NEW BATTERY AT KARANGAHAKE.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 175, 23 October 1886, Page 2

NEW BATTERY AT KARANGAHAKE.

Now that the new Quartz Reduction Plant, at Karai'gahake, erected by Mr Isaac Kailey is almost completed, and great things being expected to result from its erection, a few particulars relating thereto will no doqbj; be of interest to many oE our readers. The work was started last May. The site oE this plant is romantic in the extreme, and not easy of access, being a considerable distance up the Wai t;m beta river, on the bank of wliich ifc is situated at an elevation of about fifty feet from the river bed ; about 1500 to 1800 feet almost immediately below the Karangaliake trig station, and about 1000 feet below the main county track to the vaiious mines. OE covuse these figures are only approximate. The dimensions of the building in which the machinery is erected is 40ft x GOft x 20ffc stud, boarded in on all sides, having 16 windows, roofed with galvanized iron, and having three or four separate entrances. Inside there are four separate platforms, excavated from the solid in the hill side. No. 1, or the highest platform, is the stamper floor 4.oft x I G Ft, on one half of which have been erected 10 head of stampers, set much closer than usual, and which are almost equal to new, having been purchased from the owners of the Caledonian battery Thames. It is believed these stampers will bo fully equal to reducing 20 tons daily, and it is intended to add additional stampers as found necessary. The other half of this platform is reserved for the erection of a u dry crusher" on most improved prinplo, now being imported direct fiom England ; and which it is stated will be capable of treating 12 tons of high class ore per day. The motive power for driving this portion of the machinery will be derived by a belt fium an intermediate shaft fixed overhead. Ore sent for treatment will, according to quality, be first passed through the dry crusher or reduced by ordinary stamper process. No. 2 platform is also 40ft x lGFfc, and here have been ranged 12 tanks or set\ling vats, each Oft x sft x 3ft deep, constructed of 2- inch kauri boards. Into the first of these the crushed quartz will be conducted by means of a shoot, direct from all the stampers, whilst several openings near the top in each tank permit the waste water an 1 lighter substances to traverse through each tank, the final escape being into a pit outside the building by means of a shoot. As soon as No. 1 tank becomes filled with the crushed ore, the connecting holes with adjoining tank, already referred to, are closed, and the shoot conveying the crushed ore changed to No. 2, and afterwards to No. 8 and so on ; by which means the lighter substances previously deposited in any tank will become incorporated with the heavier deposit and all be transferred to the pans together. As soon as a tank becomes filled (they are computed to hold about 4 tons each), the contents are emptied direct on to the adjoining platform which divides the tanks from the amalgamators, and which is slightly inclined towards the tanks, in order that the surplus water may drain off. No. 3 platform is 40ft x 6ft, and on it are erected six amalgamators capable of treating half a ton of the crushed ore at a time, and driven direct by the main shaft, which runs underneath ; each amalgamator having gearing independent of the other. The dirt for treatment is shovelled from the platform already referred to into the amalgamators whilst the latter are in motion. These amalgamators arc so constructed that the dirt is kept constantly forced towards the centre, during treatment. The ore is generally treated in the amalgamators for four or Hva hours. The last or No. 4 platform is 40ft x 18ft, and it is hero the settlers, three in number, are stationed. Each of these settlers are capable of containing the contents of about four of the pans (or amalgamators) and arc driven by a shaft running under-, neath and connected with the main shaft by a belt. The settlers are intended to be worked simultaneously except during cleaning up time, which woul.l probably be about once a week. We have already stated there will be two processes at work, the battery or wet process for low grade ore, the dry for high class dirt ; but the ore from both Avill be passed through the amalgamators and settlers. The whole machinery will be driven by water power, a 6ft pelton wheel being used. This wheel is fixed at the bottom of an upright shaft 4Gft deep Bft x 3ft 6in connected with the creek by a tunnel, for the discharge of the water after it leaves the pel ton- wheel. The water will have a direct fall to the wheel of about 44ft ; being conveyed by iron pipes from the termination of the water race. From the wheel power will be imparted to the machineiy by means of an upright shaft 46ft long with bevel

