Low Level Water Race - Victoria Battery
For the year of 1894
REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS
To be submitted to the Shareholders at the ordinary general meeting, to be held at the cannon street hotel,. london, E.C., on Friday, the 7th day of June, 1895, at 12 o'clock noon.
The Directors present herewith Statement of Accounts duly audited for the year ending 31st December, 1894.
In addition to the water power used at the present mill, extensive water rights have been secured which will give an available power of about 400 horse power in winter season, at a point about 4½ miles in a direct line, and by tram line about 5½ miles from the Martha Mine. The surveys necessary for the construction of the water-races are being made. On the completion of these surveys steps will be taken to complete the races necessary for making the water-power available.
For the year 1897
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
Waihi, February 11th, 1898.
NEW WORKS IN CONNECTION WITH THE "VICTORIA" MILL, WAIKINO.
A general plan, showing the Company's property at Waikino and the general position of the buildings and works has been made, a copy of which has been sent to you. Several photographs showing the various works whilst under construction, and also in their more finished state have also been sent.
All these works at the close of the year 1897 were in a very forward state, very good progress having been made in all branches of the works. As in the preceding year, wherever possible and advantageous, all these works have been done on contract, 47 contracts having been let, of which at the close of the year 41 had been completed.
VICTORIA MILL.
The erection of this building has been begun and completed during the year. It is covered throughout of iron, and is a well lighted, roomy, and conveniently arranged building nearly 300 feet in length. The whole of the foundations are of a most solid and substantial nature, a large amount of stone work and concreting having been put in.
The whole 100 head of stamps (in one line) have been erected and all the conveyors, feeders, shafting pulleys and belts have been fixed in position, as also have two exhaust fans with their connections, and two elevators. The fixing of the trough conveyor between the elevators and the lining of ore bins was in hand at the end of the year, as was also the second turbine, the first having been completed as well as one of the two Pelton wheels which are required. Work in connection with the pipe conveyor to the tank shed was also in hand, but had been somewhat delayed owing to the Contractors being behindhand with the delivery of the pipes. The erection of the turbine and dynamo for electric lighting will be finished shortly.
TANK SHED.
The erection of this building, over 270 feet long by 114 feet broad, which, with the precipitating room attached, is of iron throughout, has been begun and completed during the present year. It is a very substantial and convenient structure with a double span roof.
The vats, of which there are ten, were in a very forward state at the close of the year, seven having been finished and filled with water, the remaining three being very near completion. These vats, as before stated, are 50 feet by 40 feet with a height of 4½ feet, inside measurements, all built in a most solid manner for permanent work, having a capacity of 150 tons each, so that 1,500 tons can be under treatment at one time. The filter bottoms of the first three had been finished by the end of the year and a start made with the filter cloths, after which the vats are all ready for use. All the necessary pipe connections had been made with the first five vats.
The Precipitating Room was also well in hand and three precipitators put in, as also the two vacuum cylinders, vacuum pump and two solution pumps.
A dwelling house has been erected for the use of the clerk, and the Waihi Office connected by telephone with the Waikino Office.
The saw mill early in the year was thoroughly equipped and has been invaluable in connection with the new works.
NEW WATER RACES.
High Pressure System.—During the year the wooden dam on the Stoney Creek Race has been constructed. The remaining earthwork on all the high pressure races has been completed, slips removed and the races thoroughly puddled [made water tight – E] where necessary. Two flumes where the race crosses the road have been put in, the intake of the race completed, and all other flume work done, as well as a considerable portion of the necessary 1,600 feet of piping. The water from the Mangakara was available as motive power by the end of the year, and the whole power should be available as soon as it is required. The contractors for the supply and fixing of the 1,200 feet of pressure pipe have completed their contract, and the water was let in for testing. As there was some leaking the contractors were instructed to give the pipes another good coat of tar, which they have now done.
low Pressure System.—The masonry dam on the Ohinemuri River has been finished and is a very strong and substantial dam. It is not likely that we shall have any trouble in connection with it in the future.
The two large flume crossings over the Ohinemuri have been taken in hand and finished during the year, both being strong pieces of work. The rest of the race has been completed, and any slips removed. The water has been let into it and run down for about half the total length. As the bulk of these races have had a summer and winter's weathering, I do not anticipate that there will be nearly as many slips or leakages as would otherwise have arisen.
The iron syphon pipe, 475 feet in length, at the close of the year had been practically completed by the contractors.
This race was also in a sufficiently forward state to allow of its being used as soon as required.
For the year 1898
SUPERINTENDENT'S ANNUAL REPORT.
