Gold
Prospecting for Gold on Kangaroo Island.
[1885] In connection with the prospecting for gold now going on at Kangaroo Island, our Brownlow correspondent writes on June 14:—In company with a Mr. White, of Adelaide, I started for the goldfield on Friday, June 5. We got to camp No. 1, and A. C. Burgess [Alfred Charles Burgess 1832-1890] and son and Mr. A. J. Gilles [sic] were the only persons on the field at this time. We saw where they had been working at pocket clearing and gully scratching, by which it appears they have got several specks of gold. There was a shaft put down which they did not bottom, and it is now full of water, and cannot be continued. They are sinking a shaft not far away. They keep the position quiet, as also the result; however, they have not struck payable gold, and whether they are on the lead or not I do not know. They told me they had got a little gold from six creeks out of eight tried. I saw several specks of the gold, which was very fine. The last sample, however, was a nice coarse piece of reef gold got not far from the camp. My mate and myself tried the heads of numerous creeks and got some splendid wash, but no gold. We have also been miles away, and have, we believe, got far better and more likely country than this, as also quartz reefs, on which we intend, as soon as weather permits, to sink several shafts, and also to try the reef at a depth. It is almost impossible to put down a hole where we want to. The creeks are numerous, and most of them contain water; however, if we can keep back the water and bottom the result will soon be known. Burgess and party are working in earnest from early morn till dark, they having got a little gold, and feeling certain that they will get more. They are also certain that they will soon be on the lead. Mr. Burgess being an old settler and one who knows, I may say, every inch of the island has found gold before this, and where he has now pitched I believe is his Eldorado. The country is thick with scrub— the hills are covered with stunted gum or mallee and dense undergrowth, as well as being stoney. One cannot take an observation of the country, for all looks the same. Hills, gullies, and scrub are all one can see. The prospector must travel the ground to see its formation, and sink. Persons coming here to prospect must bring all mining requisites, even to tindish, pick, and shovel. Tucker may or may not be got at Queenscliffe or Brownlow stores on the start up. Flour can generally be got, but beef and sugar must be provided by the prospector himself. If a conveyance is wanted one can be got at Queenscliffe.
On Wednesday last No. 2 camp was up, and four more prospectors have augmented the number. There are now eight on the field, not including myself, but I shall return there in a few days as soon as I have all the tools, &c., ready. Mr. Waite has a good opinion of the place, but would advise no miners (unless prospectors) to come at present. Mr. Waite is an experienced digger in all the colonies, and as soon as any thing good or encouraging is got I will write, as I shall be there working with Mr. Waite. The country is rough and sloppy to travel. The distance to the diggings, Nos. 1 (and 2 camps, is under fifteen miles from Queenscliffe on the telegraph line, Branch Creek.
Express and Telegraph (Adelaide, SA : 1867 - 1922), Thursday 18 June 1885, page 3GOLD-SEEKING IN KANGAROO ISLAND.
[1885] We are indebted to Mr. W. G. Waite [Walter George Waite 1848-1913], late of Adelaide, for the following interesting account of the results of the search for gold now being prosecuted on Kangaroo Island. We may remark that we have the fullest confidence in the reliability of any statement on this or any other subject, furnished by our correspondent. His letter is dated Branch Creek, July 18, and is as follows : — I should have sent you tidings of our progress in the search for gold on the Island before this, but I thought best to defer sending until the shafts in the deep ground had been bottomed. Howe and Prime are down 90 odd feet in one, and have not yet bottomed, having previously sank one 45 feet, getting bottom but no gold, although there was good wash-dirt. They are now busily engaged timbering, as the nature of the ground necessitates that course ; and, in fact, it would not be safe to work without so doing. They have incurred much expense and labour, and I fancy much more will be required, for I think they will have to go much deeper. My mate and I have sank three shafts, varying in depth from 20 to 30 feet. The two first we bottomed on the reef, with no wash-dirt, and the third, which is going to be the deepest, is not down to bottom yet, on account of an accident happening to my mate, who was so unfortunate as to drive a pick into his foot, and is thereby laid up ; and the ground is too deep for one to go on with the work. I have washed out some nice colours from the bed of the creek, but what is wanted is the finding of the main lead ; and I have not the slightest doubt it exists. I would not advise anyone to come here unless with the intention of prospecting, as that is all that is being done. They also would have to bring all requisite tools with them. In conclusion, I may say that this is about the roughest part of the colony I have visited. The roads, such as they are, are almost impassable, particularly at this time of the year.
