HAURAKI NORTH

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 284, 30 November 1896, Page 3

HAURAKI NORTH

(FROM CUE CWK COREE3PtN3ENXj.

Coromanbel, this day.

The crushing plant which has jusfe been completed for this company and commenced working this last week embodies several new ideas both as regards the crushing and gold saving, which, by reason of th« drama set forth by the patentee, Mr Robinson, are worthy of notice, more especially as tho plan): ia the first) of its kind to be erected on the field, if not in the coloiay. In the first place, the mill is admirably situated on tiio side of the spur below the braes of the shaft, and ii connected therewith by a trestle tram connect* ing with a shoot which runs inte tha battery hopper direct). The ore is then fed into a feeder above the oscillating crushing cylinder, into which it falls, where it is pulverised by a heavy iron roller which rolls backward and forward mechanically as the cylinder oscillates. Tho weight of this roller with its connec* biona is two tons, and the ore can bs crushed to any degree of fineness required, while it is stated by the inventor thab suck a plant as tho oho described is equal in crushing ability to a five-stamper battery. This, however, haa hardly been attained yeb. The pulverised ore emerges as from a stamper box through a screes at each end of the botstoaa of the cylinder, and passes over an outside ripple containing mercury and, attached to tho cylinder into a shoot) leadiaj: to Mia amalgamator and conceatrator. This consists of a shallow circular pas five feet tix inches in diameter, and ia divided by four semi-circular compartments or boxen, two on either aids, and one above the other, the inner onsa of which contain mercury. Any geld nob caught in the ripples ia caught here, and as the concentrates and overflow can be nicely regulated. by moans of valves, ib is considered that this principle of gold saving will give successful results. The amalgamator is, of comae, working concurrently with the cylinder, and ia operated by means of a crank, which produces a jigging motion and allows of the concentration. Tea whole plant ia worked by a 4-h,p. gasoline oil engine, which can be started in 15 seconds, works almost noiselessly, and can be readily regulated to any required speed by means of an ingeniously contrived governor. The distinct features about this engine are that no boiler space is required, likewise littlo or no attention, while the cost of running at full power is estimated at M per hour. The oil which provides the motive power is led from tha reservoir through a down pipe into the vaporizer, where U is converted into gas and tfaea drawn into the cylinder, and at the right HiomoHb exploded by an electric spark, generated from a Lolaacbe" battery. Tha engine appears to work most satisfactorily, but ib is yeb impessible to abate what degree of success will be attained by tho mill* until a cleaning up ha 3 taken place. A considerable amount of paddock crushing dirt remains to be treated, and front its appearance ib should shape for a good rstura.