Waihi Gold Mining Company, Limited,
waihi, 10th February, 1899
The Chairman and Directors,
WAIHI GOLD MINING COMPANY, LIMITED,
LONDON.
gentlemen,
I beg to submit my Report on the operations of this Company during the year ending 31st December, 1898.
VICTORIA MILL.
This mill was started at the end of February, the full number of 100 stamps being dropped on 2nd March.
The only stoppage of the mill of any importance was caused by a severe flood on 23rd June, which blocked our water races for a couple of days.
In order to provide against any possible stoppage to the conveyors owing to breaks on the high pressure race, an auxiliary Pelton wheel is being erected to be driven from the low pressure race. A reserve of 3,470 tons of ore has been formed at Victoria Mill to obviate any possible shortage in the supply to the mill owing to an accident of any kind on the railway from the mine.
POWER.
The first part of the year was very dry, very little rain falling until the end of June. We therefore required considerable auxiliary steam power at the Waihi Mill. The Yates & Thorn engine ran 230 days and the American engine 24 days. The Tangye engine was removed to Victoria Mill at the end of last year to drive the stone-breakers. Small repairs are being made to the wooden dams on Walmsley's and Mataura Creeks, otherwise our dams and races, are in good order. As there might be a slight shortage of power at the Victoria Mill in the driest season of the year, the engine that formerly drove the pump at No. 1 Shaft has been removed to the mill and a 150 h.p. Babcock & Wilcox boiler is being erected to supply it with steam. During the winter months the low pressure race has developed ample power to drive the whole mill, the high pressure water being used for driving the machine shop, conveyors, and for sluicing out purposes.
For the year 1899
SUPERINTENDENT'S ANNUAL REPORT.
waihi, 23rd February, 1900.
The Chairman and Directors,
WAIHI GOLD MINING COMPANY, LIMITED, London.
gentlemen,
I beg to submit my Report on the operations of this Company during the year ending 31st December, 1899.
NEW WORKS.
A new water right for bringing in the Owharoa Falls Creek [Taieri Stream – E], distant about a mile from the Mill was obtained, and a contract let for forming the water-race, and a further one for the necessary pressure pipe, 28 inches in diameter and 350 feet long. It is intended to utilise this new power for driving the stone-breakers.
An order was also placed with Yates & Thorn for a 520 H.P. Steam Engine which will be capable of driving the whole mill of 200 stamps by steam.
Three Babcock & Wilcox boilers are also being obtained.
For the year 1900
SUPERINTENDENTS ANNUAL REPORT.
waihi, 19th February, 1900. .
The Chairman and Directors,
WAIHI GOLD MINING COMPANY, LIMITED,
london.
gentlemen,
I beg to submit my Report on the operations of this Company during the year ending 31st December, 1900.
Tramway and Water Race Maintenance shows a very small increase, partly due to the re-laying and ballasting of the line from the Mine to the Mill.
New Races Maintenance Account.—Although embracing the new Owharoa Falls Race shows a slight decrease in cost per ton.
The only addition to the race system made was the construction of the Owharoa Falls race, about one mile in length, the water being brought in by means of an open channel until the commencement of the pressure pipe 28 inches in diameter and about 350 feet long. The power from this is used for driving the Stonebreakers for the wet crushing and for supplying the plant with clean water.
For the year 1901
SUPERINTENDENTS ANNUAL REPORT.
Waihi, 27 th January, 1902
The Chairman and Directors.
WAIHI GOLD MINING COMPANY, LIMITED, London.
Gentlemen,
I beg to submit my Report on the operations of this Company for the year ended 31st December, 1901.
WATER POWER.
The water races have given very little trouble during the year and have been maintained in good order.
In the Waihi low pressure race a breakaway occurred towards the end of the year, cutting off the water for a week. This was repaired and at the end of the year the race was cleaned out and the banks, where necessary, repaired and strengthened so as to enable a larger quantity of water, when available, to be brought in by this race. A small wooden flume is being done away with and the water carried in a ground channel.
In the Waikino high pressure system a slip occurred during August in the Mangakara race. This was made good by using some lengths of pipe line which is kept in stock for this purpose.
On the Waikino low pressure race at the end of the year, some earthwork was commenced so as to strengthen the banks, with a view of the race carrying more water when it is available.
The cost of maintenance of the races, dams, pipes, &c., for the year was only 2d. per ton of ore crushed, being lower than the preceding year.
TITLES.
Two "special sites" of 5 acres each for bye-washes on the Waihi low pressure system [Waihi Battery – E], and a 5-acre "special site" embracing the quarry near Waikino, were acquired.
For the year 1902
SUPERINTENDENTS ANNUAL REPORT.
waihi, 24th January, 1903. The Chairman and Directors,
WAIHI GOLD MINING COMPANY, LIMITED, LONDON.
