WAIORONGOMAI. [From Our Own Correspondent.]

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 388, 27 July 1889, Page 2

WAIORONGOMAI. [From Our Own Correspondent.]

Te Aroha Filver and GoK] Mining Company : The now twenty head of stampers with all attendant appertainances aie now complete, nnd n staifc was ! made on Tluusday, in tiie presence of the | local director, Mr James McCosh Clarke. At tho trial only five head wero set to work. When put in motion they went off without a hitch, everything working vory smoothly. The firat stuff to be treated by the new stampers, will, 1 undei stand, be the heap of Colon is r. quartz that is now h \na at the foot of the tramway, near the blacksmiths shop. This is now being trucked into the hoppers,and put through the new stone breaker. One remarkable feature in connection with the new stampers, is the wonderful rapidity by which they can be hung up. I will endeavour to describe it : About four feet down from the disc, a piece of shaftaboufc three inches indiameter, is let into the wooden uptight ; on this piece of shafting sit five pieces of timber slotted out nt the lower end so as to work on a pivotjthey are about four feet long, and the upper ends being about level with the disc ; they are also capped with iron to resist wear. When it is necessary to hang the stampeis up, the person incharge takes a small batten (mad© for the purpose) in his hand and as the cam revolves he places the batten on it, and it is carried by the cam under the disc, the stamper is thus lifted, and the upright or "finger" as it iscalled, is pushed in under the disc ar»d the cam is free. In lowering the stampers the same course is pursued, the batten between the cam and disc lifts the stamper sufficiently to free the "finger," which is then snatched away and the stamper foils. It is very simple, but certainly very effective, and is I believe quite a new thing in New Zealand. Mr Howell, the Company's Manager, to-day lifted the five stampers in about ten or fifteen seconds, Work at the Tailings Plant is suspended for the present, and the staff (with the exception of the boys who havQ been dispensed with), are engaged q,t the Battery. I understand that some alterations in the machinery are to be made, and that it will probably be some two or three weeks before a fresh start is made. The Battery roaster started work last Wednesday on concentrates thac have accumulated, during the past two or three months. Werahiko : I am informed that ay oik will be at once resumed in thw niine, and eight or ten miners immediately put on. I believe this course iv opposed to "th.c advice of gome of (he

local shareholders, and it is reported that an attempt will be made to frustrate the action of the Auckland shareholders,, who it is, 1 understand, intend putting men to woik.