THE. Coromandel Golden Peninsula

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 187, 15 January 1887, Page 1

THE. Coromandel Golden Peninsula

(No. 2.) "I ouess mining ain't .strong in this 'ere locality," mused a contemplative Cornishman as he surveyed the Coromandel gold field from an opening in the top of the ranges, noting how small an area of the country had been broken into by pick and shovel, and that with the exception of the smoke issuin troni t Kapanga Company's big chimney, thoro v» as ttle other sign of mining li " I guess there is any amount of gold horo, though," subsequently remarks the critic, who is a mining expert, and lias carefully tested tho lodes opened out on either side of the big Tokatoa reef, some of which have been well worked on tho surface with day levels, but with the exception oi the Tokatoa Company s icef none of them have been woi ked any depth. The Tokatea shareholders were fortunate enough to draw dividends for six yours, while working to a depth ot (ioO fe- 1 from tins summit of the mountain. This Company's ground is about tlvo miles from the wharf, and is the mo3t distant mine working. It has been hilly manned bv tnbutors for a year or two, who have obtained rich yield*.. The nearest mining pro- l ucrty to tho wharf is the Now Coromandel Company's mine (the old Union Beach or Telephone Kround). which was only worked to a dopth of lbO foot, and paid £40,000 in dividends. The Tokatea, it may be stated, has paid double that sum Looking from the wharf it is ea ident that a con&idomblo amount of surface work has been done almost in <i dncct lino between the Coromandel Companj's ground and the lokatea, as the forest bus been cut down, and a narrow strip ot the luce of the hill is dotted with numerous drives. Inquiry shows that this stretch of land was from the nrst available to miners, and yielded throughout rich returns for tho work done, which work has, however, boon of a very superficial character. The principal returns have been obtained from lodes which are regarded as droppers from the big Tokatea reef which crosses the belt of country referred to above, running north and south. Vbout mid way between the Coromandel ground and the Tokatea is situated the KAI'AXCSV COMPANY'S I'HOPKUIV, consisting of thirty acres, which is going to be worked in a thorough manner by an English company. 1 laving visited the ground before tho former company ceased work, I cannot a\ oid making a favourable comparison with the general aspect ot things now, and as they used to bo As an authority in the district remarked, " The present manager is a good man for the English people, though at lirst he was regarded here as being too exacting." Method, system, and punctuality arc, however, indispensable to the efficient carrying on of extensive operations. It was a hauUask Captain Francis liodgc, the present manager, had to laeo when he commenced to put this mine in working order, [t would probably have been a more congenial task to have swept everything oft" the ground, and made a fresh btart, but as such would not only have entailed enormous expenditure, but 10->s ol time, it "was no doubt better to takeover the existing plant, and by judicious alterations, additions and impiovoincnts get a well equipped mine and the Maier lifted and work started in )o-., time limn now machine) y could have been .shipped in London. But only those who had inspected tho mine could estimate tho difficulties to be overcome, and it is plowing to note that success appears to ha\c attended the efforts pul forth. The engines a- e woi king smoothly and easily equal apparently in efficacy to new ones. The 'line ot ilat rods have been put to work duett to the mi'in rod in the engine shatt. seeming tuie motion. A new bob pit and loadings have been erected with balance box, &c, laid m with masshc heart of kauri timber and concrete. The collar ot the shaft has been newly timbered, and a completely new cage road' necessitated by the alteration is nearly completed fiom the top to the bottom of the shatt aw oik wh'eh required a great quantity ot massive timber, which was supplied by Me=w»'s> Fv.i-,ei- Jivob . the lowest londercv*. The shaft tackle and shears hare been overhauled and repaired. The casing dividing the shaft from the sui face to the 300 feet level was completely lot ten and had to be removed. The engines have been thoroughly overhauled and at trroat trouble have been made almost equal to " now ; substantial timbers for carrying the dm ing tiank have been newly fixed The pumping engine has been disconnect rdAVith the stampers; the erratic motion and noise which once distinguished this plant from any other battery on the goldfield will now be done away with, a, in its place a new horizontal engine by Masotiold and Co , Auckland, will dispense with all belling in the battery house, and do the work smoothly and without noise, being a decided improvement on the equipment of ihe reduction department, both as regards regular working ot the stamps and the better saving of the gold, the most, recent available saving appliances being introduced. The chimney stack has been raised ollccting a consulcnblo sa\ inn jn coal. The boileis and boiler houses require a lot of attention ; the lormer have been re-ad) listed, and the latter repaired. Owing to these being erected on made ground, considerable ingenuity was displayed in completing these works. r lhc engine pool has been cleaned out, and so much done besides thai it isimpoosiblehere to particularise it all. Various new offices and outbuild- , ings required have boon oi noted. Immediately alter the holidajs men will be put to sink the shaft tor bearers as a preliminary to alterations in pit woik. The gear is exported up daily trom Messrs Price Uros. J'of the Thames (the lowest tenderers). Naturally in forking out a mine it will be lound thai .i few sels of timber have given wa\, but when these preliminaries are effected there will be no difficulty in deepening the mine ISOfV, thib w ill gi\ c a total depth of UOOft. a depth winch would nol h.ivo been i cached bv the present mac»inoiy without the alterations and improvements which ha\ c been so successfully carried out. Y. word of commendation is here due to Messrs Masoiield & Co., who have on several occasions shown the capabilities of their woi ks, and theirreadinetsinau emergency by turnuiK on) heavy castings, etc., at a mar\ollonsly bucf notice. The time occupied in cti. lining tins mine was two calendar months and six days. It should bo borne in mind that during thi^ timo there were two peuods of \ cry bad weather, unusually heavy downhills of ram h;u ing caused regular iioods, and this additional rush of water retarded the works somewhat. In forking a mine it sometimes happens that a lift is unavoidably Jostin the course ot such a heavy undertaking as this, but it is pleasing to mention, in connection with the gigantic work "of reinstating the plant and machinery . and lifting the water out of this mine, that not a single hitch orstoppngc occurred from startto finish; about 50,000,000 gallons of water being tluown out. The Manager of the Kapanga is evidently " the right, man in the right place," as is woll attested by the appearance oi the mine as well as by tho expressions of opinion of experienced miners in the vicinity, who admire tho system on which work is carried on, as well as approve of what is actually done. The ordinary wages are paid, but everybody is expected to v» ork for their money, and are not allowed to make "an old man's lefugc" of this mine. (To be continued.)

" I remember*" says Lord Bldon, " Mr Juatioe Goald trying a case at York, and wheu he had proceeded for about two hours he observed 'Here are only eleven jurymen in the box ; where ia the twelfth ? * Please you, my lord,' said one of the eleven, 'he haa gone away about some business, but he has left his verdict with

rae. A hardheaded business man was among the guests at a recent fashionable gathering, where also was a very loud and very obtrusive new-rich woman. "Humph," growled Hard Head, a8 the very loud and so forth swept past in the grand procession. " Too much money, and hasn't had it long enough."