The quartz mining era at Nenthorn is, and was, described as a "rush." But it wasn't a gold rush as most people would imagine it. Early alluvial rushes in Otago went after gold in river gravel and a single miner (usually a pair) could make enough gold to secure a future - with good luck and hard work.
The rush to the Nenthorn reefs was with pegs rather than pans. As soon as the discovery of gold-bearing quartz was learned of, the area was rushed by men who carried pegs. Claims were pegged off and then registered at the Warden's office in Naseby. What followed then was a rush to get enough money to exploit the claim.
The Nenthorn story is about "the flow of gold" - and for gold to flow out of the Nenthorn reefs it first had to flow in. Miners had to be hired and paid, mining equipment bought, wood for the mine props bought and brought from some distance. And, once the quartz was "brought to grass" it had to be crushed into powder and passed over shallow copper "tables" filled with mercury to form an amalgam which was then "retorted" - heated in a closed container to drive off the mercury as vapour, after which would be condensed for reuse.
Mercury was not cheap to buy but was essential for the recovery of the fine gold in the quartz. The crushing equipment was also not cheap but needed to be bought, and once bought needed to be powered - either with water from a race dug around hillsides to a source (for which a water right needed to be secured) or with a steam engine. Cutting races cost money, as did steam engines and the coal to feed them.
A quartz mining area needed a lot of gold to flow in before the mined gold could begin to flow out.
The rush to the Nenthorn reefs was with pegs rather than pans. As soon as the discovery of gold-bearing quartz was learned of, the area was rushed by men who carried pegs. Claims were pegged off and then registered at the Warden's office in Naseby. What followed then was a rush to get enough money to exploit the claim.
The Nenthorn story is about "the flow of gold" - and for gold to flow out of the Nenthorn reefs it first had to flow in. Miners had to be hired and paid, mining equipment bought, wood for the mine props bought and brought from some distance. And, once the quartz was "brought to grass" it had to be crushed into powder and passed over shallow copper "tables" filled with mercury to form an amalgam which was then "retorted" - heated in a closed container to drive off the mercury as vapour, after which would be condensed for reuse.
Mercury was not cheap to buy but was essential for the recovery of the fine gold in the quartz. The crushing equipment was also not cheap but needed to be bought, and once bought needed to be powered - either with water from a race dug around hillsides to a source (for which a water right needed to be secured) or with a steam engine. Cutting races cost money, as did steam engines and the coal to feed them.
A quartz mining area needed a lot of gold to flow in before the mined gold could begin to flow out.
 |
| The hills of Nenthorn. |
Central Otago Mining Notes.
(From Our Own Correspondent.) Naseby, November 15.
THE STONEBURN RUSH A DUFFER.
Mr McMillan, the originator of the rush to Stoneburn creek, in the vicinity of Nenthorn, came into Naseby on Monday morning and lodged an application at the Warden's Court for a prospecting claim of 1200ft along the course of the reef and 300ft in width. I happened to be in the office at the time, and after I had obtained a copy of the application I at once left for the rush, reaching the locality at 6 o'clock. I was fortunate enough to fall in with a party of miners who knew the country well. We passed Monday night on the ranges, dividing our time between searching for the reef and watching for the arrival of the prospector. The weather was cold, windy, and foggy, and we passed a somewhat eventful night, taking snatches of sleep in wringing wet garments on the top of cliffs and under rocks, which offered no protection against the cold. At 7.30 on Tuesday morning Mr McMillan indicated the locality of his prospecting area, and in a short time claims were pegged off all around him. I then devoted an hour to carefully examining the reef, and as the result of my inspection I have no hesitation whatever in characterising the rush as one of the rankest of duffers. The reef consists of large "blows" of white stone known to miners as "mother-of-quartz," with not a trace of gold perceptible to the naked eye. The existence of this particular lode has been known for the last 25 years, and has been repeatedly subjected to searching examinations with similar results. Coarse alluvial gold is occasionally found in the creeks; but this, in my opinion, has not been derived from the reef at all, but from the degradation of the country rock (micaceous schist), which is full of lamina of quartz of an apparently auriferous character. Several lodes crop out on the range, but they are all nearly milky white, and none auriferous. -Otago Witness, 23/11/1888.
Extremely favourable accounts have been received from the newly-discovered reefs at Nenthorn. That there is an extensive reefing country in that locality has now been placed beyond dispute, and one which, in our opinion, after the process of development takes place, will prove to be one of the richest in Otago, if not in the colony. Parcels of the surface stone, on being reduced, have given excellent yields, although poor results were expected. Crosscuts are being put in the reef, and the result is awaited with considerable anxiety. A large area of country has been pegged off. -Otago Daily Times, 27/11/1888.
Regarding what it terms "the Nenthorn boom" the Mount Ida Chronicle says: — "It is now within the domain of established fact that the Nenthorn reefs are the richest ever found in Central Otago; and that Nenthorn is the centre of a remarkably rich reefing country, the extent of which has not yet been fully ascertained. We have from time to time seen some of the tests made, and the results obtained from small pieces of stone, in which to the naked eye no gold was visible, were quite phenomenal, and convince us that the gold, which is rough and like miniature nuggets, is evenly distributed through the quartz. One party of miners have resolved on working their claim themselves instead of putting it into a company, and assure us that anyone with a pestle and mortar could with little effort make £1 a day. The quartz is highly crystalised, of a white and roseate hue, and crushes as easily as loaf sugar. Several tons have been sent to Dunedin and several to Melbourne to be crushed, about the results of which the owners are very sanguine. Claims are being marked out every day, and some miles of country have been pegged. Prospecting the various properties is being proceeded with, and we hear that the reef has been found, bearing good gold, in the Just-in-Time claim, situate east of the Eastern Nenthorn Company's claim. Further developments will, we feel confident, prove this field to be one of the best in Otago." -Otago Daily Times, 14/1/1889.
Of the Nenthorn the Chronicle reports: — Contracts have been let to further develop this property, and shafts are being sunk on both Wilson's and Johnstone's claims. In the latter claim a new reef is being followed up, which crosses the gully below the prospectors' camp. The reef is from 18in to 20in wide, and carries good gold. Another reef has been discovered in Wilson's holding, which is anticipated will prove as rich as the original. The result of the crushing of the stone sent to Melbourne has not yet been received. The prospectors (McMillan and party) are sinking in splendid stone, the reef widening, and the quality of the stone improving as operations proceed. On Friday several old, experienced reefers arrived in Naseby from the Nenthorn, and at once lodged applications for licensed holdings covering 90 acres of ground, in which several reefs carrying heavy gold have been traced. Our contemporary has the authority of a mining expert for stating that the quality of the stone taken from the reefs is superior to anything ever found in Otago, the gold vieing in richness with the Thames quartz, but surpassing it in quality.
In a recent report by Mr Jack, the Queensland Government geologist, on the Mount Morgan mine he says, after describing the various workings of the mine, that the evidence to hand goes to confirm his original view that the auriferous metal was deposited by a thermal spring. He adds that the recent exploratory work in Callan's Knob (Mount Morgan Extended Gold Mining Company), has tended to strengthen the belief that though it may be comparatively poor in gold it is of similar origin to Mount Morgan itself. In his remarks on the gold yields Mr Jack says: — "The unparallelled richness of the mine must be obvious to the most casual observer." He also remarks: "It is very evident the bulk of the gold of Mount Morgan yet lies intact within the limits of the freehold property." -Otago Daily Times, 21/1/1889.
THE NENTHORN GOLDFIELDS.
(By Our Special Reporter.)
The best way to reach the Nenthorn reefs from Dunedin is by way of Palmerston and Dunback. Acting, however, on unsound advice, I took the road via Outram and Middlemarch, thus rendering the journey much longer than there was any occasion for. Middlemarch is a little township on the Upper Taieri, or Strath-Taieri, as it is called, and here the immediate terminus of the Otago Central railway will be located. By road the distance from Outram is 40 miles. At the hotel I made sure of getting definite information about the reefs, but further than a vague idea of the country in which they are situated, I could get nothing. The Strath-Taieri folks evidently did not consider the Nenthorn reefs worth bothering their heads about. I fortunately met in with Mr B. W. Humphreys, of Garthlyl estate, who suggested that Mr G. W. Pogson, of Cottesbrook, might be able to give me the information I wanted as to locality and route. I therefore called upon Mr Pogson next morning, and kindly setting out in company with me, he gave me ample directions, so that when we parted, some five or six miles along the route, I experienced no difficulty in finding the way. Keeping along the Moonlight road till the settlements at Moonlight and Nenthorn Flats came in sight, I turned to the right and made the descent to the latter. A settler in the Flat directed me to the exact locality of the reefs, some three miles or so from his door, the distance from Strath-Taieri being about 20 miles. This makes the total distance from Outram about 60 miles by road, while from the terminus of the Otago Central railway at Middlemarch the distance is 20 miles, and from the railway at Dunback 24 miles. The best route, therefore, in the meantime is, as I have already said, from Dunback by Macraes. The reefs are situated on a spur near the head waters of the Nenthorn creek, and between that stream and the Stoneburn creek on the Cottesbrook run, No. 121b, m the Waikouaiti county. Their discovery was made as follows: — William McMillan, who hails from Berwick, Lake Waipori, was rabbiting on the run last winter, when he came across some good specimens of quartz which had come out of an alluvial claim in the Nenthorn creek. This suggested to him the probability of a reef existing somewhere in the neighbourhood. He consequently fossicked about till November 6, when he found quartz showing on the surface carrying gold freely. He at once went to Naseby, and applied on November 12th for a prospecting claim. Taking William Jennings and Thomas George, both of Berwick, as mates, he has been prospecting ever since. The party has traced the line of reef along the surface for nearly half a mile, everywhere showing gold freely. On December 24th they sent three tons of stone, taken out at random on the top of the reef, to Messrs Kincaid, McQueen, and Co., of Dunedin, to get it tested, and the returns secured on the 21st inst. gave a return of
THREE OUNCES TO THE TON.
After paying all expenses in connection with the crushing, the party have over £16 to the good. The stone is therefore quite rich enough to send to Dunedin to crush and give a handsome return. Messrs Wilson and Johnston, representing a syndicate, have applied for two licensed holdings of 30 acres each on the line of reef discovered by McMillan. A second reef has been discovered about a quarter of a mile to the southward of McMillan's reef, and this shows gold freely. Both lines of reef have been pegged off as far as they are likely to extend. Specimens sent to Naseby have caused great excitement there, and the whole country side for miles around has been pegged off. Last Saturday morning there was quite a rush, and at daybreak men were actually racing and chasing each other to get claims pegged off. Altogether about 20 licensed holdings have been applied for. Three lines of reef are known to exist, and the chances are all in favour of other discoveries being made. McMillan and party have put down a shaft 27ft deep upon their reef. At a depth of 20ft the reef widened out to over 3ft, but at the bottom of the shaft had narrowed to 18in, which appears to be about the average width of the two reefs opened out, though both may widen considerably if sunk upon for 100ft. The reefs are of a mullocky kind of quartz, easily worked and easily crushed, and almost any piece of stone broken off at the surface or deeper down shows gold freely. Sometimes, even on a rich reef, there is difficulty in getting nice specimens, but at Nenthorn one might in a short time get a cartload of specimens showing gold freely. I found McMillan and Jennings — almost the only men on the ground — on Saturday afternoon, most willing to give me all the information I desired. They made no attempt to crack up their reef, but gave me every facility to examine it for myself. After seeing all that can in the meantime be seen, I find that the accounts given formerly of these reefs have not been exaggerations. A trial crushing sent to Melbourne from another part of McMillan's reef gave a return of l 1/2oz to the ton. This comes far short of the Dunedin trial crushing, though the stone appears equally rich all along the reef. As the stone was taken from the surface, too, much mullock might have been sent with it. The Nenthorn reefs lie on a ridge running nearly north and south in a direct line from Macrae's Flat to Hindon. The reefs strike east and west, with a dip of about one in six to the north. The whole of the country between Hindon and Macraes has suffered great denudation during the glacial period. The naked mica-schist rocks stand up on every hand where the harder portions have resisted the action of ice and water, while between these the bed rock lies close below the thin layer of tussock-clad soil. In the gullies
RICH PATCHES OF SHOTTY REEF GOLD
have been found over almost the whole area, showing that along the whole line of ridges quartz reefs must lie buried. These ridges will be carefully prospected now. Rich specimens have been occasionally found, but up till quite recently no important discovery has been made. The new goldfield bids fair to be one of the best reefing districts yet discovered in Otago, but so little prospecting has been done up to the present time that little can be said about the field. The one great drawback will be water. The Nenthorn creek can only yield a limited supply, and the goldfield is rather high to bring water in. Yet, should a number of paying reefs be discovered, it should be quite practicable to bring water in from the Upper Taieri. There is no timber near, but good peat is plentiful on the crown of a ridge within three miles of the reefs. The
GOLDFIELD IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE,
especially if the Waikouaiti County Council would make a road from Macrae's Flat. Gently sloping ridges admit of an easy road, passable even now for bullock teams. The fact that the prospecting party took a dray right up to their claim and carted the stone off without any road making shows that the country is not very rough. As far as present indications go, we might reasonably enough expect soon to hear good accounts of the newly-discovered Nenthorn goldfield. I was shown a good sample of antimony, discovered not far from the reefs, and Mr McMillan says that he has come across an outcrop of scheelite. The country in question, therefore, appears to be rich in minerals, and no doubt the number of men now out prospecting will make further important discoveries. -Otago Daily Times, 30/1/1889.
NENTHORN REEFS.
(FROM A CORRESPONDENT ON THE FIELD.) Nenthorn, January 31.
It will not be without interest to your readers to give a full, true, and particular account of matters here, and an idea of the possible future position to be taken by this place as one of the wealth-producing districts of New Zealand. The newly-discovered quartz reefs extend over an area of from eight to 10 square miles, and are situated in the elevated country about the Upper Stoneburn, in the Nenthorn and Hummockside districts. The distance from Macraes — the nearest post office — is about eight miles per road, and from Hyde, whence our supplies are mostly drawn at present, is 24 miles. The reefs, which are very numerous, are found in tolerably soft mica schist rock, and run, with slight variations, from E.S.E. to W.N.W. — the prevailing direction of the permanent reefing belts of Rough Ridge, Bendigo, Macetown, and Shotover. The lodes, so far as exploited, all carry gold and other minerals. Some of them are exceptionally rich, notably that of the prospectors, McMillan and party; and one opened a fortnight ago by another prospecting party three-quarters of a mile to the south of McMillan and Co. shows magnificent gold which has been traced in the Old Ireland, Hibernian, and Croesus, Ashley and Co.'s lease, and others over a mile in length, the line having been marked out and applied for for about three miles. A well-known expert, on breaking out some stone the other day by permission of the owners, remarked that "he would give l0oz per ton for it at the battery," and I am certain that he would make a good thing out of it at that, notwithstanding certain condemnatory statements made a short time ago by one of your correspondents.
A syndicate of speculators in Naseby have several claims applied for from one of which, the West Nenthorn, a sample of about three tons was sent to Melbourne in charge of Mr J. Barron, C.E; it was crushed at the reduction works at Footscray, and yielded loz 13dwt 6gr per ton. One trial of three tons from McMillan's claim, tested at Mr McQueen's battery, in Dunedin, yielded over 3oz per ton. These are the only tests yet made, except hand crushing, and by this primitive process the results are in many cases startling and equal to or better than anything of the kind I have seen during an experience of 28 years on the Otago I goldfields. McMillan and Co. have a shaft down 27ft in their claim, in which the reef averages l8in in width and prospects quite equal to the trial stone sent to Dunedin. The "syndicate" are putting down a shaft; in the West Nenthorn, 50ft, to test their property, and prospecting is also being carried on by them in the East Nenthorn and other claims. The country pierced is very firm and solid with a very slight dip to N. E., and in so far free from the breaks and contortions which have proved so troublesome and bewildering to the quartz miners in other reefing localities in Otago. It will be easily and cheaply worked, as very little timber will be required. Altogether from 15 to 20 leases have been applied for up to date, but an immense number have been marked out, the pegs of which, standing up all over the country are a nuisance to prospectors. It would be a good thing if everyone who marked out a claim was compelled to place his name on one of his pegs so that those coming after him might be able to distinguish between the legal and bogus applications which are virtually abandoned by non-occupation. It would be too much, I suppose, to ask the bogus speculator to knock down his pegs or cairns and fill up his trenches on taking his departure. If this was done the genuine prospector following him would feel much obliged. At the present the presence of these marks all over the field are, as I remarked before, a perfect nuisance, and has a very deterrent effect on the development of the place, as new arrivals, seeing them, imagine the ground to be legally occupied and pass on. There is a good water supply, with storage, in the Stoneburn and Nenthorn creeks, for crushing purposes, and several water rights have been applied for. What is now wanted is a good crushing battery, and all on the field and in the district should do their utmost to achieve this desideratum. Of what use are the reefs if they cannot be made to yield up their treasure? A petition has been extensively signed and sent to the Waikouaiti County Council to chip a dray track to the reefs (about three miles), a trifling matter which that body will perhaps consider it to their interest to at once take in hand. The work of development must not be allowed to stagnate. "Delays are dangerous," particularly so in a place like this, where hopes run so high, and with such good reason. We must not halt in our course, or a revulsion in sure to set in detrimental to the progress of a district destined, if properly handled, to prove to all "croakers" that the mineral wealth of New Zealand is no myth, and likely in this case, to prove practically inexhaustible. The climate here is splendid, although the elevation ranges up to 2000 ft, and the pasture is superb over all the hills and gullies. Bog wood, peat, and manuka scrub are plentiful, although rather distant. If there are any unemployed left in Dunedin, I may call their attention to the speculation of getting out stores of these fuels for winter supplies. It would undoubtedly pay well. Were I not otherwise engaged I would promptly turn wood and peat merchant. All that is required is an old "moke" and a sledge to earn a remarkably good living, in view of the increase of population shortly expected. As an instance of the richness of the stone here, I heard the other day of a man who obtained a specimen, he went to a certain township, sold it, and had a spree with the proceeds. I don't know the party, but he must have got hold of a good sample, for are we not told "it takes money to buy whisky?''
As an introduction I think I have stated enough at present. As we progress I will endeavour to keep your readers posted up truthfully. In conclusion I may assert my belief, without any "blow" or exaggeration, that this latest goldfield is destined to play no mean part in the era of improvement and prosperity which is now said to in setting in in New Zealand, but as usual our is "a cause which lacks assistance." -Otago Daily Times, 2/2/1889.
MINING
THE NENTHORN REEFS.
Mr J. Hartstonge, Jun., one of the prospectors of the new line of reefs discovered at the Nenthorn, has called upon us with a number of specimens of the quartz, which certainly present a very rich appearance. From Mr Hartstonge we learn that he and those who are associated with him were led to prospect in the locality where the reef is situated in consequence of becoming aware that an alluvial miner, who had a few days previously set in to work in the gully, was getting good gold, although the washdirt was in small quantity. Mr Hartstonge and his mates followed up the alluvial run in the endeavour to trace its source, being convinced there was a good reef in the locality. Sinking in the gully promiscuously, without any surface indications to guide them, they (by good fortune) put down a hole right on the top of the reef. They then opened out along the line of reef, and after going a considerable distance found an outcrop, the only one to be seen along the line. The claims taken up by Mr Hartstonge and his partners are three in number, and they have named them the Old Ireland, the Croesus, and the Hibernian. Claims have since been pegged out for a distance of three miles along the supposed line of the reef. In one of these, Kenny's claim, the second from the Hibernian, the reef has been sunk upon, and some wonderfully rich stone taken out. Hartstonge and party have put on two men, who are putting down a shaft. The reef runs from east to west, and at present varies from 3ft to 4 1/2ft in thickness. The stone is what is known as blue mottled quartz, and it is very solid and well formed, gold being freely interspersed through the stone. Persons interested in the discovery may inspect the specimens which have been left by Mr Hartstonge at this office.
