ROYAL OAK OF HAURAKI NEW MACHINERY STARTED.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 86, 13 April 1899, Page 3

ROYAL OAK OF HAURAKI NEW MACHINERY STARTED.

AN INTERESTING SPEECH BY ]

THE GOVERNOR,

(By Telegraph.—Special Reporter.)]

COROMANDEL, March S3,

The Governor to-day opened a watee power engine at the Royal Oak Mine, which provides compressed air for driving machinery of the mine. His Excellency was accompanied by a large number of Coromandel residents and the brass band, and the function, was a great success.

His Excellency, before turning the wheel, said he had great pleasure, at; the special request of Captain Hod^e,, iv christening the plant as the Rail* ftuiy water-power scheme. The bluo ribbon was secured on the wheel by $ silver pin, with the letter lR' thereon.

After inspection of the battery tha party sat down to a champagne lunch, provided by Captain Hodge.

Captain Hodge proposed the toast of 'His Excellency the Governor.' lio far as he (Captain Hodge) knew, this was the first time the Queen's represents-, tive had ever been over the Tokatna Range. Coromandel, he said, was the oldest goldfield in the colony. Today they could see what British pinole and capital could do. A large ammint of gold had been won in the early days irom the Toketea, Royal Oak, Little Wonder, Harbour* View, and other mines, but the time came when these mines appeared to be exhausted, on& they were practically abandoned. But now, thanks to British capital, a fresh: tide of prosperity had set in for this portion of the goldfields. The machinery which His Excellency had that day started would, he believed, be the means of converting these mines into steady dividend-paying properties. Some people took a gloomy view of the goldfields, and denounced the mining laws as being unfair to capitalists, For himself, as the representative of a very large nu,mber of British in-, vestors, he would not say the laws were perfect, but to the genuine investor of capital there was no danger of his claim being in any way prejudiced or interfered with, and it was well that there was some check on those who took up land merely fop speculation, as this class of people, as a rule, did infinite harm to the industry. Ten months ago the scheme existed only on paper, and was not in the hands of the Home people. Today; they had the actual matter accomplished—probably the. greatest thing1 of its kind in the southern hemisphere, a*nd costing the compailjr £7000 to £8000. By it they would dispense with "coal and steam.: To-day *ihey* began to work the Royal Oak on a. new basis. ■'" .• ■ ■■"■'■. ■'•■<': ;\':v:: ■■'/...:"'

The health of his Excellency having* been drunk with, musical honours, Lord Ranfurly replied. He said at gave him extreme pleasure to \ako part in anjir imatter appertaining to the development of the colony, and of the Empire of which it formed part. He knew | something about mining, but so far his total investments in gold naining did not exceed £150. He believed that gold mining,, properly undertaken, would be a most profitable industry, but the fact could not be gainsaid that many companies had been put on the market which bore the name of 'wild cats/ He trusted that every care would* bo taken to ensure that facts only be placed before the British public, who, were ready for any legitimate speculation. He was satisfied that there was a great future before the miningindustry of New Zealand, and that mining was but in its infancy. Mahy t parts of the colony had not yet been: touched even by prospectors, although the evidence they had before them to-day proved that the Royal Oak Company had entered into the industry in a thorough and substantial manner, by the erection of the mag« nificent plant which he had the honour of setting in motion that day. Ho hoped the mine would, in" the course of its development, with the* aid of this wonderful motive power* be able to show English capitalists! that dividends could be obtained in New Zealand. He looked upon th© one and a-half millions already invested in mining as a mere trifle compared with what would follow 'as soon as confidence is more thoroughly established with the British capitalist. He complimented Captain Hodge on the way the whole undertaking had bee:p. conceived and carried out, and he wa&, satisfied that the confidence placed ia Captain Hodge by the English inves-? tors was not misplaced. ,6j THE ROYAL OAK PLANT. '■ The water used by the Royal <Oalt is derived from three streams, viz., Horatuonga, Waverley, and Waikoromiko. The length of the water race is 500 chains, flumed throughout. A. tunnel 321 feet in length conveys water from the Waikoromiko stream, through the spur of the hill to the* power site. The pelton wheel is It feet in diameter and 10-inches; in the; face. The estimated power available in summer is 25 horse-power, and during the winter months 120 horsepower. The estimated flow of water in summer is 180 cubic feet per minute, and in. winter it, varies from 350; to 600 cubic feet. ?, COROMANDEL, March 29. After lunch yesterday, held ur.der somewhat unique conditions in the interior of the battery-house of the Royal Oak, a return was made to town, where His Excellency drivingwith cavalcade of about 50 b'orsemen. following the party arrive*! shortly: after four; The Governor visited the, hospital, and subsequently the Hauraki and Union Beach, mines. Captain Hodge, who is manager of these i mines, conducted His Excellency, aud pressed on his acceptance some r tne specimens of quartz characteristic o£ the district.