GOLD SAVING MACHINE.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2017, 22 June 1875, Page 2

GOLD SAVING MACHINE.

NEW INVENTION.

Somo time ago the Provincial Government of Otago offered a bonus of £250 for the invention of a machine that world save the fine gold escaping from tail races. The conditions ?nd other particulars we published in our colrms in the hope that some of our miners would bring to bear their, mechanical genius and practical experience in competing for the bonus offered. One instance has come to our i knowledge which proves that what we wrote has not been barren of result. Messrs Doidge and Haynes, residents of this district, have completed a model of a machme which they believe will come up to the conditions, bargained for in the 1 prospectus of the Gtago Government. Yesterday,we were favored 1 with a view of the model, and viva voce explanation of its parts and points by one of the inventors —himself a'.man'.of. experience in "mineral dressing" in the old country. Themodel is perfect in all its parts, and works with nicety and exactness, illustrating in a forcible manner the work it is intended to perform. The inventors have not-given • it any partici^ar name at present, further - than to ca 11. it a " Slime Machine," and they claim for it the following properties:— That it is capable of saving the finest particles of gold which. are known to escape from the batteries now in use; also the floured silver that is unavoidably lost in great quantities. The machine is used without the aid of silver, and can be applied universally where fine gold is known to exist, but which has baffled all science hitherto brought to bear upon it. The machine is a portable- one—of light construction, and easily moved from one place to another. The wear and tear is quite nominal, and the machine is very light in motion. It can easily be attached by a driving belt ,to: either steam or:, water power, or it can be worked by hand, if required. It is ,well:adapted<fbrualluvial working where fine gold is washed away in the thick water by : ; sluicing-or tail races, as the machine can easily be moved from place to place, silver, not' being required; Such are ;the" capabilities of the invention as described hyt..the. inventory and if their anticipations bo realised, it will prove to be a perfect machine, as useful, on this field as on an : alluvial gold|, field, esp3cially as a conservator of silver ', the loss of which constitutes such an important item in battery expenses. The model shown to us consists of-a; framework, in? side of which all the mechanism is contained. It is twelve inches long, seven inches high, and four wide; and when we say tbat it is made to a scale of one inch to a foot, an idea can bo formed of the size of the machine afc work. Nearly at the top of the framework is a large puddling tub for the reception of the sludge or tailings, inside of which. is worked the usual agitator X something after the style of the amalgamators in use. From the tub the liquid runs into various troughs, thence to ripple tables which alter the' direetiori, and then on to an endless belt of gutta percha* divided into four channels like blanket* streaks. This belt runs on rollers with a slow motion, being also further acted upon by a movement underneath which makes it to' " belly," thereby increasing the chances of keeping the gold! oil,the belt. The belt moves in a contrary direction to the flow of water, so that it is expected, the! tailings will be washed off and the gold remain. At the end of the machine, at; which the gold is expected to ; be saved is*. a trough, into, which. works a sort of plunger which sends over a water, supply capable of washing off any debris left b'yj. the ordinary flow, and the gold or silver is discharged into a box .underneath, a fine spray of water being played upon at continually by means of a perforated iron pipe We do not expect to bo able to give a very clear idea of the invention by

this description, buL our mechanical friends will be able to judge somewhat of its principle. The driving power is at the side, and can be easily adapted for steam, w akr pr hand. The inventors are applying to their invention under the Patent 'Act, as soon as which has been done the model will probably be exhibited and its principles explained. Should they be unsuccessful ip obtaining the bonus offered by the Otogo Government, their machine will, we should think, become a valuable adjunct in the treatment of quartz tailings, and ultimately prove of importance to this field in solving the difficulty which i has puzzled so many as to how .to nave fine gold and prevent the waste of silver. The inventors deserve credit for their i patient industry, and we shall be glad if j the result proves satisfactory to them and to the field. )