THE principle of the elevator described in this paper is not in any way new, but the description of its application to the working of certain classes of alluvial deposits may prove not only interesting but perhaps of advantage to some of the members. The special class of alluvial gold-bearing deposits, covered by this description, is the beaches of the. Shotover River, Otago, New Zealand; but this method is likewise made use of to work the actual bed of the river itself. The Shotover River is one of the most famous in the history of gold mining of Otago, gold having been discovered in the beaches and in the alluvial terraces in the earliest days of gold mining; and very large amounts have been obtained, and fair amounts are still being obtained. So far as the river beaches are concerned, these were all worked in the early days by ordinary paddocking, the large amount of water percolating through the drift being more or less successfully removed by means of Californian pumps, spear pumps, or any hand contrivance available. The large amount of water rendered the working very difficult, and therefore the beaches were only tried in a superficial and hasty manner, much gold being left behind.