gear, and 98ft (12 inch six ply) of rubber belting, will connect direct with the main shaft. The water supply is derived from the Waitawheta river, by means of a water race' 2o chains in length' 3ft x 2ft composed entirely of kauri (sawn on the spot) boards 2in thick at bottom l^in at top. The dam across the Waitawheta river is at its widest part about 120 Ft at top, and at bottom about 100 ft. Its construction has been a work of great difficulty, and the many occasions when a considerable amount of work has been undone by successive floods, would have disheartened many less determined men. The main stays are all of kauri or totara 12in to 14in square ; and faced to Bft above ordinary water level, with 2m kauri boards, the lower portion being double faced. There is also a break at the side 6ft higher than the dam, to protect the flume. The greatest height of the cross pieces is about 16ft. In the construction of the works some splendid kauri has been used. We saw junks 7ft in diameter being cut up by the sawyers, and the construction of both fluming and dam, has been carried out in a most substantial manner. We understand nearly all the machinery and fittings have been supplied from the foundry of Messr9 Price Bros., Thames ; and the excellent character of the work turned out by this firm is too well known to need comment. Mr Railey expected to have everything ready for starting at an earlier date, but the wet winter has greatly retarded the work, and to those who know from practical experience the condition of the roads and tracks over which the plant ha 9 had to be transported, the wonder is that work had not to be discontinued till summer weather set in ; and it is certainly a mystery to us how Mr Dickey, the contractor for carting, ever succeeded in conveying some of the heavier and unwieldy portions of tho plant to the scene of operations in winter time, and his charge for carting will have to be high indeed to compensate him for the difficult, disagreeable, and dangerous woric he undertook. However, everything in connection with the plant is now well nigh completed, and another week or two should suffice for the carrying out of the few oilds -and ends still remaining to be attended to. Very sanguine hopes are entertained by those interested in the Karangahake goldfield that Railey's plant will be the means of resuscitating the Geld, and there is no doubt that Mr Railey thoroughly understands what he is about. Something to revive the present depressed state of affairs is sadly needed, and we sincerly hope the process shortly about to be thoroughly tested, will bo found applicable to tho class of oie supplied. The gold is so extrenily line that it is absolutely essential for good results that the quarts be very fiuly pulveiised to set it all fiee ; and the pans now erected should prove quite equal to the work. Similar pans aie veiy extensively used in America, and with most satisfactory results. One thing struck us most forcibly on the occasion of our visit, viz , that I n 1 s fc the work of erecting the ciu.shini> plant has been steadily in progress for months past, apparently no effort worthy of the name, has been or is being made to provide crushing dirt in any considerable quantity; and to effect the necessary connections between the various mines and tho battery with respect to the Crown, Sutro, Diamond, Adeline, Dubbo, Kenilworth, and other mines in the vicinity, work should have been long since started in thj direction of preparing for the transport of quartz from mines to crushing plant in order to thoroughly test its capabilities and the value of the quartz treated by this ! method. It is high time the directors lin the various mines that can avail of this new and expensive machinery, constructed at so great a cost and in the face of such great difficulties, should rouse themselves from their lethargy, andstart work in real earnest. It must be disheartening in the extn me to those who have shown such faith in the field, and such dogged determination, by electing this plant in the face of much to to depress and discourage them, to see so little being done in the direction indicated. Government too might very reasonably be asked to grant a subsidy towards the construction of the roads, tracks or tramways necessary to connect the mines with the battery ; and we hope to be able at an early date to report that these works are in active progress,and men put on to break out quartz: so far, we understand it is probable that the first, parcels of dirt will be received from the Sutro and Crown j and both of these claims can forward quartz of excellent quality. In conclusion we would strongly advise all infceresced in mining and who can manage to spare the time to pay a visit to this new plan tat an early date, and they may rest assured they will see much to interest them, and receive the greatest courtesy and at ten tion at the hands of Mr Railey, who is ever willing to answer any questions put to him and to impart information gathered from his long and varied experience in mining ; and we do most sincerely trust his new plant will fulfil all that is expected of it, and exceed his most sanguine expectations, for he richly deserves that success should crown his efforts.