Towards showing the extraordinary richness of the Nenthorn reefs, we yesterday received a specimen of quartz picked up in the alluvial claim of Messrs Craig and party, a chain or two below where the outcrop of the second reef is exposed beside a blind creek. The piece of stone, which was found while washing mullock out of the little gully, is evidently off the outside of the reef, and is thickly studded with gold. This is the more remarkable as the piece of quartz is of a kind usually considered barren. If this piece of stone gives any fair idea of the general quality of the reef from which it has tumbled off, then the latest discovery at Nenthorn must yield a much higher percentage of gold than the splendid results already obtained from the other line of reef. -Otago Daily Times, 5/2/1889.
THE NENTHORN REEFS.
Matters are progressing satisfactorily here, and the place is assuming a somewhat businesslike aspect. A number of new arrivals have put in an appearance, and are busy every day pegging out their selections in a most hopeful manner, although many of them are perfect tyros in quartz-reefing, and some of their queries are very amusing. Mr J. Laverty, of Hyde, is busy erecting a store near the Croesus claim. This will supply a badly-felt want. I hope his enterprise will be well rewarded, as he has from the first done his best to assist the development of the place. During the last few days some fresh discoveries have been made. A new line of reef called the "Break-o'-Day" has been opened south of McMillan's and the Croesus. To-day, I saw some very rich stone taken out, equal to any yet discovered. Naturally it has been marked off for miles. The syndicate in their West Nenthorn shaft have a reef 14in wide, which will probably assume a more solid form at a greater depth. The shaft is now down 27ft. McMillan and Co., the prospectors, are sinking a second shaft to the westward, in which the reef shows excellent gold and is 15in wide. Men are prospecting in all directions, and fresh discoveries may be looked for daily. An immense scheelite lode shows an outcrop to the southward of the auriferous reefs which may some day claim attention. I hear a meeting is to be held at Macraes on Saturday evening to frame a protest against granting so many licensed holdings, and of such areas as 30 acres. It is very singular that after so many years of agitation to increase the areas granted to miners that people can be found on any goldfield who would wish to bring back the old and objectionable state of things. Something must be conceded to entice capital, and the simplest way is by granting plenty of ground for the capitalist to invest in.
We shall shortly want a post office here along with other institutions.
Our Macraes correspondent sends us the following items under date February 11:— Prospecting is still being vigorously carried on at the Nenthorn, and new discoveries of reefs are being reported here every day. Two of these bid fair to excel the now celebrated Croesus claim in richness. As an instance of the richness of the stone I may mention that l 1/2lb taken promiscuously by a visitor after being crushed produced 3 1/2gr. Another visitor had even better results. One sample taken, showing no gold, produced at the rate of 15oz per ton; another, showing gold freely, at the rate of l00oz per ton. It is not only my own experience, but also that of all those I have met who had visited the ground that the miners are remarkable for the kind and liberal spirit they display to visitors in giving them tea, &c, and allowing them every freedom to examine the reefs and take away specimens. Could the number of tons thus carried away be ascertained it would even surprise the miners themselves. Mr Laverty; of Hyde, has put up a store and Mr W. E. Griffin has the material for one on the way. An accommodation house is also to be erected, which, by the way, is badly wanted, as the daily average number on the field is 80 men. -Otago Daily Times, 14/2/1889.
THE NENTHORN GOLD RUSH
Shares For Sale.
FOR SALE, Shares in several of the principal and richest Quartz Reefs recently discovered on the Nenthorn Goldfield, Central Otago. All particulars to be obtained from
LESLIE A. NORMAN, Criterion Hotel, Dunedin. -Evening Star, 4/3/1889.
THE NENTHORN REEFS.
(From Our Own Correspondent.)
Having promised to keep your readers posted up as to the progress of this place I will now try in a few lines to show the present state of affairs. The development of quartz mining in a totally new district is distinctly a question of time, and is by no means to be achieved by "leaps and bounds," as some sanguine people seem to expect. I have constantly recommended patience, but it is like "tilting against the windmills" to preach that virtue to the pseudo-prospectors (?) who are constantly arriving and departing, never giving themselves time to test the potentialities of the place. Well, perhaps, we are better without such peripatetics. Those who have stuck to the ground are beginning to realise that they are in for a good thing, and I can fully endorse their aspirations. So much by way of preface.
The prospectors, McMillan and Co., have sunk two shafts to a depth of about 30ft, and are now busy despatching a trial parcel of stone from each to McQueen and Co.'s battery in Dunedin, for further test prior to erecting machinery of their own. The "Syndicate" have sunk a shaft to a depth of 50ft, at the bottom of which the reef is 9in wide, carrying gold. They have partly suspended operations, owing to the fact that they are floating a company, to enable them to go to work on a more extended scale. A shaft is being sunk on the next line in the Saxon claim by Crossan and Co., who appear to be going to work in a very systematic and proper manner. The Croesus, Hibernia, and Old Ireland have been well prospected since my last, and splendid prospects have resulted in all the places opened, the reef having a general average width of 2 1/2ft. These companies have combined and purchased a battery at Hindon, which will be immediately removed to the Nenthorn creek. They appear to have abandoned the idea of sending a trial sample to Dunedin for reduction; indeed the stone needs no trial to convince anyone of its value. Shares in these companies rule very high, and I expect when the crushing plant gets to work it will require a Croesus to purchase one. Ashby and Co. and Kenny and Co., on the same line, to the westward, are also on excellent gold. On the Break o' Day little is being done at present: the company are awaiting the arrival of a windlass and other plant. They purpose putting down a shaft to a good depth on the rich shoot of gold already discovered. Further to the south, a quarter of a mile from the Croesus line, a new and valuable discovery has been made — which may be called the Victoria line. In the claim of that name splendid stone has been discovered, the width of the reef being about 2ft, and apparently widening. This line has been marked off for a mile and a-half. The next claim, Mr O'Keeffe's, the Otago South, almost parallel and opposite to the Croesus, shows excellent prospects and should when further opened out come to the front, for it has what a well-known expert calls a very "large drainage or infiltration area." Although a sceptic as to his theory, I am beginning to think there may be something in it, for the best reefs yet opened here have been found in such localities. Two leases to the westward of this have been taken up by Messrs Ryan, Cogan, and others, in which the reef has been traced and gold found. To the eastward, across the Main creek, a good deal of prospecting is being done, and a shaft is being sunk on what is known as "Gorgenson's" claim, in which a very strong reef appears, needing "bellit" to dislodge it, carrying a little gold, which of course may improve at any moment. A peculiarity appears in this reef never, to my knowledge, seen before in any other in Otago: A foot or so of the reef fissure, and adjoining the solid quartz, is filled with a vein of rounded quartz pebbles — peculiarly hard nuts to crack; how they got there is at present a mystery. If our geological professors wish to see something new, they should pay a visit to Nenthorn reefs. There are many other claims being exploited on various places which will come in for future notice as they are developed. We have now three stores on the ground and a restaurant; the nucleus of a mining township is appearing, although I don't approve of its site. I have not heard of a name being proposed for the future metropolis. I might suggest "Laverton," as the first man who had the enterprise to cater for our wants by setting up a store there was Mr John Laverty, of Hyde. The water supply is fast diminishing and becoming bad, so that dysentery and other complaints have been rather unpleasantly prevalent. If the dry weather lasts much longer, a shaft for water supply will have to be sunk in the bed rock, in which it is abundant. At Laverton this necessary work will have of necessity to be done by the inhabitants who are daily segregating there. The Waikouaiti County Council, with commendable alacrity, have put tenders for a road from the main road to the reefs. This will be a great boon to all, and especially in the coming foggy weather, when it is quite easy to lose oneself. Mr Surveyor Barron and his staff are busy laying off the leases applied for (over 30 in number), and some time will elapse, ere his arduous task is completed. I will conclude, hoping that I have stated enough to show that we are not, at any rate, standing still. -Otago Daily Times,11/3/1889.
MINING
Rumours are abroad that several fresh rich discoveries have been made at Nenthorn. Since my last a number of shares in the Croesus Company have changed hands. A 40th share was sold to a well-known runholder for £150, and a similar interest was disposed of to another speculator for £135. This puts a very high value on the claim. -Otago Daily Times, 15/3/1889.
THE NENTHORN REEFS. (From Our Own Correspondent.)
The query of "What is being done at Nenthorn? has frequently of late met my long ears. I now propose to answer it. Had I not been absent for some time on business it is provable there would have been no necessity for such an inquiry, En avant. Matters are going on, as expressed in that familiar phrase, "as well as can be expected"; and what more should be wished for? All the claims — ie, licensed holdings — which seems to me to be only a euphemistic title fer gold mining leases - applied for on the field, were granted at Macraes on Wednesday last by Warden Wood, and all the claimholders are putting on two men each to thoroughly test; their acquisition. I believe the Croesus Company, which includes the Hibernian and Old Ireland, are about to place their properties on the market thus: 100,000 shares of 10s each, of which only 20,000 are offered to the public, and when 2s each has been paid up on that number the whole company are to "ante up." I am not a sharebroker, and if my phraseology is not quite technical I must stand excused. I can safely predict, however, that such a contingency is not likely to arise, as I will presently show. The company's property consists of three 80-acre leases in which gold can be traced throughout the entire length. In the Croesus and Hibernian, the reef has been opened up for 15 chains, and in every place tested the prospects are phenomenal. A contract has been let to sink a shaft on the boundaries of the two above claims. It is now down 25ft. The reef is remarkably solid and permanent in character, and shows splendid gold from wall to wall, the width being in no place less than 2 1/2ft. The company have purchased the battery (10 heads) of the late Canada Reef Company, near Tokomairiro, and this will be immediately removed and erected on the Nenthorn creek, where the company possess the water right; so I expect ere winter closes this enterprising company will have realised the correctness of its title. Ashby and Co., adjoining the above, are sinking a shaft, and and bringing splendid stone to grass daily. Still further west, on the same line, Kenny and Co. are sinking; they are down 25ft, and the gold still continues as good as formerly chronicled. A newly opened claim adjoining the Break o' Day, called the Zealandia, shows excellent gold. This line runs nearly parallel and about 15 chains from the Croesus line, with which it probably ultimately converge. The Victoria a few days ago despatched three tons of stone to the Ballarat School of Mines, Victoria, to be tested, which fact does not reflect much credit on our very paternal Government which professes to do so much for the mining industry. McMillan and party, the prospectors of Nenthorn, had a return of nearly 3oz per ton from their second trial crushing at Kincaid and McQueen's battery, Dunedin. As this parcel of four tons was taken from two shafts nearly 20 chains apart, it may be conceded that their prospects are good enough. This party have not yet decided, I believe, what direction their future operations will take, but if they should place their property on the market the public will have a chance to go into a real good spec. The Naseby "syndicate" are about to erect a battery, and are now setting out the course of their water race. A prospector, Mr McGrath, has been showing some splendid stone from a locality some distance from here. Particulars not yet disclosed, so I can say nothing further about it at present. Mr Gordon, inspector of mines, was up here a week ago, and was highly pleased with the place, which he is reported to have said "will be a second Thames," and he thinks a heavy battery should at once be erected, but whether he meant by Government or private enterprise I cannot precisely determine. Business seems to be lively, and most of the residents are settling down and making preparations for the winter campaign. I don't think that dread season to the miner can be very severe at Nenthorn judging from the splendid sole of grass everywhere seen. The snow cannot lie very long. The Nenthorn goldfield appears now to be fairly launched, and with good guidance I see nothing to prevent it blossoming into one of the very best quartz mining districts in New Zealand. -Otago Daily Times, 1/4/1889.
| The Barewood Reefs quartz mine. The sole photo of Nenthorn is under copyright and needs permission (which I have no time for) for use. This is similar country to Nenthorn, on the other side of the Taieri River. Hocken Library photo. |
MINING.
THE NENTHORN REEFS. (From a Correspondent.)
Naseby, April 1.
Reliable information has been received here that in one of the claims held by the Nenthorn Consolidated Registered Company, known as Johnstone's claim, adjoining McMillan's prospecting claim, a gold-bearing reef 2ft thick has been found in the creek bed, a depth of 250 ft lower than the Croesus, Victoria, and other goldbearing reefs in the vicinity. This is highly important news proving that the reefs live down and carry gold to at least that depth. Shareholders are quite jubilant over the news.
Intelligence just to hand states that fresh quartz discoveries have been made about two miles to the southwest of the Break-o'-Day and Victoria line. The specimens I have seen are splendid. The line of reef has already been pegged out for some considerable distance. Several licensed holdings are applied for to-day. -Otago Daily Times, 2/4/1889.
Mining
THE NENTHORN REEFS. A Naseby correspondent telegraphed yesterday:— "Reliable information received here this morning from Nenthorn states that a shaft on the Victoria claim, recently let by the shareholders, is now down 25ft, and that the reef is 2ft wide and showing good gold. Arrangements are being made for the erection of a battery " Another correspondent telegraphed from Macraes Flat: — "A very rich specimen has been obtained on a new line of reef at Nenthorn by Toomy and Cunningham." -Otago Daily Times, 17/4/1889.
The Dunstan Times of the 19th inst., says: — An immensely rich reef was discovered at Nenthorn on Sunday. The stone is fairly yellow with gold. Great excitement prevails. -Western Star, 24/4/1889.
THE NENTHORN REEFS.
(from our own correspondent,) A new and valuable discovery has been made at the south end of the field, near the boundary of the Reliance claim. The specimens obtained from the reef are very rich indeed, and this find bids fair to excel anything as yet found at Nenthorn. Great excitement prevailed amongst the miners when the first specimens were shown at the camp, and each man declared that he had never seen such rich stone in all his mining experiences in this or any other of the colonies. I visited the prospecting shaft ten minutes after the discovery and precise locality were made known, and in company with one of the shareholders examined the amount of reef that was exposed to view just then. Some of the quartz taken from the reef showed gold on every side of it, and on breaking the stone we found that the gold was all through it. Anything I could say in praise of this new find would but convey a very imperfect idea of its richness to my readers; so I will content myself by saying that it is immensely rich. The shareholders in the Renown and Reliance have a great chance of sharing in the richness of this locality, owing to the fact of their claims being on the very boundary of this wealthy line of reef.
The Victoria Co. are having a shaft sunk on their claim, and the stone that is being brought to the surface is of the best possible quality. Some time ago this company sent a few tons of stone to the Ballarat School of Mines for assay; but I have not heard that the returns are made known yet. It is to be hoped that the trial at the school of mines will be of a satisfactory nature and we have no doubt that it will be, as this energetic company are deserving of the very best returns for their unflinching efforts in opening up the field, and exhibiting a steadfastness truly characteristic of the few gentlemen who comprise the company.
The Croesus water race is in course of construction, and is supposed to be finished in five weeks from the date of starting work. Kinny and party have got their shaft down to a good depth, and the stone seems to be improving. Ashby’s claim is still keeping up its reputation for rich stone, and this claim must ever rank amongst the good ones of Nenthorn. The Break o’ Day, Jubilee, and Close o’ Day are putting out some excellent quartz. The Zealandia, Hibernia, and Ould Ireland are but poorly prospected; but they are equally as good as their neighbors, and what has been done to them in the way of prospecting proves them to be no way inferior to any claims on the field. The Saxon Co. are down 60ft with their shaft, but have not struck the underlay of the reef as yet. McMillan’s party are not doing a great deal of work just now, as they are waiting the arrival of their battery on the ground before they commence opening up the reef. The Naseby Consolidated Gold-mining Co. (Ltd.) are slow; but it is to be hoped they are sure, and that ere long they will see their way clear to do a little excavating on their line of reef. Sheehy and party are sinking on the reef, and some splendid stone is obtained from the shaft they are sinking. The Will o’ the Wisp party are opening up also, and the quartz is of a deep blue color and promising to bear gold very freely. The Wakeful Co. have tested the reef and are thoroughly satisfied with the results of their prospecting. The antimony reef is not opened up as yet, but one can see it sticking above the surface, and therefore is not likely to doubt its existence. Silver is said to exist at the south end of the field; but of course no one knows the precise locality, and industrious prospecting must alone reveal the hidden wealth of Nenthorn.
The electrician Mr Ford paid a visit to the field last week, with a slew of soliciting inducements to erect a battery for quartz crushing. Mr Ford’s proposals are very fair indeed, as he requires but a certain amount of quartz guaranteed him from the various companies and he will erect a battery at once, and crush the stone for 10s per ton. This has met with the unanimous approval of all claim-holders on Nenthorn, affording, as it does, an opportunity to non-capitalists of working their own claims, and thereby be the sole recipients of their wealth. If this battery be erected, as I have no doubt it will be, it will be the means of opening up a deal more gold-bearing quartz reefs in the vicinity of “Wonderful Nenthorn." -Dunstan Times, 26/4/1889.
Further discoveries at Nenthorn (Otago) strengthen the belief that it will become the richest reefing district of New Zealand. The Dunedin Herald’s correspondent, writing on the 25th ultimo, telegraphed “Naseby people have been thrown into great excitement this morning by the exhibition of large pieces of quartz very richly impregnated and sparkling with gold. These are from the latest discovery, known as ‘The Eureka’ for a 28-th share in which no less than £300 has been given.” -Kumara Times, 2/5/1889.
Local and General
Stores are going up at a tremendous rate at Nenthorn, and two hotel sites have already been applied for. The "Dunstan Times'' correspondent says that there are now about 150 men on the field, and every one seems happy and contented. Every day brings us an increase of population, and business in general is brisk. The share market, however, is an exception, as there is almost nothing doing in share selling, as buyers seem slow in purchasing and capitalists can scarcely realise the great thing that is offered to them. -Tuapeka Times, 8/5/1889.
Notes from Nenthorn (excerpt)
The weather, so far, has not interfered with prospecting operations, although we experienced some very cold days in last week, snow having fallen on the higher altitudes accompanied with by a bitterly cold wind, which seemed to wander at will into our not-too-cosy apartments on the hills and in the gullies, causing us to shiver as if we had been smitten with ague. However, our prospectors are a determined set of fellows and are never inclined to fall out with the Clerk of the weather, so work has been resumed, and we may hear at any moment of another rich find at Nenthorn. -Dunstan Times, 10/5/1889.
THE NENTHORN REEFS.
(From Our Own Correspondent.)
We are an industrious people at Nenthorn, and are pulling along as well as we possibly can. The various lines of reef are being opened up in a systematic manner, and the prospects obtained from each and every shaft are of a most encouraging nature. The Eureka Company's claim, at the south end of the field, is turning out splendid stone, and the specimens that are found in the reef are as rich as any ever yet seen in Otago or Westland; in fact, we can safely say that no better has ever been found in all New Zealand.
The Gladstone is showing pretty fair stone, and the reef is a good average width in the shaft that has been sunk in it.
The Reliance and Renown are also looking well as regards quality and quantity of goldbearing stone, and though a deal of prospecting has not been done on these two last named properties, what has been done shows that they are nowise behind their neighbours as regards richness.
The Break-o'-Day shows good stone in the bottom of the shaft, and the quartz that has been brought to grass is of the best possible quality. It is needless to say a word in praise of the Victoria, as almost everyone interested in the welfare of the field knows what a valuable property this is. The Croesus shaft is being put down 20ft in addition to its former depth of 60ft, and when a depth of 80ft is reached stoping operations will be begun. The erection of the battery for this claim has already been commenced, and the manager, Mr Cristian, expects to have the work completed in five or six weeks from now. Ashby and party's claim is still to the front with good stone, and it will ever be amongst the good ones in Otago.
The Saxon Company are putting in a cross drive from their shaft to catch the underlay of the reef, which they intend to strike in a day or two.
The Naseby Consolidated Company (Limited) are slow in opening up their claim. I can't see why they are so, having such good prospects before them.
McMillan and party are fast preparing for the winter, and they have ceased further prospecting in order to put up a sod hut for a winter residence.
The Ould Ireland Company are having a shaft put down on their reef, and the stone is remarkably good, showing gold very freely and a good width of reef. Sheeny and party's claim (the "Daddy") is turning out good average stone, and the reef is from 18in to 2ft in width, showing a decided improvement as the shaft goes down. I am told that some folk who have not visited Nenthorn are inclined to believe that all the specimens that are shown as coming from this place have not been really got here, but have been procured from other mines for the express purpose of getting up a make-believe that Nenthorn is better than it really is. How far wrong these folk are in so believing this it is needless for me to say. I will merely remark to them that there are no specimens found in either Otago or Westland that could compare to those found at Nenthorn; and I defy any quartz mining company in either of the two provinces to produce specimens that are in any way comparable to those found in the Eureka reef at Nenthorn or in a few other properties on the same field.
