MINING

Hokitika Guardian, 27 May 1933, Page 6

MINING

LAWSON’S FLAT REPORT

Tlie following is the report of the secretary on May 19: —

Writer tunnel: The 716 feet of (driving from pump station site to power company's dam was completed on. May 17. The alignment and level at point of piercing come out exactly to survey. The ditch leading to this water tunnel at .the dam has already been constructed ■ a:trl timbered, thus completing the water course to the tunnel exit. The Westland Power, Ltd.’s water race has been jooinpietely reconditioned to the dam aiicl ready to supply water. The -dam (provided by the power company for balancing the supply of water, if necessary, between the race aitl Lawson's [Flat tunnel is in a fairly efficient condition. The timber for tunnel exit structure to accommodate the suction pipe lino connection to the pump lias all been delivered and the foundation for its installation ready to receive it. Tiiis work will take approximately four days when the full supply of water can be passed through the tunnel for the purpose of removing ary Jo-ose material from the sides of. the tunnel before supply is given to the main pumping plant. Pipes for suction ■connection are on tlie ground. Main pumping plant: The 453 k.v.a. transformer, with switchgear aUd automatic' controller for SOO'-li.p. pumping unit were delivered on May 6 and are now installed in place. Tlie pumping plant in three units, comprising baseplate,! motor, and pump having a total weight of 10 tons (the baseplate being 13 feet long and weighing one and a half tons), lias been delivered. The erection of the unit and its connection to the pipeline is expected to occupy one week, when it will be realdy for test.

Pipelines: The joining of 1377 feet 15 inches of steel • pipe was completed on May 9 and I.R-inch flanged pipes were laid to No 1 face on the same date. The exterition of the 18-inch line to the No 2 'face wa s completed on May 18, and the terminals at each face are now ready to receive the valves and nozzle equipment.

0n May 15 a temporary double-act-ing plunger pump was installed with a 10 h.p. motor for filling the line for test purposes. Filling to No 1 sluicing face was completed on May 19, the : prdssv<re ’measured at tlie pump station being 1481b‘to the square inch, equivalent to 350 feet head. The incline fraction winch, operated by a 10 ‘.'h.p.' motor, which ; was’installed at the begin in g- of ■ the month,- has" proved to be entirely satisfactory;’ the whole’ of-’t-he heavy material having’-’ been hauled up the steep incline without incident.

' Tail race tunnels at Nos; I and 2 faces, • 135 and 145 feet in length re-G-m’tively, have now both had permanent sluice boxes installed therein. The erection of tables at the end of each -sluice box is being proceeded with/T'-i, .. v */?,C/0; v/ Jt.’.nqw appears, allowing for the, arilinary hazards of starting no a new piqnt,, that everything ,should .be in readiness to. commence sluicing in the first week in Juno. At the beginning of sluicing, probably the first two Weeks Will be occupied in removing debris ah! overburden. Thereafter full wash faces will be available, at each location for the normal process of sluicing.

•Efficient accommodation has been provided in tlie form of huts, with electric light and heat for the men regularly working at the claim.

CROMWELL ACTIVITY. RESOILING WORKED AREAS. DUNEDIN, May 23. Mr A. H. Kiiubel], Under-Secretary for mines, visited Cromwell oin Saturday, and spent a good deal of time inspecting the areas of Bendigo and the-scene of activity at the Gorge. During his stay he was jnet by th° oxccutive of the Mining Association, and discussed several matters connect* ed with the industry, . Of the fate of the many applications, MrvKinibell said that matters were ready for, the Minister’s consent to all the applications except from outside .those on the Cromwell Flat. Of the latter area, he said that there were difficulties ftWl complications which the public did not realise, her tain proposal had . been made to bs passed on to the. applicants for . consideration at an early date, aud ..the result would be awaited; . ;

•It is stated that one of the chief factors that lias delayed the granting of licenses on the Cromwell Flat is that objection has been taken to/the adoption of methods that may destroy the surface of the land to be worked. It is claimed that if the area Is worked -by ordinary methods some land which may 'yield only a small return will be ’ permanently destroyed. It is suggested therefore that the Government should, not grant licenses unless it imposes the condition that the surface soil must be' replaced. .This -aspect of the position is said to be engaging the attention of the Government.

Owing to a thaw in the Cromwell district fast week y the river rose sharply, with the result that several of the tunnels along the Kawarau were flooded. ‘ At the Bell-Hooper claim the flood temporarily caused a little inconvenience, but good progress has been made with the work ■in hand. The second tunnel on the eastern end is now 'in close on 300 feet

Bell arid Kilgour have been more or loss idle, the flood having submerged the pumping plant. Good prospects are still being washed

A representative of Johnston v and party, who have ft claim on a. high ter-