Pictorial Australian (Adelaide, SA : 1885 - 1895), Saturday 1 August 1885, page 138We are in receipt of intelligence from Breach Creek of date August 20, notifying that the weather of late has been unfavourable for prospecting in the alluvial, and that on that account all the men were engaged in trying to cut the reef. Mr. Burgess had discovered a bow of the reef in a creek, but, owing to an over-abundance of water, he was unable to go down on it. He is now, therefore, sinking on the bank, on higher ground. The reef has been ascertained to run from N.W. to S.E. — There are seven claims pegged out on the line. The claim of Mr. W. G. Waite is next but one to that of the chief prospector. He reports that he has a good leader on his ground, and that it is making stone as it is developed downwards. Howe and party had to leave their deep shaft, owing to the presence of too much water. But they are going to register it. Our correspondent ex-presses indebtedness of himself and others to Mr. Evans, the storekeeper, who has done all that lay in his power to assist those on the field by lending them ropes, tools, etc., and by the gratuitous carriage of stores. Mr. Burgess and Mr. S. Marrett are also accredited with having assisted Waite's party in many ways.
Pictorial Australian (Adelaide, SA : 1885 - 1895), Tuesday 1 September 1885, page 138GOLD ON KANGAROO ISLAND.
[1885] On Monday, October 5, Mr. Woodward, of the Government Geologist's Department, left Adelaide to inspect the tin mines on Kangaroo Island. He arrived on the field on Wednesday, stayed there inspecting a couple of days, and returned to the city on Monday night, October 12. While on the island Mr. Woodward visited the alleged goldfield on the island. He was accompanied by an experienced practical miner (Mr. W. Porteous), who has been on nearly all the goldfields in South Australia, and is practically acquainted with mining indications. He states that the place where the gold has been discovered by Burgess [Alfred Charles Burgess 1832-1890] is about 15 miles from Queenscliffe in a westerly direction in the spurs of some low hills. He found Burgess, his two sons, and an Australian black at work on a small splash about an inch or two wide on the face of the bluff to the south of the Cygnet River. Burgess had gone along this leader about a chain, keeping to the surface. Mr. Porteous broke off a few specimens of stone showing colour. Below Burgess two men were working at wages in driving a tunnel through the hill. Several other men were on the field, but were doing no work. The country in the vicinity abounds with broken quartz, slate, and sandy grit. There are no signs of a reef, although the " splash," which is really a fissure in the rock filled up with the stuff that carries the alluvial gold, may lead to one. There is very little timber about the place except in the creek, the principal trees being yacka and mallee. From what he saw of the field, Mr. Porteous considers that it would be folly for any person to go to the island without capital. There is doubtless gold about the place, but it has to be found, and a good deal of money would have to be sunk in developing the industry. The neighbourhood of Burgess's discovery is somewhat similar to the Waukaringa country, but not so promising as the Echunga and Woodside district fields. It is a matter of extreme difficulty to get provisions to the place where the gold has been obtained. There is a store at Queenscliffe, 15 miles away, but there is no vehicle road between the diggings, and the prospector therefore has to carry his food on his back. Persons desiring fresh meat have to put up with wallaby, or get their beef and mutton from Adelaide, and as the hot weather is approaching that will prove a matter of difficulty. Further back than the Cygnet in the north-westerly part of the island there is a very promising tract of country, but it is quite untried. There are very few practical miners living on the island, and all the test that the place has been submitted to has been of the most trivial character by amateur prospectors, who were drawn into the district hunting for wallabies. In concluding his statement to our representative Mr. Porteous said—" I fully believe there is gold on the island, but a good deal of capital is required to get it. It would be a very great pity for any miners to go to the island without capital. Nothing has been done in the way of finding the reef, and there is no employment to be obtained to keep the men. Everything is very rough, and provisions are of course hard to obtain. If several capitalists were to go for a thorough test of the place they would probably be amply repaid; but on the whole I do not think the field is any way as rich as the Echunga, Woodside, or Gumeracha diggings so far as the alluvial is concerned. Of course if a reef is found on the hill the mine may turn out a very rich one, but at present I would not like to invest much money in the venture."
Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1869 - 1912), Tuesday 13 October 1885, page 2[1886] Captain Crocombe, of the Kohinoor Gold Mine, Kangaroo Island, has come over to Adelaide, and reports the prospects of the mine to be very encouraging. The shaft is sunk to a depth of 68 feet, and a fine strong leader of good-looking quartz 9 inches thick is in the bottom, with a good dropper coming into it. The stone shows gold in what if believed to be payable quantities.
MINING. (1886, April 17). The South Australian Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1858 - 1889), p. 7. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36326688The Koh-i-noor Gold Mining Company was floated yesterday, and operations will be commenced on Kangaroo Island at an early date.
GENERAL NEWS. (1886, October 16). The Express and Telegraph (Adelaide, SA : 1867 - 1922), p. 2. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article208495010GOLD AT KANGAROO ISLAND.
[1894] Queenscliffe, October 14. — Great sensation was caused on Saturday night when the steamer James Comrie arrived. A number of influential gentlemen from the city arrived and a demand was made for conveyances. Two buggies and horses were procured at short notice, and provisions and creature comforts being secured the visitors cleared away with all speed to some place where a wonderful gold discovery is supposed to have been made. The spot has been kept a close secret. It is re ported that a lode has been struck and that many samples of it assayed for the above gentlemen gave extraordinary results — as re ported up to 13oz. of gold to the ton.
South Australian Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1895), Saturday 20 October 1894, page 5KANGAROO ISLAND GOLDFIELD.
[1895] Our Queenscliffe correspondent, writing on February 17, says:—The gold fever has abated, but not collapsed. Many are holding on pending the results of stone lately sent away for treatment being known; others have been engaged cleaning up their harvesting. In a few weeks these will he a revival. Some prospectors have good prospects to work on, which they have been keeping dark until they are secured and have the means to peg away.
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), Wednesday 20 February 1895, page 5KANGAROO ISLAND GOLDFIELDS.
[1895] A correspondent writes:—A few months ago a small syndicate was formed in Adelaide on the recommendation of a well-known prospector for the purpose of working certain claims at Kangaroo Island. Those who formed the syndicate, having heard soon afterwards that certain representations were being made respecting the richness of the discovery, and that interests were being sold at big prices, called a meeting of members of the syndicate. It was then resolved that no shareholder should dis-pose of any portion of his interest until at least 10 tons of ore had been raised and treated at the cyanide works, Mount Torrens. A copy of this resolution was duly reported in the daily papers in order to protect the public. The ore has been raised, with the result that 10 tons 8 cwt. 2qr. 18 lb. averaged 1 dwt 16 gr. per ton.
Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), Saturday 23 March 1895, page 6KANGAROO ISLAND MINING.
[1906] The Adelaide speculators and mining community are at present greatly excited over the discoveries in the Cygnet River district, and mining authorities from all the States have proceeded to Kingscote and made tours of inspection. The indications on the surface and in shafts and drives which have been made in various localities along the line of reef have been so satisfactory to the experts that Kangaroo Island is likely to become a centre of much mining activity in the near future. Within the last three months 18 mineral claims under miners' rights, each representing a block of 40 acres, have been taken up, and in some instances the prospectors are at work. It is stated that exceedingly rich gold has been found in several of the shafts and drives, and the lode for many miles has been proved to be gold-bearing.
Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1955), Monday 3 December 1906, page 11[1906] KANGAROO ISLAND GOLD.
Mr. H. G. Taylor has received the results of trial crushings from the Cygnet and Kohinoor reefs. The work was recommended by Mr. J. B. Burton, of Stawell, ex Minister of Mines for Victoria, during his visits to the island last May and June, and the stone has been treated under his supervision at the Stawell School of Mines. Bulk samples were sent over in each instance. The stone from the Cygnet was from a depth of 80 ft., where the reef is 24 ft. (?) wide, and from that the Kohinoor from 140 ft., on the underlay. The Cygnet reef averaged 7 dwt; to the ton, and the Kohinoor 1 oz. 12 dwt. The tests from both these propositions have exceeded the estimate formed of them.
