DOWN THE DEEP SHAFT. (Communicated.)

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 95, 4 December 1869, Page 3

DOWN THE DEEP SHAFT. (Communicated.)

"Have you been down the Deep Shaft?"— "No? v "Well I hav'nt; but I'm on to go down to-morrow, if you will."— ■" Done ! I'll go down with you. I'll meet you at six o'clock in the evening." — "Agreed." Such was the rash promise I made in an unguarded moment to my friend H — . To-morrow (Wednesday last) came. I felt a degree of satisfaction when my friend did not make his appearance at *he time appointed, and had it not been that I would have looked such a coward, I would have made that a good reason for getting out of the fix I felt in. Half-past six came — still no appearance of him. Five minutes to seven, and the apparition appeared before me. " Well," said he, " are you going ?" — he looked as if he wished to get out of it himself. Mustering courage, and with an air of the greatest confidence, I at once replied in the affirmative : " Decidedly, decidedly ; did you tldnk for a moment I should i back out?" We then started for the Deep Shaft, which, as yet, is only celebrated for its great depth — some 430 feet. The distance from Lawrence' is about a mile. On the road, I did my best to assume a merry and careless manner ; but it was awfully forced, for every time I looked my friend in the face I imagined he turned paler and paler. When we arrived at the shaft, there ws no one present: it ! happened to be the change of shifts, and the miners who had been at work during the day were enjoying a cup of tea after their dismal work in the bowels of the earth. "There is a chance of getting out of it yet," thought I hopefully to myself. " Let's take a stroll for a few minutes," said my friend ; they are at their tea, and I never like to rob working men of their meal-hour." Q-enerous soul ' I believe he would have have been 3$ much delighted as I would have be? n had thaf meal-hour been prolonged od infinitum I was aware there was a day and ni:rhi shift on the shaft, but sharing, I beleye, my mate's nervousness, I had a dim apprehension that the wish, on this occasion, would be father to the thought, and that something was wrong with the gear, or with the whim, or with something or other. With trembling steps I approached the mouth of the abyss and looked down. " Darkness there and nothing more." I shrunk back — every nerve in my body shrunk also — a creeping sensation all over. I was inclined to vow that I would not, no, not for Joseph, go down that awful depth into the bowels of the earth. I never had been down a shaft in my life ; " And," I shudderingly murmured, "what's toe use of going down there ? If I do, I'll never return." A presentiment echoed — " Never return ! ! " We lingered among the old tailings for half an hour, passing the time as best we could. At last, "Here they come!" said my friend. They came, and I had even the courage to state the object of our visit. "Oh, yesjyou can get down; the night shift is just going on. 1 " Bad luck to it ! was my own private opinion, however much I thanked them for their kindness. The horse was then harnessed to the whim. I looked at it — a good old stager. I looked at the whim — a strong, substantial piece of workmanship. I looked at the rope — it was one sufficient to lift several ton weight, far less its own, with a small weight of 10st.(?) added. My courage revived. Mr. Feill, the contractor for the shaft, supplied me with an old coat and hat, which I put on, and prepared myself for the descent. I had fully expected to go alone, but Mr. Neill the younger, who was on the night shift, said he would go down wiih me. I overheard the brother make some slight objections to this, as the rope at one place was a little chafed, and not altogether to be depended upon. Was that not enough to make the strongest man quake ? Here waa a man who had been engaged at similar work all his days, and he raises an objection of this description \ Did I show signs of excitement, and he wished to make me worse ?—? — Cruel man ! The objection, by some means or other — I was not in a state of mind to listen — was overruled, and the bucket was raised, and all ready. I had heard of an old-experienced miner, of long standing in Victoria and Tuapeka, who, before descending theshaft, got himself strapped to the rope or bucket, so that falling, through cramp in the arms or legs, would be impossible. I thought of asking Mr. Neill to fasten me in a like manner, but it seemed bo very cowardly that I refrained from making the proposal. Mr. Neill the younger' then caught hold of the chain, and placing a foot on each side of the bucket handle, asked me to do the same. With a convulsive grasp I seized the chain and placed my feet bpsWe his. Two seconds, an/l we were folTn ."•"<?. " >1I right !" wap the cry.' W• '0 ■>"•> \j j down — down — down, very slvxiih , ; nd i the feeling of dan^e.* v^y oro?<-,nl ia j my mind. Down, Ri.iil T'>\ • \ light from the top of tfie qMiv disappears. The bucket oc:'.!->> n'jHv I scratches againßt the sides of thn shaft : my coat also rubs against rAe Ki.les ; but steadily we de3cend. The water comes dripping from the sides the further "we go.- "We -are half way

