STARTING OF THE NEW ZEALAND KAPANGA MINE PUMPING MACHINERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XI, Issue 3847, 12 March 1874, Page 3

STARTING OF THE NEW ZEALAND KAPANGA MINE PUMPING MACHINERY.

[by oue special bepoeteb.] Cobojiandei;, "Wednesday. Seit>OH au event of mining interest gives mo more pleasure in recording than the completion and setting to work of the large steam engine, frith its attachments for winding, pi'-np-ing, r.nd crushing, as this property has done, which has been so energetically erected and carried through by the general manager of the company, Captain Thomas, daring the last few months. Steam was got up for the first trial to-day, "when lhe cnmpany'fl «nginoor, Mr. Yerran, took the starting gear in hand, and worked the machinery half speed ahead for a shovi time, for the purpose of testing and regulating some of the principal steam ■valves, lengths of connecting rods, and other details in connection with the p .-incipsl dc!icatc v.orkiug parts of the engine. After a few screw-valves and levers were re-adjusted, the engine was connected to the balance-beam and pit-work in the shaft, which threw forth a volume of water from the 16-inch pump, from a depth of 150 feet, the whole connection of fiuL rods, balance-beam and main rods moving as evenly and without noise as if thoy were revolving on greased felt, whiist the largo beam of the engine overhead, with its connections outside and inside of the engine-house, were as obedient to the control of their master as a letter-balance would be for weighing „ letter, Luch w»s the ease, nicety, and preci_lon, without noise or vibration, with which the machine moved, as if it were a thing of life, shewing the extreme care displayed in having the mechanical details properly adjusted and thoroughly fixed. The manager placed the erection of the machinery under the charge and construction of Mr. Verrftn, who deserves much credit for his aptitude and mechanical skill in conducting and oarrying out faithfully the instructions entrusted to him. On visiting the mine I waß furnished with the following details of the machinery. The engine is a Cornish beam engine ; cylinder 24 inches in diameter of 9 feet stroke, and on the double-acting expansive principle, furnished with double valves, cupable of being worked to 150 horse-power; length of main beam, 30 feet; its weight as it is now working in position is about 13 tonß. The cylinder stands vertic'ly in a lofty engine-house, r id is very firmly Doited to a high solid basement of masonry, the huge boam being balanced 36 feet high from the ground, one half being in the house, and the other half outside. The outside extremity is connected to a sweep rod 2-1 inches in length, made of the best hammered iron, weighing about a ton. The Bweep rod drives a right and left main shaft of 12 inches diameter made of faggoted iron." The right shaft carries the winding and pumping connections, and the left shaft the reserving gear and'fly-wheel, the latter is 20 feet in diameter, weighing about five tons, of iron. to each end of the main shafts, crown and pinion cog-wheels are fixed for driving a battery of 50 stampers, which are o'rer 3y on the ground for immediate erection, together with all the apparata connected therewith. The whole of this machinery, together with some 600 feet of 10, 15, and 16-inch diameter pumps were made, suppled, and shifted to New Zealand by Messrs. 'Harvey oud Sons, the well-known Cornwall mining engineers. Two Cornish boilers, 30 feet long nd 6 feet in diameter, weighing 10 tons each, are encased in brickwork for supplying steam work to the engine. The engine shaft is of fino proportions—l 4 by 8 feet, —within timbers, and sunk perpendicularly 150 feet. The company's pitman, Mr. Andrews, to whose charge this branch of the works was entrusted, has completed fixing the pitwork in a most substantial and minerlike manner. It consists of 150 feet of 16-inch diameter pumps, nd is technically termed a " drawing lift," to this depth. The main rods in tho shaft are made of the heart of rimu or red pine, 10 inches square, in pieces of 45 and 50 feet long, reaching to the bottom for connecting to the next set of pumps. This continuous set of rods is set in motion and attached to tho balance-beam at the surface. Th& set of connection (the part joining the balance-beam to the main rod) is effected and made at a point 30 feet from the surface, and the balance-beam is connected by an 8 by 8-inch rimu flat rod 110 feet long, divided into three lengths. This fe»'eat rod is connected to the main crank, which is again keyed on to tho extreme end of tho right main driving shaft, the crank being so arranged aB to give a 4, 6, or 9-feet stroke in the pump, capable of lifting 70 gellons of water per stroke. The engine, ordinarily going at the rate of 32 to 15 stokes per minute, will,* the manager anticipates, vomit forth at the surface some 800 gallons per minute. Whilst the shaft is sinking the water will only be sufficient to keop'tlie eng"ie going

two or three strokes per minute, until the old works are unbottomed, when a large increase of water may be expected. The balance beam !b also made of rod pine. It is 33 feot long, 18 x 18 inches square timber, and is of immense strength. (The engine-house containing this large engine must necessarily be of large sizo. Its height to the top of the roof is 50 feet; length 30 feet, and width 20 feet. The boiler-houso and stoking-ahed attached, containing the two boilers, is 50 by 20 feet. The foundations of the entire plant consist of innumerable quantities of kauri spars 3 feet ground transversely and longitudinally. The square and 60 feet long, embedded in solid cylinder foundation (inßide the houße) as well as tho foundation for the pumping, winding, and crushing attachments outside, consists of concrete masonry raised 12 feet high on three massive timbers. Tho amount of creek stone and gravel used is calculated to oxcecd 1000 tons. This materip'. is concreted with Palmer's ground hydraulic lime, obtained from Mahurangi, which Captain Thomas, the general mauager, affirms is superior to the generality of Euglish cements. On this artificially-made foundation, as above doscribed, and in tho absence of building 3tDne, an ingenious plan has been devised to support the ponderous beam, ue-noly, on an iron pillar formed by four separate pillars of four 9-feet lengths of 16-inch piping. This was 36 feot high, and was built <"t a few days. Tho beam was hoisted on its summit, and the houso soon finished, being constructed with Btroug kauri spars firmly bound togother, audweathor-boarded. They present an appearance of neatness and order that woo'.d be difficult to bo imagined could be accomplished. The chimney consists of an iron funnel 60 feet long and 3 feet in diameter, bolt jd on a basement of brick 12 feot high, adjoining tho boilers, which answers admirably. This plan also was adopted in consequenco of tho cost of brick and scarcity of skilled labour, and by substituting an iron chimnoy the manager effects a saving of about one-fourth the cost of a brick one. The many difficulties at f 3udiug tho getting the materials to the spot can only be realised by those who are ? 'cally and praoticr'ly ncqua-'-ited p. Ith the iucoiivenionccs eourcqueut on such' work in a newly-settled district. This work has now, however, been accomplished. The transporting the material and erecting tho machinery without injury or accident of any moment to tho workmen, and without disputes, petty law or litigation, is owing entirely to tho discretion rnd steady practicr l manner in which tho company's general manager has devoted his attention and abi'ities to further his company's interests by hastening the development of one of orr most prized r'ld known-to-be valuable ovnes in the North Island. Tho manager speaks in high terms of tho assistance rendered by Mr. Clymo, Mr. Verran, and the other portion of tho company's staff during the whole period connected with tho erection and completion of the undertaking. The shaft, it is estimated, will be sunk at the rate of about nine feet per week if tho country continues anything like fair shooting ground. In the course of a couple of months the prospects will bo of such a character, from the known richness of the ground now going down upon that golden area, that will be alike eatisfacMry to the company, a credit to Captr'n Thomas, and a considerable boon io the district.