THE WETHEESTONES CEMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 4951, 15 January 1879, Page 4

THE WETHEESTONES CEMENT.

A suggestion:" which appeared in our columns a short :time ago, that some of the claim-owners should unite in erecting a large battery for the pui-pose of thoroughly testing the|auriferous deposits known as the Wether,stones cement,- does.not find favor with the 'Tuapeka Times.' It is objected that such a proposal .involves carting the material, which be absurd. Our contemporary has evidently never, heard of tramways, postrand; rail railways,-rand the appliances f1 ;: ■'. cheaply constructed, easily •Bhifted from-place to place, and- successfully, used dt the Thames; and more recently at jGreen(lsland, called aerial.tramways. The alternative mode of dealing-with the matter 'approved by the 'Tuapeka Times' is a port--able'4)attery of three heads of stampers, to be worked by horse-power. This may bd all very *wSll fpr testing aiew.tpns.of'Btuff in a,some- • whatcpstly and vety ineracient wiy. Apestle and mprtar-would be 'almost equally effective, as it would afford the means of ascertaining w.hether the, material contamed gold. But to ascertain whether payable results can be obtained : frpni an enormous mass - - of. auriferous deposit, nothing short of continued testing, involving the reduction of many: thousands of'.tons ,by means of the best gQldT.Baving apparatus,, and with ttie most cd:mplete<nteans;that can be devised of economising labor, will prove efficient.: A portable'.battery,- worked byihorse-power, will npt' { fur"nißh results certain to justify a large investment of capital such •as- will, necessary, speedily to ! importftiit industry.' . ' «