48 
MINING MACHINERY. 
Mr. E. R. Meekison, the Travelling Inspector of Mines and Machinery, has 
furnished me with the following report on the condition of the machinery in use in the 
several mining districts of the colony:— 
Ballarat District. 
The machinery in this district is extensively applied both to alluvial and quartz mining. The 
plants, as a rule, are well adapted for their work, are substantially erected, and what is absolutely necessary 
for doing the work is provided, but very little is spent on fine finishing or ornament. 
As regards machinery, the most important part of the district is the Allandale gold-field. The 
machinery there is wholly used for alluvial mining, and is the best of the kind procurable. The winding 
engines are nearly all single cylinders, with loose eccentrics, and winding on the first motion, the spiders 
for the flat ropes being on the crank shaft, and t wo trucks are brought up the shaft at a time in the cage. 
The cylinders of these engines are from 20-incli to 26-inch diameter, and the slide valves have to be 
worked by hand, both when starting and stopping the engines. This makes it much harder work for the 
engine-driver than if they were double-cylinder engines, with link motion. I consider the double engines 
would be a better kind for this work. 
The driving power for the puddling machines is supplied by engines fixed on a level with the top of 
the machines, and worked by steam supplied through pipes from the same boilers that work the winding 
and pumping engines. 
The mines are ventilated by Root’s blowers, and they perform their work very satisfactorily, giving 
the best supply of air of any machine employed for this purpose. 
Most of the winding engines at work there have been made in the colony, and will compare 
favorably, both in economy of working and finish, and suitability for their work, with the best imported 
engines of their class. 
The pumping engine at the Berry No. 1 Company (see sketch) was made by the Union Foundry, 
Ballarat, and is the only one of this type made in the colony up to the present, hut another of the same 
size is being made for the Hepburn Estate Company. 
There is nothing in the crushing plants in this district to call for special mention. The quartz gold, 
as a rule, is coarse, and does not require so fine crushing, nor so many appliances to catch it, as where it is 
finer. The pyrites treated give a low average, but the cost of collecting and treating them is so reduced 
that loz. of gold per ton will leave a profit. 
Sandhurst District. 
The machinery in this district is mostly used in connexion with the treating of quartz, and the 
mine-owners have spared no expense to get as complete appliances as possible. 
Iho batteries are the most complete in the colony, and in the latest ones erected the arrangement of 
the machinery for efficiency and economy leave little to ho desired. They are erected in a substantial 
manner, both machinery and housing being finished in a first-class style, and they are afterwards kept- 
models of cleanliness. 
There are several companies that only treat pyrites. They either buy them or charge by the ton for 
treating them, and they can either do them by the burning and grinding process, or by the chlorine gas. A 
large amount of money has been expended on the plants, and no better results are obtained anywhere in the 
colony. 
The winding engines lately erected* have all double cylinders and link motion, and the winding 
drums for the round steel ropes used are on the crank shaft. They are provided with strong clutches, to 
allow the ropes to be changed to the different levels, and also with powerful brakes attached to each drum, 
and also fly-wheel. 
The ropes, cages, and safety appliances are well attended to, and nro never allowed to get out of 
working order. The best batteries, winding engines, and gear have all been made in Sandhurst, and are 
superior to any others in the colony for the class of work they have to do. The owners of the mines are 
willing to pay the increased price required for these plants, and any new invention designed to increase the 
efficiency of their appliances (if it shows a reasonable hope of success) is given a trial. 
Some of the plants have, however, this fault—that the brake handles arc not conveniently placed, as 
in many cases the engine-driver would have to leave the starting handle of engine to put the brake on. 
The Johnson Reef No. 2 Company have the best-arranged brake I have seen in Sandhurst. It is fixed so 
that the engine handle and brake handle are placed about 20 inches apart, and the engine-driver can 
take one in each hand and have full control of both engine and brake at once. (See sketch.) 
Castlemaine District. 
In this district the mining is partly alluvial and partly quartz, and the machinery is generally of the 
plain and substantial order. 
At Chinaman’s Flat, tliero are two large imported pumping engines erected. They are kept in first- 
class order, and are very suitable for the work they have to do. There is also a similar engine at work at 
Avoca. At Homebush is situated the iron shafts sunk by Messrs. Thompson and Richards.| 1 went down 
the shafts, and examined them. They are a good piece of work, answer the purpose well, and must add to 
the safety in working the mine. 
* For description of winding engine erected at Lansell’s 222 Claim, Sandhurst, see page 49. 
+ For plan and description of Thompson and Richards’ apparatus, see page 50. 
