MR LA MONTE'S VISIT TO TE ROHA.

Inangahua Times, Volume X, Issue 1563, 19 June 1885, Page 2

MR LA MONTE'S VISIT TO TE ROHA.

Mr J. D. La Mont, patenceof •• The Water Jacket Air Blast Smeltimr Furnace," accompanied by Mr R. E. Davis, arrived by coach on Saturday night last from Auckland, and on Sunday visited about half-a-dozen of the mines, at Waiorongomai, the new battery, and also Firth and Clarke's battery ; leaving again early on Mondry morning for Karangahake and the Thames. Mr La Monte was most favourably impressed with the district in general as a gold producer, but con sidered the class of quartz did not need his furnace mode of treatment, the stone being to a gveat extent devoid of base minerals and of a fiat milling character. He approved oi the use of stampers for reducing the dirt, but was quite convinced thai owing to the fineness of the gold satisfactory results would never b< obtained unless the gratings used wen exceedingly fine, say 300 to the incb (those in use in Messrs Firth anc Clarke's battery are under 200 pei per inch), and it was essential that th< cop^e-platps should be kept constantly cleaned. He considered that aftei leaving the copper-plates the tailing! should lie ran into a series of pans, t< be ground exceedingly fine, and frou thence pass into settlers, after whicl they should pass over blanket table 40ft long, these blankets to be kep: constantly washed; should fcb washings prove t<l be heavy mm erals they should then be roasted but if found to contain fine fret gold, should be pat back into thi pans and reground. As a result of sucl treatment, he considered fully 95 p*> cent of the gold would be saved. M La Monte spoke highly of the quart: produced from both the Phoeuix anc New Find mines. He carefully wen over the whole of the workings of tin New Find, in company with the man Mr M'Liver, and expressed himself a: of opinion that the miue was ai exceedingly valuable property, anc believed the runs of gold being worker upon were permanent, and would hi found of richer character at deepei levels. He would most strongly advist any body of directors to erect a batterj of their own upon such a valuable mining property, and further remarked that were it in America thousands oi pounds would be expended in opening up the mine, and in providing th« neressary plant for treating the ore before any returns would be even looked for. Rock borers, he considered indispwisible mining adjuncts on t field like this, where the quartz was of a hard nature, and they should b* in use in all the mines. He believed that Te Aroiia would yet bold s prominent position amongst goldtields the gold being so very fine, however great care would be required to savt it —TeAroha New*.