TE AROHA GOLDFIELDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 4194, 26 November 1883, Page 4

TE AROHA GOLDFIELDS.

[FROM OCR OWH CORRESPONDENT.] In revisiting this field after a month's absence, ono cannot but be surprised at the marks of progress visible, at tho increased number of houses, and at the largo accession to the population. There is also greater activity in mining and business matters, and a general air of prosperity pervades the place. The weather during the week has been most depressing; heavy downpours of rain day after day, the monotony varied by a few thunderstorms and an occasional gale. The road to Waiorongomai, though only three miles distant, has knocked up the coach-horses and compelled Bradley to discontinue running; and it is to be hoped that fine weather will soon put in an appearance, otherwise boats will have to be introduced for the purpose of navigating the roads. This first letter is being'written somewhat hurriedly, yet I must give as full a criticism as possiblo to the battery subject and its present influence on tho public mind, for, without doubt, it has been the uppermost theme of conversation among business people for many days past; and I will first of all allude to tho unfavourable aspect of tilings, showing afterwards that everything at the battery has been carried on in a straightforward manner, though under cast-iron regulations, which have given considerable irritation, though designed for tho proper administration of battery affairs. Tho Battory. This 40-stamper battery is at the time I write the most abused institution of its kind in the colony, the severe public criticism it has undergono being due to a peculiar turn of events, and to certain regulations laid down for the protection of the outside public and of shareholders, which have been regarded in quite a different light. Of those chiefly may be mentioned the daily publishing of the amalgam and the exclusion of the public from tho battery. Prophetic students of human nature predicted that these arrangements would be subjected to adverse criticism, and the recent strictures appearing in the papers, and given free vent to in mining circles, led to their remarking, "I told you it would bo so," as convincing proof of their clearness of observation andthe accuracy of their calculations. Among another class of investors and grumblers was an elderly gentleman, who stood one day in the Auckland Exchange and said ho had bought Te Aroha stock believing that the names at the head of goldfield affairs were a sufficient guarantee that everything would be carried on openly and above board, but when the cold-water amalgam ran down his financial back, and his 6s (id Wherahikos were reduced by the process to 4s (id, and other shares in proportion, it was a> case of the "old man eloquent." Tnen came reports d tho battery doors being closed against the public and against tho press, which represents the public. A fooling of distrust once started (however unjustly) soon grows, and the discontent soon spread from Auckland to To Aroha, though as regards cold-water squeezing of amalgam, it is but fair to say that throughout tho community everyone hero know tho amalgam was being «o treated; but this community wore greatly irritated at the next step, viz., at a trial retorting of amalgam, which took place at the battery on the Tuesday, and this was not known to the Te Aroha people until the following Thursday, and they were vexed to see as a first intimation of tho same the following telegram from Auckland, dated Thursday, November 15th: — "To Henry Buttle. Small quantity amalgam from each claim. Crushing retorted on Tuesday averaged one-fifth gold. Interim retorting takes place end of week.— Wm. Berry, editor 'Herald.' " The sight of this created great dissatis faction, as the community considered they had been kept in ignorance of this important test, as, although it had been whispered that a trial retorting had taken place, the rumour waa not credited; no ono seemed to know anything definite about it until Mr Buttle wired to town for information, being, as he said, determined to " get at the bottom of this amalgam." Then the managing directors of tho companies were wroth at the proposal to retort their amalgam at the end of the week, and wired their objection to Mr Firth, who, it seems, knew nothing of tho proposal to have an interim retorting. As public feeling became more roused experts wero sent out to Te Aroha to inspect the battery and roport on proceedings generally. These wero denied admittance, or some wero admitted and others excluded, according to what was going on, and when it .was found that tho oleaning up of tho tables was carried on with closed doors, tho unholy tonguo of scandal got to work on tho innocent battery manager; and so, with a view to clear up universal doubt, your reporter travelled during a thunderstorm through three miles of mud andwater to tho battery, armed with an order from tho managing directois of the companies crushing to inspect the latter and see all that was going on. But the journey was till in vain, for after reaching the mill and walking into the battory at ono door, I was hurriedly conducted by the manager out at the other door, receiving like the amalgam, "cold-water treatment." Having beon excluded from seeing the manipulation of the tables, I naturally felt more than ever determined to be present during the process and to report on the modus operandi for public information. So choosing cloaning-up time again, I once more roached tho battery, this time being courteously admitted, found everything going right, and if people expect to hear some sonsfil ionul revelation, or of a second edition of the Green Harp swindle, they will be much mistaken. Everything was carried on in the fullest degree worthy of tho high reputation of the owners of tho battery; there woa not a singlo thing in the details to question or take exception to, And now, Having given expression to tho disagreeable aspect of the question, let us view the actual performance in the - Interior of tho Battery. At the time Of my visit there were also present Messrs P. Comiskey, Stafford, Price, and Spratt. The manager waa busily engaged oleaning up for the five Companies. Bach lot of amalgam, as lifted, was placed in due order in front of a cupboard, under the names of the Coinpanios, and after the squeezing process was over the respective dishes of amalgam were labelled and put into separate compartments inside the oupboard. The Wherahiko table* were first cleaned up, and it was evident that the return would be fully up to the average. The operation of squeezing the amalgam waa performed with cold water, and was manipulated as satisfactorily as could be desired. While referring to this mine, it may be remarked that tho stone is more friable, and a larger proportion of stuff appears to go through the five head than with the others. It is understood that the use of cold water will be continued as heretofore, and though the water is intensely cold, the manager was to be observed using strenuous efforts to squeeze amalgam to the very emallest possible limits;, Tho-new find showed up very well indeed, and, as usual, headed tho list of returns. The Premior amalgam was less than usual, owing to the fact that five head were bung up for four hours since the last cleaning-up, This had to be done to allow of some necessary repairs to two of the shanks which had been hrokon during the morning, After the cleaning>u'p process had been duly and skilfully performed, the residue was parried to the office, and a,s Mr Adams weighed it he called the same out to the book-keeper, who entered the quantities in the books of tho several companies. The visitors saw with pleasure the daily accumulating store of amalgam in the great safo, and. were altogether gratified with the a,dmU'ablo way in which every thing was done, Returning again to tho battery building, we cannot but admire the smoothness and regularity with which the plant works. It is driven by a Thames turbine by Price Bros, (by whom the whole was erected), and by an American turbine, each driving 20 head; the former was 61 strokes per minute, the American at 60, but both were capable of driving flic stampers at 70 strokes per minute. Tho solf-feeders were considered by the manager to bo noting admirably. Though thore »ro several little matters of detail whjch will have to be altered slightly, it can be fairly admitted that the splendid crushing plant erected by Messrs Firth and Clark at the To Aroha Goldfielci lisa proved a success, and in every respect justifies the anticipations formed as to the impetus it would give to the mining industry ; but, powerful though the battery really is, it is, if regarded in another respect, a ragst insignificant affair to pl^pp at the foot of a mountain of gold-heaving quartz such as exists at Te Aroha; and it la a thousand pities that halt-a-dozon similaif plants are riot now ready to receive the enormous masses of auriferous stone, ready waiting to be shot down and sent to the mills, These remarks are not in deprecation of this grand battery erected at so great a. cost and under so many difficulties, but are merely by way of noting how vast is the extent of the reef system hero, compared to

the facilities, provided for utilising the stores of wealth which a bountiful Providence has placed amid so charming a district. _^__________