Our township is fast improving, and our two carpenters are busy as busy can be in erecting stores and dwelling houses and making preparations for the erection of two hotels. Several business sites have been applied for, and I expect to see a busy lot of neighbours amongst us at no distant date.
Prospecting is still being carried on in the district, and it is thought by many that other rich finds will be made before the winter puts a stop to prospecting operations. All we require now is the expenditure of a little capital in opening up the mines, and then — well then Nenthorn will prove to be rich beyond the expectations of many who are deeply interested in its future welfare. -Otago Daily Times, 11/5/1889.
Local and General
Nenthorn is steadily booming and is likely to become a place of some importance in a little time. Already a number of adventurous spirits, so implicit is their confidence in the future of the place, are opening up business establishments for the accommodation of the residents. No less than four hotels are at present in contemplation, one of which is designed to contain sixteen rooms, exclusive of those for the use of the proprietor's family. The establishment of these houses will, at all events, have the good effect of shutting up the unlicensed whisky dens at Nenthorn. It is expected that by the spring there will be over a thousand persons on the field, all making good wages; and, what is of the utmost importance, that the diggings will become a permanent source of employment. -Tuapeka Times, 15/5/1889.
According to the Taieri Advocate, the Nenthorn reefs were discovered quite accidently. McMillan, the discoverer, was, so the story goes, sitting on a rock eating his dinner when he accidently picked up a piece of stone and examined it closely. He saw the colour and commenced fossicking, and in a few hours recognised that he had made a discovery. He made tracks for Berwick, where he secured mates and since then, as our readers know, some splendid reefs have been discovered. It is said of McMillan that he was born in a year when some great gold discoveries were made and he has always entertained the idea that he was born to make some big gold discovery. It looks as if his idea was in a fair way of fulfilment. -Otago Witness, 23/5/1889.
NOTES FROM NENTHORN. (From Our Own Correspondent.)
A meeting of claimholders and others interested in the development of the field was to take place at Mr Jorgenson's restaurant, Nenthorn, on Thursday evening, the 10th inst., to consider what support would be given to Mr L. A. Norman in the matter of erecting an electric quartz crushing battery on the field. For some unaccountable reason the meeting did not come off, and this is all the more to be regretted as some final understanding might have been arrived at between Mr Norman and the claimholders. As this gentleman is expected on the field some day this week, I trust that some definite arrangement will be the outcome of his visit, as a public battery of some mode of construction is much needed on the field.
We have had exceptionally cold weather here during the past week, and the hills have quite a wintry appearance with their snow-clad summits. Prospecting is still going on here, and many miners are confident that another rich reef will be discovered in the vicinity of the Eureka.
What is reported as a valuable discovery of gold-bearing quartz has been made in the neighbourhood of Macraes. The lode is from 6ft to 7ft in thickness, and from what I can learn there is a little gold all through it.
The Golden Quarry reef on Horse Flat is being prospected, and some stone is being taken out to send somewhere for a test crushing.
The Duke of Edinburgh reef is also being prospected, and I hear that a very fair shoot of gold has been struck in one particular part of the lode. With so many valuable mining properties in its neighbourhood Macraes should be a flourishing township at no distant date. -Otago Daily Times, 23/5/1889.
Notes from Nenthorn.
(From Our Own Correspondent.) Should the building craze continue for some time longer, Nenthorn will be quite a large township, full of life and bustle, and its inhabitants will be wanting none of that energy which is characteristic of our goldfields business people. One or two individuals who are well known on many of our goldfields are having commodious hotels erected, with a view, no doubt, of sharing in the inevitable goodness of things at Nenthorn.
Mining matters have been at a standstill during the past week. No doubt the reason of this can be assigned to the races which took place both at Dunedin and Hyde on the 24th inst., our miners and prospectors betaking themselves to the place of gaiety for the time being.
There is not much work doing in any of the mines at present, as the shareholders are awaiting some means by which they can crush the quartz when it is got out. Unless we can have a public battery put upon the field by some enterprising firm it will be some time before Nenthorn is thoroughly tested. With such grand prospects in view, surely some few capitalists ought to see their way clear to erect a battery upon the field.
A seam of lignite has been discovered at Moonlight Flat, about five miles from Nenthorn. The seam is about 20ft in depth with an area of about 100 acres. It is in private hands, but some gentlemen are trying to purchase the right to work the mine from the owner of the land. There is a good road from the lignite seam to Nenthorn, and the coal, which is of a very fair quality, could be delivered at a cheap figure on the field.
I see it reported in a newspaper that a man who has been out prospecting came in one day last week and exhibited some 12oz of gold at Spain's Hotel, Macraes Flat. By reading the report, which purports to be written from Nenthorn, one is almost given to understand that this gold came from somewhere in the vicinity of the reefs. Exaggerated reports like this can never do the field any good. I know the amount of gold that was shown at Macraes to be only 12dwt instead of 12oz. I think such reports are too dangerous to let pass without contradiction. I know the man who had the gold, and I know where he sold it, and I know also that he has left Nenthorn, and that all the gold he found at Nenthorn would not turn the scales at 3dwt, for of the 12dwt he sold at Macraes 10dwt was found in the vicinity of Hamiltons, 20 miles from Nenthorn. I would not take it upon myself to contradict the report were I not acquainted with the matter, and know that such reports are calculated to do harm by bringing to Nenthorn a population that is better away from it. -Otago Witness, 30/5/1889.
THE NENTHORN.
People in Central Otago have gone mad over the rush to the Nenthorn, the most levelheaded men in the country having been attacked with the gold fever. Naseby and Hyde, particularly, have invested thousands in the field, which promises to be one of the richest and most permanent yet discovered in Otago. Some 70 or 80 claims have been pegged off and applied for, while fresh discoveries are being made nearly every other day. A township has sprung up like a mushroom, literally, in one night, and building still goes on merrily. Five hotels are being erected, in addition to stores and other business places innumerable. Representatives of the Colonial Bank and the Banks of New Zealand and New South Wales have visited the field to spy out its fatness, and applied for sections for building purposes within the environs of the township. Shares in several of the claims (especially in the Croesus and Eureka) change hands frequently, the market value of those earned being £12,000 (a shade under $2.5 million at today's rates, GBC) and £7000 respectively with purchasers at the figure. The population on the field is between 150 and 200, with every probability of reaching six or seven times that number in the spring.
The Croesus Company have just placed 20,000 shares in the company on the market for subscription. The amount to be called up is 2s, payable up to 6d per share on application and allotment, and four calls of 3d each, the payments extending over a period of six months. Since last Monday nearly 10,000 shares have been applied for in the district and it is anticipated the list will be entirely filled before the 15th inst. Miners working on the field have made application for 5000 shares in the company.
THE SHARE MARKET is active, business being confined almost entirely to Nenthorn stocks. Transactions are frequent, the sales weekly occasionally reaching hundreds of pounds. -Otago Daily Times, 4/6/1889.
THE CROESUS CONSOLIDATED Q.M. COMPANY (LIMITED), NENTHORN.
APPLICATIONS ate invited from persons competent to fill the position of MINE MANAGER of the above Company. Applications, addressed to the undersigned, and accompanied by testimonials, must be forwarded on or before JUNE 21st, 1889.
By order. - LESLIE A. NORMAN, Legal Manager. Naseby. -Otago Daily Times, 4/6/1889.
The Nenthorn Reefs (excerpt)
THE ECONOMIC COMMERCIAL ASPECT AND IMPORTANCE of the Nenthorn reefs are beginning to assert themselves. Where a few weeks ago a few miners' huts were scattered at "coo-ee" distances, there is now a township growing up. A street of rather irregular appearance, with sidewalks and roadway in a decidedly embryonic stage has been formed. There are four hotels, all more or less in imperfect states of completion; and many interesting anecdotes may, and probably will, be recorded of the vicissitudes of life at a mining township during the first days of its inception. Besides these four hotels there are two restaurants and four stores, so that the wants of residents and travellers are amply cared for, — indeed there is just a suspicion that business in the hotel line is already overdone. In addition to the above there are two banks to be erected forthwith. Amongst the buildings now nearly completed, the largest is Mr Maloney's Reefers' Club Hotel, and shows the confidence which is placed in the field by the enterprising owner. The house is of iron, and lined throughout with timber to ensure comfort, the builder being Mr Thomas, who has done his share in a most finished and workmanlike manner.
In a future article the mines in which work to any appreciable extent has been done will be fully and severally described. -Otago Daily Times, 10/7/1889.
Public Notices
THE COLONIAL BANK OF NEW ZEALAND.
A BRANCH will be OPENED at NENTHORN on FRIDAY, July 12, and thereafter every Second Friday, under the charge of Mr Robert Ewing.
H. MACKENZIE, General Manager, Dunedin, July 4, l889. -Otago Witness, 11/7/1889.
NENTHORN.
(By Our Own Correspondent.)
A public meeting was held in Mr. E. Thornton's dining-room at Nenthorn on Saturday evening last to consider the question of postal and telegraphic communication between Nenthorn and Macraes Flat, being been called by Mr. J. T. Brooke Hickson, of Naseby. Mr. Beattie was voted to the chair, and amongst those present were Messrs. Job Wain, S. G. Smith, A. G. Fenwick, T. Grose, A. Hamilton, H. Park and Logan, of Dunedin, besides a crowded attendance of the Nenthorn public. The Chairman called upon Mr. Hickson to explain the business of the meeting.
Mr. Hickson said he had long been considering the question of getting postal and telephonic communication extended to Nenthorn, and having been given the opportunity on the previous day in Naseby by the postmaster there, he had had on the wire, through the postmaster, along consultation with Mr. J. K. Logan, Inspector of Telegraphs, who had very kindly given him (the speaker) full instructions how best to proceed in the matter, and had brought with him a petition to the Postmaster for signature, which petition he had already got signed by all the leading business men of Naseby. He had not been aware until his arrival at Nenthorn that evening than a petition was already in circulation on the field, but he would point out that that petition contained no guarantee of income — a very important point — while the one he had with him did, this being a sine qua non.
After some discussion, it was proposed that the petition at present being signed be withdrawn, and that presented by Mr. Hickson to the meeting be signed by all present, which was unanimously agreed to.
The petition was then signed by all present (a large number), after which the Chairman moved, and Mr. Griffin seconded:— "That this meeting accord Mr. Hickson a hearty vote of thanks for the trouble he has taken in this matter." The motion was carried with acclamation. A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the proceedings. [In connection with the above we are informed that the petition referred to was forwarded to Mr. M. J. S. Mackenzie, the member for the district, for presentation to the PostmasterGeneral by Wednesday's mail.—Ed M.I.C.]
Mr. Leslie A. Norman, legal manager of the Croesus Consolidated Q.M. Co. (Ltd.), Nenthorn, last evening received the following telegram from the mine manager:— "We have struck rich stone in the drive. The lode is a strong one. — W. Mackay." A further telegram states that great excitement has been created at Nenthorn by the discovery. -Mount Ida Chronicle, 13/7/1889.
The Palmerston Times learns on very good authority that Glover and party have discovered a reef somewhere between the Deepdell creek and Macraes, which is represented to exceed in richness any of those yet discovered at Nenthorn. The reef is 6ft thick and gold is plainly visible all through the Btone. The lucky owners have secured a water race and machine site, and they intend sending a couple of tons of the stone to Dunedin for trial crushing. There are 300 tons of stone on the surface of the ground. It is believed that this reef is likely to eclipse anything yet discovered in Otago. The reef has been traced for a mile and a-half, it is about 10 miles from Dunback, and is likely to prove of immense importance to the district. -Otago Daily Times, 13/7/1889.
CORRESPONDENCE.
CALLS AHEAD.
TO THE EDITOR. SIR, — I notice in one of the Nenthorn Quartz Mining Prospectuses it is stated that, at a trial crushing of a ton of stones, the yield was at the rate of ten ounces of gold per ton of ore. Can you tell me what is meant by "a ton of ore," or how many tons of stones must they get (approximately, of course) to yield a ton of ore?
Some time ago I heard of a trial crushing that took place, in a certain part of the colony, under the supervision of the promoters of a Company, and when they ascertained the result, which was about 5dwt of gold to about l0cwt of stones, one of them remarked, "D... it, there must be more gold than that, for I put in an ounce." I mention this just to show that too much reliance must not be placed on the trial crushings which have been, and are being, made just now, for they are usually made from picked stone. I am, etc., Sceptic. -Oamaru Mail, 18/7/1889.
The Nenthorn Reefs (excerpt)
The township is growing by degrees, and there are four banks, it is said, to be opened, the Bank of New Zealand having started a branch, under the charge of Mr Bevin, recently of Queenstown and Gore; and though the appointment is a flattering testimony of the confidence reposed in him by the authorities of the bank he serves, the change from gay Queenstown to Nenthorn partakes, for the time being, a good deal of the nature of banishment from civilisation. -Otago Witness, 18/7/1889.
COMMUNICATION WITH NENTHORN.
The Postmaster-general has informed Mr Scobie Mackenzie that postal communication with Nenthorn would be established at once, and that telephonic communication would be established as soon as ever the Government could see their way to it — probably at once. -Otago Witness, 18/7/1889.
Miscellaneous
The Mount Ida Chronicle states that at a meeting of shareholders in the Break o' Day, Victoria, and Nenthorn Consolidated claims, those present pledged themselves to support a proposal by the Victoria Company to purchase an American stamper battery when the question comes up for consideration by the various companies, the Break o' Day and Nenthorn Consolidated Companies to pay £100 each to the Victoria Company in consideration of that company conveying their machine site and water right to be added to the battery — the whole then to be jointly owned by the three companies. Those present also urged the Victoria Company to proceed at once with the purchase of an American stamper battery. -Otago Witness, 25/7/1889.
THE NENTHORN REEFS.
TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — With your permission I should like to utter a word of warning to those who are investing their money in the various companies which are being floated to work the reefs at Nenthorn. Everyone must admit that if the gold turns out well it will be a good thing for Dunedin and indeed for the whole Colony; but it appears to me that the companies which have up to the present been offered to the public are far too heavily loaded and have such a large number of shares that dividends will be few and far between. Take, for example, the first company floated, the Croesus. It consists of 100,000 shares, of which 80,000 shares paid up to 2s are retained by the promoters. That is, the promoters get £8000 for a property the value of which has yet to a great extent to be proved. The company has a 10-head battery, which will put through, say, 350 tons of quartz per month, and unless this stone is exceptionally rich it is evident that a long time must elapse before a dividend can be paid. In spite of this the shares paid up to 2s are selling at about 3s, whereas the shares (16s l0d paid up) of the Inkerman Company, at Reefton, which has one-fifth the number of shares, a reef and battery twice the size, and is crushing stone equal to l 1/2oz to the ton, are selling at 9s 0d. Taking this as a fair price, the Croesus shares should be worth not more than 1s at the outside.
Another matter I would draw attention to is the exceptionally large commission which some of the companies are paying brokers to induce them to place the shares. I am told that the brokers of the Eureka Company receive 6d for every share they place, which is double the commission usual in such cases. This commission is of course paid by the company, not by the promoters. No one can wish more than I do that the field will prove a success, but if the overloading of companies prevents this it will do an immense amount of damage to the interests of mining generally in New Zealand. I am induced to write this warning, as I understand that many who are taking up shares in these companies are people who have hitherto not invested in mining shares, and are apt to be dazzled by cleverly written prospectuses. — I am, &c. July 22. Respice Finem. -Otago Daily Times, 26/7/1889.
We have heard within the last few days of a well-known Taieri man who has netted £1100 (about $230,000 today - GBC) in speculation at Nenthorn. The gentleman in question is popularly known as an owner of race-horses, though not by any means fortunate in that respect, which makes his present slice of good luck all the more acceptable. -Tuapeka Times, 27/7/1899.
It was reported in Dunedin on Saturday that a well-known Taieri resident had made £ll00 last week by dabbling in Nenthorn shares. On Saturday afternoon one of our staff had a conversation with a South Canterbury man who arrived at Timaru from the Nenthorn field on Friday last. He said that the place is a very wild one, and as it was snowing heavily and continuously during the three days he was there, he did not feel at all disposed to go quartz-mining. As to the reefs themselves he would not advise anyone to go or not to go to them, but would let a man form his own conclusions by visiting Nenthorn. As bearing out the Dunedin report mentioned he said that speculation was very rife, and that shares were changing hands almost every minute. He took up a few, and sold them again to the highest bidder making in two instances a profit of 200 per cent. Questioned as to the highway to the reefs, he said that there were good wagon roads to Nenthorn, and that machinery could be laid alongside any of the claims without any trouble. -South Canterbury Times, 29/7/1889.
Dunedin Gossip
There is quite a boom in mining matters. The Nenthorn reefs have caused a stir which has been absent for years. Coming on top of the success (only partial perhaps at present) of the beach dredging at Waipapa and on the Shotover, the company promoters' time has arrived, and he and his congeners are making hay while the sun shines. All is not gold that glitters, and there will be doubtless the usual disappointed ones, who failed to get into the good things, and tumbled headlong into all the bad ones. How could it be otherwise, when already large sums have been made by speculators, larger sums than the gold from the field will cover for many weeks yet. There is one thing in favor of the field, and that is, that, as yet, no one who has visited it but has good hopes for its future. Some are more sanguine than others, but all agree that there is a good prospect. The fact of this field being worked at what one may almost term the back door of Dunedin, cannot fail to have a good effect on our visitors during the Exhibition time. Of the Exhibition itself, there is nothing particularly new to say. Everything is making good progress, and everything promises well. There is certainly that cloud in the horizon which has been already referred to, that is the danger of New Zealand being overshadowed by the display of the other colonies. -Cromwell Argus, 6/8/1889.
NENTHORN.
A GRAND concert and dance (being the first on the field) in connection with a local institution will be held in the Commodious Premises of Mr. James Mitchell, Builder, Main-street, Nenthorn (that gentleman having kindly given the use of his building for the occasion), on FRIDAY NEXT, 9th Inst.
Doors open at 7.30 p.m., Performance commencing at 8 sharp. Ticket (to admit lady and gentleman), 5s.
In connection with the above, Mr. Griffin will open his new hotel, and will celebrate the occasion with A FREE SUPPER. -Mount Ida Chronicle, 8/8/1889.
TO NENTHORN.
(By Our Special Reporter.) New Zealand, and more especially Otago, miners may, and some now do, enjoy the sensation of going to a new rush in a rather novel manner. Times were when participating in a rush involved "swagging" it for many weary miles over bad and unformed roads — indeed, a special zest, was given to rushing about where there were no roads at all. All this is altered now. You jump on to the railway with your swag, from the railway on to a coach, and before you realise the novelty of it all you are at the new rush.
In such a journey there is scarcely room for incident, except it be a railway collision, but as the speed of New Zealand railways scarcely could furnish a good sensation in this line, the attempt is seldom made. However, anyone keeping his eyes and ears open may occasionally hear and see things that are worth putting into print.
All along the line there are plenty of proofs of the wonderful resources of the soil and climate of Otago. Nearly everything upon the tables of the hotels you stop at is of local production, and of a quality that cannot possibly be excelled. Most of the clothes worn by yourself and the people you meet are of local production; at all the stations along the road there is bustle and life, goods of various kinds in large quantities are either loaded or unloaded; drays bring to or take away from the stations the various productions of our soil and industry; the trim and spanking trap of the genial commercial traveller penetrates everywhere, braving all the dangers of our bush roads; and all round you the push and energy of the New Zealander is as abundant and variable as the productions of his country.
