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| A Heritage Icon -Pumphouse Waihi - Photo CRB 2010 |
The last two months have been one of travel backwards and forwards to Waihi and beyond - time spent with family and friends. Driving past the Pumphouse at Waihi has been a constant reminder as past photos and information is sorted over the holiday break. Recording family history has threaded the story once more of the early days of the one of the giant mining companies of all - Waihi Gold Mining Company.
The remains of the Pumphouse seen today and the concrete relics of Victoria Battery at Waikino are reminders of that early era 1887 to 1905. A period when the Directors and heads of a Mining Company dared to dream, plan and implement those plans into something that became one of the biggest Industrial Plants in Australasia.
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| Concrete Relics Victoria Battery Waikino - Photo CRB 2010 |
Much has been written about the Waihi Strike in 1912, the lives of those working in the mine, Thomas Russell as Chairman of Directors of the Waihi Goldmining Company. However for some of the others also involved, their names and stories are scattered and some almost forgotten.
Exploration,
Acquisition, Flotation and Company Beginnings:
Back in 1887 the
Waikato times reported a visit to Waihi Mines by those connected with the Union
Mine Waihi - including Hon Thomas Russell,
Messrs J. B. Russell, Henry Russell, Thomas Morrin, and J. W. Walker.
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| Thomas Russell In The New Zealand Insurance Company Limited. Bold Century. Auckland: The New Zealand Insurance Company Limited, 1959 |
The intention was to
float the Union Mine on the English Market as soon as possible. By the end of 1887 it was reported that
Union and Rosemont Mines were floated under names of Waihi Gold Mining Company Ltd. Waihi Gold
Mining Company Ltd was registered in
London in December, 1887, with capital
of £100,000 in £1 shares. The New
Zealand Herald ( 25/01/1888 )reported that the following were Directors of this
newly floated Company: -
" Directors in London Thomas Russell, Esq., C.M.G.,
director, Bank of New Zealand, chairman; John Boustead, Esq. Director, Lambeth
Waterworks Company, Limited; Henry Joseph Bristow, Esq. (Messrs Bowley and
Bristow), director, New Zealand Land Mortgage Company, Limited Richard B. Huth,
Esq., director, City of London Fire Insurance Company, Limited Sir Edward W.
Stafford, G.C.M.G., Chairman Manitoba Mortgage and Investment Company. Limited.
Directors in New Zealand David Hean, Esq., inspector of the National Bank of
New Zealand, Limited, Auckland; James Russell, Esq. (Messrs Jackson and
Russell), Auckland; Thomas Morrin, Esq. (Messrs T. and S. Morrin and Co.,
Limited), Auckland, director of the South British Insurance Company Seymour
Thorne George, Esq., J. P. Auckland."
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| James Russell of Jackson and Russell |
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| Thomas Morrin In Chadwick, J. 1906. Men of Mark In the World of Sport in New Zealand. Brett Publishing Company Ltd. |
Edinburgh born Sir
Edward Stafford had also formerly been the third premier and on three occasions between 1856
and 1872, of what was known in those days , the Colony of New Zealand.
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Sir Edward
Stafford - photo courtesy NZETC
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Thomas Russell in
the chair at a meeting of the Waihi Gold Mining Company in May 1888 reported that
shares allotted were 84,818 out of 100,000, and the remainder being
gradually taken up. By 1889 Thomas Henry
Russell ( son of Thomas Russell) based at Waihi
was Superintendent of the Waihi Gold Mining Company, J.W. Walker ( John
Watson Walker more well known as
"Long Drive Walker") the Mine Manager and Seymour Thorne George as
the company's first General Manager based in Auckland.
The year 1890
marked a significant addition for the Waihi Gold Mining Company
Ltd. Thomas Henry Russell purchased
mine and battery, the property of the Martha Extended Gold Mining Co. Ltd (The
Martha Lode) for £3000. Later it was acquired by the Waihi Gold Mining Company
Ltd.
