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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9712, 7 January 1895, Page 6

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STARqc'OP THE REDUCTION PLANT. PROSPECTS OP THE MINE. ,/ • [FROM our own reporter.] ■'. By the amalgamation of the Kapai and Vermont mines at Kuaotunu, both situated on the strike of the well-known Try Fluke reef, one of the most important mining areas in that district, has been formed. The headquarters of the new company are in.Sydney, but there is a local office, local i directors, and a local manager, and the combined outcome of the amalgamation has been the increased development of the mine, the openiug up of important resources and runs of gold, and the erection of a reduction plant and cyanide plant, these being formally opened on Friday last in the presence of a large crowd of interested people. Included were Mr. Edwin Stanley (chairman of directors, Sydney), and Mr. George Robson (the Sydney manager of the company), Mr. George Harper (of Auckland), and Mr. Swindley (of Coromandel), who are also directors of the company. Amongst those present were : — Messrs. Thos. Carroll, Richard Simmonds,and Colebrook, who had riddenoverjfromCoromandel; Miss Lizzie Harper, Miss J. Reeves, Miss Jackson, Mrs. Peebles, Mr. W. Robinson, and Mr. C. H. Churton, Auckland; Mr. Peebles, manager of the Red Mercury, who has been associated with the field for a great number of years as prospector and manager ; Mr. John Goldsworthy, manager of the Try Fluke; Mr. H. Goldsworthy, manager of the Great Mercury ; Mr. Arthur Richards, battery manager; Mr. George Loram, Mr. Black, Mr. McSheffrey, and a number of other Kuaotunu residents. The event of starting the new plane was evidently one to which a great deal of local interest attached, judging by the number who assembled. The Auckland visitors left at seven o'clock on Thursday evening, arriving at Kuaotunu at about four o'clock on Friday morning, after a pleasant, fineweather trip. They were welcomed by Mr. Loram, the genial bonifaceof the Kuaotunu Hotel, and were soon joined by Mr. Stanley and Mr. Robson, who have been staying at Kuaotunu, supervising the erection of the plant, and shortly afterwards the Coromandel visitors rode in. A slight shower fell about eight o'clock but it was of short duration, and the remainder of the day was beautifully fine. The time fixed for the opening ceremony was two o'clock in the afternoon, so that ample time was afforded to the visitors to inspect the mine before engaging in the ceremonial. THE MINE. ... Under the guidance of Mr. Hornibrook, manager of the company's mine and plant, a reporter of the Herald and a number of the other visitors proceeded from the battery to the mine, and a description of the latter and of its connections with the crushing plant will no doubt be of special interest at the presenb juncture when bo much attention is directed to it as a greab mining feature in the northern portion of the Thames Peninsula. *

