SEARCH FOR GOLD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21250, 2 August 1932, Page 10

SEARCH FOR GOLD

A HUGE EXCAVATOR CONSTRUCTION IN AUCKLAND SOUTHERN MINING VENTURE Tho framework of a towering dragline excavator which has-been under construction at the yards of the Vulcan Steel Construction Company, Ltd., in Nelson Street for some weeks is now being dismantled in readiness for shipping to Central Otago, where the plant is to be used in excavating shingle on the property of the Nokomai Gold Mining Company'. The machine, which weighs approximately 70 tons and is about 60ft. in height, is to be taken by the Union Company's vessel Waipiata to Bluff. The many steel pacts of the framework will then be sent by rail to Parawa station, on the Kingston branch line, 66 miles from Invercargill, and will be transported over seven miles of road to'the claim. Some of the sections are so heavy that it has been found necessary to strengthen some of the bridges and culverts on the road. It is stated that this is the largest dragline excavator' made anywhere. Scraper excavators of a capacity up to 10 and 12 yards have been manufactured in the United States,' but as far as is known the five-yard dragline excavator designed and built in Auckland is the first of its typo. It is especially unique as far as New Zealand is concerned, as it is the first of this type ,of machine to be constructed entirely of. steel members electrically welded. ■ The excavator is in the form of a steel tower travelling on rails. When erected in the Nokomai Valley it will have a cable stretching from the head of the tower and across • the area of shingle to be worked. This cable will carry a bucket for scooping up the shingle. The operation of the bucket will be automatic, the shingle being delivered to hoppers and screened and treated for the recovery of the gold. The machine has a guaranteed capacity of 540,000 cubic yards a year, but the designers anticipate that it will have no difficulty in excavating over 1,000,000 yards. It is estimated that when the excavator is erected it will be possible to keep it in one position for 12 months, so wide is its area of operation, but when it is necessary to move the plant this can be done easily. The excavating and handling equipment have been designed by Mr. J. S. Whitaker, general manager and chief designing mechanical engineer of the Vulcan Steel 'Construction Company, Ltd. MANY NEW COMPANIES .WIDESPREAD ACTIVITIES. The increased interest in the search for gold is shown by the fact that since the beginning of the year 13 gold mining companies have been registered in Auckland Activities are well spread over all areas in which gold has been found in past years. Five of the companies hayß their headquarters in Auckland,' three in Dunedin, two in Christchurch', arid one each in Hokitika, Rsefion- arid Invercargill. The nominal capital involved in the ventures is £256,674, ranging from £65,000 in the case of a gold dredging enterprise promoted in Dunedin, to *"£2000 in the case of one of the Christchurch companies. . . - • . Fifteen gold mining companies, representing 4 n aggregate nominal capital of £284,-450, were registered in New Zealand last year. Seven had their headquarters in Auckland.

activities at kawarau ' fair results reported [by telegraph—own correspondent] DTJNEDIN, Monday Reports from Cromwell state • that last week's activities have considerably augmented the total amoant of gold won since the gates of the Kawarau dam were closed three weeks ago. The miners are not disclosing their results. There are persistent rumours that one party of two men working in the vicinity of the Old Meg and Annie claim secured lOOoz. Both men are reticent. Other miners are meeting with varying success, a number of partiee of two getting up to lOoz. for a week. Unfortunately the total amount of gold won will never be known in the absence of proper control by the unemployment authorities.