Also in 1890 Robert
Rose was appointed second General Manager of Waihi Gold Mining Company Ltd. In
addition to being part of the era of capital growth and development for the
Waihi Goldmining Company, Rose was also a
Director of NZI ( New Zealand Insurance Company ) from 1889 until his death in
1900; Director of the growing Northern Steam Ship Company 1999 to 1900 - a
company Rose had been involved with since its formation in 1881 and Secretary of the NZ Mines Trust. His sudden death was a shock to many including those in Waihi and a loss to the company of who was someone known for level headed decision-making.
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| Robert Rose - Photo Courtesy of “Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries. AWNS-18990609-1-3” |
Capital Growth and Development
This era saw increase of capital, major construction - the outcome of adoption of a new process , and changes in personnel at the helm of the company because of deaths.
This era saw increase of capital, major construction - the outcome of adoption of a new process , and changes in personnel at the helm of the company because of deaths.
Henry Dale was
appointed second Superintendent and Manager
of Mine and Plant in the place of T.H. Russell in 1890, following the
purchase and sale of the Martha Mine.
The year 1891 marked
another significant Waihi Gold Mining
Co. Ltd increase their capital by the issue of 50,000 new shares, raising the
total to £150,000.
Also in this year Mr. Hubert Percy Barry was bought into the Company
and by 1892 had become Superintendent - replacing Henry Dale and Mr. Thomas
Gilmour also bought into the Company in 1891, was appointed Mine Manager of the
Waihi Mine. Both were active in community affairs, including establishment of Waihi Hospital and Waihi School of Mines.
Barry was Chairman of the Ohinemuri District Council for a number of years and Gilmour, Mayor of Waihi for a term from 1904, just after his retirement from Waihi Gold Mining Company.
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| Hubert Percy Barry Courtesy Papers Past National Library NZ
Photo Mr J. H.
Barry, MANAGER WAIHI GOLD MINE. Observer, Volume XV, Issue 880, 2 November
1895, Page 17
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July 1894 marked another significant milestone for the Waihi Gold Mining Company when they adopted the cyanide process for gold extraction. By 1896 plans for major works were being outlined at the statutory meeting and in 1898 Victoria Battery construction had begun at
Waikino.
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| Relics of Brickwork Victoria Battery Waikino - photo CRB 2010 |
During this decade those who were at the helm of the Company and died were :
- March 1891 David Kean Former Inspector of the National Bank and New Zealand Director died suddenly.
- July 1892 Mr. Henry Dale, Superintendent and Manager died suddenly.
- February 1894 John Benjamin Russell - brother of Thomas Russell and James Russell died after a long illness. J.B. Russell as two of his brothers was also a lawyer - a practicing Senor Member with the legal firm Russell and Campbell of Auckland.
- September 1895 Richard Spratt died. Spratt was inspecting engineer on a regular basis for the Waihi, Waitekauri, and Crown Mines, and New Zealand Mines Trust, Limited. Spratt was also a Director of Woodstock.
By 1896 the Organisational Structure of the Waihi Gold Mining Company Ltd looked like this:-
Charles Rhodes was appointed replacement to the position held by Robert Rose in 1900 . This was to be a long tenure with the Company until Rhodes died in 1932.
Rhodes was as with several others at the helm of Waihi Gold Mining Company, on the Directorship of NZI ( New Zealand Insurance Company), Northern Steam Ship Company, NZ Mines Trust , NZ Portland Cement Company.
and Auckland Electric Tramways Company Ltd. Rhodes took a keen and active interest in the introduction of Rotary Clubs to New Zealand and along with Fowlds is known as one of the Founders of this movement.
