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NEW ZEALAND
131

mitted, however, that the Ranfurly dredge is very familiar with three-figures returns, and, when she reaches some proved ground a little ahead of where she is now working, it is expected that she will easily beat the above-mentioned record."—Alexandra Herald.

" Some of those individuals who were enterprising enough to peg out river claims on the Mataura recently have received offers from Dunedin and elsewhere of £50 and £70 for a quarter share in single claims. Faith in the Mataura for dredging purposes is not, evidently, confined to Gore alone. So intense has been the craze all over the district for pegging out claims that one local timber firm disposed of forty pounds' worth of pegs during this month. This sum represents about four thousand pegs. A little above Gore, on the north side, it is estimated that within a radius of a mile there are pegs on private property and river-banks sufficient to close-board a 200-acre paddock."—Mataura Ensign.

"What the return of 400 ounces 17 dwt. by the Magnetic really means may be understood from the following calculation:—Allowing 10 ounces 17 dwt. for the payment of expenses, which is ample, it means a clear profit of 390 ounces, or £1511, 5s., for one week's operations. On a capital of £7000 this gives a profit of 21⅓ per cent, per week, or 1108 per cent, per annum. A dividend of 2s. per share was declared about ten days ago. The next monthly dividend, with returns like last week's, should be nearly equal to the paid-up capital of the company. This dredge has only been working about five months, has paid off nearly £3000 of debt, declared a 2s. dividend, and is still on the jugular."—Cromwell Argus.

What 'on the jugular' may mean it is hard for a home-keeping Briton to say. What should they know