THE NEW BIG RIVER MINE

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 July 1913, Page 5

THE NEW BIG RIVER MINE

OPENING OF THE NEW WINDING

PLANT. OPENING CEREMONY. In response! tc an invitation issued by the directors, a large number of ladies and gentlemen were conveyed to Big River on Saturday hist to attend the opening of the machinery recently erected at the New Big River mine. At 7 a.m. the following left Reefton, via:, Misses McNamara and Louben; Mesdames Stevenson, Castle. Fenton, Fere'ns, Tudehope, and McMahon; Messrs Betts (Chairman County Council), Irving, Scantlebury, Mclnroc (members County Council), Bishop (Inspector .of Mines), Nortou-Johnson, Robinson, Tilley, Liddleiow, Burley (Consolidated Goldfields), Morrison (Blackwater Mhies), A. P. Watson (superintendent Progress mill), J. Auld (Keep-It-Dark mill), Ferens (National Bank), Smith (Clerk of Court), Brett (Engineer),' Auld (Clerk County Council), Lawry, Patterson. Gibson, J. B Stevenson, Skilton,)Buchan, H. and F. Walsleben, F. Wills, Perotti, Von Sturmer, Sherlock, Thornton (Inangahua Times), Mirfin (Inangahua Herald), and Stevenson, Pickett (directors), and Lee (Secretary). VISIT OF INSPECTION. This party left Reefton in seven wagounettes. Unfortunately, the weather was not at all promising, but beyond a few showers at intervals the rain held off. The roads for a good deal of the way were very muddy in consequence of the continued wet weather for weeks past. This was i especially yoticeablc on the top of the Progress Hill, up which the male portion had to walk. This portion of the road has always been very bad in wet weather, owing to the scarcity of good metal in that vicinity. However, the party reached their destination at 11.30. They were shown throughout the crushing mill by the manager (Mr W. Rodden), the plant consisting of ten heads of stampers and the necessary appliances for the saving of the gold. Although the tables had been scraped previous to arrival, they were still coated with amalgam, showing the splegdid quality of the stone which the Company is crushing and which is yielding the shareholders handsome dividends.

An adjournment was then made for luncheon, which had been supplied by Mrs Flannigan, and which w'as greatly appreciated, the long drive having sharpened the ' appetites of the party. VISIT TO, THE'MINE.

After luncheon the party wended their way to the mine, a distance of about half a. mile, where they were met by the manager, Mr J. H. McMahon, and shown throughout the new buildings w|ere the new machinery is placed. The winding engine and other new plant (a full description of which appeared in the issue of the Evening Star of July 4th, being supplied by your correspondent) were greatly admired by everyone. The company’s engineer (Mr George Black, junr.) demonstrated the ease with which the men and the stone are raised and lowered in the mine. Mr Black lias been in the employ of the Company for a considerable number of years as Engineer. The method of hoisting a,nd lowering in the first instance was by means of a horse and whip, later on by an overshoot waterwheel, later still by a steam winding engine, and now by, without the slightest doubt, one of the very best winding plants in the whole of Australasia. A few of thb party were then lowered down the mine, and were shown throughout the various workings by the manager (Mr McMahon). After several photographs had been taken by Mr Sherlock., the party were invited to an adjoining room, where a splendid spread had been provided by the company, the chair being occupied by Mr James Stevenson (Chairman of Directors) and the vice-chair by Mr H. Betts. After due justice had been done to the excellent things provided, the Chairman, on behalf of the directors of ’the New Big River Company, extended a hearty welcome to the. visitors, and proposed the toast of “The King and Royal Family,” which was dulv honored. '‘SUCCESS TO THE BIG RIVER.”