Mr. Burton, who reached Adelaide yesterday, is returning to Victoria forthwith to make arrangements for the erection of a large up-to-date crushing plant for the Cygnet. It is estimated that £5,000 will equip the property with a ten-head battery, but provision is to be made for a subsequent increase of the plant to forty-head.
Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), Saturday 8 September 1906, page 46The Kohinoor Mine.
MATTERS in connection with the above are moving rapidly and it seems quite reasonable to assume, as we did in our last issue, that " before the end of February the battery will be heard at work on the Kohinoor Mine." It is evident that the people, in this instance as in others, are waking up to a realisation of the great resources— mineral and otherwise—of our "tight little isle." In this case they are, as will be seen by reports of meetings held from time to time, "taking the bull by the horns" and intend running the Kohinoor almost exclusively "on their own." This will probably come as a surprise to a number of main-landers and, no doubt there will be a rush for shares when it is seen that Island residents have such confidence in their own resources. The "Courier" does not propose to " play the flute" for K.I. unless there is sufficient grounds for doing so, but we firmly believe that, in the Kohinoor, there is something good and tangible. Time will prove whether we are right or wrong. In any case there are a number of shrewd, hard-headed men (who have proved their aptitude for business before to-day) who are identified with the present forward movement and what is good enough for these men should be well worth watching.
The Kohinoor Mine. (1907, December 21). The Kangaroo Island Courier (Kingscote, SA : 1907 - 1951), p. 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article191635667[1907] KANGAROO ISLAND FIELDS.
On Tuesday morning the Assistant Inspector of Mines (Mr. H. Jones) returned from Kangaroo Island, where he has inspected the Cygnet and Kohinoor gold mines and the Western River lead mine. Samples were taken from each for the purpose of being assayed, and the results will be made known in a few days. Mr. Jones said the Cygnet reef looked very promising. There was an apparently strong lode; averaging about 20 ft. in width, which value had yet to be determined. In connection with the recent alleged 'jumping' on the Cygnet property, plaint notes have been lodged for a large number of claims. A warden's court will be held to determine who are the legal owners, as soon as the necessary formalities have been gone through.
KINGSCOTE (K.I.), September 9.— Mining matters for the past six months have been very brisk down here on several promising shows, such as the Kohinoor, Western River, Perseverance, and specially the Cygnet River mine. Men have been busily employed opening out, but owing to the in-clement weather not much headway has been made, with the exception of the Western River and the Cygnet River mines, which have gone on well. The Western River property has bottomed at 300 ft. below the cap of the reef on a rich band of lead, 2 ft. wide, and ranging from 40 to 50 per cent. The original syndicate is now being reorganised and a new company formed with a capital of £25,000. Many of the islanders are interested in the company, and shareholders are very enthusiastic over the show. Great excitement prevails at the Cygnet River mine. The sampling by recent visitors from Adelaide and Broken Hill has given very high results. Directly these results became known some enterprising Adelaide mining operators jumped the whole line of claims on the ground of alleged neglect in complying with the labor conditions. Feeling here runs very high over the matter, as several farmers have spent much of their money and their own time, besides sending men out to work at the Cygnet. Steps are being taken to decide the matter before the warden. The Mines' Inspector, Mr. Jones, has just returned from a tour of the island mines, and his reports arc awaited with much interest.
Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), Saturday 14 September 1907, page 44Meeting of Shareholders.
[1907] A meeting of shareholders in the Kohinoor Gold Mining Company, No Liability, will be held at the Company's office, Dauncey St, Kingscote, on Friday evening next, for the purpose of formally adopting Memorandum and Articles of Association.
The Kohinoor Gold Mining Coy.