DUNBACK, as lying off the main though the terminus of a branch line, has never had an historian, and beyond its name and place upon the map of New Zealand is but little known outside its own immediate vicinity. Yet it is a township of some pretensions. There is a complete and compact railway station in charge of a set of officers who for civility and attention leave nothing to be desired. Two hotels dispense creature comforts of superior quality. Of these Mr Jordan's two-storey stone hotel caters chiefly for the travelling public, while the Carriers' Arms supplies the wants of the residents and roadsters. A partially-formed street comprises the different business premises of the townspeople, the whole presenting a very busy and prosperous country township on which centres the traffic of the upper valley of the Shag river. But what adds a peculiar charm to the place is
"THE JOLLY WAGGONERS," who congregate here in great numbers, their camp resembling "the tented field" or some fair, and for a set of "jolly good fellows" those of Dunback can scarcely be beaten, though I must take exception to some of their views on the purposes of life. After strolling amongst them, and discussing the probabilities of Nenthorn, their temptations, and the share was about to take in augmenting the former, I turned to contemplate the importance of my mission in communion with myself. I had just pictured the township and railway station grown into proportions vastly superior to the realities, and computed the part of credit that belonged to my individual exertions of muscle and bone in developing the resources of Nenthorn, when I overheard the following remark: "The durned fool can have little to do at home to come all this distance to look for reefs at Nenthorn!" Unfortunately I have not yet fathomed the philosophy of the remark, or answered it in a practical manner.
The road from Dnnback to Macraes is full of ups and downs - the ups largely predominating - and is of a very heavy nature. Nearing Macraes, full of golden memories and still more golden promises, you pass what was once known as the "Duke of Edinburgh" quartz mine, now reduced to irregular heaps of rocky excavations, a sorry monument of bungling and over speculation. Further on, and about two miles from the township of Macraes, the noted road "paved with gold" is met. It is, after all, only in keeping with the eternal fitness of things that a diggings should have its street paved with golden quartz, but a better use has now been found for the quartz.
MACRAES is not now the lively place it was 20 years ago, but there is plenty of golden wealth to be dug from the alluvial deposits as well as from the quartz reefs of the neighbourhood; while the agricultural capabilities of the land are of a superior order and the productions, with a local market or easy means of transport, must rise to a high value. Already the demand for produce has infused a new life into affairs agricultural and bucolic, most of the farmers being cleared out of the stocks on hand, so that oats are becoming very scarce, and oaten chaff is nearly exhausted. Recent events at Nenthorn have in the same manner given an impetus to trade and traffic all round.
It is a reassuring fact that confidence in the future of Otago has never fallen so low in the country districts as it did in the larger towns. At Dunback, as at Macraes, leading business men have given proof of the strength of their faith by the expenditure of large sums on the improvement of their properties. Perhaps the best proof of the prosperity of a country community is the public house. Where you see a tumbledown and neglected inn, there is poverty and decay. This rule holds good all over Otago. At Dunback, where the soil is of a light quality, but where traffic adds life to the settlement, there is a commodious two-storey hotel. At Macraes Mr T. Stanley is now erecting a substantially built stone hotel, all the partitions of which are of stone quarried in the neighbourhood, and which is of a quality that should commend it to the building trade for a wide radius, as it withstands the extremes of a trying climate with perfect immunity from deterioration. The hotel or the portion of which so far as it is finished, reflects great credit upon Mr Stanley, who is his own architect and builder, and when finished will rank as one of the most extensive and substantial hostelries in Otago.
But I forgot that I intended to tell your readers about the road to Nenthorn. In short, then, you start from Dunedin with the early train for Palmerston, where Cobb and Co's (Craig's) coach awaits you every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The fare from Palmerston to Nenthom is 15s, and the journey from Dunedin is completed in one day, the coach arriving at Nenthorn about; 5 o'clock in the evening. Mr William McPhail, who has proved himself a safe and able Jehu upon the roads of these parts and of those of the Wakatipu, handles the ribbons. -Otago Witness, 8/8/1889.
HUNTINGTON QUARTZ MILL v. STAMPER BATTERY.
TO THE EDITOR.
Sir,—Your supplement of. this day's issue contains a rather glowing description of the Huntington quartz mill, purchased lately for a Nenthorn company. I do not wish for one moment to disparage any of the statements contained in the opinion of the gentleman who penned the letter, but for the information and guidance of those companies who are about to launch forth in the purchase of new machinery for their respective claims, I append an extract from the of the makers of these machines, and I think the opinion of such high authority as the makers themselves ought to be sufficient guarantee as to the efficiency of the roller mill compared to stamper batteries. It is all very well for agents to crack up their wares, but it must be remembered that their entire interest is their commission, and said commission can only be earned by a sale. The following is the extract I refer to, and it will be found on page 7 of the makers' catalogue of date, 1888.—I am, &c, Dunedin, August 10. Quartz.
"Other methods of reduction and amalgamation have been suggested, conceived, devised, and adopted, and the wrecks of mechanical abortions, intended for this purpose, are scattered from Maine to Mexico, and the golden hills of California are covered with neglected monuments of wood and iron; tombstones marking the rise of inventive genius and the death of buoyant hopes of argonautic wealth. The 'Kendall,' 'Giant,' and 'Elephant' crushers, the 'Hepburn' pan or 'Howland' pulverizer, and a thousand and one other devices have had their day, but the ponderous stamp mill, with its automatic and economical simplicity of action, and its true principles of construction, will endure until the last particle of precious gold shall have been exhumed from the hidden treasures of the earth." -Otago Daily Times, 12/8/1889.
Images of a Huntington mill, now preserved and visible at the DoC reserve at the Golden Point Mine, can be found here.
NENTHORNE.
STARTING OF THE FIRST ENGINE SHAFT.
A number of gentlemen, amongst whom were some of the principal shareholders in the mine, assembled on Monday last, near the site of the new engine shaft to be sunk upon the Croesus claim, to witness the breaking of the surface, preparatory to the beginning, of sinking.
The spade having been handed to Mr. J. Mitchell, of Naseby and Nenthorne, who is a large shareholder in the mine, Mr. Mitchell said he had much pleasure of performing so important a ceremony, and hoped that the present undertaking would pay both the shareholders and the contractors, and that the shaft may be kept in full and profitable work for the next hundred years or more to come. He then raised the first sod, while the cheers of the bystanders rent the air. Mr. P. Ryan, who holds the largest interest in the mine of any shareholder, then followed suit by lifting the second sod. Mr. J. A. Miller, being called upon, said that he hoped the present shaft would prove the permanence of the Nenthorne reefs, and that he could say from his personal acquaintance with the contractors that the work could not have been entrusted to better hands. He also expressed the hope that the company would be amply rewarded for their enterprise, and he felt sure, from many years' acquaintance with the mine manager, Mr W. McKay, that gentleman would develop the mine in a systematic manner. Mr C. Rillston, on behalf of the contractors, remarked that he would guarantee that he and his mates would finish the shaft in a workmanlike manner, having been engaged in several similar undertakings, but he could wish that the shaft was to be sunk to the depth of 300 ft. instead of 100 ft., and then the question of the permanence of the Nenthorn reefs would be definitely decided. He also said the Government would do wise to give a premium, for the deepest shaft to be sunk in a given time, as a stimulus to proving the reefs at a great depth. This remark met with much approbation. The party, after a short lapse of time, during which the shaft was "wetted," dispersed.
The size of the shaft is l1ft, by 4ft., and it is proposed to sink it to a depth of 100 ft before opening out is commenced. — "Daily Times."
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) August 13. The following is a report of general occurrences for the past fortnight: — The Croesus Company are still stoping, and are bringing very good quartz to grass. A contract has been let by the company to sink a main shaft to a depth of about 100 feet, and the successful contractors (Messrs Moyle and Jones, formerly of Skippers) commence operations to-day, so that in a short time the company will have their claim in thorough working order. This company's battery started to crush to-day, and as there is at present a plentiful supply of water in their race no time will be lost in putting through the trial crushing of 400 tons.
The Victoria Co.'s contractors have finished the contract for sinking a shaft on the claim, and Mr A. Cameron (the lately-appointed mine manager) takes charge of the property to-day, as also the Break o' Day Coy.'s property.
In reference to the last-named company, I am informed that the share-list of applications is now almost filled, and as the claim is without doubt a good one I would advise intending speculators to lose no time in applying for shares.
The result of the crushing of the Zealandia Company's stone — viz., 2oz. 3grs. per ton — has tended to make that claim a favorite with speculators. At present the company is not working, nor is the Eureka. The prospectors on the Blue Jacket claim have struck good gold. Up to the present time this claim was ranked as an outsider, but it is now gaining in favor. The Blue Slate and Golden Crystal Companies have appointed Mr John Smith their mine manager, and the Huntington roller battery lately bought by the Golden Crystal Company is now on the way from Dunedin, and is to be erected at once. The Daddy Company have taken out some stone for trial crushing. It goes down by waggon to-day to Dunedin, and it is the general opinion that it will give a good return.
The Homeward Bound Company, (a new find) are getting some splendid stone, some of which shows gold freely and crushes well.
The building rage is still going on in the township, and if as it has heretofore Nenthorne will soon be a city. A suggestion has been made that, the township be called Ballarat, but has not yet been considered.
Messrs J. and J. Dawson, of Naseby, have opened a branch bakery here, and the first batch of bread baked at Nenthorne was turned out of their oven this morning. The first concert and dance on the field was held in Mr Mitchell's new shop on Friday evening, and proved a big success. The proceeds were devoted to the funds of the jockey club, and judging from the number of people present the club will net a fair amount. Mr James Bevin occupied the chair, and made a few introductory remarks suitable for the occasion. Songs were contributed by Messrs Mercer, Tate, Walters, Hickson, McKensie and Mouat; a recitation by Mr Donaldson, a hornpipe by Mr R. Thomas; and an Irish jig by Mr T. O'Brien. The performance was concluded with a stump speech by Mr Jas. McPhee, which caused great amusement. Mr Mercer accompanied on the piano; and the orchestra, which comprised Messrs Mouat (violin), Tate (violin), Christensen (cornet), Walters (kettle drum), and Saunders (piccolo), discoursed excellent music. At the conclusion of the concert the room was cleared for dancing, which was kept up till, an early hour in the morning. Mr E Hall kindly performed the duties of M C., and on his leaving the room he was accorded three hearty cheers for his services. Mr Walters then acted in Mr Hall's stead til the finish, and was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. The chief drawback was the scarcity of the fair sex, but this, we hope will be remedied on a future occasion.
The jockey club is fast working its way front. The stewards and other officers have been appointed, a course is being laid out, and tenders are to be called immediately for chipping the track and putting it in good racing order. It is intended to hold the first meeting of the club on or about 14th November, but whether one or two day's racing will be held has not yet been decided. -Mount Ida Chronicle, 15/8/1889.
| The Barewood Reefs mine again, presumably a posed photo of its workers. Hocken Library photo. |
NENTHORN.
August 12. — for a young community that of Nenthorn is an exceedingly energetic and healthy one. The settlement as an aggregate of humanity is scarcely more than two months' old, and already there are growing up and prospering ,all those institutions which are enjoyed by fullfledged towns or cities. A jockey club has been formed; a post office opened; telephone communication is about to be established; a scheme for a water supply for the town is under consideration; the main street of the township is being surveyed and levelled, and street illumination it talked of. A pretty ambitious programme this for a settlement not more than say two months old; but then gold, all-powerful gold, is the motive power which sets all this machinery in motion, and none can yet tell where its working will cease, or whereto its portents may lead.
Entertainment. — Nor are amidst all this push and stir the higher and higher purposes of life overlooked. On Friday last the first concert and ball was given, and though the township has been wringing with song and instrumental music for some time past at most hours of the day and night the late attempt was the first of a pretentious character, which was well and creditably sustained, the whole of the Nenthorn talent — which is no mean one — being enlisted. The concert and ball was held in Mr J. Mitchell's commodious workshops, which were kindly lent for the purpose by the proprietor, and though there were no decorations of flowers, evergreens or flags and drapery, the bare roof and beams rang with the hilarity which so generally pervaded the assembly. Mr J. Bevin, in charge of the local branch of the Bank of New Zealand, undertook the onerous duties of chairman, doing full justice to the part that fell to his lot. After stating that the entertainment had been got up in aid of the jockey club funds, he called upon the orchestra to open the proceedings with an overture. The grand overture for "Guillaume Tell" then burst upon the surprised audience in all its wonderful beauties of instrumentation. The orchestra was composed at follows:— Mr A. Mercer, piano; Messrs W. G. Mouat and Thos. Tate, first and second violin; Mr T. Saunders played the piccolo upon a tin whistle; and Mr J. Walters, the kettle drum upon a tin plate. After the overture, Mr Mercer sang with much vigour and expression "The warrior bold," for which he was vociferously encored, responding with a comic song, which also found much favour with the audience. Mr Jas. Walters then gave in a most; amusing manner the comic ditty of "Nimble Nip," which brought down the house, and exacted an encore. Mr Thos. Tate followed with "Hot asphalt," securing loud applause for his song. A recitation by Mr Donaldson, of "The Saxon and the Gael," infused a pleasing variety in the programme, Mr Donaldson throwing the requisite amount of animation into the exacting description of the combat, and receiving a well-deserved round of applause. Mr D, McKenzie then sang with much feeling and expression the pretty song of "The Rose, the Thistle, and the Shamrock," and had to put a stop to the applause by responding with another song. Mr J. B. Hickson delighted the audience with a local song, which met with much appreciation. Mr Fahey varied the programme with a song and dance, for which he was encored. "The Policeman" received a clever representation at the hands of Mr Walters, who gave another comic song by way of encore. Mr Mercer's "Spot the winner" drew for him an encore, both being highly relished by the audience. A sailor's hornpipe by Mr B. Thomas was a well executed piece of dancing, and was loudly encored. "Tommy Jones," as rendered by Mr Mouat, was a very acceptable morceau and as an encore "Come to the window, Nellie" was given. Several items on the programme having lapsed through the absence of those to whom they were committed, Messrs McKenzie and Mercer sang several interpolated songs to the evident satisfaction of the audience, and Mr John Dunne brought the concert to a close by giving some of his reminiscences at Nenthorn in the shape of a stump speech, in a very amusing and entertaining manner. The entertainment was marked by a total absence of anything objectionable, and perfect decorum was observed throughout the evening. Amongst the talent brought to light at the concert, Mr D. McKenzie proved himself the bright particular star, and though his songs, ditties, and droll mimicry had already made him the general favourite of the field, he upon this occasion added new laurels to his popularity. After the chairman had returned thanks to the performers, the audience, Mr Mitchell (for the use of the hall), and Mr Ryan (for the piano), the first public concert held at Nenthorn came to an end. On account of a counter attraction — a free banquet at Host Griffen's Miners' Arms Hotel — the hall was only moderately crowded, but, nevertheless, the proceeds of the concert amount to £16, which speaks well for the place. Mr Mercer, who, besides contributing some of the most acceptable songs of the evening, presided at the piano as accompanist to nearly every song of the evening in a most efficient manner, is deserving of special mention for the services he rendered. The hall being cleared of seats, the ball was opened by a grand march, followed in the orthodox manner by the first set of quadrilles, after which dancing became general, and was much enjoyed, being kept up "till daylight did appear." Of course there were ladies at the ball, and amongst them there was the belle of the ball in purple sateen under a crepe overdress, forming a very handsome toilet. Another lady, in a beautiful slate-coloured bombazine gown, also attracted much attention, but being of doubtful gender (she or he) is put hors de combat. All the ladies — numbering five, all told — being excellent dancers, they no doubt enjoyed themselves immensely, as they were in constant requisition. The music was furnished by Mr Mercer (piano), Messrs George Mouat and Tate (violins), Mr M. Christensen, (cornet-a-piston), Mr Saunders (piccolo), while Captain Hall, of Naseby, acted as M.C.
House Warming. — On the same evening Mr. W. E. Griffen opened his hotel, the Miners' Arms, Nenthorn, with a free banquet, which, for the manner in which it was got up, was a marvel of completeness and elegance. It would be trite to say that the tables groaned under the good things, but it would be difficult to find a fault in anything, and Mrs Griffen may rest assured that she has given a proof of her capability as a chef de cuisine that will not be forgotten by the residents at Nenthorn, while Mr Griffen can flatter himself with having his efforts to please thoroughly recognised. The speeches made during the evening were marked by a pervading feeling of confidence in the permanence of the reefs and town, a feeling that is evidently the outcome of the undoubtable promises of the field. The hotel is now finished in all its parts in a most complete and substantial manner, yet Mr Griffen finds it difficult to meet all the demands made upon the accommodation his hotel at present affords, and contemplates extensive additions to the number of bedrooms.
The Weather may to the general reader be a subject of little importance, but when you are living in a "cloot hoose," and a gale has been blowing for two days without intermission, accompanied by rain, sleet, and snow, which penetrate the smallest slit or opening, and come in upon your floors upon which you have to sleep and sit in the shape of water and sludge, you are forced to the conclusion, that, after all, the weather has it in its power to make things exceedingly unpleasant, and suggestive of the question whether life is worth living. All I can say is that I hope these lines will be read under more agreeable circumstances than those under which they were written. Sitting upon a stone cairn without a fire of any kind, with a wet board upon your knees for a writing desk, and in a tent flapping continuously like the sails of a vessel, with an uncertain but well-grounded feeling of doubt at heart of its safety and that of all your worldly belongings therein contained, is not very conducive to the art of literary composition, to say nothing of its calligraphic execution; and I am sure I owe the compositor of this letter an apology for this unusual arrangement of pothooks and crooks. -Otago Witness, 15/8/1889.
LOCAL AND GENERAL.
A large and influential meeting was held at the Miners' Arms Hotel, Nenthorn, on the 5th inst., to take into consideration the present unsatisfactory mail arrangements from Nenthorn reefs. Mr Maloney was voted to the chair. It was resolved on the motion of Mr Burman, seconded by Mr W. E. Griffin — "That the secretary (Mr Donaldson) be instructed to write to the chief postmaster, Dunedin, pointing out the defects and inconvenience in the present mail arrangement with Macraes, as mails posted in Nenthorn on Monday and Tuesday morning lay at Macraes till Thursday afternoon, and those on Friday till Monday. Whereas this difficulty can be obviated by allowing Messrs Craig and Co. to carry the mails direct from Palmerston, as they run a coach every alternate day to Nenthorn." It was also resolved that Messrs Maloney, W. E. Guffin, W. McKay, J. Mitchell, J. Bevin, J. Cogan, B. Thornton, W. Eggers, T. Gilchrist, J. Beatty, Dawson, and Donaldson be appointed a committee to report on the best positions for a water supply to the township of Nenthorn to a meeting to be held on the 7th inst. A resolution was carried in favour of the town being called Ballarat. Otago Witness, 15/8/1889.
Leslie A. Norman,
COMMISSION, MINING AND LAND AGENT,
MONEY, STOCK AND SHARE BROKER
(Of Naseby and Nenthorn),
Desires to Announce that he will COMMENCE BUSINESS as above in Dunedin from and after August 19.
Offices: Second Floor of the A.M.P. Society’s Buildings, Princes street, Dunedin. -Evening Star, 15/8/1889.
Local and General Intelligence
The Taieri paper states that there are a lot of bogus concerns being floated at Nenthorn, and would-be speculators should exercise the greatest caution. "In fact," adds the correspondent, "at Nenthorn there are some of the greatest scoundrels unhung!" -Tuapeka Times, 21/8/1889.
NENTHORN.
August 20. — The effect the Nenthorn reefs have had already upon trade will be seen when it is stated that not only local dealers but even Dunedin wholesale houses like P. Hayman and Co. have been completely cleared out of pocket compasses and magnifying glasses, and now we hear that dynamite and other blasting compounds are nearly exhausted. This surely speaks well for the impression made by the Nenthorn reefs and the interest that is taken in them. Compasses and magnifying glasses are essential aids in prospecting, and many parties are put to a disadvantage for the want of them.
Postal Items. — It is quite a sight to see the eager crowds that besiege the local post office upon the arrival of the mail upon Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings. The coach is due here at about 5 p.m., but as the roads are generally very heavy between here and Palmerston through being cut up by the heavy traffic, the mail reaches Nenthorn after the orthodox office hours; but Mr W. Eggers, the local postmaster, who in his desire to do all he can for his patrons sorts and delivers the mail every evening upon its arrival with untiring kindness. As soon as the mail is sorted Mr Eggers' store is crowded to bursting, and to expedite the delivery of letters and papers he is driven to what is perhaps a kind of irregular expedient, but which answers the purpose very well. The letters are called out in alphabetical order, and those present take delivery of their epistles as their names are called. Leaving the question of the regularity of this modus operandi altogether out of the consideration, Mr Eggers is certainly deserving of much praise for the attention and civility with which he attends to his duties as postmaster. Apropos of postmasters. In 1856, when the great Dunolly rush broke out in Victoria, the nearest post office was at Inkerman Flat, a distance of three or four miles from Dunolly. Before the rush the postmaster was not overworked, and fell into the easy way, when applications for letters were made to him, of placing the whole contents of his office upon the counter, inviting the applicants to help themselves, as the writing upon the envelopes prevented him making out the names of the owners. This system continued for months before a Government office was opened at Dunolly. Our paternal New Zealand authorities are certainly much more alive to the requirements of new communities, and though they move cautiously, still they move on. The way they have of asking for subsidies before proceeding with the establishment of a post or telephone office is, however, ridiculous. At present there is a delay in the construction of the telephone, pending the residents here guaranteeing a subsidy of £30 for five years. The thing would be right enough if, on the other hand, the Government were prepared to declare a dividend out of the surplus, which there is sure to be.
