The Dart Battery Burnt Down.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4977, 22 December 1884, Page 2

The Dart Battery Burnt Down.

The above steam crushing plaut of 13 stampers and six berdans (situated in the Hape Creek, close to the water-race) was destroyed by fire early yesterday morning. Crushing was stopped before 8 o'clock the previous evening, and the mine manager (Mr F. Stone) and amalgamator (Mr S. Loughlin) were the last to leave the building, every ordinary precaution having been taken against fire. Between 3 and 4 o'clock yesterday morning a man named Scott, living close by, discovered the fire, which had then got a strong hold of the southern portion of. the building, where the engine and boiler are situated. He at once gave the alarm, and very soon the neigbors and the manager were on the spot, but very little was done until the Shortland Fire Brigade arrived. There being no pressure of water available, buckets were used, and under the direction of the Superintendent and other officersjthe ilames were subdued. The building had burnt so rapidly, how* ever, that very nearly all the woodwork was by this time consumed. Great credit is due to the Brigade for saving the County water race, the fire repeatedly igniting one of the trestles, but being as often extinguished. As it is, damages to the extent of about £10 has been done, but bad the trestle burnt through, the consequence would have been somewhat serious, as nearly all the batteries and also the Queen of Beauty pump would have been stepped, and this at Christmas time would have been especially inconvenieut. The building destroyed was not a valuable one, but to re-erect the plant (the machinery of which has fortunately suffered but very slight injury) would cost between £2C3 and £3CO, and as the premises were not insured, the loss is a serious one to the company. It was the manager's intention to clean up on Wednesday morning, but as crushing cannot be carried on, work in the mine (with the exception of the No. 3 level crosscut) has been temporarily stopped. The accumulation of amalgam since last retorting is secure in the safe, and the gold will be lodged in the Bank to morrow. Men are now engaged clearing away the debris, and a cleaning up will take place as soon as possible. It is satisfactory to learn that the plates and tables, being covered with wet blankets, did not suffer any injury.

As to the origin of the fire ; it seems extremely probable that it originated through faulty boiler flues. These have been very roughly built, and there are numerous cracks through which sparks could escape, while others have been stopped from time to time with clay by the amalgamators. As the fire evidently started in this quarter of the building, it has no doubt been caused by a stray spark igniting the weatherboarding, which would appear to have smouldered for several hours before bursting into a flame.