A NEW GOLD-SAVING APPARATUS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 74, 6 April 1885, Page 3

A NEW GOLD-SAVING APPARATUS.

Mr Lamont the inventor of a process of gold-saving which promises to galvanise into active life mining operations even on the most unremunerative fields, w^s a through passenger to Sydney by tho mail steamer which arrived on Saturday night. Late though tho hour was, Mr Alex. Saunders, who is acting on behalf of a syndicate, at once proceedod to tho steamer, interviewed Mr Lamont and drove him to the Northern Club, where o conference took place with a view to the purchase of the rights of his patent process by the syndicate referred to, which would then be enabled to re-sell to particular mines and battery companies. Upon this point the Rev. Mr Vines had been previously carrying on negetiations by letter with Mr Lamont, but as he was at the North Shore he w.as not oble to be present on Saturday night. Mr Lamont, at any rate, declined to enter into any arrangement until his return from Australia a fow weeks hence. Meahwhilo some of those interested are anjiouß that tho Government should acquire the rights of tho patent and diffuse its benefits on payment of moderate fees. It is said that the Lamout's process, which is a kind of smelting of the auriferous quartz, has been successfully tested in California, and it is claimed for it that it saves fully 96 per cent of the gold. If this be so, it would be seen how valuable the invention is when it is stated that the present system retains only 33 per cent, of tine gold, and not more than 60 per cent, of it even wher it is course. The effect of the introduction r-f such an invention would very likely raise the shares of many gold mines from the few shillings at which they are now quoted to as many pounds. Mr Lamont's return will therefore be awaited with eagernees.