BORING-MACHINES SUITABLE FOR TESTING LANDS IN NEW ZEALAND FOR MINERAL DEPOSITS (CORRESPONDENCE UPON THE SUBJECT OF).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1879 Session II, H-20

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Sess. 11.—1879. NEW ZEALAND.

BORING-MACHINES SUITABLE FOR TESTING LANDS IN NEW ZEALAND FOR MINERAL DEPOSITS (CORRESPONDENCE UPON THE SUBJECT OF).

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives, with the leave of the House. No. 1. The Hon. the Minister of Mines to the TJndee Seceetaet for Mines. Mr. "Wakefield. I wish you to telegraph to Dr. Hector, at Sydney, asking him to send a memorandum of particulars of the best kind of boring-machine procurable (complete) most suitable for New Zealand mineral lands, with description of machine, and price. 10th September, 1879. W. Gisbobne.

No. 2. The Under Secretary for Mines to Dr. Hectob. (Telegram.) Wellington, 11th September, 1879. Kindly send by post full particulars of best boring-machine procurable (complete) most suitable for New Zealand, and price. Oliver Wakefield. Dr. Hector, Exhibition Buildings, Sydney.

No. 3. Dr. Hectoe to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary. New Zealand Commission, Sydney International Exhibition, 1879, Sic, — Sydney, 24th September, 1879. In compliance with a telegram received from the Under Secretary of the Mining Department, I have the honor to forward, for the information of Ministers, particulars concerning the diamond rockdrills in use here. I may state that the patent right for the Australian Colonies belongs to a company here, and previous to the receipt of the telegram I had been in communication with the manager, Mr. John Coghlan, to whom I was introduced by Mr. John McKenzie, Inspector of Collieries for New South Wales, and had been invited to witness the working of the machines in time to report on them by this mail. Unfortunately Mr. Coghlan has been obliged to postpone the appointment till next week, so that lam not able to speak as yet from personal observation. Three sizes of the rock-drill have been used in the vicinity of Sydney, as described in the enclosed prospectus (A). No. 1, or the hydraulic machine, is at present in use in Moore Park, and has bored to a depth of 1,330 feet, with rods If inches in diameter. The core brought up is 2 inches, and the hole left is 2{inches in diameter. This machine has bored the last 1,000 feet in five weeks through compact gritty sandstone, ironstone, and black shale. The price at which the machine can be supplied, with all the appliances mentioned in the list, is £1,575, or without the steam boiler, which is detached, £1,300. No. 2, the positive feed-gear machine, is in use at Botany, and, with the same sized rods, has taken out a core If inches in diameter, leaving a hole 2tV inches diameter, to a depth of 1,900 feet. At the present time it is sinking at the rate of 10 feet per diem, the total weight of the rods being 10,000 lb., which are turned at the rate of 250 to 300 revolutions per minute with 10-horse-power boiler, having 30-lb. steam pressure. The price of the machine, with all fittings and 1,000 feet of rods, is £1,575.

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No. 3. This is a small machine with a detached boiler, as in No. 1, which was in use at Newington, when it bored to 500 feet, running a core of If inches diameter. It is not now in use. The price is £750, or £500 without the boiler. No. 4. This is also a smaller machine intended for tunnelling and preparing blast holes, which takes out a f-inch core at any angle downwards, forward, or upwards for 100 feet distance with a 2-horse-power engine and separate boiler; but is also adapted for working with the same air compresser as the ordinary rock-drill. Thc price of the small machine, without a boiler, is £320. The rods used in all the machines are of a peculiar make, being hollow, and formed by rolling them in tough sheet-iron in a threefold cylinder. They can be supplied at the following rate : 7s. 6d. per foot for If inches diameter, 9s. per foot for 2f inches diameter. As far as I can judge from the inspection of the various cores, of which I forward two samples, the performance of these machines is most satisfactory, and confirms the opinion, which I have previously expressed, that such machines would effect a great saving of time aud expense in exploring for mineral ground at the Thames, and that their use would probably lead to a revival of mining industry in that district. As the chief object at the Thames would be to determine the position and boundaries of the bosses of undecomposed rock in which no remunerative reefs are to be expected, borings of considerable depth might be required, so that one of the larger machines, either No. 1 or No. 2, would be most suitable. For testing the distribution of auriferous cements at Tuapeka, for which this process of boring is eminently adapted, smaller size machine No. 3 would, I think, be quite sufficient. As the work done might lead to very important results as regards individual interests, Government might find it necessary, if the first attempts were sufficiently successful, to create a demand for the services of the machine, to charge for its use, either according to the work done or for the hire of the machine itself. The former arrangement would be obviously the best, as the machine should be in the charge of competent persons experienced in its application ; and I therefore enclose a schedule of the conditions and prices for boring by contract adopted by the Australian company. Trusting the foregoing information may be sufficient to guide Ministers in forming au opinion of these machines, and how far they might be of service for New Zealand, I have, &c, James Hectob, The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, New Zealand. Executive Commissioner. P.S. —Cores forwarded under separate cover. Alemo. —The cores may be seen iu the office of the Alines Department at the Grovernment Buildings.—O. W.

