BATTERY AND QUARRY.

Thames Star, Volume LXII, Issue 17397, 23 June 1928, Page 4

BATTERY AND QUARRY.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —I understand that Mr Watson stated at the 'Moanataiarl Company's annual meeting that the matter of sinking a shaft in the Waiotahi Creek, " so as to haul the milling ore and mullock to the surface in the area of the working, instead of trucking it for over a mile underground was being considered, and I am surprised this matter has not been taken up earlier, as there is only the time lost in trucking/the ore, etc., that distance, but the much bigger expense of the upkeep of the line, drains and tunnel tor that distance, as timber is now proving verycostly work. The Borough Council has discussed the question of closing the quarry at the head of the Waiotahi Creek, and I am pleased to see that 'you hav advised them to look veqy fully into this subject, as it now appears that the quarry' can, with very close attention, be made to pay and provide the Borough with the best of metal at a lower price than it can be purchased outside Thames. I have not found any reference to mining in the discussion, and yet gold-mining may be the means of making the quarry a profitable undertaking. The quarry line passes the Golden Age, Lucky Shot, Ballarat, Nonpariel, Moanataiarl and Waiotahi Companies' claims, and, as the Lucky Shot Company is com- , mencing operations next week In the Waiotahi, Creek so as to get below the present working in the Moanataiarl Creek, where such highly-payable results have been obtained and are; carrying down, and to secure .better ventilation, it might be advisable if the Council consider the question of extending the quarry line from the present terminus to the Moanataiarl battery by following the hills along. Once formed, the' upkeep of. the extension would be'practically, nil, as it is hard rock most of the w;ay, and the ore could be trucked from the above companies' drives into the large quarry waggons and run direct to,the battery, andi so avoid carting. The metal screens could be removed to the battery, and it might also be advisable to shift the crusher there, as the one staff could attend to all operations'. Metal is now required chiefly in small sizes, since the motors rule the roads, andythere will be ari increased quantity required annually, .as it appears that while the shell is all right for the summer it will. riot stand up to the winter traffic. ./ If the results being obtained by "■ Campbell Bros, and several other pros-: peeling parties'in ,the back country, continue, or improve, it will mean a' revival, in mining in, the older mines also, and then not only the six companies mentioned abovef but Others, will open up, and between them and , prospectors the Moanataiarl battery" will be-kept busy, hundreds pf men employed, and the -Borough revenue considerably increased from > quarry profits and gold duty. ■-•;" , • ' This is rather a lengthy, letter, Mr' Editor, but when thousands of pounds are at stake we must try and turn . what appears to be a dead loss into a , profitable undertaking and a help ;to the town and district generally.—l • am, etc., ■ : ' . ■''.'■• '■'. * -v -'.. ■.'■ "'

• "OPTIMIST."