TRIAL OF THE NEW DREDGE AT DUNEDIN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4345, 28 March 1882, Page 3

TRIAL OF THE NEW DREDGE AT DUNEDIN.

(Otago Daily Times.)

Saturday was fixed for the first trial of the new dredge which recently arrived from Home and has Bince been fitting up at Pott Chalmers. It had been arranged that work should be commenced at 11 o'clock, and when a fair load had been taken in, the vessel should proofed to the Heads and discharge. Notification had been given to the members of the Harbour Board, who, it wa§ thought, might wish to be present, and also to several visitors who had displayed interest in the success of the experiment. The party [ arrived at the, Port by the 12.15 train, and was composed of Messrs Bamsay, Kosb, Fish, and Guthrie, the Engineer and Secretary to the Board, and the Harbourmaster. The visitors were Messrs Carrie, Mudie, £<>al, and Sparrow. At about a quarter to 11 o'clock the dredge, which was lying abore a sandbank a short distance from the pier head, commenced work, the dredging- master who accompanied her on the outward voyage superintending operations'. The depth of water in whioh she lay at this time was about 16 feet, and the ladder was not lowered far enough to take a very deep cut, it being evidently considered advisable to begin circumspectly. The working of the machinery was in every way satisfactory, but the bottom consisted of very bard stiff sand, and little was brought up by the buckets for some time. One reason whioh might possibly have something to da with thia was that the dredge was lying with her head towards the lower slope of the sandfoed, thus working 1 in a m -ure down hill, and allowing the buckets mi -• chance of emptying, themselves before c<- ing to the surface. At all events the resu!' ounnot be described as very satisfactory, a- after working, for between three and four hours not more than- about 300 tons of sand had found its way into the hopper. The members of the Board and visitors were by this time present, and took counsel bb to whether or rot it was worth while under theße circumstances to mak© theintended trip. Seeing, however, that the afternoon was fine and that official bodies should not allow themselvea to be baulked in, the execution of a projeot once undertaken, it was decided to proceed, and the vessel Bteamed from the Port at about 3 o'clock. She showed herself tolerably fast on the outward journey, and reached her destination, half a mile or so beyond the Heads, in alittlo over an hour. The run wbb on the whole avery pleasant one, although little was to be done or said on board, as none of the party were particularly jubilant over the result of tho morning's wo>k. Home of the voyagers who were able to pick out a comfortable spot aft el umbered, others lounged about / ■ .i chatted upon any subject (other than dr •!^ing) that presented itself r and advantage ».-ts taken of the interval to wash decks. Outside a pretty strong crow sea was running, but the- vessel,, notwithstanding this, kept tolerably steady, and the hardihood- of the passengers was not very severely tested. Speed was slackened less> than a mile out, and the doors of the hopper were opened in a very short space of time. A number of those present ranged themselves along the upper edge of the hopper to witnesa the effect of the experiment, and the remainder stationed themselves upon the bridge. There was littlo, however, to obsarve, with the exception of a great oommotion in the water below, as door by door was swung back. The sand had mostly accumulated at the forward extremity of tho hoppe", and a slight splash only could be beard as it was discharged. This done, however, Ihe vessel swung slowly round broadside on to the sea in turning round for the homeward trip, and a startling surpriseawaited the intrepid excursionists. She showed in a very few moments that, whether or no she can dredge, she can roll in the most satisfactory manner, and the position of thore gentlemen who were balanced oarefully on the edge of the hopper became rather an uncomfortable one. "With every roll alternate perils were presented to them.—eobmersion in the unclean depths of th* hopper on one side, or a graeefui descent over the bulwarks on the others. Some clung with affectionalo tenacity 1» tho nearest chain, those on tho bridge clung to ono another, and one gentleman sank upon his knees and grasped the edge of the hopper with both hands, being douhfclees Weiurous of making a closer inspection of it» interior than could bo effected in a standing jjoaturo. The alarm, bofovcr, was shortlived, and confidence was completely restored by tho action of one member of the Harbour Hoard, who with groat intrepidity ascended the stops to the platform ut the very summit of the derrick and survoyed thing* in gvneral. Had this feat been performed, howover, a little earlier— boforo the motion had at all subsided,— the effact upon tho onlookers would have been oven moro inetnr.lateously reae.ouring. The expfirinient of discharging wan in every way sutiefi c'<.'ry, and occupied only a few minutes, the drvdgo being ready to proceed back almost us aoun as iho could be turned round. The return journey was accomplished in about tho same time, and the party arrived at Port Chalmers in time for Mm 5.15 train to town. Further trials will doubtless result moro successfully bb regard* the quantity of silt H't.cd, and the public will linve i» better opportunity of judging of the capabilities of tho dredge. Slio will probably cuutinuo to work at the cut commenced on Bu!urday.