GENTLEMEN,
I beg to submit my Report on the operations of this Company for the year ending 31st December, 1902.
WATER POWER.
Generally speaking, the water races have given but little trouble ; no large repairs have been necessary, and such breakaways as have occurred have not seriously interfered with the treatment plants.
All the Mills now have independent steam-power; but owing to the changes from dry to wet crushing the demands upon the water power have increased, as, apart from what is required for the actual crushing, power is required at various points in the treatment plant as well as for the actual treatment itself, to a greater extent than was necessitated in the dry crushing process.
About the middle of the year a leakage occurred in part of the pipe-line of the high pressure race supplying the Victoria Mill, due to the pipes settling in consequence of some slips.
At the end of June there was an exceedingly heavy rainfall for twenty-four hours, resulting in a severe flood which caused some slips.
The carrying capacity of the water races has been increased.
The proportion of coal used as compared with wood for fuel has increased very much during the year, and the amount of the fuel required in the future, which will be mainly if not entirely all coal, will still further increase.
For the year 1903
SUPERINTENDENTS ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1903
Waihi, 21st January, 1904
A third turbine of 100 h.p. which was in stock has been erected and brought into use during the month of August, and since then very little steam power was required. The necessary length of 300 feet of 24-inch wrought iron pipe line was obtained second hand, in good condition, from one of the neighbouring mines.
A winding drum was placed in position on the Incline Tram in place of the traction engine, which was required for conveying the heavy parts of the "C" pumping engine from Paeroa to No. 5 Shaft at the Mine.
WATER POWER.
The repairs necessary to the water races have, with one exception, been very light. This exception was on the main high-pressure race supplying the Victoria Mill, where a breakaway of the ground channel occurred towards the end of May, cutting off most of the high-pressure water from the Mill.
The race was temporarily repaired with pipes, and a contract let for over 300 feet in length of timber fluming for £237, which was carried out satisfactorily.
The carrying capacity of the Victoria Mill low pressure race was increased so as to permit of its carrying a larger volume of water when available, to supply the 100 H.P. Turbine which was erected. The banks were heightened and strengthened where necessary for a distance of about 2 miles, and the sides of the timber fluming heightened.
The water power available has been greater than usual, the rainfall, which has been heavy, having been fairly evenly distributed throughout the year: during November and December, which are usually very dry months, the rainfall was unusually heavy. On the other hand, there has been an absence of floods, and what heavy rains there were did very little damage.
For the year 1904
SUPERINTENDENTS ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1904.
Waihi, 25th January, 1905
WATER POWER.
With a view to increasing the carrying capacity of the Waitekauri high pressure water race a tunnel 730 feet in length has been driven, thus cutting out half a length of 2,000 feet of pipe line, the pipes thus set free to be used in duplicating the length which will remain. This work is nearing completion.
TITLES.
Three sites for byewashes on the Waitekauri high pressure water race have been granted, also race deviation by means of tunnel referred to above.
For the year 1905
SUPERINTENDENTS ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1905.
Waihi, 18th January, 1906.
GENERAL.
The construction of the Government Railway from Paeroa as far as the Victoria Mill, Waikino, was completed by the end of March, the first train of coal trucks reaching there on the 2nd April. The opening of the line to this point has lessened the difficulties attending the transport of the large quantity of coal and other goods required by the Company.
The extension of the line to Waihi was completed a few months later and the line was opened for traffic on the 9th November.
With a view to providing additional power to allow of the gradual expansion of the Company's Works which has been going on and is likely to continue, considering the very satisfactory manner in which the Mine has continued to develop, further examination has been made of the water power available in the neighbourhood; after careful inspection of various sources of power, a scheme for transmission of power from the Waikato River was decided upon as being the most suitable; by the adoption of this scheme all the power likely to be required could be generated and transmitted to the Company's Works.
Application has been made to the Government for permission to carry out this scheme, and in the interests of the Company, the mining community, and the Colony itself, it is very much to be hoped that the necessary authorisation will be made.
For the year 1906
SUPERINTENDENTS ANNUAL REPORT. FOR 1906.
Waihi, 17th January, 1907. . The Chairman and Directors,
WATER POWER.
A small breakaway on the Taieri water race took place, the ground in that vicinity being of a bad standing character the race has been cut back further into the hill.
On the whole very little trouble has been experienced with the water races during the year. The carrying capacity of all the races has been fully maintained.
For the year 1907
SUPERINTENDENTS ANNUAL REPORT. FOR 1907.
Waihi, l3th February, 1908.
WATER POWER.
Very little work has been necessary on the water races during the year. The intake to the Homunga race has been rebuilt in solid ground at the Dam.
