MINING MATTERS AT THE THAMES. (FROM THE " ADVERTISER," MAY 30.)

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3394, 2 June 1868, Page 3

MINING MATTERS AT THE THAMES. (FROM THE " ADVERTISER," MAY 30.)

Two of the finest machine! on the ground, Messrs. Clarke and Kerstermann's on the Moanataiari, and Messrs. Dewolf's on the Karaka, have made * start this week, and there can be little doubt of their success. The want appears now in a fair way to be removed, for we hear of machinery starting up, or m contemplation, on all sides. Messrs. Fraser and Tinne have had orders for no less that nine machines within the last three months, and Messrs. Vickery and Masefield are also busily engaged in their manufacture. A powerful battery is in preparation at the manufactory of the latter intended for the Hape Creek. Rhodes, Gunn, and Carter's machine is to be started to-day on the Moanataiari. The Shotover (Hunt's) machinery is to be completed by Messrs. Praaer and Tinne in the course of four or five weeks. The boiler is already on the ground. There will be 12 head of stampers, and the men, twenty-five in number, are now engaged in preparing for the reception of the machinery. A six-stamper battery for the Duke of Edinburgh Claim, Moanataiari, will shortly be got to work. It is now completing by Messrs. Fraser and Tinne, together with a similar machine for the Karaka Gold Mining Company which is intended to be worked by a water-wheel JO feet in diameter. The Hokianga (White's claim) are about to erect 12 head of stampers, with room for enlargement, and Messrs. De Moulin and Johnson 8 machine on the Waiotahi will be ready for work in a week or two. The Great Republic are about to put up a large machine for their claim and the claims adjacent, whilst several others are going up on the Waiotahi and the Karaka. Two machines we also to be erected at Hastings for the convenience of the improring claims in that rich district. Ihe Koyal Blue Claim purposes erecting Chilean mill on a new principle, that of a revolving pan, the rollers— some 25cwb. each— remaining stationary. It is gratifying to find that machinery,— the oftrepeated want of our inf .nfc goldfield-is developing itself in our midst, although not hitherto with a rapidity commensurate with thedevelopment'of our payable quartz leaders. During the week we have seen with 'satisfaction the completion of a powerful Jour-stamper battery oa the R«* k » Creek, by Mewrs.'Dewolf, embracing the 1 latest »* d ,. kn , o . Bt approved Viotorian prinoiple, coupled with thf

