THIS WEEK'S RETURNS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4899, 12 October 1901, Page 2

THIS WEEK'S RETURNS.

Oz dwt gx Buljer Junction ... ... 46 5 0 WaiiEumu Extended ... ... 41 11 0 Golden Eiver ... ... ... 35 14 0 Central Charlton ... ... 28 3 0 Teviot ... ... ... ... 24 18 0 Tuapeka ... ... ... 15 15 0 Gabriel ... ... . 14 6 0 Bunback ... ... ... 10 18 0 lady Charlton ... ... ' ... 612 0 We understand the report on Mr Herbert Easton's petition in Parliament in connection with the gold dredging industry will fehotlly be brought before Parliament, and, inasmuch as it is generally admitted tbe decision of the Government will to a very large rxtent restore the confidence of the publio and those in England and elsewhere who re* cognise gold dredging in New Zealand (when reasonably protected) as a legitimate investment, we hope the member for this constituency will give the subject his careful consideration. MrEaston will be returning to London as soon as the result is known, and - be has been asked to prbside at some publio meetings to be convened by gentlemen whe are of opinion that, given fair protection against fraud, gold dredging although now ander a cloud has a grand future ahead. The quantity of gold entered for exportation through the Customs lot the past financial year was 392,9760z, valued at £1,516,482, I the respective districts contributing as follows :— Auckland 166,0490z, Marlborough 2470z, Nelson 5,1260z, West Coast 85,7790z, Canterbury 220z, and Otago and Southland 135.7530z.

The following circular has been issued to shareholders in the Sixteen-mile Beach Co., and a meeting hns been convened to consider the financial position of the company : — "The company has now been working soma time, but so far with little success. It was hoped that sufficient returns would have been obtained from the top portion of the claim to enable the road to be made the full length of the claim, and thus allow coal to be delivered on all parts of it. It is generally agreed that the lower portions are by far the best, and where there is every probability that good and oven handsome returns will be obtained it ig an exceedingly great pity that the dredge baa not been able as yet to test these places, owing to tho difficulty of coaling. A strenuous effort must be made to get the dredge down to work these lower portions, from which oldtime miners believe excellent returns will be had, and the shareholders are being called together for this purpose. The liabilities of the company are about £1200, with arrears of calls on preference shares of about £225. If all shareholders would agree to a levy of, say, Is per share, this would produce over £500, and could be paid to a 'trustee for the purpose of forming the road and working the dredge for a few weeks."

The following are taken from Thursday's " Alexandra Herald " :— The river has been falling steadily during the week, and yesterday was about stt above the " normal " mark at the Alexandra bridge. — The chief topic of conversation in dredging circles during the week waa the magnificent return from the Goldan lUvor dredge. The return of SOOoa ia a record for the first washup from a dredge. This is further proof of the richness of the gorges, and the Golden River's achievement should have the effect of making share* holders in certain other gorge olaims think twice before they allow their properties to be sacrificed without a proper trial. — The Montt Cbristo dredge has been stopped, pending a more favorable stats of the river. Although the dredge can obtain very fair returns, even in the present state of the river, it is thought that it is a waste of money and machinery to battle with the drift that is travelling just now. — The Conciliation Board meets at Roxburgh to-day to hear the dispute between tfl9 Dredgeman'a Uaion and the employers,