down ; do you hear the other bucket ?" Here the rising bucket came bump agains the centreing. I imagined the rope was giving way. I gave no reply, but listened with breathless excitement — my nerves being on the greatest tension — to the dripping of the water and the hum of voices on the top, and anxiously waiting for the end of the tether. " Stop her !" was at last sung out ; we had rea< hed the bottom in safety, to my great relic" of mind. It is astonishing the feeling of pride which swells in one's bosom after encountering a danger, whether real or imaginary. I felt a load taken off my mind. I v began talking as large as possible of my knowledge of reefs and deep sinking in general. But now the bucket ascends, and my friend, who is a " stout lad," and must come alone, descends. Mr. Neill and I waited for him. at the mouth of the shaft. He i got down safely, although he was nearly precipitated into the well beneath. This well, which is dug m the reef some seven or eight feet deep, was sunk to receive the surface water which percolates through the lining of the shaft, or for anjr water that accumulates in the drive, and for these purposes it answers admirably. "With each a candle in hand, we walk along the drive, which extends some 130 feet from the mouth of the shaft. This drive, we were informed, was only made some 20 feet, when a monkey shaft was sunk 18 feet, at which depth the reef was struck, dipping at an angle of about 45deg. The Shaft Committee decided upon following the reef for some distance, which was done for a distance of over 30 feet. The working under this process was found to be both difficult and expensive, and that course was abandoned in favour of another which seemed more practicalle, namely, to continue the drive 80 feet in the same direction, and again sink a blind shaft. This was done, and before the contractor had sunk 10 feet be struck what was supposed to be the opposite reei', dipping at a still more aoute angle than the first. To the Committee, as well as the contractor, this appeared a hopeful sign ; th^y rnaginod that now they could point w;th certainty to the long-looked for guiter. Calculations were made, and a plan drawn, which showed, with what was termed " mathematical certainty," that by sinking a shaft so many feet from the first blind shaft, and so many from the second, the deep ground could not be more than 70 or 80 feet down. A shaft was therefore sunk at the spot which was to decide the prospecting of Wetherstones Mat for ever ; but lo and behold ! the depth of 9 feet again discovered the reef, and not the deep ground. What was now to be done ? It was evident from the fact of the miners having sunk 18 feet and followed the reef 30 feet in the first blind shaft, that there was deeper ground than that they had last prospected ; so the Committee decided upon sinking another blind shaft about midway between the first and last shafts sunk in the drive ; and it was at this shaft the contractor was at work when my friend and I encountered the perils of the deep [shaft]. I hope with all my heart some good will result from this great undertaking, which, if successful, would create quite a revolution in mining in New Zealand. I may mention two or three things I was pleasingly disappointed in observing, namely, the cleanliness of the drive, the so-far-as-I-could-judge good workmanship, and the apparent safety of the workings, but, above all, the purity of the atmosphere, even at such a great depth. Having seen all that could be seen, we returned to the main shaft, and prepared for the elevating process. "With my feet on the ring of th» water-bag, and my hands clinched to the chain, and, what served me equally well, a much better supply of courage than before, I slowly moved upwards, the word of command having been given, " Go on — a man coming up." Slowly and steadily upward. I heard the return empty bucket half way. My arms began to feel stiff holding on by the chain. I looked up, and saw nothing, but got several drops of water in my face. Slowly upward. I again looked up, and saw daylight above me. A few seconds, and I was landed safely at the surface, when I felt myself again. The time occupied was about four minutes on my way down, and about the same on my way vp — four minutes of breathless suspense. My friend next ascended ; and after reaching the top and doffing our diggers' dress, we congratulated ourselves on the great feat we had accomplished, and returned to our respective homes, to boast of our great achievement and indomitable valour.