The Taieri race broke away in bad ground and has been cut further for about three chains in length.
A new byewash has been constructed in the Waihi Low Pressure race.
A breakaway in this race was also repaired.
For the year 1908
SUPERINTENDENTS ANNUAL REPORT. FOR 1908.
Waihi, 10th February, 1909.
WATER POWER.
The water races have been kept in good order.
For the year 1909
SUPERINTENDENTS ANNUAL REPORT FOR YEAR ENDED 31st DEC, 1909.
Waihi, 10th February, 1910.
WATER POWER.
The water races have been kept in good order.
For the year 1910
SUPERINTENDENTS ANNUAL REPORT FOR YEAR ENDED 31st DEC. 1910.
Waihi, 17th February, 1911
WATER POWER.
A good deal of work has been done on the water races ; fluming and dams have been repaired and strengthened.
The flood in March carried a great deal of silt, stones and old timber into many parts of the races, but no very serious damage resulted.
HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER.
Work has been commenced and pushed forward at the Hora Hora Rapids.
The cutting for the ditch is well under way, the site for the Power House has been cut down and excavations commenced for foundations.
Contracts have been let for 6 Turbines and Generators.
The route for the Transmission line has been felled and burned off where it passes over the Ranges.
For the year 1911
ENGINEER'S REPORT—VICTORIA MILL—YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER, 1911.
WAIKINO, 31st January, 1912.
Water Power.—
This showed a falling off in the latter part of the year, necessitating the use of steam. The peltons and turbines are all in good condition and required little attention in the way of repairs.
One of the 200 B.H.P. Vortex Turbines was opened up during the Christmas stoppage and the rotor taken out for inspection. This machine had been running continuously for the past 12 years, and considering the enormous quantity of tailings from the Waihi Mills which has passed through the wheel, it is in excellent condition.
The only wear noticeable has been in the bushings of the packing boxes and glands. A few of the vanes of the rotor showed a little slackness, but in every other respect the wheels are in good running order.
The No. 1 Turbine (200 H.P.) has been running for 15 years, and appears in about the same condition.
The No. 3 Turbine (100 H.P.) has been running 11 years, but does not require anything in the way of repairs.
It was thought that perhaps the pumice drift would cause wear on the Rotor vanes of the Turbines being installed at Hora Hora, but from the conditions of the Turbines at Waikino, there is little to fear in that respect.
Water Races
—The Low Pressure, Waitekauri, and Taieri Races have been supplying a fair percentage of the power used during the year; and their condition generally is good. One break in the Waitekauri section occurred in June, necessitating a deviation of about 3 chains of the race.
The country through which the Taieri Race passes is not at all reliable, and frequent small washouts occur.
Where too bad to puddle, it is secured with pipe fluming.
The wings of the Masonry Dam supplying the Low Pressure Race were carried up an additional six feet as a protection against high floods.
During the Christmas stoppage, the three races were thoroughly gone over from end to end, and all slips and overgrowth removed, and timber work in tunnels repaired.
For the year 1914
ENGINEER'S ANNUAL REPORTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER, 1914.
Power
.—The past year being an exceptionally dry one the amount of Power available from our races was small, and towards the end of the year almost negligible.
The water-race flumes and pipe lines have been kept in good order. Power was brought in from Hora Hora early in the year and the first motor started on February 4th.
By the end of February practically all the motors were in use.
For the year 1915
ENGINEER'S ANNUAL REPORTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER, 1915.
Power Plant
.—No steam or gas power has been used during the year.
The Water Turbines have been thoroughly overhauled. These turbines have been running for a number of years with practically no repairs, and it was found necessary to renew a number of parts. They are now in good order.
A fair amount of work has been done on the water races, it having been found necessary to re-timber two of the tunnels and to renew part of the flume work [may be talking, in part, about the Waitekauri high pressure supply – E].
For the year 1917
ENGINEER'S ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED . 31st DECEMBER, 1917.
The Water Races have been kept in good order, and a fair amount of power was available from them throughout the year.
For the year 1918
ENGINEER'S ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER, 1918.
Water Races
—A good deal of work has been done in connection with the Water Races. The Walmsley Race has been thoroughly cleared out, and the timbers in the tunnels, which were in a bad state of repair, have been renewed. .
Power Plant
—The whole of the Power for operating the Mill has been obtained from Hora Hora, with the addition of a small percentage of local Water Power.
For the year 1919
ENGINEER'S ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER, 1919.
Water Races
—A good deal of work has been done on the Water Races, in order to obtain as much water power from these as possible. Shortage of labour, has, however, handicapped us, and it will be some little time before the necessary alterations are complete.