As many are no doubt aware, the KapaiVermont company's property adjoins the Try Fluke on its southern boundary, and the whole of the operations so far have been directed to further opening up and developing the tine reef which has been the main gold producer' of the district since the opening of this section of the goldfield. The workings are all from one main level. The lode was first intersected in a crosscut 275 feet in length, and at a depth of upwards of 250 feet from the crown of the hill. Operations in the first instance were naturally carried in a northerly direction, as the Try Fluke was then turning out good ore near the boundary, and under Mr. Wilson's management the reef, which was four feet thick at the point of intersection, was followed to the Try Flake boundary, a distance of 200 feet, the lode widening to 12 feet in some places, and maintaining an average of from six to eight feet. Above the level the reef has been scoped to a height of 60 feet, and a length of 40 feet, and another block has been taken out for a length of 30 feet and a height of 20 feet. This is all the stoping that has been done, bub a winze was sunk on the reef at a point 160 feet north of the crosscut and carried to a depth of 45 feet. Good ore was obtained from this winze, and what was taken out of it considerably enhanced the value of the last crushing. Some of the ore was sent to Ballarat for treatment, and this, we are informed, yielded bullion to the value of £11 per ton, while two tons ' treated at the Thames School of Mines by the pan amalgamation process yielded ab the rate of £30 a ton, We may add that in this portion of the workings at the Try Fluke boundary and at the flat sheet there are about five tons of picked ore stored, and at the invitation of Mr. Hornibrook each visitor, took some pieces at random, and all, when examined in the light, showed gold in greater or less quantities, some of them being decidedly rich. Bub the more recent developments are of very great importance, inasmuch as a splendid new run of gold has been found. The lode has been driven on in a southerly direction for a little over 200 feet, and vary ing in size from five to eight feet, it has been followed through a fine class of country. It is well defined between two excellent walls, and is at an angle of about 65 degrees, lb carries gold to a greater or less extent the whole length, but it was noticed that one vein in particular, a brownish seam of quartz running close to the hangingwall was particularly good. lb was at first small and irregular in size, but it gradually widened out, and at a point 160 feet south of the flat-sheet in the crosscut, Mr. Hornibrook determined to put up a rise. The vein referred to widened out almost immediately, and in the rise which has now been carried up a height of 70 feet, this rich seam expanded, and the ore which is of rich quality, showed gold freely. It is now two feet thick. Although, however, this is, undoubtedly the richest portion of the fine reef, it musb not be thought that ibis the only portion that is payable. On the contrary, it carries payable ore from the footwall to the hangingwall, although some portion near the centre of the lode is of low grade, bub the whole lode is fine friable quartz. The visitors each brought atones from the top of the rise (up which there is a fine ladder-way). Some of these showed visible gold; others, in which gold was nob visible, gave splendid dish prospects when pounded, and not a single small chip of the quartz failed to leave a decent tail of gold in the dish. Mr. Hornibrook demonstrated the extreme fineness of the gold, and the' impossibility of saving it by the ordinary , web processes. After pounding some of the stone in a mortar, water was poured in on it and allowed to rest a.little. The water was then poured gently and carefully into a dish, and allowed to stand while the pros-

pect from the poundod ore was washed.!' This gave a splendid show of gold. The dirty water poured into the dish at first was then panned off, and to the surprise of those who at most expected only a trace of gold, there was a fine prospect, such as would under ordinary circumstances be a good show in itself. We might say that this was not the result of one test only, but of many, and the results' invariably proved that the gold floated away notwithstanding the utmost care. ; Before leaving the mine, we have to notice the arrangements for ventilation which bare become necessary. A furnace near the month of the crosscut has been cut into the side, and a six-inch pipe leads from. this through the crosscut and south derive up the rise to the face. This exhausts the foul air and another pipe leading,, Yrom the north drive which has a plentiful supply of air frqm the Try Fluke W'di'ittngs is led up the rise. Of course ;*Vber arrangements will be necessary r.i%ji for the pipes in the drive will have.jfo be removed when stoping commences, And although the appliances are at present adequate for ventilation an opening'to the surface will soon become an ahsblute necessity. The tramway from the $rive is extending along a siding and ""bridge to a square shoot with a hopper top into which the quartz is discharged from the trucks. This shoot, 110 feet in length, conveys the quartz into a large hopper capable of holding 200 tons of ore, and from this hopper the ore is conveyed along a tramway 12 chains in lengths to the two kilns where it is roasted and made ready for dry crushing treatment. Each of these kilns is 16 feet in diameter at the top and 27 feet in depth, egg-shaped towards the bottom, and capable of treating from 70 to 80 tons of ore. These kilns discharge into a drive brought in under them, where the trucks load, and the ore is taken along four chains of tramway across trestle work to the top of the battery house, where it is discharged into the feeding hoppers. This brings us to

