NEW MACHINERY AT THE KAITAN. GATA COMPANY'S MINE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2046, 11 May 1893, Page 5

NEW MACHINERY AT THE KAITAN. GATA COMPANY'S MINE.

INSTALLATION OF THE ELECTRIC LIGHT.

The directors and general manager of the Kaitangata Coal Company, accompanied by several invited guests, paid a visit to the mine on Friday night and Saturday to witness the lighting by electricity of their new engine house and generally to inspect the mine and the splendid new machinery which the company have now at work. On Friday night the electric light was tamed on in the presence of the general manager and those of the directors who had arrived by the afternoon train. The electric plant has been supplied by the New Zealand Engineering and Electrical Company, which has now for some time carried on operations in Dunedin. At present the light is only used for the Kaibangata Company's works at the pit head, the screens, engine sheds, boiler house, and manager's house being all lighted with it ; but it is the intention of the company to eventually use it in their underground operations. The light is supplied by a 100-light dynamo, worked by a vertical eight-horse power engine. Twenty-one incandescent lamps (each equal to 22 candles) and one arc lamp (equal to 200 candles) are now in position, leaving a large margin for a further increase in the number of lamps. The engine house, screen shed, and other buildings presented a brilliant spectacle on Friday night when the light was turned on. Everything worked smoothly, the light proving strong, clear, and steady, and lighting-up the whole of the place with splendid effect. The company have within the past few months put in an entirely new plant, consisting of' two large compressed air engines, the cylinders of which are each' 26in in diameter, with a 48in stroke. These are used to supply power in the shape of compressed air for driving the underground pumps. In addition to driving the pump from the present workings, it also drives the new pump placed at the bottom of the 700 ft shaft, forcing the water to the surface in one 1 column. Further, the compressed air supplies power to two' underground hauling- engines,' and- is largely utilised for ventilating the headings that are necessary for opening up the coal 'seamsj' the company finding this course to be muclvmore economical for narrow workings thanthe'p'ractice of driving double headings and instead of temporary airways ; while the ventilation' of the mine is considerably improved by the pumps j being driven by the compressed air instead of I steam. In addition to the compressed air plant the company have put in a 'set of new winding engines to lift the coal from the 700 ft level, consisting of two cylinders each 20in in diameter, with a 54in stroke, working direct on to a 12ft drum with double-deck cages, landingitwo trucks of coal each winding. To complete the plant new head-gear has ; been erected, also new jigger screens, driven by steam power, which sort the coal into four 1 different sizes at one operation; The screens are working very effectively, and arel of the most modern type, haying been selected by Mr Brydone during his visit Home last year. It is a most interesting sight to watch the screens at work, the coal being sorted into the four classes of ordinary coal, nuts, peas, and dross, and falling into trucks for the respective sorts placed underneath the screens. After an inspection of this magnificent plant the visitor can readily believe the manager's statement that it is the most qpmplete of its kind south of the line ; indeed it is difficult to believe that more perfect appliances can be found even in the large collieries of 1 Great Britain, though there are no doubt more extensive plants required for the great Home collieries. To meet the steam requirements of the increased power a new boiler has been added, thus making three steel boilers 30ft long and 6ft in diameter, which supply all the steam power for the plant. The pump for the 700 ft shaft, winding engines, and boiler were supplied by Messrs A. and T. Burt. This pump is now in position in its chamber 700ftf below the surface, and has not yet had a thorough trial of its power. It has, however, demonstrated that it can force water to the surface from the great depth at which it is placed. The company have spent £7000 in these splendid improvements to their working machinery, and they certainly deserve an ample reward for their enterprise. The maohineryhas been put together and erected under the supervision of Mr E. Roberts, the company's consulting engineer. On Saturday the 700 ft shaft was descended by several of the directors and their visitors, and subsequently the workings from the main entrance to the mine were inspected, the tramway; line through the mine being traversed for about half a mile. Every courtesy and attention was shown their guests by the directors, the general manager (Mr W. P. Watson), and the mine manager (Mr W. M. Shore) ; and the whole company returned to Dunedin by the express train highly pleased with their trip.