Roads and Ways. — The Waikouaiti County Council, which has already largely benefited by the Nenthorn reefs in a very substantial form, has done very little towards opening the field by roads. An intended track, chipped 6ft wide, from Waikouaiti is so far all the return made for the large increase the reefs have made to the county's revenue. The position of the neighbouring counties tends to complicate matters very much. Thus while the Waikouaiti Council reaps the dollars, the main approaches to the field lie through Waihemo Couuty, which has to keep them in repair for the benefit of its neighbour, at once a thankless and profitless job. Under these circumstances the interested counties may well take a leaf out of Lake County's book, and get the general Government to make the roads for them. The only drawback to this proceeding would be the slowness with which the Government moves in these matters. Thus the Macetown dray road was completed just in time for the people who were leaving the place, and the Skippers' road, now finishing off, was even later, and will not be completed till the Skippers and the Upper Shotover have been deserted. The two roads have cost the colony approximately £25,000, and practically lead nowhere, neither the Shotover nor the Arrow valleys, through which they pass, containing arable land of any extent. At Nenthorn things are very different. Besides the vast mineral resources of the place, it abounds in excellent agricultural land, promising to distinguish the neighbourhood as the garden of Otago, and which will carry a large population for all time to come. Another instance in which the Waikouaiti County may imitate that of Lake is the procuration of a set of cheap boring rods with tubes complete, which alone for the boring for water and coal would be invaluable, to say nothing of boring for gold.
Improvements. — Prospectors are now out in many directions, and there is some probability that Dunedin itself may be pegged out before long, the southerly direction evidently being the favourite one at present. In the meantime the Nenthorn reefs proper are all fast proving themselves as both permanent and rich, while the township itself is steadily growing in extent. Not only are private residences and business places going up in great numbers, but large extensions to the older establishments are being made, showing that business is healthy and on the increase. Buildings are running up in such numbers that the supply of timber is not nearly equal to the demand, and though their are frequent interruptions, the progress of Macmillan street, as the main thoroughfare of Nenthorn is called, is simply amazing. The clatter of the carpenters' hammers is heard from early morn till dewy eve, and men for this trade are in much demand.
Ecclesiastical. — Rev. Mr Todd has paid a visit of several days' duration to Nenthorn, and held divine service, which was well attended and duly appreciated by the congregation. A detachment of the Salvation Army has also laid siege to the place and declared war upon the ubiquitous devil.
The Sanitary Condition of Nenthorn leaves much to be desired, and a pure water supply is urgently required. A Progress Committee, to consist of a few energetic people, to meet weekly and discuss any matter of local interest, would do a great deal of good.
The Weather has been rather rough and broken. Cold gales accompanied by rain and snow, and keen frosts every morning are still the order of the day. But taken altogether the weather has been seasonable, and justifies the hope that in a few weeks' time it will settle down to regular summer rules.
Heaven Save Us All. — It is whispered that the Goldfields department, or that of Justice, or some other equally ephemeral power, is contemplating the appointment of a young lawyer as a kind of sub-warden to aid the over-worked gentlemen who now administer the mining law in the Wakatipu, Dunstan, and Taieri goldfields. What on earth can the miners of these fields have done to deserve such an infliction? Why, the steady cry and aim has been to keep the administration of mining law as far separate as possible from the mummified form of jurisprudence and jurisdiction. This surely is another outcome of the brain of some one who has conceived it his mission to "develop the mining industry," a phrase as elastic as it is hackneyed. -Otago Witness, 22/8/1889.
MINING.
NOTES FROM NENTHORN. (By Our Special Reporter.)
Nenthorn, August 24.
THE CREOSUS BATTERY began crushing on Tuesday last, but owing to breakages in the water race there have been a few intermissions in the work. Such little vexations are always inseparable from new undertakings of this kind, and in spite of them parties interested in the Nenthorn mines may now look forward to to receiving tangible proof of the real value of Nenthorn stone, when treated in bulk.
It would be superfluous to go into a detailed description of the machine which is, moreover, an old one. The machinery comprises two batteries of five heads of 6cwt stampers, driven by a Pelton wheel. Considering the material he had to work upon Mr M. Christensen, the battery manager, who also superintended the erection of the machinery, has done wonders and erected a machine out of the not most promising fixing, which will answer all just demands made upon it, and will not only prove the mine, but also give handsome dividends to the share-holders. Mr Christensen being well up in the chemistry of the battery, he has set himself the task of not only showing the shareholders the amount of gold which their machine saves, but also the amount which it loses, and in the latter case is prepared to make such suggestions and adopt such appliances as will reduce the loss to a minimum. The machine is working with the utmost satisfaction, and being erected with the utmost circumspection and care, is not likely to give much trouble, if any, in its working. By a simple lever movement, of Mr Christensen's own invention, the water jet can be turned on and shut off in a second if required, bringing the machine to an immediate stop in case of accident. The lever is accessible from the platform as well as from other parts of the machine house. The gold-saving appliances are those generally in use - viz, silvered coppered plates and blanket strakes - and both receive Mr Christensen's close attention which, being aided by a thorough scientific knowledge the chemical actions of the impurities in the stone crushed have upon the quicksilver, the shareholders may rest assured that their interests are watched over by a competent and painstaking manager. -Otago Daily Times, 26/8/1889.
MINING NOTES.
The Kaitangata Coal Company have pierced another seam of coal 28ft thick in their new prospecting drive, at a distance of 1,978ft from the surface. The coal is said to be of excellent quality. The Waipapapa Dredging Company have obtained 98oz of amalgam for six days’ dredging. Latest reports from the Nenthorn district state that the population is increasing rapidly, every day bringing fresh arrivals on the field. It is estimated that between 500 and 600 persons are now situated there in various occupations. The mining prospects are considered in every way of a satisfactory nature, and are also improving as the work progresses. Buildings are being erected in all directions, and the township is assuming quite an important aspect. As yet there has been little or no larrikinism in the district, while the public-houses are conducted in a respectable manner. Owing to the arrival of several undesirable characters, however, the residents are becoming somewhat uneasy, as properties are very much exposed, and are not strongly built. Should these persons continue to arrive on the field it is intended to agitate for police supervision, but as yet no rowdyism has manifested itself. -Evening Star, 3/9/1889.
MINING.
NENTHORN MINING NOTES.
(By Our Special Mining Correspondent.)
NENTHORN, September 1. Croesus Company. The monthly meeting of the Board of Directors of the Croesus Company was held here on Saturday, and was attended by Messrs Walter Hislop, John Laverty, Charles McGregor, Patrick Ryan, George W. Pogson, and John Elliott. The mine and battery managers' reports were read and received, both of which recorded a satisfactory state of affairs in connection with the respective works under their charge. A good deal of routine business was got through, and near the close of the meeting the legal manager (Mr Leslie A. Norman) tendered his resignation, stating that he regretted doing so, but pressure of important business necessitated this step. After discussion, it was resolved that the resignation be accepted, the usual month's notice prescribed by the Mining Companies Act to be given.
Winding Machinery. — The winding and pumping machinery manufactured by E. S. Sparrow and Co for the Croesus Company arrived at Nenthorn last week, and will shortly be placed in position. The manner in which the machinery has been turned out reflects great credit on the contractor, and has given every satisfaction to the directors of the company.
Croesus Shaft. — Messrs Jones and Moyle have sunk and timbered the main working shaft a distance of 25ft. On Saturday night they struck the cap of a reef in the shaft running north and south and at right angles with the course of the present lode. Some samples of the stone were shown to me to-day, and from the minerals it contains I should say it will carry payable gold at a lower level.
Croesus Crushing. — About 40 tons of quartz have been put through the mill. The plates are looking well, and from their appearance the yield should be equal to loz l0dwt all round, although the miners working in the claim talk of 2oz and 3oz per ton. The reef in the western stopes has widened out to nearly 6ft, and in the eastern level it is about 2ft. Both mine and battery are now in full working order, so in the course of two or three weeks the reputation of the field, and .the question of its value and permanency, will be firmly established on a firm basis.
Prospectors' Company. — A trial of the Huntington mill supplied to this company was made on Saturday afternoon in the presence of a large number of miners and others interested in the field, the machinery working smoothly and well. Messrs Kitchener and Wilson have only been a fortnight engaged in erecting the whole of the plant and to this energetic company will belong the honour of producing the first cake of gold taken from the field.
Eureka Company. — Tenders are being invited for sinking a shaft on the lode, and vigour and energy will now be imported into the working of the mine. The first statutory meeting of the company will be held in Dunedin on Tuesday evening, when a pitched battle will be fought between the city and Nenthorn proprietors on the question of the site of the company's office. Both sides are marshalling their forces for the fray, the result of which is keenly anticipated by each party.
Water Supply. — The water supply of the town is totally inadequate for the requirements of the present population, and, indeed, it is quite unfit for human consumption. One dose of it is sufficient to give a stranger a severe attack of dysentery or diarrhoea. As the water simply consists of surface drainage, stored in small puddle holes it must necessarily become polluted, and unless care is observed there will be an epidemic of fever in the summer.
Telephone Bureau. — Some hitch has apparently occurred in connection with the guarantee asked by he Government before they will undertake the erection of a telephone line and bureau on the field. The absence of telephonic communication is doing much harm to the place and retarding its advancement.
Jockey Club. — Active steps are being taken to make the first meeting of the club an unqualified success, and a large sum of money has been subscribed for prize money.
Coal Mining. — This is an important industry at Nenthorn, or rather I should say a good deal of money is being spent in prospecting for coal for supplying the necessary fuel for the town. Some seven miles east from the township, on the Waikouaiti fall the range, is a large basin of made ground, around the edges of which outcrops of brown coal have been posed by slips of earth. -Otago Daily Times, 3/9/1889.
Mining Notes
Nenthorn
The Croesus Company: — At the meeting of directors held last Saturday it was agreed to clean up the battery after 100 tons of stone have been put through, so that, wind and weather permitting, and everything else going well the result in the shape of the first cake of gold from the Nenthorn field will be made known. The battery has been continuously kept going since it was started and is giving every satisfaction, but owing to the very severe frosts of the past fortnight, the water supply has fallen short, so that the machine has not been working up to its full power and speed. It is to be hoped that the Nenthorn companies in a body will adopt the plan of making known the weekly returns of amalgam taken off the plates, for the information of the public, and generally combat everything in the shape of secrecy and mystification. The Creosus' contractors for the new shaft are making good headway and are now down about 20ft, at which depth they struck what appears to form itself into a feeder or leader, or perhaps an independent reef. At present nothing can be said with certainty upon the subject. The pumping and winding gear and engine are now arriving upon the ground, and their erection will be proceeded with at once. -Otago Daily Times, 7/9/1889.
New Chums at Nenthorn.
Editor Witness, — Sir: Some few weeks ago our little township was awakened out of its usual apathy by a visitor from Dunedin, who gave glowing accounts of the Nenthorn mines and the ready facilities they afforded for turning modest pennies into pounds. So great was our haste to be off, my chum and I, we did not stop to inquire of this retailer of good news why he was not there himself. Sufficient was it for us to know that the royal road to wealth was to be found at Nenthorn; so to Nenthorn we came. Although we possess a good theoretical knowledge of goldmining, and a still more practical knowledge of the value of gold, we have been here now three weeks and have not yet made a start, No one hereabouts seems able to tell us where we can begin to dig with safety. The pegs are simply bewildering. Pegs here, pegs there, pegs everywhere. We talk of pegs, think of pegs, dream of pegs, and would in no manner be surprised to find a peg in our soup. The surveyor no doubt could help us, but we are told he is away over yonder "in the gully," and as we have not been able to find either the surveyor or the gully, we have come to believe he is a mere creature of the imagination. We therefore write this to ask if you can help us to solve the great Nenthorn peg puzzle. The riddle of the Sphinx was nothing compared to the one submitted for our daily solution. We are encouraged to write this because the editor of a paper is expected to be well up in every subject under the sun; so kindly tell us the name of some man, with the number of his peg, block, &c, and we will find out the rest ourselves. We have asked everybody who will listen, but are only stared at in the most imbecile manner imaginable, or are told to ask John Wilks, but he seems to be as much of a myth as the surveyor. Only yesterday we were away some 10 miles on the downs, and got talking to a man who seemed so contented with his lot in life that I thought now here is the man to tell us all we want to know. So I said, "My friend, we are orphans and strangers hereabouts. Can you tell us where to find a piece of ground where there are no pegs?" — "Yes," he replied, "go some miles further on towards Whack-you-back. You won't find none there." (I don't know where this place is, but that is what he said any way.) "But," I said, "it will never do for us to open up another mining district yet. We only want to peg on to the outskirts of this one. Now do tell us." He took a good look at us, remarked with some heat that the best thing we could do was to peg out home, and walked off muttering something about the lineal descendants of Baalam's ass. What induced such a sudden train of reflection we could not for the life of us make out.
It is not generally known that we are up here, but after the publication of this no doubt we will be asked to become directors in some of these mines. This is a post we could fill with advantage. Those who know us best know that we never burden our minds with inconvenient details, but when occasion requires can draw upon our imagination for our facts. Don't mention our private address just yet. We want to find out which of these mines is best calculated to give our abilities fair play.
I could write you something about Nenthorn, but my chum says not to begin romancing, because the subject is exhausted. We have spade, pegs, and everything ready; we only wait to hear from you in order to open the mine which will be the stepping stone to the great fortune we intend to make. We beg your acceptance of a hundred shares in our mine beforehand, to show there is nothing mean about us. So send us along a Witness, Mr Editor; and if you want a picture of Nenthorn in highly coloured or subdued tints, we will try to please you. — Yours, &c.,
Damon and Pythias. -Otago Witness, 19/9/1889.
Notes from Nenthorn. (By Our Special Reporter.)
Nenthorn, September 17.
The Victoria Company. — Mr A. Cameron reports that the shaft is now down 34ft, of which 16ft follow the reef in its underlie. When first struck the reef was 18in wide, and has now increased to over 2ft, measuring fully 2ft 4in in the bottom of the shaft. The stone is of a solid nature, and upon being crushed yields very fair prospects. The Prospectors' Company have suffered considerable loss from a misadventure, to which new machines are particularly subject. In some manner some of the oil found its way into the basin of the machine, with the result that may easily be imagined by all who understand the action of grease upon the gold and the quicksilver. More unfortunate still, this state of affairs was not at once discovered, so that the loss of gold must have been great before remedies to check it could be adopted. The tables and silver have now been cleaned, and crushing has been resumed, and for the short time that the mill has been going the tables look very well indeed. This mishap is much to be regretted, as the company have gone to work in a very spirited manner, sparing no outlay in the working of the mine and introducing new machinery for the treatment of quartz which is likely to prove of much benefit to mining. A public crushing company has at last been projected, and there can be no doubt that such a company would meet with ample support, and such a machine must become very valuable property upon a field like Nenthorn, where there are a number of leaders which, if followed up, may prove very rich, and yet are not extensive enough to warrant the erection of machinery for their exclusive use. -Otago Witness, 19/9/1889.
NENTHORN MINING NOTES. (FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)
NENTHORN, September 24. As was to be expected after the recent excitement that prevailed, there has set In a lull in the interest taken in the Nenthorn reefs, which by some people is referred to as a "reaction." He must be, indeed, a shallowpated prophet who could not foresee that a goldfield upon which next to no work was being done could not last, and whoever could write in support of the practises obtaining here for the past four or five months, and at the same time estimate the extent and capacity of the field as likely to support from 2000 to 3000 people, demonstrated at once his ignorance of new rushes and his want of judgement of the capabilities of a new goldfield. Such blatant and vicious nonsense, however, does always a great deal of harm by raising expectations to altogether unwarranted heights, while the still voice of calm counsel is not heeded in the wild tumult of the hour, or, if heeded at nil. is decried as the voice of the obstructionist by those who have either a purpose to serve, or who, from want of experience, commit themselves to impotent prophecies and the wildest of rhapsodies. Apropos to these remarks, I think I am justified to mention that nothing has been said in this column but what events have justified; and when I stated four months ago "that the Nenthorn reefs were greatly over-estimated," I said no more.
Nenthorn stock is now probably as low as it it likely to be. Speculation is all but dead — more men are leaving the field than are coming to it; and instead of a population of 2000 or 3000, we have not a many hundreds on the ground. All this is the natural result of starting with too much exuberance, and hopes and anticipations for which there was not sufficient cause. Nenthorn is not likely to be a field for much speculation; it will be much more a working miners' diggings, and as such is calculated to last for many years and probably will in a great measure revolutionise quartz mining in Otago, demonstrating that our reefs can he much more profitably worked by small parties of miners than by large companies, with all their expensive paraphernalia. That lesson once learned, appreciated, and applied, Otago will double the number of its quartz miners and quadruple its production of gold in a few years.
It may appear rather strange to the uninitiated to state that, in spite of the depressed value of Nenthorn stocks, things upon the field never looked healthier than they do at present. There is now more work doing than at any former time, shaft after shaft that is going down is proving the paying nature of the reefs as well as their permanence, and so far not one of the claims, upon which any work has been done, has proved worthless or a duffer, though it must be admitted some have disappointed expectations as to their richness; yet in no case has the result fallen below the paying point. All this is saying a great deal for a goldfield, and represents the actual state of affairs at Nenthorn at the present moment.
The Prospectors' Company have nearly finished their machine house. The contractors for the low level tunnel are making good headway, and from the present workings stone of a very rich nature is raising, so that, taking all together this company is coming to the fore as the most energetically worked one upon this field. The company is a private one, and that perhaps accounts for the success attained, and also for the fact that the returns from the crushings are not made known; but from what has leaked out, and judging by the manner work in the mine is prosecuted, there is ample evidence to show that the stone crushed is of a highly paying nature. As a rule too much importance is attached to first crushings and upon a new field having many distinctive characteristics, it remains for trial crushings to decide which parts of the reefs contain the most gold; and no really representative results can be obtained until the mines upon a new field have been worked for some months.
The Eureka Company are still sinking their shaft and several leaders are met with containing gold, but the shaft is not yet deep enough to have touched the reef.
The Daddy Company are now down over 40ft, and have a reef about 3ft wide, filling out the whole width between the two walls. Gold is freely available in the stone, of which a goodly quantity is now at grass.
The Nenthorn Consolidated Company have made a fresh start under their new manager, Mr J. Donald and work is now likely to be prosecuted in a systematic and energetic manner. The company contemplates the erection of crushing machinery forthwith. A water race for battery purposes has now been surveyed, and tenders for its construction have been called for. This claim also is to be approached by a low level tunnel entered upon the course of the lode, the most favourable way of opening up a quartz mine imaginable.
The Croesus Company is understood to be about cleaning up, and I hear that the result will be made known at an early date. Although it is now more than a month since that crushing was begun nearly one half that time was lost through breakage In the water race owing to the unsound nature of the country in its course, and to the very severe frost we have had up to the present time. The race has now been put into such a state of repair as to prevent the too frequent recurrence of such breakages.
The Victoria Company are making good headway with their shaft, and the reef continues to show gold in satisfactory quantities, while its width keeps of very fair dimensions.
A New Discovery. — Mr J. Sheehey has made another discovery of some material, which according to the estimate of Mr McAdam, of the Bank of New Zealand, Dunedin, resembles Mount Morgan stone more closely than any other that has come under his notice. The locality of the discovery is somewhere in the neighbourhood of Macraes. Mr Sheehey has proved himself one of the most, if no the most, energetic and successful prospectors of the field, and is well deserving of the success he is meeting with.