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| Charles Rhodes photo courtesy Papers Past
N.Z. INSURANCE
COMPANY. Mr. Charles Rhodes, who has been elected chairman of the New Zealand
Insuran... [truncated] New Zealand Herald, , 8 August 1928, Page 8
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In April 1904 - New directors to Waihi Gold Mining
Company Ltd were appointed - Messrs Beddington,
Brutton ( AKA Button ) and Owen making seven directors
instead of five - Thomas Russell
CMG Chairman , Arthur M Mitchison, J Boustead
Henry J Bristow, H. E.
Beddington, P. Berry Owen, E J Brutton.
Less than six months later the Chairman of Directors died 2 September 1904 - ending a significant influence and era for this company. His brother James Russell ( formerly of the legal firm, Jackson and Russell ) was at the helm as Chairman for but a few short months when he too died. Arthur Mitchison - son- in-law of Thomas Russell was voted to the chair and so started a new era of management.
Less than six months later the Chairman of Directors died 2 September 1904 - ending a significant influence and era for this company. His brother James Russell ( formerly of the legal firm, Jackson and Russell ) was at the helm as Chairman for but a few short months when he too died. Arthur Mitchison - son- in-law of Thomas Russell was voted to the chair and so started a new era of management.
In 1905 the Organisational Structure of the Waihi Gold Mining Company Ltd looked like this - back to a Directorship of five :-
Reference Source:
- Chadwick, J. 1906. Men of Mark In the World of Sport in New Zealand. Brett Publishing Company Ltd.
- The Cyclopaedia of New Zealand, Vol 2, Auckland Province. Christchurch: Cyclopaedia Company Limited, 1902
- The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District] The Cyclopedia Company, Limited, 1897, Wellington
- New Zealand Mines Dept; Galvin, The New Zealand mining handbook (with maps and illustrations) (1906) P J. Mackay, Government Printer Wellington, 1906 https://archive.org/details/newzealandminin00galvgoog
- Downey, J.F., Gold Mines of the Hauraki District, originally published 1935, this edition Cadsonbury Publications, Christchurch, 2002
- McLintock, A.H. An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand Volume 3. Wellington, New Zealand: R.E. Owen, Government Printer, 1966
- The New Zealand Insurance Company Limited. Bold Century. Auckland: The New Zealand Insurance Company Limited, 1959. (Shareholders Copy)
- Scheidel, A The cyanide process, its practical application and economical results (1894) Sacramento, A.J. Johnston, supt. State printing https://archive.org/details/cyanideprocessit00scherich
- Stone, R.C.J., Makers of Fortune, A Colonial Business Community and its Fall, Auckland University Press, 1973
- In Ohinemuri Regional History Journal 21, June 1977 AUTHOR’S COMMENT: GOLD MINING AT WAIHI 1878 – 1952 J.B. McARA.
- Edmund Bohan. 'Stafford, Edward William', from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 19-Feb-2014 URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/biographies/1s22/stafford-edward-William
- Newspapers
OHINEMURI NEWS.
Waikato Times, 31 May 1887, P 2
CABLEGRAMS. Otago
Witness , 16 December 1887, P 13
The Union Mine,
Waihi. Thames Advertiser, 17 December 1887, Page 2
NEW ZEALAND AFFAIRS
IN LONDON. New Zealand Herald, 25 January 1888, P 5
THE LATE MR. DAVID
HEAN. New Zealand Herald, 25 April 1891, Page 5
DEATH OF MR. HENRY
DALE New Zealand Herald, 28 June 1892, P 5
DEATH OF MR J. B.
RUSSELL. Auckland Star, 28 February 1894, Page 8
OBITUARY. New
Zealand Herald, 4 October 1895, P 3
DEATH OF MR. ROBERT
ROSE. New Zealand Herald, 25 April 1900, P 5
DEATH OF MR. THOMAS
RUSSELL. Auckland Star, 5 September 1904, Page 5
DEATH OF MR. JAMES
RUSSELL. New Zealand Herald, 20 February 1905, P 4
Also The Treasury Thames and Waihi Arts Centre & Museum are great places to visit if doing early Family History or about early Coromandel Peninsula.