A meeting of the applicants for shares in the above was held on Saturday evening last at Anderson's Queenscliffe Hotel, Kingscote. There were about 20 present and Mr V. H. F. Cook J.P. occupied the chair. A long discussion took place regarding the question of re-forming the Company. It was proposed by Mr R. Chapman, and seconded, that the application money already subscribed be applied to forming a syndicate to start operations, but the proposition was not put to the meeting. Several other suggestions were made and, eventually, with the consent of the vendor, Mr H. W. L. Tucker proposed and Mr John Dewar seconded that the capital of the Company be reduced to £4,000 in 16,000 shares at five shillings each. Carried. A committee was formed to revise the prospectus, the following being appointed :— Messrs Arthur Daw, John Dewar, J. N. Davis, H. W. L. Tucker, H. G. Taylor and Alfred E. Warren (secretary.) The meeting was then adjourned until Monday evening, Dec. 16, at 8 p.m., at the Ozone Hotel. Since the above meeting the committee appointed have revised the prospectus, copies of which are available. During the general meeting great enthusiasm was shown and a large number of shares were taken up by present applicants over and above what they have already applied for. More than half the shares to declare the company formed have been applied for and it is hoped that before the end of February the battery will be heard at work on the Kohinoor mine.
The Kohinoor Gold Mining Coy. (1907, December 14). The Kangaroo Island Courier (Kingscote, SA : 1907 - 1951), p. 3. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article191637276A Kangaroo Island Mining Movement.
[1908] At last the first definite note in connection with the working of the Kohinoor Gold Mine has been struck and at an enthusiastic meeting of shareholders on Monday last 'The Kohinoor Gold Mining Company, No Liability,' was formed.
The property is situated 16 miles south-west from Kingscote, and was taken up by Mr H. G. Taylor some four years ago and carefully exploited by him. Mr Taylor (who has been appointed manager of the mine) is, although not by any means an oldster, a veteran in mining matters, and a man who possesses a remarkably varied and accurate knowledge of known minerals. As for his perseverance and determination the fact that he has held firmly to his faith in the mine for four years past with a bulldog tenacity in the face of many difficulties and a goodly proportion of adverse criticism, speaks for itself.
But persistence sometimes meets with its reward and there are very few sceptics on Kangaroo Island at the present time so far as the Kohinoor Gold Mine is concerned. The samples of stone which have come to light from the mine have convinced the un-believers in a very practical way, and now we have before us the unique example, of a district with a population of under 2,000 running a mine almost "on its own" — an achievement worthy of a whole State. The mine has never been under offer to any outside individual. It was offered to the people of Kangaroo Island and they have shown their confidence in it by carrying the matter to its present issue and floating a company amongst themselves unless one excepts a few personal friends on the mainland.
The directors (who have had a busy week) have already ordered the necessary machinery from Melbourne, and this will be despatched to the Island at the earliest possible date, so that, in all probability, in the course of a few weeks the first battery ever heard on Kangaroo Island will invade the silence of the bush. It goes without saying that all who are interested feel confident of success.
In a report to Mr W. H. Matthews (Chief Inspector of Mines) made last year, Mr Henry Jones (Inspector of Mines) says : —
" I visited and inspected the Kohinoor Gold Mine on September 7th, '07. This property is situated 16 miles south-west from Kingscote township, and contains one 40-acre lease. Three small parallel quartz lodes traverse the property, strike north and south, dips 35 deg. west, and are from 8inn. to 6in. thick, and consists of quartz and iron carry ing rich gold in places. The country rock consists of slate, striking east and west, and as the reefs arc crossing the country rock at right angles to their bedding, little displacement in the course of the lodes is caused in places, and at these points the rich gold is found, both in the reefs and for some distance in the cleavage of the slates on each side of the reefs, making it necessary to work little country rock with the reef to secure all the gold. An effort should be made to prospect this property to a greater depth, where there is every chance of these various veins making bigger and more compact. A considerable amount of work has been done on the property in the sinking and driving to test the value of the reefs at various points, and about 10 tons of the ore was sent away for treatment, which gave an average return of 2½ozs. of gold per ton. The manager informed me that they don't intend sending any more ore away, but are going to erect a treatment plant on the mine as soon as possible. When at the mine I took two samples of the ore, from the 72ft. level, which were assayed at the School of Mines, and gave the following return :—No. 1, from quartz and iron vein 6in. thick, 4oz. 14dwt. gold per ton ; No. 2. from the face of the drive where the formation is 3ft. wide, consisting of slates and small veins of quartz and iron, 8oz. 4dwts, gold per ton."
