C—3

70

Working Dredges Visited by Inspector of Mines— continued.

Name and Situation of Dredge. Owners. Dredge-master. Bemarks. Arthur's Point, Shotover River. Arthur's Point Arthur's Point Gold-dredging Company J. Johnston Well to be covered or fenced, and a proper gangway required between the dredge and the bank. Bannockburn. Shepherd's Creek Shepherd's Creek Gold-dredging Company F. Woodhouse Low fence required round winch-engines and spur-gearing attached thereto. Cardrona. Boiling Stone Rolling Stone Gold-dredging Company J. von Haast No life-buoy, light-lines, or boat-hooks ; dredge incomplete, and stopped for finishing touches. This dredge was fitted with hand-winches, which caused three slight accidents during the short period she was at work (two months); they are now taken out, and are to be replaced by steam-winches. The former dredge-master (Robinson), while doing something about the spur-gearing, got his arm crushed, and it was subsequently amputated at the shoulder. Dredge working, though not completed; three buoys on board, but no boat-hooks or light-lines. The boat, a " flatty," not suitable for river-work. Livingstone. Maerewhenua Gold-dredging Company C. Milne Maerewhenua Waikaka. Little Waikaka Brownlee and party Robert Brownlee .. Workingfaoe, 12 ft. to 16 ft.; 4 ft. of clay on top, which is troublesome in the boxes, supply of water being barel-j sufficient to carry it away. Only one life-buoy aboard; rules observed ; pontoons awaiting timber for repairs. Owing to the depth of clay stripping, dredge failed to pay on her former claim, and she has been removed from Drowning Creek and re-erected on a claim near the " Forks." Repairing and altering; the revolving screen has been taken off and replaced by tail-boxes. Lillieslief (late Woolshed No. 2) Nicoll and party William Mercer .. Waikaka Forks Waikaia Forks Gold-dredging Company Waikaka Queen Gold-dredging Company Waikaka United Gold-dredging ComWaikaka Queen J. Wallace All in good order, and special rules complied with; fencing at bows, fly-wheel, and pump-driver required. In good order, and appliances in proper place ; wheel to be fenced or covered. Waikaka United W. Wilson Globe pany Globe Gold-dredging Company George Lee In good order; alterations are being made for the purpose of increasing the spread of tables and the supply of water for treating the material raised. All in good order, and life-buoys, &c, in their proper places. Rules complied with, and dredge in good order; rope-drive to be fenced. Ibbotson's Premier Waikaka Ibbotson and party Premier Waikaka Gold-dredging Company Record Gold-dredging Company J. H. Maslin E. Reed Record A. E. May No copy of rules posted ; no boat-hooks or light-lines on board; rules posted; the hooks and lines not yet in hand, but the dredge-master proved to me that they were on their way to the dredge. Special rules observed ; dredge in good working-order; pontoons have been recently renewed; Lee's tables, which are a modification of the Bound Hill Gold-mining Company's tables, have been placed on the dredge, and a spread of 450 ft. is obtained ; the water-supply has been increased 20 per cent., and the dredge-master informs me that 10 per cent, more gold is taken from the ground than formerly. Rules well observed, and dredge in good working-order. Pioneer J. R. Perry H. Parsons Patterson's Freehold Patterson's Freehold Gold-dredging Company Gleniti Gold-dredging Company J. If. Walker Gleniti A. Rennie Only one buoy on board, and no boat-hooks or light-lines at bow or stern. Waikaia. Dome Greek Nugget Dome Creek Gold-dredging Company Nugget Gold-dredging Company W. H. Kitto Generally in good order; regulations complied with ; rope-drive to be fenced. No one about; dredge closed down meantime ; ladder too short and unable to bottom. Charlton. Charlton Creek Charlton Creek Gold-dredging Company F. Bennett Dredge and appliances in good order.