THE NEW ERA BATTERY Co. WAIORONGOMAl. Letter from Mr P. Ferguson. THE COMPANY'S PROSPECTS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 281, 14 July 1888, Page 2

THE NEW ERA BATTERY Co. WAIORONGOMAI. Letter from Mr P. Ferguson. THE COMPANY'S PROSPECTS.

The following most int 'resting letter from Mr P. Ferguson, who went Homo, last year to raise capital for the working f>f the mines and bittory owned l>y the New Era G. M. Co., was this week receive! by a «:enllenvm in this district; who vciy kindly placed it at our disposal ; and we f"el sure it will have much interest for many of our readers. We sincerely hope Mr Fergusons anlicipalions with respect to the process lie refers to, etc., etc., will be fully lealised. Glasgow, May 20, 1088, ]\Xr ♦ * # # * My Dear Sir, — I now, as I intended doing months ago, write to you knowing you v» ill be interested in learning that there is eve»y prospect of my seeming for New Zealand what I consider the best-discovered piocess for saving gold and silver in ores — however refractory. This process is being put to the most severe tests on a largo scale, and with only one exception has given most satisfactory results. The difficulty experienced in this exceptional case ia a mechanical one, and as the syndicate who own the process is composed of gentlemen of unlimited means (up to date they have spent over seventy thousand pounds in prosecuting their researches) and seem to delight in facing and ovei coming difficulties. I believe before thi& letter 1 caches you the process will be perfected, and but for the delay in the Premier ore ariiving m London, I should be on my way out with the said process in my pocket. The s.s. Bayley is leported at St.* Vincent, and should arrive in London about the end of this month. Fourteen days is the usual time taken before the ore is landed ; the frozen mutton and other cargo being generally discharged first. Then two months will elapse before negotiations are completed after the ore is^ treated, deciding on the most suitable machinery, developement of the mines, &c. With regard to the machinery, good progress has been made. I have had a machine made and have it running at the works here. The mill is giving most satisfactory results ; and will cost less than £100. It reduces dry ore to a fineness of 2500 holes per square inch ; ten tons per twenty-four hours, using 5 h.p. Wearing surfaces will not exceed two pence per ton, and being simple, castings are easily replaced. When everything is settled I think these mills will be adopted. I will very probably bring ten or twelve out. lam glad to learn that the Battery Co. have got such a good buyer for their property. There should be every chance now of the reefs being developed, and with a suitable process the mining districts and colony will take some of the leaps and bounds we have so long expected. The past history of Auckland mining booms have all been^j short lived ; it is to be hoped that the current boom will be a lasting one, and 1 see nothing to prevent it, if the mining community but follow the example shown by almost every other successful industiy, by employing chemistry and the best scientific knowledge in the treatment of the various forms in which our gold and silver exists ; the same course so strongly advocated by Professor Black, Hon Mr Larnach, Mr G-ordon, and others, not forgetting the lato Mr Kenrick. This sensible way of deal, ing with ores ia exemplified by a large going concern I am permitted to visit here as often as I choose. The same gentlemen with whom I am treating are the directors and largest shareholders. The ore is brought from Spain. The mine ia situated thirty miles from the shipping port, and before it reaches Glasgow it is turned over six times. The average assay value of the ore for years past, is £2 10s Gd per ton, consisting of

Leaving a profit of 18s pov ton on an output of 200,000 tons per annum. They have a regular staff of fifty chemists at the chief office here ; sometimes I hoy havo double that number. I could give many more examples in tho iron and stoel industry. Twenty years rro the furnaccß were managed quite differently. Now a chemist jusfc from the "Univorsity can direct tho workmen how and when to draw the furnace according to required quality. This is done by a quick system of analysis. Again, brewers trust to the chemist to direct the reactions in their business, also the dyers, print works, bleachers, &c. It will not sm-prise you, therefore, thai I should do all in my power to interest the gentlemen with whom I am daily associated so that we may command the bost technical talent for Te Aroha goldfields, and I think that I can safely say that I have succeeded, for as soon as possiole after the manipulation of the ore arrrangements will be made to send outthe most efficient staff of experts from their works, including the technical master, the latter gentleman being very anxious to reside in New Zealand after reading and hearing ao much about tho colony. I notice in the newspapers which I received yesterday that Mr Stratford has gone South, and that Mr Nortbcroffc has been appointed Warden. I think we are very lucky in getting Mr Northcroft seeing that Mr Stratford has left. I havo a strong impression that Mr North- ! croft will be a Warden Very similar to the I lat.e Mr Kenriek, the model Warden! universally liked and respected. I send Graphic and Mail to you. — Hoping to meet you in October, I am, faithfully y\>ure, Y. ITKRaTTSON.

MLinine; Carl; Carriage . . Freight . . Oartiige . . Gl-rindinw Salt Coal Handling Water and washing lodido Icon, &c. O 3 0 1 0 10 0 3 0 1 0 2 0 3 0 5 0 2 0 1 15 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 6 0 £1 12 6

EXPENDTUM3.

Cu., 2 pet cent. S., 48 per cent. Pf., lper cent-... Silver, 1 oz. Gold, 15grs. Iron & a. 0 16 0 16 0 2 0 4 0 2 0 LO d. 0 0 0 0 6 0 £2 10 6