SUPERINTENDENT'S ANNUAL REPORT FOR YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER, 1916.

Waihi. N.Z.

The Chairman and Directors,

Waihi Gold Mining Company, Limited, London.

Gentlemen,

I beg to submit my Report on the operations of the Company for the year ended 31st December, 1916.

The Electric Pumping Plant was completed early in the year and has worked very satisfactorily.

The Hora Hora Power Plant has worked very satisfactorily, and the Transmission Line withstood the test of exceptionally heavy gales during last winter.

ENGINEER'S ANNUAL REPORTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER, 1916.

E. G. Banks, esq.,

Superintendent.

Dear sir,

I beg to report on the work carried out in the following- departments for the year ended 31st December, 1916.

MINE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.

Pumping.

The water pumped to the surface during the year was :—

" C " pumping engine ... ... 120,737,500 gallons.

Electrically-driven pumps ... 398,321,460 ,,

Total ... ' 519,058,960 ,,

The erection of the Turbo Electric Pumping Plant was completed, and the sinking pumps were brought into operation in March.

The whole of this new plant has run very satisfactorily.

For the last five months of the year the No. 2 Shaft Winding Engine was driven with compressed air, generated electrically.

Air Compressing.—A Two Stage Air Compressor driven by a 450 h.p. motor was erected and brought into commission. In addition to the underground requirements, air was supplied for driving the No. 2 Shaft Winding Engine and sundry small plant on the surface.

Rock Drills.—The average number of Rock Drills in use is about seventy.

Power Plant.—Steam has been used for driving the "C" Pump, which was brought into commission when heavy flows of water were encountered.

Steam was also used for driving the No. 6 Shaft Winding Engine, and for the first seven months of the year the No. 2 Shaft Winding Engine.

The remainder of the power was supplied by our Hora Hora plant. The Electrical Plant has run very satisfactorily.

VICTORIA MILL, WAIKINO.

Power.—The Electrical Plant has given every satisfaction. No steam or gas power has been used during the year.

Owing to the heavy rainfall, a good amount of power was available for use from the water races.

A good deal of work has been necessary in connection with the Races and Pipe lines. About 200 feet of the High Pressure Pipe has been renewed.

INSPECTION OF MACHINERY.

The machinery both at the Mine and at the Victoria Mill has been inspected and approved by the Government Inspector.

Yours faithfully,

W. P. GAUVAIN.

Assist. Superintendent.