MININC.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13877, 1 February 1909, Page 8

MININC.

Tho manager of the Champion Minos Ltd reports under date January 2b as follow j> -The battery will not bo crushing before the end of this v*'*'k. Wo had a few fine days, and the work was progressing well, but tho weather is again showery. This will be a great advantage w hen wo start crushing, as wo will have, enough water, but at pres"nt it hinders the outside work. I hr.1.0 been* forced to have a groat deal of work done before the battery started crushing. In the first place tho ground round tho battery is being cleared of brushwood. This is all the more necessary from the fact that the Kauri Timber Company are shortly going to start on the timber round here, and any time after that we can expect a large fire. The plates in the battery are all amalgamated. Before the tailings go into the buddies they will be put through a copper box with ripples. This should act as a mercury trap and save a certain amount of amalgam. Tho slimes from tho berdans will also be run over copper plates. This w ill use up all tho spare copper plato ye have. This work will bo finished in .i couple of days. The battery hands can then put the races in order. Outside the battery the trostling is all up and work on the chute has boon commenced. This is the work that is keeping us back more than anything else, but if possible I m ill start crushing before it is finished. Round the "dyke" outcrop all tho scrub is bt in<i cut down and will be left to dry. "When it is drj up will burn it and so got i id of all the wood, grass, and leaves which causo so much trouble with the gratings in the battery. This will save expense in stripping later on.