The Vice-Chairman (Mr Betts) thfin proposed the toast of "The New Big River Goldraining Company,” coupling with it the names of Messrs Stevenson and Pickett (directors), Lee (Secretary), and McMahon and Redden (managers), and, in doing so. he congratulated the company on the splendid up-to-date plant which they had erected >at an expenditure approaching 810,000. It certainly spoke well of their enterprise, and the future prospects of the mine. ,He first came out to the Big River district twenty-five-years ago. In comparing the manner in which mining was Carried on then and now, he referred to the enterprise and pluck of the old pioneers. The district wanted more successful ventures in thair midst, such as the Big River had proved, especially seeing it was a local venture. The profits to shareholders, who resided in the Dominion. He referred to the splendid * 'mapper in which the Company treated its employees, and sincerely hoped the future prospects of the mine would be height. ' The toast was dulv honored.

Mr Stevenson, in replying, thanked those present for the manner in which they had honored the toast. The Company had spared no money in Having the very best machinery erected. If the new winding engine only brought as much gold up from the mine as the old engine had, he for one would be quite satisfied.

Mr Pickett also thanked them for coup hug his name with the .toast.

Mr McMahon referred” to the assistance which he had received from the Directors. He felt proud of the position the morie now occiimed • „ !

Mr Lee, in replying, stated that the outlook in the bottom level of the mine being so good, the Company had decided' to instal the present plant. The workings from Nos. 9 to 8 levels had produced much more than half of the total gold production of the whole of the levels frohi No. 8 to the surface. The outlook in the lowest level (No. 10) was even_ better than that shown when No. 9 was first opened up, and therefore the future of the mine below No. 10 never looked so promising for deeper work. The Big River mine was, in fact, an object lesson, of the value of deep sinking on the lodes in the Reefton mining field, and- this example ought to stimulate other mines to prosecute work at a depth. The Big River workings were now the second deepest in the Dominion, being beaten only by the Energetic mine, which was also in the Reefton field. OTHER TOASTS HONORED.

The toast of “The Inangahua County Council” was then proposed by Mr Norton Johnson, who said that the Council was composed of a body of men who had had a good deal to do with the success of this district, having constructed the roads leading to it. Mr Scantlebury, in replying, remarked on the difficulties the Council had to contend with; on the large amount of money needed to make the road for such' a, ais tance, viz., eighteen miles, and a’.so to the large sums needed every year to maintain ::t. It would; have been an impossibility for the Council to have done so had not the past Governments come to their assistance on various occasions, and he was sure this would be done by the Government in the future. He regretted that the road was not in a better condition than what it had been that day, but with the limited, means at the disposal of the Council, and the miles of road to maintain, they had done their best. He congratulated the Company on the splendid property they possessed, and the firstclass machinery they had erected. He sincerely hoped they would have a still more prosperous future, and, in a very short time, instead' of employing sixty men, they would be employing six hundred.

Mr Mclnroe also thanked them. He adversely criticised the action of the Council in knocking the men off the roads during the summer months, as £1 spent then did more good than £lO -n the winter months.

“The Visitors” was then proposed by Mr J. McMahon, coupled with the names of Messrs Ferens (manager National Bank), Morrison (manager Blackwater mines), and Watson (superintendent of Progress mill). The toast was duly honored.

“The Contractors and Workmen” was proposed by Mr J. Stevenson, coupled with the names of Messrs Tudehope, Panckhurst, Bryan, Wilby, Henderson, and R. McMasters.

“The Ladies’’ was proposed by Mr H. Smith, ftmpled with the names of Messrs Perotti, Patterson, and McPadden. In doing so he referred to those who, despite the difficulties they had to contend with, had come out to Big River to reside with their husbands, and put up with the many inconveniences that existed. The toast was duly acknowledged. The “Press” was proposed by Mr Lawry. coupled with the names of Messrs Thornton and Mirfin. who suitably replied.

The proceedings were brought to a close by the singing of “Auld Lang Svne.”

By half-past four the party were all aboard for the return journey, reaching Reefton about three hours later, everyone having thoroughly enjoyed their visit to the Big River.