gold dredging. Many people in all parts of the Dominion have recollections—some pleasant and some painful—of the initial attempt made about a quarter of a century or more neo to obtain gold on the West Coast by dredging. It is now recognised that the dredges of those days were far too light in construction, and that the machinery was-not nearly pow- . erful enough to deal with the extreme- i ly rough ground and the big boulders met with. The result was that break- j ages of machinery were frequent, causing delay in operations and adding to the cost of the gold won. The determination of the Rimu Gold Dredging Go., an American concern, to build a large and powerful dredge at its claim about three miles from Hokitika, has revived interest in the industry. Mr. Massey visited the company’s claim, where the dredge—which has a length of 115 ft. —is being constructed. Work is being carried out with characteristic American thoroughness. Quito a number of auxiliary industries, including a small sawmill plant, are in progress. In his speech at Greymouth, Mr. Massey re r erred to his visit to the Rimu dredge, and said that if the company proved successful it would mean the beginning of a new era on the West Coast. There was plenty of room for more of these dredges. The motors of the Rimu Co.’s dredre will develop 500 h.p., .and will bn driven bv electricity generated from the Lake Kanierl race, • - which the company has acquired. The dredge will he capable of dredging to a , depth of 50ft.