MINING AT ST. BATHANS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3756, 9 March 1926, Page 15

MINING AT ST. BATHANS.

NEW COMPANY’S VENTURE

Mr W. H. Toole, mining engineer in Australia for the past 36 years, who came across trom Victoria nine uionths ago to taice charge of the operations of the St. Bathan’s Gold-miiung Company, has been lorced to return to Australia consequent on the continued ill-health ol his wile, and he will leave by the Moeraki to-day. in an interview with our representative on Weunesday, Mr Toole gave ins opinions ot tiie company’s work. Freviously the St. Batnan s Company was known as the Scandinavian Race Company, and, it should be added, .that the lastnamed company is now working another property. It was found that the hydraulic system of working by the Scandinavian Company had become unprofitable. This company had to* clear an over-burden of about lyOft to get to a lead averaging about sft in thickness. At the deepest portion the ground was very rich, but the expense was too heavy in dealing with the overourden. That being so, the Scandinavian Company sold its lease to the tit. Bathau’s Company which brought Mt Toole over from Melbourne to advise it on the methods adopted in Victoria ol working alluvial mines. Mr Toole, on arrival at tit. Bathan’s, considered that the best method to adopt was to sink a shaft on the latest up-to-date plans. This shaft has been sunk taa depth of 120 ft. it has been solidly constructed, and is built lu three compartments. Borne difficulty was experienced, nowever, through the inflow of water, but this drawback is now being overcome Dy driving into the shaft from the bottom of the ticandinawan Company’s old workings. This locality is 160 ft lower than tho lowest part of the tit. Bathan’s Company’s shaft, and once a connection is made the water should quickly be cleared from the St Bathan’s property. This drive will really serve a double purpose, as it will not only clear the water from the St. Bathan’s shaft, but it will strike and prove the lead—which is being sought for. It is expected that this lead will be struck at any moment now-, and the future prospects are considered to be most promising. Mr Toole has been favourably impressed with the prospects ever since his arrival on the ground. There is a great area to be dealt with, and if the results continue as favourable in the future as they have proved to be in the past there should be a good time ahead for the company. In the leasq- of the St. Bathan’s Company is 250 acres of virgin ground, and other areas may also bo leased. The company purchased a valuable plant tor generating electricity for working the property. The electricity is developed by water power from the Scandinavian waterrace, in which the St Bathan’s Company has a half-interest. The plant was erected nt u low cost by the employees of tho company under tiie supervision of Mr Toole, und should meet all requirements for many years to come.

It may be explained to the uninitiated that, the lead being struck, the material is brought up the shaft in cages containing about half a ton of dirt each. This material is treated by puddling and sluicing in the usual recognised mannor. Mr Toole regrets very docply that he has to return to Victoria, because be says ho would have liked to have remained till the lead had actually been struck. He has no doubt that they will get the lead, and he lias every confidence that the future of the company is a bright one. There certainly havo been difficulties in regard to the inflow of water into tbe shaft, but, as statod, these should be ovoroome by the method adopted by Mr Toole.

At the present time the company has expended several thousand pounds on the opening of the claim. Sixteen men are employed there now. It will take years and years to work ont the claim. The full success of the company would be hailed with the greatest satisfaction, not only by residents in the immediate locality, but by

every one in Otago, and further afield for that matter. Apart from the operations of the Sb. Batnan’s Company, Mr Toole says there should be a great future for -alluvial mining right from St. Bathan’s to Cromwell, as the deposits which are found at St, Bathan’s are also found in these other localities.