Coal. — During the week the first evidence of coal in our neighbourhood was adduced by the importation into Nenthorn of a couple of bags of coal from the recently discovered pit near the Little Hummock. This shows plainly that coal does exist within, say, six miles of the Nenthorn reefs, and all that is required is some systematic prospecting to develop a really valuable coal mine. It is rather strange that the county council of Waikouaiti has not long since taken steps to procure a boring machine for the county. Amongst the many boring machine that of Messrs Wright and Edwards, of Melbourne which was exhibited at the last Melbourne Exhibition, and described in Mr H. A. Gordon's report on mining machinery, &c. (1889), recommends itself it spite of its cost, which, complete with all appliances to sink to a depth of 200 ft, amounts to £327 2s 5d. Although called a water augur, it answers all the requirements of a boring machine, and is cheap at the price.
Public Crushing Company. — The movement for a public crushing company is certainly the most important one that has been made here, barring none, and it is at the same time the safest investment which the field offers, there being quite a number of small reefs which, with such a facility upon the ground, could be worked with advantage by small parties who could not afford to put up a machine of their own, and who will be able to keep the battery in constant employment. For this reason the townspeople of Nenthorn should push on the movement with all possible speed, and bring the projected company to an early success; as in a great measure the future of the place depends upon local facilities for making trial crushings and also for the reduction of small parcels of stone raised from the leaders known to exist and carry gold.
THE CROESUS COMPANY, NENTHORN. The legal manager of the Croesus Gold Mining Company (Limited), Nenthorn, reports having received very satisfactory information in regard to the crushing being put through by the company. About 300oz of amalgam, he learns, have been taken off the plates alone, and it is considered probable that the result (which will be known this week) will be over 30dwt per ton, this estimate being based on the quantity of amalgam already banked. -Otago Daily Times, 25/9/1889.
Notes from Nenthorn.
Palmerston, September 19. A largely attended public meeting was held last night at Doolan's restaurant to bring before the public the desirability of erecting a public crushing plant on this field. Mr John Cogan presided and introduced the business. Upon the motion of Mr Burman, a resolution was unanimously carried that it was of the utmost importance to the field to have a public crushing company. Mr Beattie then suggested that practical effect be given to the spirit of the resolution by all present putting down their names for any number of shares they liked. A large number of gentlemen came forward to act upon the suggestion, and it is understood that 6000 out of the 10,000 shares have now been applied for.
(From a Correspondent.)
Nenthorn, September 23. The weather during the last few days has been very changeable. Yesterday forenoon was cold with snow, and to-day a stiff gale from the south-east makes the vicinity of the fireside the only endurable place. A public meeting was held last evening, Mr John Coughran in the chair, to consider the prospectus of the proposed water supply company. After a good deal of discussion as to the best means of providing the required supply, the prospectus of the proposed company was approved. The capital is to consist of £300 in 600 shares of 10s each. Over 100 shares were at once applied for by the townsmen present. As the object of the company is not gain, this manifests a laudable amount of public spirit. A Progress Committee was then elected, comprising most of the leading townsmen, Mr Smith being elected convener. There is ample scope for notion for such a body in the many requirements of the nascent town.
No steps have yet been taken by the Government to connect the place with the telegraphic system. This is a not very creditable exhibition of the "parsimony" of the present Executive, and the first duty of the Progress Committee will doubtless be to get this urgent want supplied. The necessity for a school in a town, the population of which, independent of those engaged in the mines, already amounts to between 200 and 300 persons, will soon be urgently felt. The committee will have plenty of work before them for some time to come.
An old portable lock-up has been brought over from Macraes, and is now in course of erection. On this blank plateau, elevated between 1700 and 1800 above sea level, even this will be a welcome shelter to the drunk and incapable.
A jockey club has been organised, and a sum of nearly £200 subscribed for the races, which are to take place on the 15th November. Regarding the mines, little can be predicted which does not fall within the range of the merely prophetic. There exists absolutely no ground whatever for the disquieting rumours which have been circulated regarding the Croesus Company and the Prospectors Company. Both companies are pushing on work with a confidence and energy which indicate that the management have full faith in the result. In almost all the holdings first taken up prospecting work is being carried on. Rumours of new discoveries continue to fly about, but of their value nothing can known until they are carefully tested. -Otago Witness, 26/9/1889.
Nenthorn on Saturday produced over 400ozs of gold, and the excitement there was intense, champagne flowing freely. The Croesus Co. washed up, the result being 273ozs of retorted gold from 180 tons of stone, or a fraction over l 1/2oz per ton. Some 10 or 15ozs more are expected from the plates and retortings. The Prospectors’ Co. also washed up, after crushing 150 tons the result being 130ozs retorted gold. The crushing here was of all kinds of stuff, and the result was reduced somewhat by oil getting mixed with quicksilver. It must not be inferred that the Croesus stone was picked, as such is said not to have been the case. -Cromwell Argus, 1/10/1889.
Notes from Nenthorn.
THE CROESUS COMPANY. Mr Norman, legal manager of the Croesus Consolidated Q.M. Company (Limited), who arrived in town, from Nenthorn last evening, informs us that that company washed up on Saturday evening, the result being 273oz of retorted gold, (at today's value, worth $520,338) the product of 180 tons of quartz, equal to a fraction slightly over 1 1/2oz per ton. Some l0oz or 12oz more gold are expected from the plates and retortings.
The cake did not leave the battery manager's hands till about 7.30 p.m., and was at once taken to the Bank of New Zealand and weighed, while a large and expectant crowd thronged the footpath. On the result being announced, the crowd rushed into the bank, and on the precious cake being exhibited, the building rang with deafening cheers for several minutes.
Owing to the reported breaches in the head race, considerable loss of time occurred in the crushing, so that in spite of the most strenuous efforts the battery manager was only able to get 180 tons put through up till about the middle of the week, when the board of directors, to satisfy the shareholders as to the real value of the ore, instructed the manager to wash up and retort the amalgam. The quartz crushed is a fair average sample of the stone in the mine, and was not in any way picked — an impossible act with a large paddock of ore constantly being added to.
The company recommenced crushing on Saturday with a steady water supply and a large quantity of stone in the paddock. Acting under directions from the board, the battery manager will scrape the plates once a fortnight, and the result will be immediately wired to Dunedin and published in the daily press. The new main shaft is down 50ft, and this week the company will place the pumping and winding machinery in position. The shaft, which is in the hands of two first-class contractors (Jones and Moyle), will be completed by the end of October, and this will afford the company a new avenue for the production of quartz at considerably less cost than is involved by the present method. The monthly meeting of the Croesus Company was held at Nenthorn on Saturday, and was, attended by Messrs Hislop (chair), McGregor, Laverty, Ryan, Mitchell, Pogson, and Elliott. Messrs Beatty and Co.'s tender for supplies to the mine was accepted. There were eight applicants for the post of legal manager, and on a ballot being taken Mr W. H. Harlow, of Dunedin. was elected to the office.
THE PROSPECTORS COMPANY. Nenthorn on Saturday produced over 400oz of retorted gold. The Croesus Company contributed the bulk of that quantity, the balance being the result of a washing-up of the Prospectors Company. This company up to Saturday had crushed 150 tons of quartz — good, bad, and indifferent — and on the plates being scraped and the quicksilver squeezed and retorted the product proved to be 130oz of retorted gold. During the crushing some oil got intermixed with the quicksilver, for a time partially destroying its affinity for the precious metal; and, although soon discovered and remedied, it was doubtless the means of causing a slight loss to the company. The crushing must be regarded as a thoroughly legitimate test of the value of the reef, inasmuch as Mr Kitchener, the company's able and energetic superintending engineer, caused the whole of the quartz in the paddock (some of it of very indifferent quality) to be milled in order that he might have it well cleared up for future operations. Next crushing will be several pennyweights better — although, even with the present result, the shareholders have every cause to be satisfied with their property, which is undoubtedly one of the most valuable and easiest worked on the field.
NENTHORN CONSOLIDATED. A new reef some 200 yds north of the prospectors lode has been discovered in the creek in this company's ground, and some good specimens have been shown from it. The reef can be traced on both sides of the gorge for some distance.
VICTORIA COMPANY. The shaft is down 50ft on a 2ft 6in reef carrying good gold.
THE ZEALANDIA COMPANY are also down 50ft on a 2ft 6in lode, which prospects well. The reef is to be driven on 50ft each way in order to thoroughly test its value. About 25 tons of stone are already to grass. -Otago Witness, 3/101889.
TALK OF THE DAY
By Mazeppa
The promoters of the Nenthorn race meeting are probably counting on catching some of the horses that will compete at the Taieri, and with these and others that may be nominated from the Palmerston and Naseby districts there should be a very fair chance of good racing. It is rather plucky of the miners and traders of this new goldfield to guarantee the respectable sum of £200 (a shade under $40,000 now) for a day's sport, and I wish them fine weather and large fields, so that the revenue may come up to, if not exceed, expectations. I observe the names of several old racing men on the list of stewards. Mr W. McJay is to act as starter, and Mr G. Dowse as handicapper. -Otago Witness, 3/10/1889.
NENTHORN ITEMS.
The correspondent of the Otago Daily Times supplies the following items: — A piece of quartz has just been brought here from a third reef lately struck in the Break O' Day Company's property, Nenthorn, which is one of the richest specimens yet discovered on the field, having a layer of gold right through it. The bearer says it was a fair sample of the value of the reef, which he asserts is as rich as any at Nenthorn.
Mr Walter Hislop has received the following telegram from Mr Hugh McAuley, who is sinking a shaft in the Break o' Day claim: — "Struck good gold in Break o' Day yesterday. Trial crushing down end of next week." Another correspondent writes Mr Hislop: — McAuley is getting some splendid stone out of the Break o' Day, as good as any I have seen out of the Eureka. The stone I saw should go l00oz to the ton."
At the sitting of the Warden's Court at Naseby, last week, about fifty applications for licensed holdings of thirty acres each, nearly all at Nenthorn, were granted by the Warden. A large number of applications were adjourned for various reasons, and two or three were declined as the area was required for the township. -Star, 8/10/1889.
NENTHORN.
(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Ignorance of carelessness — to which of them are we to attribute the conduct of the department in neglecting to establish telegraphic communication with the outside world and Nenthorn? The thanks of the community are due to Messrs Mitchell, Griffin and Cogan for their action in reference to this matter. It is no wonder that the good people of Nenthorn are indignant at the treatment they have received, nor does it improve matters that the treatment is quite in keeping with the administration or goldfield business generally by New Zealand Governments. It proves beyond a doubt that too conservative a centralising policy is not one well calculated to develop the mineral resources of this country; and it is to be hoped the mining delegates will remember this when they meet. Shareholders in Nenthorn stock all over the colony are interested in this question; it is therefore one of considerable importance, and electors will do well to make a note of it.
Tenders have been accepted for sinking shaft to try to obtain a supply of water for domestic purposes for the town — a want very much felt by the residents. Why not get the boring rods to work? It is just possible that an artesian well might give a permanent supply equal to the increasing wants of the place for years to come, and the boring might be the means of obtaining information of low levels which might direct future operations in mining, as well as obtaining the needed water supply.
Rich specimens of gold-bearing stone are shown in town from the Break o' Day Co's ground; and if that company has much of such stuff as that at present exhibited their future is assured to them. But it is frequently asked here: Why have they not put some one in charge of the claim to sink and develop the mine long since, if it is only half the valuable property they seem to think it? — a question frequently asked here in regard to other claims as well as the Break o' Day.
Building is still going on here at a rapid rate; and as the houses take on the neat appearance given by the painter's brush, and the street which is being formed assumes its improved shape, the township presents an orderly and neat appearance, which, after the chaos of a month back, is very pleasing to the eye of the observer.
One of the painful losses by fire so frequently reported occurred at a place called Polly Creek last week, by which three tents were destroyed with all the valuables therein. Situated on the Waikouaiti road, they were frequently used as a kind of half-way house by persons travelling that way, and it is supposed that a match carelessly thrown down did the mischief. The occupiers were a party of Naseby men — Messrs McPhee, Buchanan and others.
Yet another trial crushing of three tons of stone was taken down to Dunedin last week by the prospector, Mr. Frederick, from a new find between Nenthorn and Macraes — a locality which seems to be coming to the front just now. The Justice claim, which is highly spoken of, is situated in the same direction from Nenthorn.
A fair sample of coal was brought into Nenthorn this Inst week from Polly Creek, which seems to have been pretty well appreciated by those who tried it, and which, it is reported, can be delivered here at 25s per ton. The place is distant about 10 miles from Nenthorn, on the newly surveyed Waikouaiti road. The distance between Waikouaiti and Nenthorn is given as 24 miles by the above route, and is short a few poles only. -Mount Ida Chronicle, 10/10/1899.
Mining
The agent of the Huntington mills (Mr R. Neill) has received orders for two 5ft mills capable of crushing 240 tons a week for the Nenthorn Public Battery Company, and one 5ft mill for the Blue Slate Company, Nenthorn. -Otago Daily Times, 16/10/1899.
The Week
Without any real relapse in the prospects of the various mining ventures in which the last three or four months have been so prolific, there is a noticeable decline in gold fever, and a conspicuous reestablishment of the reign of common sense. People who peg off reefs nowadays, for instance, find that they have to prove the value and extent of their discovery before they can sell a share in it. It is very odd that this obviously desirable responsibility should be a novelty, but so it is. Things were not thus, spurious "prospectors" are beginning to say, in the good old times — of three months ago or thereabouts. Then, all you had to do was to run into the main street at Nenthorn with an expression of mystery and modest merit on your countenance and a large piece of rock in your pockets, and explain that the former was the result of the magnificent quality of the latter — and await developments in the shape of sporting offers for a twenty-fourth or a sixteenth or what not of your new find. They were not slow to come. Cautious investors of the slow old quid-pro-quo persuasion were clean out of it. While they were loitering with prosy questions about where the new reef was, how big it appeared to be, whether it would be easily worked, and so on, the other enterprising capitalists on the lookout for fortunes snapped up the twenty-fourths one after the other, caring for none of these things. Then the public-spirited prospector, after a comfortable visit to the tiny crib in which the bank agent daily sat cursing his fate, would start off in search of another find, buoyed with high hopes of repeating these satisfactory operations in another few days' time.
We have referred to Nenthorn merely as a type, for the same or corresponding practices were simultaneously current in other localities of mining "industry." This kind of thing is now about played out; and owners of mines at Nenthorn and elsewhere, finding the public wary and unwilling to invest until holders show some slight confidence in their own ventures, are face to face with the often disagreeable necessity of "doing something" to their property. A good many of them no doubt feel deeply aggrieved at this. They never bargained to do anything; they meant to sell shares. But as selling involves finding a buyer, and as buyers are not to be found, they must either "do something" or abandon their holdings. Many no doubt will choose the latter alternative; a good proportion, it is to be hoped, will feel justified in energetically tackling the former; and with the abandonment of some and the honest development of others, those enterprises which from the first have given evidence of confidence, industry, and pluck on the part of their owners will cease to be regarded with undeserved distrust, and a healthy spirit of determination and energy will pervade the new fields. Things have hardly arrived at that point yet; but the disappearance of the unhealthy excitement lately noticeable, so far from tending to anything of the nature of a collapse, is distinctly in favour of the early and profitable development of such promising fields as Nenthorn and the river beds of the interior. -Otago Witness, 17/10/1899.
We understand that a newspaper will shortly make its appearance at Nenthorn. The leading spirit in the venture is Mr R. Wilson, who at one time was part proprietor of the "Bruce Standard" which ceased publication about seven years ago. Mr Wilson has our best wishes. -Tuapeka Times, 19/10/1889.
MINING.
NOTES FROM NENTHORN (abridged)
A reef has been found in the old alluvial workings on the banks of the Nenthorn creek, a little distance south of the Croesus battery site. The stone shows gold very freely, and the lode has every appearance of being a valuable and permanent line, though as regards the nature of quartz it differs somewhat from the general stone found at Nenthorn.
A large and substantially-built town hall is the latest addition to our township, and it has been arranged amongst our local vocalists that a concert should take place on the night of the opening some time next week.
Another township site is being surveyed for Mr Pogson on that part of his freehold approaching the present township from the Croesus battery. The new township will have a frontage to the present road leading from the creek to the Nenthorn township. The new site is preferable to that selected by the district surveyor, because a good water supply can be obtained from many of the small creeks in the Nenthorn flat.
It is certain that we are to have our telephone line put up at once, and goodness knows it is about time we did have it.
The Waikouaiti County Council have had men engaged for some time past chipping and otherwise forming a track from Waikouaiti to Nenthorn. The chipping has been finished; but it will be a little time yet before a buggy can reach Nenthorn by this route, though for saddle horses the track is passable. It is possible to reach Nenthorn via Waikouaiti in about four hours with a saddle horse, and one needn't travel very fast to do it in this time.
There is very little mining news abroad at present, but matters are going steadily along, and every person seems confident of the goodness of things. A few transactions have taken place in Victoria shares. The reef is showing decided signs of permanency as it is sunk upon. New batteries are expected to arrive on the field at an early date, and when those are put up on the various sites selected for them, we will have a great deal more to tell about the Nenthorn reefs. -Otago Daily Times, 23/10/1889.
Mining
Notes from Nenthorn
The Prospectors are doing good work at both mine and battery, but I have not heard what amount of retorted gold was obtained from the amalgam at last washing up. A few inquisitive ones would like to know the result of the crushing, and seeing that shares in this mine are quoted on the Otago Stock Exchange list of mining shares for sale, one naturally asks why the result of the crushing is not published.
If shares in any company are advertised for sale, it is only fair and just that intending investors should know what they were buying into, and the payable nature of the company's undertakings should be made known too, in order to guide the investor in the matter of purchasing it an honest figure. The sinking of a well to a depth of 30ft failed to find anything like sufficient water for household use. The supply of water for domestic use will ever be scant at Nenthorn, and it will take a good round sum to procure water from any of the streams in the neighbourhood. Sinking will be the quickest and least expensive method of getting a water supply, but it is to be feared that any depth short of l00ft will fail to give the necessary amount of water, and the sooner our townsfolk see to having a well sunk to this depth the better it will be for everyone concerned.
The matter of erecting a schoolhome at Nenthorn will soon be brought under the notice of the Education Board. We have been supplied with a house of correction for the unwary in the shape of a substantially built lock-up, and it must surely follow that our Government will be generous enough to supply us with a house of direction for the young. -Otago Daily Times, 28/10/1889.
INTERPROVINCIAL.
(By Electric Telegraph.) BY OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.
DUNEDIN, Oct. 31. Lady Onslow and family are expected to arrive here by the Hinemoa this morning. She will visit the district in. a day or two. The first gold from Nenthorn has arrived in town, and is on view in Messrs 'Youngs' (jewellers) window. The cake weighs 453ozs., and comprises gold from the Croesus mine and alluvial workings in the neighbourhood. -Mt Ida Chronicle, 31/10/1889.
We find we are not strictly accurate in stating that the first gold from Nenthorn only reached town yesterday. The first gold to reach town from Nenthorn was the first crushing of the Prospectors Company's mine, some 110oz lldwt I2grs, about a month ago. This gold run into a bar is now in the hands of the Colonial Bank, and will, we believe, be shown at the exhibition as the first bar of gold from the Nenthorn workings. -Otago Daily Times, 1/11/1889.
| Nenthorn, November, 1889. Sourced from LINZ. Crown Copyright reserved. |
NENTHORN.
A correspondent favors us with the following: — Several of our townspeople having to attend a meeting at Nenthorn, I took the opportunity to visit this now celebrated place. I found the reports as to the size of the township and the substantial buildings erected in no way exaggerated, it being really astonishing to see a flourishing town in a place where about nine months ago nothing but rocks and tussocks were to be seen.
We learnt soon after arrival that Mr. James Mitchell had disposed of his stock and business to Messrs. Beattie and Mackenzie, of Palmerston. Not having much time on hand, we were only able to inspect three of the mines.
Croesus company: The main shaft has been sunk to a depth of 60ft. 40 feet more have to be sunk yet to finish the contract, when it is intended to open out at the 100 ft. level. Should the indications be favorable the company intends to sink still deeper. The size of the shaft is l1ft, x 4ft., substantially timbered, and divided into three compartments, the one intended for pump and ladder being 4ft. x 4ft. clear, the other two for haulage being 3ft. x 4ft. each. Winding gear and engine are in course of erection, and will be in working order this week.
