WAITEKAURI. OPENING OF THE AUSTRALIAN CO.'S BATTERY. [From Our Own Correspondent.] Karangahake, Saturday.

Te Aroha News, Volume VIII, Issue 394, 17 August 1889, Page 2

WAITEKAURI. OPENING OF THE AUSTRALIAN CO.'S BATTERY. [From Our Own Correspondent.] Karangahake, Saturday.

In response to an invitation from Messrs Lockwoodand McGuire (part owner* in the Australian Special Qluim and Battery), to witneßS the start of their mashing machinery, I ma<le an early ."tart on Wednesday morning, thinking I would have time to have a look at the Jubilei* as well. But (( the best laid schemes o' men and mice gang aft agle<\" I was told that the distance w*B trifling, not more than an hour and a half's walk (it I took the short cut). Well, I took the short cut, a good many short cuts, and the consequence wag I did not reach the battery until somewhere between one and two o'clook. Mr Lockwood kindly showed me over the Co.'a property. The battery is erected in what is known a? ficotia creek, bo numed from having bn'n sluiced by ft party of NovaScotians in the early days of the goldfield, The battery (which is the ordinary stamper process), coropriges 10 stampers

and 4 foerdans, driven by a 6 feet Pelton wheel, with u fall of 50 foet. The waterrace is 24 chains in length ; size of flume 24in. x 12iu,, carried on trestle work the entire distance. The whole of the work (which is of the most substantial character), has boon carried ont under the persotiftl supervision of Mr John Heighway, the Company's Engineer. The extent of the claim is 100 acres and the battery has been erected to crush the boulders found in not only the bed of the creek, but for a considerable distance on either side ; and for a length of y6 chains some exceedingly rich atone has been taken from this creek, and coarse gold in pieces, varying from a few grains to sdwie, hns been found on the bottom. A tramway has been laid down from the battery to the faeo, where it is proposed to start operation?, and the Manager informs me that a yield of . 2d\vts to the ton will more than cover all woiking expenses. In the event of the venture paying (which I see no reason to doubt), it is contemplated to erect one of the Lockwood-Chappel Hydrogen Furnaces, for which ti patent has been secured by the proprietors, and for which it is claimed that the most refractory ores can bo stuveihfully treated. The opening ceremony was witnessed by n large number of Waiteknuri and Paoroa residents, who were all unanimous in comiiit'tuiing the pluck and pei severance of Messrs Lockwoo-l and McGnire, in their efforts to introduce capital to develops this part oC the goldfield. Mr Heigbway came in for his share of praise, for the excellent manner in which he had carried out the works. After spending a pleasant afternoon I made ' tricks ' for home (I did not take any ' short cuts' on the return journey), which I just managed to reach at dark, I could not learn much as to the progress of works at the Jubilee Special Claim, but will pay it a visit when the weather is a little more settled, and the roads more fit. to travel upon.