guidance of experienced artizans. The commencement oiF'operations has been delayed some days, through the absence of a cylinder in Auckland, which it was found necessary to entrust to Mr. Drummond, of that place, for alterations. The ripple tables of the machine are six inches broader than the majority of those now in use, and the cylinder which ia fixed between the two ripples had consequently to be enlarged. The mill was only intended to be used for the quartz and mullock produced from Messrs. Dewolf's claim, Karaka, of which there are some 100 tons now in readiness ; but its proximity to a number of good claims, and the high opinion entertained of it by practical persons, has caused an influx of applicants with quartz for crushing from the surrounding claims, and after a trial test with their own stone the spirited owners of the battery purpose placing it at the service of the public. The battery consists of four head of stampers, each,with a fall of 6icwt., fixed in the ordinary manner. The space from the battery to the lower end of the table is 45 feet. The tables are 25 feet by 4 ieet 6 inches, cop- 1 pered on the surface, and supplied with a rake at the head. The addition of a table past the cylinder will have the effect of preventing any loss of floating gold beyond, only the black sand remaining, after . the cylinder has done its duty. The ripple tables will be kept covered with hot water to facilitate the work of the quicksilver in separating the gold. The splash from the battery is 12 inches, and is coated with copper. The engine has been put up by Messrs. Fraser and Tinne, and is a four-horse hoiizontal The boiler is of six-horse power nominal, working up to eight-horse. We shall, we hare no doubt, be.able to form a higher opinion of this oompact machine when we see it working, which we hope to do in a few days. We believe that an Auckland " C.E." has secured a first-class site for the purpose of erecting machinery a little above the Prospectors' Claim at Golden Point, Tapu Creek. A waterwbeel is to be constructed, and we are informed that the machinery for manipulating the quartz will be superior to anything yet upon the ground at Sbortland. This will be good news for the diggers in that locality, and we hare no doubt but they will willingly assist in dragging some of the heaviest portions of the machinery over the hills, as the sum of five pounds was recently charged for taking a berdan to the same place by | brute labour. We have much pleasure in intimating that the machinery of Messrs. Clark and Kerstermann, on the Moanataiari, has sommencedwork this week with the most satisfactory results, and now, more than ever, merits the first position amongst the machines on this goldfiald. vVe have already given a brief notice of this machinery, which is of the most perfect description. The engine is the manufacture of Messrs. Young, Carrington, and Co., of Glasgow, and works from 16-horss power nominal, to 25-horse power, with a 2 feet 2 inch stroke. The engine was imported to Auckland ex 'Ida Ziegler,' consigned to Messrs. Bucholz and Co. on account of a London firm. The boiler is of Perth manufacture, and capable of driving twice the power it ia now used for. As we have already stated, it is 22 feet 6 inches in length, and 5 feet 2 inches in diameter. The stampers, &c, have been manufactured by Messrs. Fraser and Tinne, of Auckland, who have also erected the machinery. The work was commenced and completed in three months' time, a fact creditable to the resources of the machinists. The stampers are on the most approved Victorian principle, and at once impress the visitor with the perfection of their construction and adaptability to the work. The three batteries, each containing four head of nfampers, were afc work at the time of our visit ou Wednesday, and everything was going on as smoothly as if the machinery had been in operation as many months a3 hours. It was worked rather slowly until the bearings became settled. The timbers upon which the machinery is built are splendid specimens of the bush around, the greater portion having been cut off the site. They consist of logs, some 21 feet by 30 inches, and 40 feet, placed transversely. The more particular portions of wood-work for the machinery are made of ironbark, imported from Sydney. The batteries are each supplied with a double rake, which can be disconnected as tbe batteries are required to be stopped for cleaning up or other purposes, whilst the splashboards at the bottom tcan be altered at pleasure. There are two cams to each stamper, regulating the fall. The fall of the Btamper is eight inches, and the actual litt ten. The stamper falls 100 |times a minute, with a force of 30cwt. each fall, or 30 times 100 for each stamper. The cam shaft is 3£ inches, and the intermediate shaft 4 inches. During our stay one of the batteries, in which a sample of very inferior stove has been put through for the Grand Junction proprietors, free of expense, was stopped to test the result The tables were carefully cleaned, and the quicksilver removed to the retorting room; nor were the parties particularly disappointed with the result. They expected nothing from the staff, and they received next to nothing. We presume it wa» a mere test of the nature of the mullock on their ground, which would never have been made had the proprietors of the Grand Junction not kindly favoured Messrs. Clarke and Kerstermann with a site for their machinery on thei>* own claim. And this ia an act worthy of commendation, for in doing so the party have conferred a benefit on all the claims in the neighbourhood. But perhaps the greatest novelty in connection with this machinery is the steam exhaust tank, by means of which the warm water for the batteries and ripple tables is procured. The steam passts from the boiler to the exhaust tank, which is made tubular, and containing 19 one-and-a-half-inch tubes for the steam to pass through. After supplying the tank, the steam passes through in a condensed form, and is returned to the boiler to become a second time useful. The steam cheat is placed at a height of about 12 feet, and the water for the ripple tables passes through tubing, a cock at the back of the stamper batteries regulating the supply when the machinery is in working. The retorting-room is convenient to the battery, and is supplied with a furnace and scillion berdan for finishing, together with a supply of water flowing from the exhaust tank, for washing up the room. The warm-w»ter process on the tables is now generally used in Victoria, and is found very advantageous. The firm propose importing an amalgamating barrel, for washing the tailings, when the possibility of even the remotest particle escaping the vigilance of the operators will be entirely removed. They also purpose introducing the latest process adopted in Victoria for the treatment of pyrites and gold. It is also intended to erect pans at the back of the machinery for the reception of quartz, where it can be lodged and taken away without loas to the owners. Nor is this all ; the most useful work has yet to be performed. It is the intention of these enterprising gentlemen to construct a tramway from the machine to the Waiotahi Flat, and already the surveyors have commenced their ta-k. The various claimholders skirting the foot of the hill along the proposed track have already given their I consent to the scheme, and no time will be lost in carrying it out. This will be a great advantage in the present impassable state of the road, and will be useful for the conveyance of fuel, &c, for the machinery. The cost of erecting the machine has no doubt been trebled in consequence of the want of roads. The machine is capable of crushing from 120 to 150 tons per week, and this is amply sufficient to keep the ten claims at work who have guaranteed their crushing to these gentlemen. The Grand Junction were the first to use the machine, and we have little doubt the result will be highly satisfactory. We understand that a sample of about 10 tons of stuff from the Panmure Claim was crushed at Clarke and Kerstermann's machine yesterday, and yielded one pound of amalgam to the ton. The Middle Star Claim continues to turn out some excellent stuff which is estimated to yield some 25 or 30 ounces to the ton. Their returns are on the increase, and last week the party divided double the amount previously yielded during a similar period. A valuable specimen has been taken out of the Dinner-Time Claim duringthe week. It weighs 171b., and « believed to contain 2 ounces of gold to the pound. The claimowners value the specimen at £100. _ The Victory Claim (late Cooper and party's) comprises three mep's ground, on the Moanataiari, and has been worked about two months ago. The party had a crushing on Thursday at Messrs. Fraaer and Tinne's one-stamper berdan, and out of one ton of ' quartz, representing the general yield of a leader, five ounces and a half of retorted gold were obtained. The stuff was merely taken out as a test, and contained no specimens from the claim. The party had been at work on the Collarbone for some tune before taking up the claim they now name the Victory. A drive was put in to a length of 70 feet, when an excellent prospect was obtained from a leader in it, and the party fell back upon a shaft which they sank to a depth of 45 feet, and then cut through the leader and worked upon it, taking out the sample just crushed. The party have had several crushing* before taking to this claim, but have always/ibe«rn unsuccessful on previous occasions. The leader upon which the, men are now working is three and a halt feet wide. ' i "' • The sample of stone crushed from one man'aferound pegged off the Two-Fingered Claim, alluded to in our last,-' yielded! 'seven and three-quarter ounce* of retorted gold from lowt. of atone.