Another shaft is down about 50ft., the reef averaging about 2ft. in width. About 12 chains from the main shaft, a shaft is being sunk on the reef. Present depth, 25 feet. A large amount of trenching has been done on the company's holdings with, we were told, encouraging results. The reef is not less than 16 inches wide anywhere, with payable prospects. The last crushing yielded l8loz. from 130 tons of stone.
Blue Slate Co. A Huntingdon roller mill of 35 horsepower and capable of reducing 120 tons of quartz per week is in course of erection. The size of boiler is 12ft. by 4ft. 3in. The old shaft, down about 45ft., is now being pumped out, and another has been sunk about the same depth. The size of the reef is from 1ft. 6in. to 2ft. 6in., and the stone taken out averaged 2 1/2 ounces to the ton. The distance from the mine to the battery being about a mile, the proprietors intend to erect a shoot, which will save considerable expense in the way of cartage.
Invincible Company. The prospecting shaft of this company is down 16 feet, the size of reef being about 4 feet. A tunnel has been started in the gully, about 250 feet below the top of the shaft. The company expects to have from 60 to 70 tons of quartz at grass in the course of a fortnight.
(From Our Own Correspondent.) The administration of justice on the spot by the opening of the Warden's Court at Nenthorn, which took place in Maloney and Bunnan's new hall on Tuesday, October 29th, guarantees official recognition of this place as a community by the authorities, who have hitherto been very slow in recognising the fact that a new gold fields township was brought into existence, and a very considerable population rapidly settled upon one of the bleakest and most barren places in Central Otago. The official visit of Mr. Warden Wood, whose long experience enables him to "see much in a short time," so far as the affairs of goldfields development are concerned, will furnish the Minister of Mines with data to satisfy his mind that Nenthorn is a reality — not a "get up "by a few mining agents — and that it is a place destined to employ a considerable amount of labor for many years to come — a conclusion which the hon. members of the House of Representatives could not have arrived at when they killed the Otago Central Railway Bill. The Warden's Court and Police Camp, however, show that our existence is acknowledged at Wellington, which is some slight consolation for the revenue which the various branches of the fiscal government have derived from the occupation of and residence upon one of the highest table-lands of this mountainous country. These, and such like data, the Minister of Mines can now have in the most dependable form if he wishes to have them; so when Nenthorn again approaches the authorities to ask for a recognition of her rights, it is to be hoped she won't be told, as in the case of the establishment of a telegraph station, that she "must give a guarantee" before she can be recognised officially.
THE CROESUS COMPANY have their steam engine at work at last, and their main shaft will now be gone on with as speedily as possible.
THE BLUE SLATE COMPANY put a small parcel of stone through the Huntington roller mill of the Prospectors Company, but it seems they do not wish the public to know anything about it. "The man in the street" wants to know whether they are afraid or ashamed of it? The opening on Friday evening, November 1st, of
THE NEW PUBLIC HALL of Messrs Maloney and Burman was celebrated by a concert, which gave much pleasure to many, being a highly enjoyable affair. This may be looked upon as the official inauguration of regular amusement for this young community.
THE EUREKA CO. are on it. One of the large shareholders in this company, after informing your correspondent that they had struck stone in this claim which would yield fourteen ounces per ton, finished off by telling an experienced miner that the men in the Eureka were "shovelling up the gold." How is that for high? I suppose they shovel up gold in all the claims which yield that metal, but although "your own" has been at the shovelling of thousands of tons of "pay rock," he never had the proud satisfaction to "shovel up gold" alone. Advance, Eureka!
A portion of the Reliance battery has landed on the field, accompanied by the machinist, Mr. Peterson. -Mount Ida Chronicle, 7/11/1889.
Notes from Nenthorn (excerpt)
Our jockey club held their first race meeting on the field on the 15th inst., and judging by the entries for each event the gathering should be a very successful one.
We have a Progress Committee, whose self imposed duty it is to look after all matters concerning the weal and woe of social matters at Nenthorn. The committee have an able and energetic chairman in Mr Smith, a gentleman who has deservedly won for himself the high opinions of all the community. We have a whole troupe of fully fledged dramatists and minstrels, who are first going to give us an exhibition of their varied talents tonight at Moloney's Hall, but, owing to to-be-regretted circumstances, I will not be able to attend, still I hope to see and hear them on the stage at some future time. The formation of the mainstreeft is now well nigh completed, though it cannot be said that the side-walks are at all comfortable to walk upon, and a good deal more work would not be lost in repairing and otherwise making them agreeable both to foot and eye. The Waikouaiti County Council are, or seem to be, willing to do us all justice in the matter of expending a fair share of the money we gave them in opening up roads about the place, but we would have them to understand that we are a people who admire action, and L100 or L200 even is no great amount to spend in furthering the matter of easy access to a new and promising township, from whose resources they have obtained three times the amount they deem it wise to spend there. -Otago Witness, 7/11/1889.
A correspondent writes: — My attention has been drawn to some remarks of the correspondent of the "Otago Witness" re the Zealaudia claim that to outsiders would have a damaging tendency. In the opinion of those who know the history of that claim, the shareholders therein deserve great credit for the energetic manner in which they have carried on their operations up to the present. They are a private company; have never had nor sought outside assistance; they hold only one claim of 30 acres; and have spent in prospecting and opening up their mine proportionately more than any company on the field. They are anxious to have a trial crushing of (say) 50 or 100 tons put through before deciding to erect machinery of their own, and as they can get that quantity sooner than the means of crushing it are available, they have wisely temporarily shortened hands. Compared with some of the larger companies their present staff is considerably over the average. This view is omitted by the correspondent, hence his report is not fair or equal. I think a correspondent's report of a field such as this should be as near as possible a statement of facts — "nothing extenuating, and setting down nought in malice."
I have not the honor to know your own correspondent here, so I write from no personal motive but rather from a desire to correct what I believe to be an interested report from one who is anxious to sell shares; or your correspondent is sadly misinformed. With your permission, I will give you as briefly as I can the state of things so far as they have come under my observation. The population is certainly less than it was some weeks since. Fewer men are to be seen worshipping Bacchus: cause, probably, lack of "tin." I know men who are anxious to get work and have been seeking and waiting for weeks without success, and the report of some I have spoken to on the subject is that influence and that alone will ensure employment, whatever the abilities of the applicants may be. Notwithstanding the conditions re employment of labor especially mentioned at the last sitting of the Warden's Court at Macraes, there is not a claim on the field employing anything like the complement of men specified in the Mining Act. I refer specially to those holdings granted more than three months since. There is here something terribly wrong in the law or its administration. Holdings have been amalgamated that had not fulfilled the stipulated conditions, and, having been granted amalgamation illegally, are acting in daily defiance of the law in the matter of labor, and were the process for forfeiture less expensive and cumbersome there is not one of those "your own" says is in full swing but is liable to and, more, deserves forfeiture. Holdings that have not yet got over the probationary state are, many of them, equally reprehensible. The Prospectors' battery has, I am told, been idle nearly three weeks, yet claim-owners have neglected to send their stone to be crushed. They seem to prefer the idle life of the amateur broker, coupled with the hope that something will turn up, to honestly testing their claims. Nenthorn stocks are low, and much lower they will go if the present state of things continue. Shepherding is almost as rife here as in the early days of Ballarat. It is not an uncommon sight to see a pick and shovel left in a hole after (say) a barrow load of dirt has been thrown out, awaiting the return after some days of the peripatetic shepherder. It may well take a decade — to quote the words of your correspondent — "to give Nenthorn a fair trial on the surface alone" if such tactics be followed; and as an experienced miner let me say it behoves every one wishing Nenthorn to progress to do all they can to bring the state of things I have endeavored to describe to a speedy end. It is oft-times the best policy to expose an evil that a remedy may be applied, and this being my object must be my excuse, and "so mote it be." -Mount Ida Chronicle, 14/11/1889.
NENTHORN.
[From an Occasional Correspondent.]
Having had occasion to be in the diggings township of Nenthorn a few days ago I have been asked to give my views of that place and its prospects. It seems to me somewhat premature to say definitely what the goldfield there may become. Being only a few hours on the ground, my knowledge is necessarily superficial. I counted, however, nearly 100 houses in the rising township. Some were in process of erection. Several hotels were conspicuous, with bakers', butchers', and fruiterers' shops. It was said there would be from 300 to 500 people on the spot, many of them living in tents in the neighboring gullies. I did not hear of a clergyman or doctor being in the place, but a barrister and solicitor (Mr Malcolm Macdonald) had opened an office at Mr Maloney's Empire Hotel. I had the pleasure of visiting many of the spots where the early prospectors had laid bare the auriferous lodes. It would seem that these goldbearing reefs run almost parallel to each other over miles of country, and that they are of unknown depth. They are from 9in to 3ft in width, and even on the supposition that the gold is thinly and patchily distributed there must be an unlimited quantity of the precious metal. What was called the Prospectors' battery was busy at work, and another was being erected further down the stream. An engine was puffing and smoking at the Croesus reef, under the management of a blue-jacketed engineer. Stuff was also being crushed at a battery about two miles distant. A number of men were knocking about idle, some of them workmen and others said to be miners holding claims and waiting to raise a few pounds by selling out to any who would buy. It appears that there are very few of the right sort of men yet on the field. Any person on an alluvial gold deposit, with a few appliances, may succeed easily; but capital is here required to get machinery to pulverise the quartz through which the gold dust is diffused. It is expected, therefore, that there may be a short period of collapse arising from the departure of workmen who cannot afford to remain without employment, and the speculating claim holders who cannot subsist on unutilised property. But the various reefs will in time be opened up and wrought. Roads will be made; and when the direct road by Waikouaiti is once available, which it will be in nine months or so, the Nenthorn will be brought within fifty miles of Dunedin. -Evening Star, 19/11/1889.
NENTHORN.
November 18. — It is needless of me to go into details with regard to our race meeting on Saturday last. I was told that a representative of the Otago Daily Times was present, and as such was the case there is no need for me to write on the matter; suffice it to say that the meeting was a most enjoyable one. The booth and the refreshments were under the strict supervision of Mr W. E. Griffin, and I was told that he did fairly well. A meeting of the jockey club took place at Mr Griffin's hotel in the evening, the president (Mr John Cogan) in the chair. The stewards complained of Mr Griffin not fulfilling his contract with regard to providing them with the necessary refreshments, as set forth in the contract, and several members of the club spoke very freely on the matter The vice-president (Mr John Laverty) contended that this part of Mr Griffin's contract was not executed in a manner to reflect credit on the caterer. He thought the money given by the club was sufficient to warrant Mr Griffin going to a little more trouble with regard to providing more suitable refreshments for the stewards. Mr Griffin thought the refreshments quite good enough, and he could not say but what he had done his duty with regard to this matter. The President, Mr Cogan, said he differed with Mr Griffin as to the manner in which the contract had been carried out. At this part of the proceedings Mr Griffin became rather excited, and on the motion of Mr Laverty, seconded by Mr McKay, the matter was allowed to drop. The toast of "The New Jockey Club" was proposed by the judge (Mr L. A. Norman), and responded to by Mr Bevin. In proposing the health of Mr Norman, the vice-president (Mr Laverty) referred to the services that gentleman had rendered to our new gold field, and he hoped the good feeling existing between Mr Norman and the various property-holders at Nenthorn would continue as long as Mr Norman wished. Mr Norman, in replying, expressed himself as being highly pleased with the prospects of the field, and the existence of the Otago Stock Exchange would materially interfere with the absurd bantering in Nenthorn stocks as carried on in Dunedin and elsewhere before the exchange was started. Various other toasts were proposed and drunk with eclat, and the usual compliments to the chair concluded the meeting. -Otago Witness, 21/11/1889.
Talk of the Day
By Mazeppa
The Nenthorn races last Saturday afforded a pleasant outing rather than a whirl of excitement. To tell the truth the events were for the most part poorly contested, but there was a heartiness about the whole affair that is characteristic about newly settled goldfields, and this helped matters wonderfully. And while congratulating the promoters on what there was, they are equally to be rejoiced with an the absence of one source of discomfort that too commonly accompanies such meetings — viz., rowdiness. The bulk of the miners and others appeared to be on their best behaviour, and the police had little to do but walk round and look wise. The report of the results fully details all particulars worth knowing. -Otago Witness, 21/11/1889.
"too many Scotchmen"
NENTHORN. TO THE EDITOR.
Sir, — A visitor to this town would be surprised with its very quiet appearance, especially if he had any knowledge of the quality of the reefs abounding in the district. Truly it is astonishing the amount of apathy that is displayed, and that Otago, and especially Dunedin people, show such little interest in this new gold field. It is a fact that the country round about here for 30 miles by 25 miles or thereabouts abounds in reefs more or less goldbearing, yet anyone visiting this town might mistake it for some small sleepy agricultural township for all the stir that is going on. One is forced to ask: Why is this thus? Were this gold-bearing district in America, or even Australia, would it be so? I have not the slightest hesitation in saying that were Nenthorn with the surrounding country in either America or Australia there would be a busy population of 4000 to 5000 people on the field.
Now, what are the facts with reference to this district? I believe I am right in saying that there are some 170 to 180 claims of 30 acres each pegged off. Of these there are some half dozen or so round about this town being worked, and that in a slow, half-hearted sort of way. The Croesus and the Prospectors have both batteries in work, and no doubt a good account of them will be given shortly. The Eureka is, I understand, waiting until the public battery, where it will be able to get its stone crushed at moderate rates, is erected. This mine is known to be very rich, the trial crushing giving l0oz, and there will be some stone (unpicked) sent down for crushing to the exhibition. We shall see what it returns. A few days ago those prospecting on the Home Rule came across some very rich stone — stone, a ton of which, it is said, would go 500oz or 600oz. This was found, not where the reef was first opened, but — as I verily believe rich stone on almost all the claims will be found —after trying here and there and going down a few feet. In point of fact, the miner's modus operandi on this field seems to be as follows: — He goes out prospecting and comes across a reef, he pegs out a claim, and after securing it takes out from a few inches below the surface a few pieces of quartz, burning and crushing it, if he does not find gold he may try another part of the reef, or perhaps opens on another reef in his claim — for through nearly every claim there run two or three different reefs, in fact, the country is perfectly "reef-ridden" — and, pursuing the same earth-scraping business, if he does not then come on gold he "chucks up" the claim; or, if he should find the "colour," being a poor and possibly a lazy man, he tries to form a company, trusting to sell out at a good price. This is not the way to develop the field. That there is gold here, and gold in abundance, no one with any acquaintance of the place doubts; that Nenthorn in a few years will be a large and flourishing town is also beyond dispute, and if the Otago and Dunedin people do not choose to help develop this new field, there is not the slightest doubt that our more enterprising, businesslike, and wealthy neighbours in Australia, or even in the North Island of this colony, will take up the enterprise and reap the reward. Why, were this field in the North Island the population would be quadrupled. The fact is there are too many Scotchmen in Otago and Dunedin for real "push." The Scot is an excellent creature, but he is slow, "awfa' slo'." When he starts it is all right, but while he is thinking of starting, the quicker Australian, or, better still, the go-ahead American, has reached the goal.
The Scot wants mixing with smarter and more pushing men to be at his best.
He is not enough mixed in Otago. The upshot of all this want of enterprise displayed will be that some of neighbours visiting the exhibition will nip up the best things going here, leaving the poorer claims for the slow going Scot of Otago, who, when it is too late, will open his eyes amazed at the good things he has missed.
— I am, &c., Veritas Nenthorn, November 20.
P.S. — I have just seen at the Bank of New Zealand a piece of stone brought in this afternoon from the Home Rule; the stone weighs 20oz lldwt, and shows splendid gold on all sides. Experts say it will crush 3/4oz to loz. -Otago Daily Times, 23/11/1889.
Local and General
We have received a copy of the "Nenthorn Recorder," which was issued on Saturday last. We trust the venture will prove successful. We understand a public meeting was held at Nenthorn last Friday, at which it was unanimously agreed that the Irish Delegates should be invited to visit the field. The annual meeting of the Kyeburn District Miners' Association will be held at the Schoolhouse, Upper Kyeburn, on Saturday, December 7th. A full attendance is requested. There is some probability of a rink from the Naseby Bowling Club taking part in the matches to be held at Dunedin during the Exhibition time. For the Association medal match Oamaru has been drawn to play Naseby. The "Nenthorn Recorder" says that Mr. James Mitchell estimates the cost of erecting the buildings in the township of Nenthorn at £8000. ($1,570,812.50 today) From this some idea may be gained of the substantial nature of the buildings. -Mount Ida Chronicle, 28/11/1889.
| The gold mining town of Cromwell. Nenthorn had a similar look - the wooden buildings look permanent but were able to be dismantled to follow customers to the next new rush. Hocken Library photo. |
Messrs J. and J. Dawson, bakers, at Nenthorn, have been instructed by the Maniototo Flour Mill Co. to send samples of bread to the Dunedin and South Seas Exhibition made from the far famed roller flour manufactured by that company. We see no reason why the flour of the interior of Otago ought not to compare favourably with that of the seaboard of the Colony, and, as far as we can see, for colour, lightness and sweetness, the bread would be hard to beat. The bread will have to be taken by coach 30 miles to Palmerston, thence by rail to Dunedin, and will be 24 hours old before being exhibited. It shows great energy on the part of the Maniototo Flour Mill Company to send flour, bread, etc., from a district where 12 years ago it was thought they could not grow wheat good enough for fowl's feed, and we wish them all success in- their undertaking. -Nenthorn Recorder, 12/12/1889.
Nenthorn
(From Our Own Correspondent.) Retrospection. The last day ot the old year has come — the year that saw Nenthorn's birth as a township, and its first register as a gold producing quartz field; and now that we are about to wish the days of the eighties goodbye as realities of experience, and to know them henceforth as chapters of history, how can Nenthorn claim to be registered by them? Will the last chapter of the decade tell how fair little township sprang into existence; with its banks and buildings, halls and commercial marts, steam engines and crushing machines, metalled roads and telegraph, and even its printing office, in the short space of six months or thereabouts; everything new and pretty as carpenters tools and paint brushes could make them? If those pages of history will kindly tell of these things they will be pleasant reading, especially if, like other historians, they will be silent on the undesirable topics such as the terrible number and weight of calls, the absence of dividends, the "over-loading" of prospectuses, the overvaluation of untried properties, and so forth, which topics, it is to be hoped, will be conspicuous by their absence, being completely silenced by the deafening shouts of young Nenthorn as she wishes all her friends and neighbors A Happy New Year.
THE CROESUS CONTRACTORS for the chamber and drive at the one hundred feet level are working away with a hearty good will, but the country proves very hard, however, the men are equal to the task, and I trust they, may soon have the pleasure of being able to report a good reef to the company for which they are working.
LABOR. It seems the orthodox thing just now to say that there are no unemployed men at Nenthorn, and that miners cannot be got. I would ask your readers not to believe a word of it. I know for a fact of any amount of miners who are willing to come to Nenthorn; or anywhere else if their wages are only guaranteed. I trust the choristers who are singing this catch, or glee, or whatever they call it, will "draw it mild"
GENERAL. The telegraph line to Nenthorn has just about received its finishing touch. The Break o' Day is reported to be working under the management of Mr. John Cogan. The Christmas holidays have fairly taken the population away from Nenthorn. No doubt the Exhibition is accountable for much of the dullness from which we suffer, but certainly it is true that the township, seems deserted instead of merry, as the season is supposed to make it. -Mount Ida Chronicle, 2/1/1890.
| Quartz mining. Inside the Big River quartz mine, Reefton, showing the white of a quartz vein. Hocken Library photo. |
ON THE TRAMP.
THE ROUND TRIP TO NENTHORN.
