Extracting gold, a ‘striking’ water tower, and hydro power
Several stamper batteries were built in the Longwoods, Central Otago, and Preservation Inlet as part of early goldmining.
The water-powered machines ground quartz rock to powder.
A slurry of water and crushed quartz flowed over a sloping amalgamating table, which was crossed with gutters containing mercury and a copper sheet that had been “silvered” with mercury to collect the very finest gold particles.
At intervals, the mercury was passed through a retort, vaporised to leave the gold behind, then recondensed for further use.
Water tower caught the eye
Invercargill’s water tower is described in an earthy way by “A Tramp” in his 1891 book, Casual Ramblings. Up and Down New Zealand.
“The Water Tower is the most striking object in Invercargill. It strikes the beholder, from a distance, pretty much the same as Partington’s Windmill in Auckland – conspicuous landmarks both.
“There is just the difference to the stranger however. He is able to recognise the purpose of the windmill tower at once while of Invercargill’s tall edifice he has to make inquiries to discover what it is all about.
“At first sight I thought the Invercargillites – despairing of ever being numbered among the ‘elect’ – had started another Tower of Babel. Later I was informed it was erected for the town water tank, that it was designed by the Town Clerk – it may have been an engineer; up our way I know it would have been the Town Clerk.
Perhaps it is different down in Southland, and the council and engineer count for something.
“The tower is built over a well and is 140 feet high and half a million of bricks were used in its construction.
“There being no hills in the vicinity, the tower is very useful as a chest expander, and a capital view can be obtained of the surrounding country when there is no mist, sleet or blizzards about. Below you lies the town, flat as a chess-board; yonder is the Bluff, only you can’t see it for the squall – shivers! Icebergs! Take me down, bring me a warming pan and ‘call me early, mother dear!’ (a reference to the poem ‘The May Queen’ by Tennyson)
“The engine-driver, with his shining Monday morning face, loosens his steed, and we settle down in our seats as he steams away with a rush on his northward journey.”
Hydro-electricity arrives to power freezing works
Southland’s first hydro-electricity was produced from a power station at Mataura Falls on April 21, 1893, to supply power to the freezing works.
Surplus electricity was made available to Gore and in October 1912 to Mataura.
When the scheme had been mooted the previous year, the Southland Times said, “We hear it reported that a movement is on foot to establish an electric lighting company at Mataura, using the Falls as means of producing the element.
“It need not be said that electricity could be guaranteed there in quantity sufficient to light all the towns of Southland, if not to supply them also with a large amount of motive power, and it is somewhat surprising that, so near to this great agent, the people of Gore, with all their enterprise, should not have taken advantage of it long ago.”