A. — List of Outfit for each Machine. No. 1 Machine. —Large size hydraulic machine to bore to a depth of 1,200 feet, with the following outfit: 1 drill set on ear with 4 cast-iron wheels, 1 double-acting pump, 2 oscillating engines 6x6, 1 winding barrel, 1 core barrel 10 feet long, 1 core lifter, 200 feet of drill rods with couplings, 1 boiler on carriage with steam dome, 1 funnel, 12 feet suction hose, 12 feet water joint hose, 1 water swivel, 1 vice 3-inches, 1 lifting jack, 1 safety clamp, 1 lb. of copper wire, 1 Brest drill, 2 files, 2 chisels, 1 engineers' hammer, 1 set diamond setting tools, 2 pairs of pipe tongs, 2 screw wrenches (1 12-inch and 1 18-inch), 1 bit set with diamonds, 2 blank bits. This machine will produce a 2-inch core, and leave a 2J-inch hole, and bore though the hardest known rocks or quartz. No. 2 Machine.—To bore 1,000 feet, complete on boiler as follows : 1 drill mounted on locomotive boiler, 1 double-acting pump, 2 oscillating engines 6x6, same outfit and rods, &c, as No. 1 machine. This machine will produce a 2-inch core, and bore a 2 1, -inch hole. No. 3 Machine. — To bore 500 feet, producing If-inch core, and leaving a 2-inch hole, with boiler and 100 feet of rods, pump, 1 oscillating engine, and the same outfit as No. 2 machine.

B.— General Conditions for Boring or Prospecting for Minerals. 1. The work to be paid for monthly on a fixed day as it progresses, at the rates mentioned in the accompanying schedule, the measurement in each case to commence from the surface of the ground. 2. The employer to find water and engine-power (which includes engine, fuel, and driver) ; or, should he prefer it, the company will find the engine-power at a cost of £25 per month. (An ordinaryportable 12-horse-power boiler, with or without engine). 3. The company to find labour, machinery, and all tackle necessary for the proper carrying out of the work. 4. The company does not bind itself to bore any specified depth, but will use its best endeavours to reach that required. 5. The company will keep and deliver to the employer, or his authorized agent only, an accurate account of the depths of the borings, and of the nature and thickness of the strata passed through; and hand over to the employer, or his authorized agent, all cores that may be brought up of rocks bored, and mark and certify such cores, so as to preserve an accurate account of the strata. (J. If a total amount of work of 500 feet, or less, be done, the cost of transport of the machinery to and from the site of operations will be charged. If the total amount of work is between 500 and 1,000 feet, the same charge will be made. If the amount be iv the aggregate 1,000 feet, or over, no addiiionul charge made beyond the schedule prices, except in the cases mentioned in paragraph 7. 7. If holes are put down to a depth not exceeding 250 feet each, the cost of shifting the machinery, &c, from the site of one hole to that of another, and re-erecting it, is to be defrayed by the employer. 8. The company does not hold itself liable for any necessary damage to fields or roads that may be caused in getting their machinery on and off the ground.

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9. The employer to find covering for machinery (if necessary) and shed for protection of men from the inclemency of the weather.

Schedule of Prices for Bore Holes.

After which special rates will be charged. These prices apply to work in strata of ordinary character. The company will undertake work from the bottom of shafts, or continue bore holes already commenced, in which case special prices will be quoted. Should the nature of the ground to be bored through be such as to require lining, the expense of providing the lining tubes, and of putting them down, to be borne by the contractor; but should the company recover the lining tubes, the contractor will bear the expense of the recovery, but will be allowed 75 per cent, of the prime cost of the tubes. No difficulty has occurred in practice in withdrawing the lining tubes. N.B.—Sample cores are brought up, giving reliable information as to the strata passed through (which cannot be obtained by any other system) ; and the speed of boring is such that work which would take by ordinary means years is done in less than the same number of months.

Authority : George DiDSBURY, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB79.

Price 3d.]

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