II. — THE PROMISED LAND.
630 p.m. — Nenthorn at last! Nine months ago a lone hilltop undistinguishable from dozens of similar ridges around; to-day an aggregation of two or three hundred buildings grouped on either side of a wide, well-formed, metalled street. Then a few sheep browsed quietly among these rocks; now hundreds of men are busily hurrying to and fro among these houses. Where scores of rabbits burrowed nine months ago scores of stalwart miners are burrowing to-day. The rabbit holes have given place to shafts and drives; the destruction of wealth by the puny pest has given place to the production of wealth by the hardy miner. We had heard Nenthorn described as a mushroom town. We knew that it had sprung up in a night, and we had heard it prophesied that it would wither in a night. We expected to see a city of tents, with here and there perhaps a more substantial and lasting abode. We had imagined something like a volunteer encampment, something shadowy and phantom-like that might be here to-day and gone to-morrow, and we are therefore hardly prepared for the array of galvanised iron houses through which we pass. We can hardly believe the evidence of our senses. On our right is a building bearing the words "Nenthorn Recorder," and on our left the establishment of a baker and fancy pastrycook, whose windows announce in large ornamental letters, "Wedding cakes made to order." In our astonishment we nearly come to a halt. After this we are prepared for anything. We pass the shops of butchers, and bakers, and blacksmiths; we pass general stores; we notice the offices of sharebrokers and commission agents; we glance at the window of a watchmaker and jeweller, and our eye catches for a moment, on one side, the words "Pharmaceutical chemist," and on the other the imposing sign of "The New Zealand and London Restaurant." We are not surprised now at seeing the office of a barrister and solicitor, nor even at the sight of a barber's pole. Large livery stables, and a post-office with a tri-weekly mail service seem necessary adjuncts to such a place as this. Even the tidy police station, the two handsome banks, and the four commodious hotels, are powerless to astonish us. Nenthorn already has two large billiard saloons, and a public hall or concert room, with stage, dressing rooms, and other accessories. When it has a church and a school it will be nearly complete. It has furnished itself with the necessaries of life; it now waits to be provided with a few of the luxuries.
We put up at Griffen's Hotel. At present Mr Griffen has only about ten rooms, but a large addition in course of erection at the rear of the present building contains ten bedrooms, a kitchen, and a large dining room. Behind this again is a lofty twelve-stalled stable, and in the yard some five or six buggies are standing. Refreshed by a wash and a hearty meal we are taken in hand by the popular manager of the Bank of New Zealand and shown round the town. Galvanised iron houses are easily taken down, removed, and set up elsewhere; but it does not look as if the banking authorities anticipate that this settlement will
Quietly fold its tents,
And silently steal away.
Goodly wooden buildings have been erected by both the Bank of New Zealand and Colonial Bank. These establishments, surrounded by neat picket fences, are an ornament to the place, and truly the place stands sadly in need of ornamentation. The traveller who journeys to Nenthorn to see what human enterprise can accomplish in a few months will be satisfied, but he who journeys thither in search of scenery will be bitterly disappointed. From one of the many excrescences into which the hilltop breaks we get an extended view of our surroundings. The outlook is not fascinating; the landscape is singularly devoid of interest.
Poetry! — just look around you — alkali, rock, and sage;
Sage brush, rock, and alkali: ain't it a pretty page?
Sun in the east at morning , sun in the west at night,
And the shadow of this 'yer station the on'y thing moves in sight.
We are in the middle of a wide irregular ridge. Its uneven surface is thickly strewn with large, grotesque-looking rocks. It is cut into in every direction by countless gullies and hollows. Its vegetation is limited to coarse tussocks — brown, and dry, and cheerless. It is an arid waste unbroken by a spot of verdure. Far as the eye can reach it searches in vain for tree, or shrub, or patch of green. Within the limits of the horizon naught is visible but ridges, and tussock, and rocks — rocks, and tussock, and ridges. To enclose a rectangular plot of ground ten acres in extent without enclosing a rock as big as a house would be well nigh impracticable. In most places you could have a rock to the acre, and some to spare. The town is exposed to the four winds of heaven, and it gets them. The cold in winter must be almost unbearable. There is absolutely nothing to break the force of the biting July blasts; and to grow trees or shrubs that might act as a breakwind will, in such an exposed site and on such poor soil, be almost an impossibility. The landscape is not beautiful. It is not grand. It is not awful. It is simply hopelessly and irredeemably ugly.
To make a relief model of the Nenthorn district is one of the easiest things imaginable. Place on a tray a number of hard, knotty, "cookie buns" from the tops of which currants plentifully protrude — the more currants there are, the better — squeeze these buns together until the tops close in well towards each other, and the spaces between the buns narrow and steepen, and — you have it. I do not intend to patent this invention; in fact, I make a present of the suggestion to Sir James Hector, and will not even claim the honour afterwards. He is welcome to that, too.
Next morning we ramble about among the shafts and claims. The first to engage our attention is the Croesus, not a hundred yards from the main street. Its shaft is now down 100ft, and into this we descend under the guidance of the obliging manager. We remember feeling rather queer the first time we descended a mine. Shooting down a shaft silently and swiftly, in the blackness of darkness, to a depth of 700ft, is a sensation to which the switchback is not a circumstance, and after which the Eiffel Tower journey is tame. But there is not much excitement about this descent into the bowels of the earth. We proceed slowly and cautiously down a perpendicular ladder till the main drive is reached, and along this we grope our way most carefully through the dripping of water overhead and the splashings of pools underfoot. We once ruined a suit of clothes in stumbling blindly along for over a mile in a Newcastle coal mine. The clothes in which we now stand must see us back to Dunedin, and it behoves us to tread warily. We don't see any gold; we never did in a gold mine, and we have long ago given up expecting it. Leaving the Croesus we take a passing look at the Victoria, about a hundred yards further off. Then we wander away to the Eureka, about a mile from the town. Here we see some remarkably rich specimens that have just been brought to grass. Another half mile brings us to a gully in which three claims are being worked — the Gladstone, the Home Rule, and the Parnell. They are all working in a line — this is quite fitting. It is also fitting that the Home Rule, between Gladstone and Parnell, should be doing well, as we hear it is. We suggest adding to the trinity another claim, and calling it the Dillon. It should prove remunerative. There is another claim in this locality that should turn out a good one, if the name be any criterion; it is the Carbine. But the number of claims seems legion. If one-tenth of them prove "plums," Nenthorn has a splendid future before it. There is a hopeful tone, too, about the nomenclature of these mines that augurs well for the future. The uncertainty and suspiciousness that attach to Keep-it-Dark, and the hopelessness of the Hard-to-Find, give place here to the most sanguine titles, Eureka and Croesus, while Golden Ages, Golden Chariots, Golden Crowns, and Golden Crystals are scattered about in every direction.
In the afternoon we visit the scene of the crushing operations, the genial manager of the Colonial Bank and a kindly broker being good enough to act as cicerones. Down in the deepest valley the Nenthorn creek flows merrily along between its high rocky banks, and here at short distances apart some batteries are erected, and others are in course of erection. Two — the Croesus and Prospectors' — are already working night and day, without ceasing from 12 on Sunday night till 12 on Saturday night. The Blue Slate is all but ready, and will be crushing in a day or two. We watch the timber for the Consolidated Battery being shot down a precipice close on 200ft deep, and dragged some 30ft up the opposite side by a windlass at which two men are laboriously tugging and straining. All along this rocky face pick and shovel and crowbar are being busily plied, and blast follows blast in quick succession. A wonderful amount of work has already been accomplished here. The country is not nearly so rugged as the Upper Shotover, and does not approach Skippers creek in wildness, but it is rugged and wild enough. Heavy blocks of timber and heavier machinery have been carted long distances, over hilly country, in bad weather, and hauled into position, not without considerable difficulty. Water for the batteries has been conducted in sinuous races around the rocky slopes, and roads had to be hewn out of solid rock before the quartz could be conveyed from the mine to the battery.
At half- past 5 the men in the shafts knock off work, and as we return to our hotel we see the men in couples converging from all points of the compass towards the city. In almost every little valley there is a tent or two, and under the shelter of the rocks many sod huts are built, the back of the hut being formed by the rock. In some cases, indeed, all that is required is a turf front and a roof.
From the Nenthorn Recorder we learn that a progress committee has been formed, and we are glad to notice that one of its functions is the bestowing of suitable names upon the places of interest in the locality — not that we saw any places of interest, but still it is as well that the committee should exist. Nenthorn has no reason to be ashamed of its weekly sheet. It is a production that reflects credit upon the enterprising proprietors, the editor, and the compositors; and it bears proudly upon its brow the wellknown motto of the Argus: — "I am in the place where I am demanded of conscience to speak the truth, and therefore the truth I speak, impugn it whoso list."
The hotels do a good business. Some months ago, when the excitement was at its height, and men were coming in daily with the news of fresh discoveries, they did much better; but still they have no cause to complain. The population has diminished somewhat of late. The more fluctuating element has gone, and the present inhabitants have settled down to hard work. There is not so much drinking as might be expected on a new goldfield. The constable in charge of Nenthorn town has an easy time. We did not see one case of drunkenness during our two days' stay.
Nenthorn boasts of a racecourse, and his held a most successful meeting, at which some hundreds of pounds were put through the totalisator. A chipped running track has been formed round the top of one of the rises, and from the centre of this rise a capital view of the course can be obtained. From this point we see the road to Waikouaiti, leading away to the south-east. This, it appears to us, is decidedly the easiest way of reaching the field, either on foot or on horseback. We were informed in Dunedin that if we took the Waikouaiti route we would run considerable risk of losing our way. We see now that there is no danger of going astray, as the road is a well defined dray track, and the distance only 17 miles through open country. -Otago Witness, 23/1/1890.
Malcolm Macdonald,
Barrister and Solicitor,
NENTHORN.
_______________________________________________________
The Post Office Store, NENTHORN.
JOHN EGGERS, of Macraes Flat, Storekeeper (and an old miner on the Victorian and Otago Gold fields),
begs to inform the public at Nenthorne that he has opened a branch General Store on the field, where he has a first-class stock of goods, comprising
Groceries Boots Ironmongery Crockery Tobaccos Fancy Goods Etc., Etc.
Terms: Cash. — Dunedin Prices.
This is no puff! Come, all you miners, and see for yourselves! My son, William Farquhar Eggers, is manager of the store.
JOHN EGGERS.
___________________________________________________________
Nenthorne Livery and Bait Stables
THE UNDERSIGNED beg to announce that they have erected Large and Commodious Stables at Nenthorne, and trust, by strict attention to business, to receive a fair share of patronage. Saddle and harness horses always on hire.
ANNETT AND PRENDERGAST -Mount Ida Chronicle, 8/3/1890.
NENTHORN.
(From Our Own Correspondent.)
THE EUREKA CRUSHING, which resulted in a nice cake of 162 ounces of gold from 100 tons of stone, has registered one case of success for Nenthorn. Owing to the tall blowing indulged in by some friends (?) of the company, even this respectable yield was a disappointment to many persons, and it ought to be a warning to blow-hards to keep a better watch over their language. Eighteen ounces obtained from a parcel of stone forwarded to the Exhibition brings up the yield to 190 ounces from about 108 tons of stone, or about 35dwts. per ton, and all that is wanted is plenty of this to make Nenthorn a thoroughly successful field. But the Eureka furnishes another item of experience for the guidance of those interested in quartz speculation. Two parcels of stone were submitted as trial crushings. One parcel gave fully 10 ounces, and the other fully eleven ounces per ton; and yet when the 100-ton crushing comes off it only goes an ounce and a-half. Of what value then is a calculation of the probable yield of a crushing based on the yield obtained from small parcels of picked stone? The query I leave to be answered by those parties who talked so glibly about "shovelling gold," and the crushing going not less than five ounces to the ton.
The manager has done well to get such a crushing out in the time at his disposal, considering the difficulties he has had to contend with. The ground is wet and "heavy": and requires a good deal of care, and progress cannot be made in such ground at the same rate as in dry. However, the character of the claim is established now beyond the shadow of a doubt, and it has proved itself one of the very few promising mining ventures yet opened here, and I earnestly hope the claim will keep up its reputation by future yields. The whim is about completed, and will greatly facilitate operations.
THE NEW STAMPER BATTERY of the Consolidated, Victoria and Break o' Day Companies is advancing toward completion, and looks a most elaborate "fixing." The boiler and battery are in their places, and the paddock seems nearly ready, and the observant "man in the street" begins to think he will live to hear the music of the mill after all the desponding doubts to which he has given utterance. It looks well, and it will be an acquisition to the plant of the field if it proves equal to the promise. The dray road is also nearly completed, and judging by appearances the Victoria will soon have an opportunity of showing what she can do toward keeping the mill employed and the brokers busy.
MEETING OF MINING DELEGATES. Another mining conference has come and gone, and we have it stated as the opinion of one of the members that "they might talk as long as they liked, but until some strenuous steps were taken the gold duty in New Zealand would remain exactly the same as it was." This seems to me to express the opinion of most of the miners with whom I have spoken for many years past, and I know scores of able and experienced miners who have elected to leave this country and go to others because of the handicap imposed upon the mining industry by the unsympathetic action of the Legislative Council of Now Zealand; for it is to those gentlemen we are indebted for the present unreasonable tax on industry known by the name of the gold duty. But the question arises: What are the "strenuous steps" which the miners could reasonably take which would result in gold duty abolition? An answer to this query would greatly oblige others as well us the writer. -Mount Ida Chronicle, 8/3/1890.
The following account of proceedings in the RM Court at Nenthorn is dry enough reading but indicates a turning point in the short history of the town. The paternity case is not very remarkable in a day when no technology existed to prove or disprove it. But the claims for wages and money on shares are telling.
As to wages, if a mining company wants mining done, it needs to pay the miners. If it has no money for wages, mining cannot be done. It's simple enough, but when a mine has no money for wages, it is surely because not enough gold is coming out of the mine.
As to the call on shares, it was a simple enough idea that, when you bought shares with calls attached for the progressive development of the company, the calls would come as expected and you would pay the money. So why was the shareholder unwilling to pay the call? One possibility is that he knew the financial situation of the mine and knew that his money would be wasted.
RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT, NENTHORN.
Wednesday, March 5.
(Before S. Mead Dalgleish, Esq., R.M.) MARY O'BRIEN v. JOHN FENESSEY. This was a summons calling on the defendant to show cause why he should not contribute to the support of the child of Mary O'Brien, of which she alleged him to be the father.
Mr. Rowlatt for the plaintiff; Mr. S. E. McCarthy for the defendant.
At the conclusion of the evidence, Mr. McCarthy contended, on behalf of defendant, that as the complainant's evidence was not supported in some material particulars, and as the evidence tendered for the defence suggested the almost irresistible inference that the defendant could not have been the father, the complainant's case must fail.
Mr. Rowlatt, in reply, pointed out that the girl all along had one story with reference to the defendant being the father of her child, and that, as declarations of that sort were invariably received as evidence, the complainant must succeed.
His Worship considered that, looking at all the evidence tendered both for the complainant and the defendant, there could be no doubt that the summons must be dismissed. The complainant's evidence had not been corroborated in some material particulars, as required by "The Destitute Persons Act," and that objection, coupled with the fact that the defendant had tendered his own evidence, had flatly contradicted the charge, and had remained unshaken under cross-examination, left no other course open to him but to dismiss the case.
R. WRIGHT v. J. LORY, J. A. PETRIE & OTHERS. Claim, £9, for wages. Mr. Macdonald for plaintiff; and Mr. McCarthy for defendant.
Mr. McCarthy, before pleading, contended that the plaintiff having, at the hearing of the previous case between the same parties in reference to the same subject matter, made an application to have Mr. Petrie's name struck out, was now precluded from joining him with the other defendants. His Worship took a note of the objection, and decided to hear the case.
It was admitted that plaintiff had done the work as alleged, but Mr. McCarthy, on behalf of the defendants, pleaded "Not Indebted."
Mr. Macdonald, solicitor for the plaintiff, was called by Mr. McCarthy, and deposed that he had received 25s. from Mr. Guffie as his share of the £9 claimed by the plaintiff, he was aware Mr. Guffie was interested with the defendants. He had not joined Mr. Guffie with the defendants either in the previous case or in this.
Mr. McCarthy, on behalf of the defendants, raised the following contentions, namely: (1) That if any liability existed on the part of the defendants, Mr. W. Guffie was jointly liable with them, and, although known by the plaintiff to be one of the co-contractors, was not joined with them; and, the proceedings not having been amended by the joinder of Guffie, the plaintiff must be nonsuited. (2) That the plaintiff has, by his conduct, released Guffie from all liability, if any ever existed; and, the liability being joint, the rest of the defendants are also leased. (3) That, inasmuch as several of the defendants did not expressly authorise the work to be done, they can only be held liable by reason of a partnership existing between them and those who did authorise the work to be done; that partnership is the result of agreement between the several partners, and there was an utter absence of any agreement between the several defendants to work the licensed holdings on which the work was done in partnership; that the several defendants were simply co-owners of the licensed holding, and one co-owner has not the power to bind his fellow co-owner. On these grounds Mr. McCarthy claimed a judgment for the defendants. Mr. McDonald having replied, His Worship reserved judgment.
NENTHORN PUBLIC BATTERY CO. v. CHARLES McGREGOR. This was a claim of £l9 2s l0d for calls due on 250 shares held by the defendant in the plaintiff company. Mr. McDonald for the company; Mr. Hosking and Mr. S. E. McCarthy for the defence.
In this case the following points were raised by counsel for the defence (l) That, the directors of the company having been appointed before the incorporation of the company, there were no directors, and therefore there could be no calls. (2) That, inasmuch as the notice of the first and second calls did not specify the time when and the place where the calls were to be paid, both calls were bad. (3) That, the allotment of the shares having been made before the incorporation of the company, the contract (if any) was not with the plaintiff company but with the provisional directors, and consequently the company could not sue. (4) That, inasmuch as less than a month elapsed between the making of the second and third calls, the third call was in any case bad. (5) That no agreement existed between the plaintiff company and the defendant to take shares in the plaintiff company, inasmuch as the papers adduced in evidence to prove the existence of such an agreement were uncertain and contradictory in that the prospectus specified the company as being "registered under the Companies Act, 1882," while the notice of application for shares described the company as being "about to be registered." (6) That the application for shares was to the directors of a non-existent company, and it is impossible, in the nature of things, that an agreement should exist between a determinate person and a number of individuals who had no legal existence in the capacity in which they assumed to contract.
Mr. Macdonald contended that if there were irregularities the defendant was responsible for them, inasmuch as he had sat as a director and taken fees in that capacity. He, therefore, could not take advantage of his own wrong. His Worship reserved judgment. Similar cases against John Laverty and W. G. Buchan were postponed.
J. HOLDEN v. N. MOLONEY. This was a claim of £7 for wages. Mr. McCarthy appeared for plaintiff; and Mr. Macdonald for defendant. Judgment was given for £2 and costs, in addition to the amount of 25s paid into court.
H. WILLIAMS V. S. J. EVANS. Claim, £l0, for wages due plaintiff by the Nenthorn Consolidated Q.M. Co., of which defendant is legal manager. Mr. Macdonald appeared for defendant, and explained that the plaintiff in this case took a number of shares in the Public Battery Company, of which defendant is secretary, and that he authorised defendant to keep this money to pay the calls then due on the shares. Mr. Macdonald asked for an adjournment so that he might produce evidence to prove this, which was granted.
JOHN CONNOLLY v. G. POGSON. The evidence in this case, which was a claim of £8 7s. damages for trespass, was heard last court-day, and judgment was now given in favor of defendant.
W. CROSSAN v. W. G. BUCHAN. Claim, £52 3s. 7d., money lent. Mr. Hosking for plaintiff. —Judgment for full amount.
THOS. GILCHRIST v. W. CLIFTON. Claim, £6, for goods, meaning whisky and other liquors. Mr. McDonald appeared for plaintiff. Defendant did not attend. Mr. Macdonald asked for judgment, and contended that, as the defendant had absented himself, thus admitting the claim, no further questioning of particulars was needed. — The Magistrate, however, dealt with the case in accordance with the Act regulating the liquor traffic, wherein is set forth that claims of this nature are not recoverable. Groceries to the value of 3s 6d were included in the bill, for which judgment was given. -Mount Ida Chronicle, 15/3/1890.
It had become plain that the flow of gold into Nenthorn had not been matched by the return flow to investors. For Nenthorn, the writing was on the wall.
It had become plain that the flow of gold into Nenthorn had not been matched by the return flow to investors. For Nenthorn, the writing was on the wall.
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