DREDGING.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4748, 28 April 1900, Page 3

DREDGING.

The return from the Hartley and Biley dredge for the week is 182oz.

Mr Von Haast, of the Hartley and Riley dredge, has been appointed dredgemaster of the Rolling Stone dredge, Cardrona, in plaoe of Mr Robertson, who was hurt.

[ Messrs Tullooh and Hughan, two young fellows who were working on one of the dredges at Glenore, appear to have struck it rioh on the other side. Some time ago, hearing something of the rich possibilities of dredging in New South Wales, they went over and took up a pretty large area of ground at a plaoe called Araluen, and having fixed up everything in connection with the ground they oame baok to New Zealand and had the machinery of a dredge built to order in Dunedin and had it put up on -the poontoons on the claim. They are now, and have been pretty well since the start, dredging lOOob of gold or more a week and have experienced no trouble of any kind from the outset. Quite lately a fortnight's washing up yielded 2040z. This runs the Clutha up. There are clearly big possibilities before New South Wales, and not only New South Wales but Yiotoria and Queensland as dredging countries, and already syndicates are rushing the ground in every direction. Mr Hughan, mentioned above, is a so a of Mr John Hughan, Crown Lands Ranger, and his partner is a son of Mr Tullcch, who has dredging interests at Glenore. It is understood they intend building a second dredge. The direotors of the Happy Valley Co. have accepted the tender of Messrs A. and T. Burt (Limited) for the construction and erection of their dredge, the whole work to be completed within nine months. Messrs Cutten Bros, are the engineers.

The site for the dam for building the pontoons of the Lower Enfleld Co., Waipori, has been chosen in an excellent position, and the dam is now being rapidly constructed. This claim adjoins that of the Empire Co.

The Minister of Mines, now on tour, will arrive at Roxburgh on Monday, Millers Flat and Island Blook on Tuesday, and he will reach Lawrence on the evening of Wednesday, will visit the Blue Spur on Thursday, thenoe on to Waipori and Waitahuna and Dunedin.

On Thursday afternoon (says the " Benger Mail ") Mr H. Kitto picked up a nugget of gold weighing sfdwt on the banks of the Molyneux, on the Queen Dredge Company's claim.

The Moa dredge (says the " Alexandra Herald") has moved further out into the stream. The elevator has been discarded, and this allows the dredge to make better time, this portion of the machinery having been the cause of a good deal of lost time. ' Messrs Fleming and M'Kechnie, the contractors, have now commenced building the pontoons for the Eclipse Gold Dredging Co. Ten men are employed on the work, and it is expected that the pontoons will be afloat in record time. The wire ropes have arrived from Home and are now being sent on to the olaim.

The " Grey River Argus " says that dredg- | ing is booming in Grey mouth. At every corner of the street it is the topio of converation, and the fever has even spread amongst the women who have shown great aptitude in conversing on the popular subject. About 2000 claims have been applied for on the West Coast for dredging purposes, and it is estimated that the capital of §ach olaim will be £8000, making a total of £16,000,000. Each claim will require a dredge, and if say fifty dredges oould be turned out every year, it would take forty years to supply them. The gold exported in the first quarter of the year was valued at £371,838, an increase of £11,789 upon last year. According to the offioial jeturn there are 196 dredges at work or building in Otago and Southland, besides a large number in course of construction for the West Coast. E. D. Mason and Co. report havidg successfully floated the_Pride of Tuapeka Dredging Co., situated on the Tuapeka river nine miles below Lawrence, the vendors of the above company having purchased the Bengerburn Co.'s dredge, which ought to be on the ground I and working within the next four months. The dredge has recently undergone repairs to the extent of some £800, and is eminently suitable for working the company's ground. The company was largely ovei;-sul>sfti;ibe<l.

Judging by the way Fortune has smiled on those who know nothing about dredging, the lees one knows the better. A case in point is now in .evidence : Recently a man in Dunedin, who knew something about dredging claims, decided, as he held a lot of shares, that it was time he inspeoted the claims in whioh he was interested. He accordingly made a visit up-country, and as a result was so alarmed that he sold half of his shares before he got back to the city. He promptly got rid of the balanoe and sat back and smiled at his luck in getting out. In a very short time those shares went up and up ; purchased by those who did not know as muoh as the seller. The result of too muoh knowledge was that the seller lost £1,700. Moral : In dredge gambling, a little knowledge is a golden thing ; know nothing and you are sure to win. — " Bruoe Herald."