23

C—2

The following is a statement regarding the most productive dredges owned by registered companies:—

The fifteen West Coast dredges are situated in the following localities—namely, eight on tributaries of the Grey River, two on the Buller River, and one at each of the following places : Capleston, Cronadun, Brennan's Creek, North Beach (Cobden), and Waimea. The most profitable dredging operations in the Dominion were carried out by the Worksop dredge ai Antonio's Flat, which obtained gold to the value of £16,284, and paid £9,300 in dividends. The No Town Creek earned £7,486, of which £5,400 was distributed in dividends. In Otago and Southland Ihe fleet of seventy-eight dredges is distributed as follows: Waikaka Valley, 17 ; at or near Alexandra, 14 ; Waikaia, 8 ; at or near Cromwell, 5 ; Miller's Flat, 4 ; Lowburn Ferry, 4 ; Nevis, 4 ; Charlton, 3 ; two at each of the following places—Chatto Creek, Waipori, Glenore, Cardrona, Roxburgh, and Ettrick ; and single dredges are working at Island Block, Shingle Creek, Bald Hill Flat, Poolburn, Kyeburn, Waimumu, and Kelso. None of the southern dredges, the properly of registered companies, were so profitable to their owners as the two West Coast dredges quoted. The most noteworthy feature of the year in connection with the dredging industry in the south has been a renewal of activity in the Waikaka Valley, where a deep lead has been located by keystone drilling, and a dredge is being constructed by the Waikaka United Company to work the deep ground thus proved. This dredge is designed to operate to a depth of 55 ft. below water-level. Flat Gold-dredging company is engaged upon operations which constitute a depari gold-dredging practice .After dredging all the available riverflat, this company's dp orking its way up the gentle slopes of the surrounding foothills and terraces. To do t' been brought on*to the claim by a race of about two miles an half in length, and at an elevation of about 50 ft. above the river-level. The dredge floats in a " paddock " supplied by this race, and continually stacks its tailing behind, forming a dam to maintain the level of the water in the paddock. As the ground is shallow, a tailing-elevator is not required, the material being passed through a sluice-box. When first attacking the slopes it was found that the tailing embankment could not be raised with the ascent of the ground until a low dam was first built to hold the bulk of the tailing. Once started in this manner, the tailing keeps building an efficient embankment for the paddock. At present the dredge is about 30 ft. above the river-level, and it is proposed to work up to the water-race. After reaching that level, pumping will be necessary to keep the paddock full, for the proposed scheme is, if possible, to work over a low saddle at an elevation of about 50 ft. above the level of the water-race, and so into another gully down which the dredge v.-si] work its way to the river again. From the progress already made it would appear thai this mi I hod of working is quite feasible, and, though in this case it is intended to rise only about 100 I Jno reason why this method should not be applied to even greater heights, and so render available ground hitherto considered unworkable owing to the lack of high-pressure water for sluicing. The immediate future of these operations will be watched with interest.

Dividends paid by Dredges owned by Registered Companies. ~J "1V_ 5 »I J„444._ 44j Name of Dredge. Production during 1911 of all Dredges. 5 _ Registere During 1911. ed Companies. To 31st December, 1911. Vest Coast District Stafford Hessy, Cameron, and Tacon (Limited) Worksop No Town Creek Pactolus Blackwater River louthern District— Crewe (2) ... ... ■ ... Waikaka Syndicate Koputai Earnscleugh (3) Masterton Hartley and Riley Golden' Bed ... Rise and Shine (2) Rising Sun ... Magnum Bonum Electric (2) ... Paterson's Freehold (2) Otago (2) ManuheriMa Dredge No. 909 Willowbank ... 64 other working dredges (registered or privately owned) 3~723 3,859 16,284 7,486 5,144 6,728 3,908 5,180 4,338 9,193 3,767 3,559 5,896 8,607 6,439 4,368 10,922 7,244 4,512 4,924 7,251 4,491 158,586 £ 404 1,470 9,300 5,400 1,875 2,605 250 2,450 1,235 550 1.250 650 1,922 1,200 2,200 1,812 3,250 1,800 250 1,058 2,250 1,600 417 £ 3,287 4,695 15,900 34,200 62,500 11,494 6,375 22,750 12,537 24,750 31,500 83,687 15,269 35,100 16,000 8,875 126.092 15,0C0 17,375 83,445 3,750 2,000 Totals 296,409 296,409 45,198 45,198