THE REDUCTION WORKS. The building is a wooden structure of very peculiar appearance from the outside. There are two wings above the main roof, one wing being that into which the quartz is received from the mill, and where the stonebreaker is to be erected, the other contains the hopper into which the crushed ore is elevated, and from which the percolating vats are fed. The reduction plant is not a stamp mill, but what is known as an Austral-Otis crusher or grinder. The motive power is supplied by a boiler and engine manufacture*! by the Austral-Otis Company, of Melbourne. The boiler is a peculiar one, being made partly on the Cornish partly on the multitubular principle. It is 12 feet long and 3 feet 6 inches diameter. lb is nob yet bricked in, but although it can be worked exposed as at present of course the heat will be greatly economised when it is bricked in, and considering the cost of delivering coal at the mill from the ship's side, 7s 6d to 8s per ton economy in fuel is a very serious item. The engine is a ten horse-power horizontal. The crushing power ie the Otis No. 3 mill, lb is, as most people know, an iron cylinder with grinders on the inside fed from the centre, and the ground ore is discharged over a large face of screens, which cover the whole circumference. The mill is six feet in diameter, four feet wide, and goes at a speed of 25 revolutions to the minute. Thore are two sets of screens— a coarse set of screen, discharging through slots, and the other the grade mesh screens, 40-moah wire cloth, through which all the ore has bo find its way before it reaches the discharge at the bottom ; but as there are 7,000,000 holes exposed per revolution, the discharge is pretty extensive. From the discharge the powdered ore is led into an iron tube, which has a fall of 10 degrees, and which revolves 12 times per minute, this tube feeding into the elevator at the rate of a ton per hour. Tho whole operation of the treatment is by gravitation with tho exception of this elevator, which is worked from the engine. lb is a belt with 20 buckets passing through an enclosed box, which raises the powdered ore a height of 38 feet, and then discharges it into a square hopper set diagonally. It is 9fb. 'Gin. square, and 10ft. deep, capable of holding 30 tons of crushed ore, and the discharges from this hopper, four in number, are 12 by 12 shoots, filling into the tour percolating cyanide vats without either trucking or handling. These vats, four in number, are circular. They,are each 16ft. 6in. in diameter, and 4ft. in depth. The reservoir, placed on a highor level, is lift. 6in. in diameter and 4ft. Gin. deep, and the sump vat, which is on the lowest level, is about the same size as the percolating vats. The discharge from the percolating vats is from the bottom, near the centre, and not as usual from the side, and this it is thought will be an advantage in sluicing them out. The plant is guaranteed to treat loewt. to a ton per hour, according to the nature of the ore, bub with the fino friable ore of the Kapai-Vermont, it has been proved capable of treating upwards of a ton per hour. The feed hopper of the mill is not yet connected with the upper floor, on which the stone-crusher is to be fixed, and at present it is being fed by hand, but the necessary connection will be marie immediately. There is engine-power sufficient and space available for another Otis crusher similar to that now erected, and for a general extension of the plant, when it becomes necessary. The whole plant was designed and constructed by the company's engineer, Mr. James Walker, who remains in charge of it for the present. Messrs. Lovett and Payne built the vats and shed, and Mr. Primrose was the contractor for the hoppers, and the work appears to have been faithfully executed throughout.

THE OPENING CEUKMONV. At about half-past two o'clock, the whole of the visitors assembled in the millhouse, where a substantial luncheon, which all wore invited to partake of, was spread by Mr. Loram, and after a short time preparations were all in rediness for the openin ceremony. The orthodox champagne boctie suspended by a ribbon hung in fronb oi the boiler and Miss Elizabeth Harper was led up by Mr. Stanley. Taking hold of the bottle Miss Harper said, "I name this the Kapai Vermont, and hope it will give many happy returns to the shareholders" and slinging the bottle against the face of the boiler ib was smashed to atoms. The assembly responded with cheers for the Vermont and for Miss Harper.