This report makes very satisfactory reading. The facilities for the economic working of the mine — such as a plentiful supply of water for crushing purposes and timber for fuel etc. close at hand — are exceedingly favorable and it would appear as though Dame Nature had been doing all she could to help man in his search for gold on this favored spot. We do not carry any brief for the Kohinoor people but we are simply making a plain statement of facts, and will go a step further by stating our firm belief that there is something good and tangible in the present venture. Kangaroo Island, which appears to have been under a cloud until recently, is emerging from behind that cloud with a brilliancy and rapidity which is taking the mainland by storm. As a shrewd, level-headed man remarked recently to the writer in speaking of the Kohinoor mine : — " The floating of the company and the impending start of operations is only the thin end of the wedge — the first link in the chain of mining developments which Kangaroosters have, at the present time, up their sleeves." And with this statement we fully concur.
A Kangaroo Island Mining Movement. (1908, February 1). The Kangaroo Island Courier (Kingscote, SA : 1907 - 1951), p. 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article191630194KANGAROO ISLAND MINING.
KINGSCOTE, July 23 [1908].— Residents received a shock when all the men employed at the Kohinoor Mine arrived in the town ship with the news that the mine had been closed down for the present. It was only in May that Mr. O'Loughlin (as Minister, of Mines) started the battery. The gold from a month's crushing arrived in the township last week. The 34 tons put through realized over an ounce to the ton. The manager (Mr. H. O. Taylor) then reported that a lot of gold was passing away in the tailings, and proposed a small cyanide plant. As there is not capital enough in the present company the directors proposed to close down the mine. About three-quarters of the shares arc held by residents on Kangaroo Island.
Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), Friday 24 July 1908, page 7The Koh-i-noor Gold Mining Co.
MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS.
In response to an advertisement; convening same an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders in the above Company was held at the Ozone Hotel, Kingscote, on Monday last for the purpose of considering and dealing with the allotment of the unissued shares on a preferential basis, to be submitted by a resolution of the directors, and to conserve the Company's interests in the tenure of leaseholds. There was a fair and representative attendance, Mr John Dewar (Chairman of Directors) presiding.
The chairman having explained the objects of the gathering, the minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed on the motion of Mr F. C. Addison [Frank Claxton Addison, Union Bank Manager], seconded by Mr Richard Chapman. The chairman remarked that those present would recollect that at the last meeting of shareholders every one in the room, to a man, promised to take up a quota. He regretted, however, to have to say that a number appeared to be rather slow in 'toeing the mark.' This might probably be due to a feeling outside that ''fresh money paid into the company would he used in the paying off of back debts. He could assure those who had this impression that such was not the case. Every penny would be put into the work of developing the mine. He might say, although he was not prepared at present to go any further into the matter, that the directors were considering a proposal involving the discharge of all old debts. As they were aware, at a recent impromptu meeting of shareholders the resolution come to by the directors to allot the 3,000 unissued shares on a preferential basis (said shares to carry a dividend of 2/ per share out of the first profits of the Company before the ordinary shares participate) was discussed and it was unanimously agreed that the action of the directors was in the very best interests of the company. A letter which appeared in the columns of the K.I. Courier had had an important bearing on the matter in hand. It was thought to be only a matter of common justice that those who came in now "to give the ship a shove along" should receive some preference.
Alter some discussion Mr E. F. Lockyer [Edward Francis Lockyer] moved ' That the directors be empowered to conserve the best interests of the Company as regards tenure of leaseholds, and that the 3,000 unissued shares be issued on a preferential basis, viz., 1/ per share on allotment and the balance of 3/ per share in calls of not exceeding 6d per month, such shares to carry a preferential dividend of 2/ per share to be paid out of the first profits of the company before the present ordinary shares participate in any dividend.' Seconded by Mr Addison and carried.
Mr Richard Chapman asked if it was possible to learn some details of the scheme for wiping off the back debts and which was referred to by the chairman in his remarks. To put the matter briefly it was then explained that there were a number of gentlemen who were so confident of the ultimate success of the mine that they were willing to wipe off all existing debts on a small interest charge. The scheme was practically an established fact, al though not quite completed yet. The idea was to resume operations with a clean sheet.
Mr M. B. Chapman [Marsden Blyth Chapman] : I am very pleased to hear this. I had come prepared to ask a number of questions, but now the atmosphere seems clear after these explanations. As the chairman stated there was a feeling outside that fresh money put in would be uged for the wiping off of old debts. The chairman expressed himself as pleased with the evident satisfaction which the explanation of the scheme had produced. The period of exemption, would shortly expire and this was no time for dilly-dallying or hanging back.
