C—3

130

Abstract of Licenses, for Special Claims and Licensed Holdings issued from the Wardens' Offices— continued.

Naseby. The Naseby Dredging and Hydraulic-sluicing Company's Dredge is at work in this district, and is reported to be yielding good returns. The length of the dredge is 70 ft., with 25 ft. beam. The ladder is 45 ft. in length, the capacity of the buckets being 3f cubic feet. Engine and boiler, 20-horse power nominal and 38-horse power actual. Another dredge is at work on the upper Kyeburn, but it is not of the most modern type. At Macrae's Flat contracts have been let for the construction of two dredges of approved type and large capacity. Black's. —It is intended to work several special claims in this locality by means of dredging, and an up-to-date dredge is now being built. St. Balkan's. —The Cambrian dredge, which is of the most up-to-date description, is approaching completion, and will shortly be at work. Waikaka. The dredges owned and worked by Mr. J. E. Perry and Messrs. William McGill and party in this district are, I hear, on payable gold. In this district mining matters are brightening. Several special claims have been granted, and a number of applications are pending. Perry's Dredge. —This dredge is situated on a flat, within half a mile of Waikaka Township, and in a line between the township and the cemetery. The claim, which consists of an area of 44 acres, is held under a license, dated 23rd December, 1896. About 6 acres of the land has already been worked during the year. The depth of the portion worked is about 13 ft. The top layer consists of soil about 1 ft. in thickness, under which the clay varies from 2 ft. to 9 ft. This is succeeded by a layer of gravel, containing the gold. The wash which yields the most gold is of fine description, and lies on a gravel bed, which does not contain gold, probably the " Maori bottom." The dimensions of the dredge are 70 ft. by 24 ft., and the well for the ladder is 30 ft. in length, the buckets having a capacity of 2f cubic feet. The length of the ladder is 40 ft. The tables are 40 ft. by 3 ft., partly perforated plates and partly iron riffles, with cocoanut-matting underneath. There are also three tables on each side; these are 5 ft. by 3 ft., and covered with matting. The washed gravel is discharged from a lander attached to the tables, the shallow depth worked rendering the use of an elevator for the tailings unnecessary. A paddock was first excavated to hold water sufficient to float the dredge, and a small stream of water is found sufficient to keep up a supply necessary for the dredge to float in and to prevent the water from becoming too muddy for working purposes. This is an instance of dredging being carried on successfully in a wet flat where no great" quantity of water is to be found on the surface. Six men are employed, and operations are conducted by Mr. John M. Walker, the manager. The returns of gold are from 11 oz. to 12 oz. per week. McGill's dredge is situated on the left branch of the Waikaka, and is owned and worked by a party of six men. The dredge is built on somewhat similar lines to Perry's dredge, and the wash is of a more gravelly nature, there being less clay than is found in the first-named claim. Mr. W. McGill informed me that the returns were, on the whole, satisfactory, being somewhat better than what is obtained by Mr. Perry. The Golden Grown Dredging Company. —This company have started dredging on the Waikaia Eiver, but up to the present time have been unable to show satisfactory results. The dredge cost £3,500. Shotover. The Golden Terrace No. 1 and No. 2 dredges, which formerly belonged to the Sew Hoy Big Beach Dredging Company, are working in that part of the river where the current is very rapid. Nine men are employed on each dredge.

Date of License. Area. Locality. Block. Survey District. Name of Claim. Name of Registered Owner. Lawrence —con itinued. 29/3/97 19/3/97 A. R. P. 96. 0 15 28 1 35 Waipori Tuapeka Flat.. Beaumont Waitahuna .. Tuapeka Flat.. Waipori Tuapeka Flat.. Glenore IV. j XXXIV. VI. XV. XXXIV. XX. IV., V. I VI - III. Waipori Waitahuna E. Town of Havelock Tuapeka West Crookston .. Town of Havelock Tuapeka East Waipori Tuapeka W. ) Tuapeka E. J Table Hill .. Excelsior.. John Lawson. 76/97 1/8/97 1/8/97 1/8/97 78 2 18 48 2 34 58 3 19 23 0 6 I Waitahuna Dredg- | ing Co. Tuapeka Bennet and Party.. Roger Kirby and party. Tuapeka Dredging Co. (Ltd.). Charles Bennet. Robert MoKenzie. .2/11/97 .7/2/98 34 0 13 98 3 18 Record Reign McNeil and Party.. William Murray. James McNeil. 1/3/98 , .1/1/98 25 3 28 Fitzgerald and Party Cornelius Fitzgerald. 7 10 Nil Desperandum .. Arnold Sturm. 44 1 24 Waikaia. John R. Perry. 23/12/96 XIV. I. I., II. Chatton Waikaia Wendon Waikaka Dredging Claim Winding Creek Mystery Flat Dredging Claim J/12/97 5/12/97 100 0 0 96 3 0 Winding Creek Dredging Co. G. M. Grigg.