FRIDAY, APLIL 4, 1871.

Dunstan Times, Issue 468, 7 April 1871, Page 2

FRIDAY, APLIL 4, 1871.

The model of a self acting -water pumping machine made) by Mr. ,T. T. Thomson, Provincial, Engineer, and exhibited at the Water of Leith, Dunedin, appears to attract considerable attention. We have not seen the model ourselves, but from its description, there appears no'hing to prevent the success of a similar machine on a large scale. That the enormous motive power of the MolyneUx should be utilised to extract ot the mineral treasures which line its banks has lung been in contemplation by observing men. We must give Mr. J T. Thomson much credit for his valuable ideas on thfrtabjcct, also Mr. Drummy who ccfe't>||p|d something like to Mr. yet we must not place in the category of in venwß/| allow them the honor of havihgT^ffijiuttheiydeaainto practicable shape. Clyde; may fake much credit to itself for always having been foremost in developing the golden treasures of the Molyneux, and it was solely through the exertions of the people of this town that the first dredging machine was constructed. Like most originators their first effort was a failure, not that the idea was impracticable, butbecause the minor details were not ca-ried out with that precision which could only be acquired as the result of experience. In the Alabama now worktag between this and Alexandra may be witnessed the first efforts of the people of Clyde to dredge the Molyneux for gold. She is working upon the principle of her original designers, the process of raising the gravel fronythe bottom of the river being exactly 'tip3 x same. As we said before it was only tire fault of a few minor details that marred success in the very first instance. But a very short time elapsed between the failure of the dredge, and the starting ot a self acting pumping machine, the invention of a Mr. Dunn, a miner, of considerable mechanical ingenuity, residing a few miles up the river from Clyde. When Dunn made his project known, funds were quickly subscribed to construct a working model, which was accordingly made, tried in the river and found to answer. It consisted of a series of movable floats, revolving with the action of the current, and which worked a couple of force pumps on a platform over the top. It was considered at the time that the machine wanted power, unscientific people foolishly imagining that the little model should throw water right up the steep banks into the town, and thus the affair fell through. Mr, MThersoh’s punt was construct ed shortly after this, and then the 'idea of fixing two punts together r with an undershot wheel, with feathering floats, and mooring the machine in the river was mooted, but Lorn some causes public interest in the

matter flagged and'nothing was done. Alexandra next took up the question of obtaining power from the Molyneux, and some screw wheels were constructed on the principle of a three bladed propeller, which were successfully used in working pumping machinery at Frenchman’s Point, Butcher’s Point and on the*Manuherikia River. A consideiablo'amount of power appeared to be obtained from these wheels, and they possessed the advantage of working when totally immersed. Whemplaced in a rapid, they gave evidence of suppling the long felt want, but unfortunately they fared the same fate as the original contrivance. We do not of course desire to disparage either ’Mr. Thomson’s or Mr. Diummy’s inventions, but we like to see honor awarded where honor' is {due. The goldfields’ population possess "very inventive ability, and were, not this the case, gold-mining would not have reached its" present perfect state. The enormous power running'to’fwaste ’ in our rivers could all be applied to the raising of water for mining purposes, while it could be made available for a great variety of other uses. We have miles upon miles of auriferous terraces only lacking a water supply to afford employment to hundreds. In fact, could some cheap process of raising water from our rivers in sufficient quantity 4 for sluicing purposes be effectively accomplished and sufficiently cheap to be within the reach of ordinary mining parties, the gain would be immense. A premium given by the Government to the first person, who by the aid of a self acting current wheel succeeds in raising sufficient water out of a river for sluicing purposes, would be money judiciously expended. This is a subject which might possibly interest the water commissioners, whose recommendation might perhaps accomplish something, which would load to a satisfactory result.

The suggestion of his Honor the Superintendent, while canvassing the they should be represented|jn the Council by some Executive Officer of the Government, was a good on* 1 . Histflonor, from his experience as Superintendent of the Province, must have long since discovered this want. Our GoldtielJs are practically without a head. There is no one, alteration of the electoral districts, whose sole business is to look after the mining interest. We have no records of what is doing on the Goldfields beyond the Wardens!, reports, and they must only be tyjejS for what they are worth—- “ bunkum,” got up after tbe^HH^^

cheap clothing establishment/tlrat the advertiser keeps the elieap*Band best shop. These reports appear ostensibly to be written for the purpose ot holding up the particular district of the puffing Warden as being the best place that miners could resort to. Whether they are to be attracted from the district of one Jess scrupulous in exaggeration it matters not, so long as population is attracted towards his dominions. The interests of the Gold fields as a whole are quite beneath his ken. Mr. Warden So-and-so’s monthly and quarterly reports may be reliable in their general acceptation ; but they do not contain such jmk! carefully revised data as would bp taken as a guide by an experienced miner seeking a new home or place of investment. Everything is merely assumed in the most grandiloquent style, statistics being altogether wanting. Penny-a-lining should be left to itinerant newspaper contributors. A Goldfields Warden should deal in solid dry facts and figures only. It is a waste of public time and money to pay men high salaries for compiling trash, or, in newspaper parlWifee, dbing the “ Fire and Suicide lousiness.” Public records of the progress of the Goldfields should be kept in the Provincial archives, which might, when occasion required it, be accessible to the public. Such a valuable interest is surely worth looking after, and this cannot be done unless some one is responsible for the Goldfields administratration. It would not be too much tot ask that we should have a Minister of Mines and Mining Secretary in the Colony. The system works well in Victoria, and would be more suitable than the appointment of an Inspector of Flax Mills, which post could be only equalled in absurdity by an “ Inspector of Shearing-sheds and The recently furnished reports of the Mining Surveyors and Registrars of the Victorian Goldfields'

with carefully compiled > statistical tables by the Secretary of Mines in that Colony, are most interesting and valuable, aud a glance shows their reliability. There is nothing of the “highfalutin” style in the publication. It is all plain matter-of-fact"statements of the Mining of the wonderful industry of those engaged in gold-mining. The population of every district is set forth, its peculiar workings and yield of gold; together with the amount and descrip tion of machinery in me, and value of mining plant. The report gives the earnings of the gold-miner in each mining district, afterwards [summing up the whole for all the colony, which, after making every reduction, leaves the total gam per head of thirty-six shillings per week. The average rate of gold per ton of quartz is 20 07 grains, tailings and mullock being re-worked at two!) pennyweights per ton and yielding good returns. The information supplied is of the most valuable and interesting character, and we only regret that something similar is not available here. We hope to see Mr. Macandrew’s suggestions not only applied to’ the Province, but extended lo the whole of the Colony.