The mill then continued to work, its operations being explained by Mr. Walker, and the directors and manager and all were highly pleased with the satisfactory manner in which the ore was treated the fineness to which it was reduced, etc., and above all with the rapidity with which the ore was treated which was much above the general expectation, and Mr. Stanley, Mr. Robson, and the directors generally were warmly congratulated on the successful start of their plant. : _# THE BANQUET. To give furbher eclat to the day's proceedings a banquet to which all those whose names I have already mentioned and a number of others including the engineers and millhands had been invited, sat down to a well-served dinner in the large diningroom of the Kuaotunu Hotel in the evening, the tables doing credit to the resources of Mr. Loram's establishment. Mr. E. Stanley, chairman of the directors, presided, and seated with him were Messrs. G. Harper and Captain Swindley, directors of the company, and Mr. George Robson, the Sydney manager. After the tables were cleared Mr. Stanley proposed the toast of " The Queen," which was loyally responded to. Mr. Arthur Richards, referring to the depression which had prevailed, said lie hoped that what they had seen that day would be the means of, bringing prosperity once more to Kuaotunu. He had great pleasure in proposing "Prosperity to the Kapai-Vermont Gold Mining Company." (Cheers.)

Mr. Stanley, who was received with cheers, said it devolved on him to respond, and he felt a difficulty, for ib was out of his line to talk much, as "he was more a man of action than of words. He was pleased in the extreme to be here to meet them on the opening of these works. Their reducing plant had been put there with difficulty, bub he believed they were so far successful. At the time they started the New Zealand shareholders and the Sydney shareholders were strangers to each other, and there was naturally some distrust between them, but as they became acquainted that feeling passed away, and; now there was a feeling of unanimity in the enterprise which they had so far brought to a successful issue. (Cheers.) The feeling of distrust between the New Zealand and New South Wales shareholders was dissipated, and they now worked to-

gather, and only vied , with each other since they understood each other in promoting the general success. He had, therefore, again to say thab he was now pleased too meet those present, and to know that bo far the enterprise was a success. Many honestlydoubted whether the "coffee mill" would put through the quantity of ore ib 'jKnkstatedit would troab bub ib had mor-t> "than carried oat expectations. Refem'tng to the amalgamation of the two companies Mr. Stanley wenb on to say,*J»'at at first there was great difficulty in/ getting the shareholders to come Two years ago he first visitedTfrluaotunu. He was then interested in> the Vermonb, but his visit to New Zealand "on that occasion was a pleasure trip. He was, however, requested by other Sydney shareholders to visit the Vermont and give them his opinion of it. He could nob see much of the Vermont then except the hill on which ib was situated, bub he was introduced to Mr. Wilson, the manager of the Kapai mine, and having visited that mine ho was very favourably impressed with what he saw and with the appearance of the fine reef as one which was worth spending money on. Ab that time he thought it would bo an advantage to both but especially to the Verinonb (laughter)'if an amalgamation was brought about and ib was to some extent brought about then in the shape of a concession or tribute to extend tho drive into the Vermonb ' ground. Then arose the idea of the amalgamation, which was worked up and carried oub as it existed to-day, the Vermonb shareholders agreeing to place machinery on the mine, and the Kapai agreeing to pay back the cost out of the first profits. These were the bases of amalgamation, and taken altogether they succeeded very well. Mr. Hornibrook was appointed mine manager, and under his advice a great deal had been carried out. Then they sought an engineer, and Mr. James Walker was selected, and his work spoke for itself. As might naturally be expected, they had great difficulty in getting money together, but this was overcome by the efforts of their secretary, Mr. Georgo Robson, of Sydney, who loab no opportunity of pushing on this project, and he must say thab the owners of the B shares, the Vermonb shareholders, had responded liberally, and paid up every penny expended on the plant. (Cheers.) He thanked them all very heartily on behalf of the directors and the company for the manner in which the toast had been responded to. Mr. Swindley said, as one of those who had been associated with this mine from the first, and had stuck to it, he must refer to their worthy lesral manager, Mr. D. G. MacDonnell, of Auckland, without whose perseverance and pluck they would not be here that night to celebrate the opening of the plant. Mr. Stanley said he had to pay a high tribute to the local directors, Messrs. Swindley, Harper, and Argall, and Mr. MacDonnell, who had all worked most energetically in tho interests of the company. Mr. Harper proposed "The Kuaobunu Goldfields."

