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Remarkable Circumstance Connected with the Saving of Gold.
Mr. Whitaker said that a most remarkable circumstance had come to his notice, which he thought, now that the subject of water was under discussion, was well worthy of being mentioned. Close to the “Kuranui” there was another claim called the “Long Drive,” from which came a small stream of water, which was used by the Kuranui Company, to work their machine. To this machine there were two batteries, one of which was worked by the water he had mentioned, and the other by water which came from the hill above, by the Kuranui creek. It was found that the battery worked by the water coming from the creek, always produced more gold than the one worked by water from the “Long Drive,” although both batteries were treated in precisely the same manner. Alterations were made; but the yield was still the same, when the waters were crossed, and the right-hand battery worked by the water which had previously been used for the left-hand one. The consequence was that the right-hand battery then produced more than the left-hand one. Experiments were again made, and the effect was always the same: whenever the water from the “Long Drive” was used—from one-third to half the gold was lost. This was stated to him by the manager of the claim, who put down the whole result, to the water coming from the “Long Drive.” If they stopped the water from the creek, and used that coming from the “Long Drive” only, the result was still the same, they lost from a third to half the gold. In consequence of this statement of the manager, he (the speaker) had brought up two bottles of water from the “Long Drive,” for the purpose of having it analyzed. It was a matter of the greatest importance, that it should be ascertained what the contents consisted of. The other water, by which the battery produced the most gold, came from the Moanataiari hill, which was the richest hill as yet found on the gold field. The people who had given him the information on this subject, might possibly be mistaken, but he was quite sure they were not deceiving him. The water which he had brought up he intended to forward to Dr. Hector for analysis.
It was a most important question, involving immense monetary considerations. If the statement made to him were correct, and he had no
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reason to doubt it, that this water from the “Long Drive” lost say even a third of the gold, which could be obtained by using the other water, then the losses must already have been very large.
Dr. Purchas asked if the water used from the hill referred to, as saving the most, gold, was clean.
Mr. Whitaker replied, that it was pretty clean; it was used at one machine, before coming down to the “Kuranui;” but it was filteted, and tolerably pure when used by that company.
Captain Hutton said that, taking the general question of water, there are more hot-springs in Auckland, in proportion to its size, than in any other part of the world. A great many had already been discovered, and there were, doubtless, many more lying undiscovered, away in the far north—probably a vast number. No doubt some day these springs would prove as attractive, as those of Switzerland and Germany did in the present day. He had drank the water from the spring at Whangarei, and it was quite equal to any Seidlitz water he had ever tasted in his life.
With regard to the question of analysis, he thought it useless to send less than six gallons of water, if a thorough analysis were, required; as a large quantity had to be evaporated, to leave an appreciable residue. Respecting the question brought by Mr. Whitaker before the notice of the members of the Institute, it was certainly very remarkable, but he was not at all disposed to doubt it; but, taking it for granted that one water saved more gold that the other, it could only arise from one of two causes—the one chemical, and the other mechanical. The two waters mentioned might be of different specific gravities. This might be a possible explanation, but he did not think it was sufficient to account for it. The water spoken of by Mr. Whitaker probably contained silica in solution. What action the silica might have upon the gold was very, obscure; but still there was the fact as stated by Mr. Whitaker; and there might be some unknown action between silica, which was an acid, and gold, which might have some effect on the gold, and make it less susceptible of amalgamating with the mercury, than if the water were quite clear. He only threw out these suggestions on the spur of the moment, the question having come up during the last half hour.
(2.) “On the Geology of the Island of Pakihi,” by Captain F. W. Hutton, F.G.S. (See Transactions.)
Captain Hutton said there were two or three things in connnection with the island of Pakihi, which gave it a particular interest, one of
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which was, that it contained large quantities of manganese, by which they might ultimately be able to extract gold from iron pyrites without having to roast it.