Before his departure for the mainland Mr Burton had stated "If everything is fixed up I shall return by the 2nd or 3rd of next month." Mr Burton (a practical man with many years experience) had stated that, by the end of six months, the shareholders would know whether they had a first-class mine or not: he had also stated that, from indications seen, if the mine did not give sensational results he would be surprised. He might add that, during his recent visit here Mr Burton had "seized time by the forelock" and, giving his engineering services and time free, had supervised the building up and strengthening of the dam which, before his departure, had risen 14 inches. As a last word he (the speaker) would distinctly reiterate (for the benefit of those who were hanging back) that the shareholders would get the full benefit of the money paid in for the 3,000 unissued shares; it would be all utilised for development work, not for paying off back debts. After a little further discussion proceedings closed.
The Koh-i-noor Gold Mining Co. (1908, October 24). The Kangaroo Island Courier (Kingscote, SA : 1907 - 1951), p. 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article191631224[1907] MINING MATTERS.—In the course of a brief chat recently Mr Tassie O'Connor stated that in connection with the Western River Mine that at shaft let on contract 150ft west of present workings it was expected that a lode would be cut within four weeks. When cutting it will show 350ft. of backs for stoping. Mr O'Connor added that he had secured an option over Bainbridge's, Murray's and Waller's gold shows. He considered the area embraced the biggest surface show he had ever seen; he intended putting it into a development syndicate at once.
Local Rifle Notes. (1907, November 9). The Kangaroo Island Courier (Kingscote, SA : 1907 - 1951), p. 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article191636959The Kohinoor Mine.
[1907] Matters in connection with the above are moving rapidly and it seems quite reasonable to assume, as we did in our last issue, that " before the end of February the battery will be heard at work on the Kohinoor Mine." It is evident that the people, in this in-stance as in others, are waking up to a realisation of the great resources— mineral and otherwise—of our "tight little isle." In this case they are, as will be seen by reports of meetings held from time to time, "taking the bull by the horns" and intend running the Kohinoor almost exclusively "on their own." This will probably come as a surprise to a number of main-landers and, no doubt there will be a rush for shares when it is seen that Island residents have such confidence in their own resources. The "Courier" does not propose to " play the flute" for K.I. unless there is sufficient grounds for doing so, but we firmly believe that, in the Kohinoor, there is something good and tangible. Time will prove whether we are right or wrong. In any case there are a number of shrewd, hard-headed men (who have proved their aptitude for business before to-day) who are identified with the present forward movement and what is good enough for these men should be well worth watching.
The Kohinoor Mine. (1907, December 21). The Kangaroo Island Courier (Kingscote, SA : 1907 - 1951), p. 4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article191635667THE KOH-I-NOOR MINE.
[1908] Mr Melvin, managing director of the above, is expected to arrive at Kingscote from Melbourne, per s.s. Karatta, to-night. His visit will be in the interests of the Koh-i-Noor Mine. It is anticipated that he will take a run out to the mine and select a site for the battery.
THE KOH-I-NOOR MINE. (1908, February 15). The Kangaroo Island Courier (Kingscote, SA : 1907 - 1951), p. 5. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article191636107[1911] Three mining men from the eastern States have been spying out the land for the last three weeks, but are reticent. This is considered a good augury, as to their opinion.
Daily Herald (Adelaide, SA : 1910 - 1924), Wednesday 18 January 1911, page 7[1931] Many years ago the Kohinoor mine was discovered. It was again worked about 20 years ago. A crusher was erected and a small quantity of stone put through, which returned 1 oz. 3 dwts to the ton. Unfortunately the quartz formation is only a few inches wide, and the cost of getting a ton of stone out, was considerably more than the gold it contained was worth and the mine closed down. There are several other places which have been worked, but the quantity of gold contained in the stone did not pay for the work done. Still, there may be payable gold near by. We would like to know if the Cygnet Valley has been prospected for alluvial gold.
Kangaroo Island Courier (Kingscote, SA : 1907 - 1951), Saturday 7 February 1931, page 3