Mi*. Hornibrook and Mr. Peebles replied, the latter gentleman referring to the fact that he had been connected with the field since 1880, when he landed here with Mr. Evers, and camped near the site of the hotel, when there was no one else, not even natives, here. Mr. Stanley, referring to the Cassel process, said they wished to come to some reasonable agreement with the Cassel people, but he considered they charged excessive royalty, and he would ask the assistance of the Government of New Zealand, nob on behalf of the Kapai-Vermont Company, but on behalf of the gold mining industry ; for they wanted the assistance of the Government, the laws courts, and more especially oi the public. Mr. Robson read the decision Mr. Justice Romer in the London law courts in connection with the trial of the case brought by the Cassel Company against the Cyanide Gold Recovery Company, in which he ruled that the claims of the Cassel Company were untenable and their patents invalid. That decision, however, was appealed against, with what result is nob yet known.

The toast of the Press was proposed in eulogistic terms by Mr. Stanley, and responded to by the Herald reporter, and the toast of the ladies was enthusiastically received. Miss Harper's health was also proposed by the Chairman, and responded to by Mr. Harper on behalf of his daughter. The toast of the host and hostess was also duly honoured. A number of musical selections were given by the ladies present, and a very pleasant and enjoyable evening was spent by all present. *

BROKEN HILL (WAIOMO). Thames, Sunday. A meeting of the local shareholders in the Broken Hill (Waiotno) syndicate was hold here last evening, Mr. E. McDonnell presiding. The meeting was merely an informal one, called to discuss preliminary matters relative to forming a company. It was decided to move for the formation of a limited liability company, with a capital of £13,750, in 55,000 shares of 5s each, of which Is should be considered as paid up. It was also decided to urge that no time b» lost in getting several tons of ore brought up from the mine to bo treated at the School of Mines, as a test of the value of the reef, the ore to be broken from at least three different parts of the mine. A committee of local shareholders was appointed to confer with Mr. R. McDonald Scott on matters of interest to the syndicate on his arrival at the Thames during the ensuing week. The prospects of the syndicate in connection with the mine are of a very promising character, samples of the ore taken at different points from the reef, which ranges from four bo twelve feet in thickness, having given very high assay values.

MINE MANAGER'S REPORTS. Silverton (Waitekauri, January I).— visited the mine yesterday, and took the levels of the water in the two winzes and the shaft: In the latter the water has risen (since'the contractor stopped for the holidays) to the height of 64 feet; that is within 37 feet of the surface, or about level with the top of hard bar. The water in the tributer's winze has gone down four feet since my last visit, and now stands at seven feet below the smithy drive, or about 28 feet above the water in the company's winze, which has risen to within two feet of the roof of drive or equal five feet above top of the well; this is not so much as I expected, as the water in the shaft is now 18 feet higher than the water in the winze, but it proves there is very little connection, if any, between the winzes and shaft, although! believe the shaft is taking the surface water that used to dam back into the winze. I also took the levels from the collar of the shaft to the top of the company's winze, and found the collar of shaft was 20 feet higher than the top of the winze. I would therefore recommend that the chamber set be fixed at 140 feet below the top of the shaft, allowing ton for the well this would give a splendid block of ground for stoping equal to 120 feet below the smithy level or 70 feet below the bottom of company's winze. By doing this there would be a great saving in timber and labour, than if opened up in small blocks. The distance to be driven from the shaft to cut the reef is 182 feet. The contractor for the shaft, which is now down 115 feet, starts work again on Wednesday, the 2nd. I forward you samples of stone taken out of. the shaft, one from the top of the hard bar and one from the bottom of shaft. ■