Waihi Company's Big Pump

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1033, 6 July 1904, Page 3

Waihi Company's Big Pump

The Arbitration Case Inspector of Mines v. the Company Sitliny of the Court

The above oase, which came on for hearing at tho Waihi Magistrate's Court this morning, before a court of arbitrators, con. aiating of Messrs F. liocho (for tho company), Joseph Brukenshiro (for tho Mining Inspeotor) atidH. W. Northoroft(preaidont)i wa» tho outoDine of the action takonl)y the Inspeotor of Mines (Mr. J, Ooutts) somosix or eight weeks ago, in connection with tho present mode of pumping in tho Waihi .Goldmining Company's No. 5 shaft. Tho Inspeotor was of opinion that danger was nonrred to tboao working in the shaft durini? the running cf tho pump, owing to tbo liability of tho bursting of tho water pipes or columns, causei! by tho strain of pumping direct from the botlom of tho shaft. To obviato this alleged danger tho Inspector notified the company that ho rcqnirod thorn to put in nnothor plunger set midway up tho shaft. Tho Compauy objeetod to comply with tho requost, and as a result it was decided to refor tho mattor to arbitration. Mossrs. F. Roche, engineer, and Brokonshire wore appointed arbitrators, iho former for tho Company and tho later for tlis Inspector of Mino?. Snlwijuuiitl)' tho arbitrators mutally agrood to appoint Mr. H. W. Nerthcroft, S.M., as unmpire, ( TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS At tho sitting of tho Court Mr Charles Tuuks, solicitor, ofAuekl.tnd, appeared for the Waihi Company, mid Mr J. A. Millor, solicitor, of the Thames, represented tho Mining Inspector. Messrs Ashley Hunter, engineer, Auckland, Frank Rich, manager, Woodstook G.M, Co,, Kar.mgahnke, Chns, Rhodes, New Zealand attornoy for the company, H, P, Barry, superintendent, R, Williams, goneral mino manager, H. Roche, engineer, J. L, Gilmour and N. Evered, rcpresentntives of tho Waihi Company, Mr J, Ryan, Sub-mining Inspector, were also present, Mr Worthcroft (president) said that before taking evidenco in the case lie would like to visit and inspect the No, 5 shaft, in order that he might moro clearly understand tho position, and announced that tho Court would adjourn till 2 p,in, in order that the inspection might tako plaoe. INSPECTION OP THE PUMPING PLANT On arriving at tho Company's No, 5 shaft Mr, Northcroft was attended ay the tw(> arbitrators and Mr, J, Hendorson, whom ho questioned closely on matters connected with the pumping plant on the surface. Aftorwards, in company with theio gentlemen ard Mr. Miller, he do* sconded thopbaft, The descent was made very slowly, stoppages taking place at frequent intervals en route, in order to permit of careful examination of the points where the bursting of tho water co'umns occurred, and of the fasten* ings and other details of tho columns, right down to the bottom of tho shaft, 700 feet in depih. While on llie surface Mr Northoroft's attention was drawn to the wiro binding on tho columns nearest io the top of the shaft, which was done to prevent any portion of tho pipe, in case of it bursting, falling down the =liaft, Tho binding, aa Mr Rocho explained, would cause tho broken pieco or pieces to fall in. sido the column. It was also explained to Mr. Northcroft that these columns would bo discarded and replaced by Stronger onos, now located betwoon two and four hundred feet down tlio shaft, and that these in turn would be substituted by stronger columns nonin, which had been specially c.' 1 "jn in thos'iaft lasted close upon uu nuiir, ' OPENING OF THE CASE

Mr Miller, in opening thscaso, said that as it was an uncommon caso that was now before tho Court,-tho llrst of tlio 'kind, in fact that had over como before a Court in this distriot-ho would like to explain to the Court under what Act tho proceedings wero boing taken by Mr. Contts, tho Mining Inspector, Counsel hero road Ibo section of the Act under which ho was proceeding Tbo case, briefly, was that tho Inspector had found that the pumping operations in tho Company's No, 5 shaft wero dangerous to the men sinking and working in the shaft, owing to defcotivo plant, Tho Inspector requirod that a plunge should be installed midway in thoshafc, at r. depth of 850 feet from the collar ol the shaft, instead Of pumping with one plunger direct from 700 feet, Tho mine manager declined to comply with tho Inspector's requisition, stating that certain pipes now in the shaft would be replaced by stronger ones. Proceedings wero taken for tho purposo of enforoing improvements that would render work in the shaft safer to the men engaqed, Tbo requisition was a reasonable ono. The Inspector only wanted an intermediate plunger. Mr Sorthcroft said ho took it that what the Court was asked to dccido was whether the requisition of the Inspector to rondcr work in the shaft safe should lie complied with, or whether tho alterations to tho present plant in tho shaft as suggested by the company should render the work safe, without doing what was asked by tho Inspector.

Counsel, resuming, said that Hie Inspojtor also pointed out that the cause ol tho column bursting was probably duo to drawing in air and water ttigolhor, and it was almost impossible to say what pressure, under these circumstances, tho columns would have to stand, The in* termediate plunger would greatly obviate this danger, (Loft sitting)