Atlantic Quartz and Alluvial Gold Mining Company

Atlantic Quartz and Alluvial Gold Mining Company

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History
Town	Smythesdale
Opened	August 1872
Known dates	1872-1874
Other names	Atlantic Quartz Company

The Atlantic Quartz and Alluvial Gold Mining Company was a mining company at Smythesdale, 1873-1874>.

Site

The company operated a mine at Smythesdale, on the North German Reef.

Background

Also known as the Atlantic Quartz Company.

History

August 1872

Claim taken up:

The Atlantic Quartz Company has taken up 2500 feet of the reef in the locality for quartz mining operations.

Tenders:

ATLANTIC QUARTZ MINING COMPANY, North German Reef, Smythesdale.—TENDERS will be received up to the 30th inst. for SINKING a SHAFT 100 feet, more or less; labor only. Specifications may be seen at the Camp Hotel, Smythesdale. CON. TEN BRINK, Secretary, Smythesdale, 19th August, 1872.

April 1873

Mining news, 7 April:

The Atlantic Quartz and Alluvial Company selected the site for the new shaft on Saturday, and celebrated the event in right jovial fashion. About mid-day a goodly number of the leading residents of the locality, shareholders and friends, left Smythesdale in conveyances for the claim, to celebrate the event. The site of the shaft was marked out, the first sod turned, and champagne and other beverages flowed freely on the occasion. There was no lack of oratory, and the whole affair passed off in a highly pleasant and jovial manner. Three dishes of surface stuff were washed off from the site of the shaft, and the prospects shown as from two of the dishes contained one or two rough little bits of quartz gold. The shareholders, are evidently in high glee over their prospects, and it is to be hoped that the undertaking will be crowned with success, and thereby lead the way to the development of the extensive line of reef in question.

Mining news, 14 April:

The Atlantic Quartz and Alluvial Company on Saturday let the contract for sinking the shaft 150 feet deep to B. Treverton, at the rate of 17s per foot. It is the intention of the directors to have the surface cleared off for the space of 100 feet square, or thereabouts, for a site for the machinery, and to have the surfacing washed to test its quality; the directors stating it to be their intention also to use the surplus water from the mine for the purpose of washing or sluicing the alluvial on the hill sides.

May 1873

Mining news, 5 May:

The Atlantic Quartz and Alluvial Company’s contractors are down 45 feet with the shaft; Mr S. Maddison has been appointed mining manager pro tem.

Mining news, 12 May:

The Atlantic Quartz and Alluvial Company’s contractors have been delayed a little; through want of mining timber, the state of the roads recently being unfavorable for getting an adequate supply delivered.

Mining news 19 May

The Atlantic Quartz and Alluvial Company’s contractors have the shaft sunk and slabbed to the depth of 65 feet. Some flat leaders have been met with, and the mining manager states that the bottom of the shaft is nearly a mass of quartz. It is expected that the main reef will be struck at the depth of about 100 feet. The contractors are now making good progress, as a better supply of timber is available.

June 1873

Mining news, 9 June:

Atlantic Quartz and Alluvial Company’s contractors are down 103 feet with the shaft; the second opening frame is in, and slabbing-up is now being completed. When sinking is resumed, the reef may, the manager thinks, be struck very soon.

Mining news, 16 June:

Atlantic Quartz and Alluvial Company’s contractors are down 105 feet with the shaft; they have been putting in the under frame and centering. The water was a little heavier on Saturday morning.

Mining news, 23 June:

Atlantic Quartz and Alluvial Company’s contractors are down about 115 feet with the. shaft Some quartz loaders are now being met with, and it is expected that the lode will define itself and widen as sinking proceeds.

Meeting called, 23 June:

ATLANTIC QUARTZ AMD ALLUVIAL GOLD MINING COMPANY (No-Liability), Smythesdale.—A SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING of Shareholders will be held at the Court-house hotel, Smythesdale, on Saturday, the 28th instant, at eleven o’clock a.m. Business; — To adopt deed of association. and order the registration of the company under the No-Liability clauses of the Mining Statute. CONRAD TEN BRINK, Manager.

Forming a company

The company was begun in August 1873:

THE undersigned, hereby MAKE APPLICATION to REGISTER THE ATLANTIC QUARTZ AND ALLUVIAL GOLD MINING COMPANY, Smythesdale, as a No-Liability Company, under the provisions of "The Mining Companies Act, 1871.”

1. The name of the company is to be "The Atlantic Quartz and Alluvial Gold Mining Company"
2. The place of operations is at Smythesdale
3. The registered office of the company will be at Smythesdale.
4. The value of the company's property, including claim and machinery, is one thousand pounds.
5. The number of shares in the company is two thousand, of two pounds ten shillings each.
6. The number of shares subscribed seven hundred and five.
7. The name of the manager is Conrad TenBrink.
8. The names and addresses and occupations of the shareholders, and the number of shares held by each at this date are as below:—

• George Manghan, Piggoreet, miner .. .. .. 40
• John Liston, Smythesdale, newspaper proprietor .. .. .. 20
• Peter Steffen, Haddon, hotelkeeper .. .. .. 40
• James M’Vitty, Haddon, storekeeper .. .. .. 40
• Leopold Veerkamp, Smythesdale, engineer .. .. .. 100
• Edmund Knights, Scarsdale, news agent .. .. .. 40
• Gland Pender, Golden Lake, mining manager .. .. .. 200
• Robert Gowdie, Smythesdale, miner .. .. .. 80
• James Craig, Ballarat, accountant .. .. .. 40
• James Coghlan, Ballarat, brewer .. .. .. 80
• Terence Magee, Ballarat, commercial traveller .. .. .. 40
• Conrad Zilles, Linton, hotelkeeper .. .. .. 40
• Samuel Maddison, Piggoreet, mining manager .. .. .. 80
• Isaac George, Scarsdale, miner .. .. .. 40
• Samuel Holt, Golden Lake, miner .. .. .. 40
• Robert Shaw, Ballarat, clerk .. .. .. 40
• Arthur Parker, Smythesdale, clerk .. .. .. 40
• Daniel M'Leely, Newtown, miner .. .. .. 40
• William Greig, Carngham, storekeeper .. .. .. 40
• Conrad TenBrink, Smythesdale, hotelkeeper .. .. .. 100
• Charles Funcke, Scarsdale, tanner .. .. .. 40
• Archibald Dure, Golden Lake, miner .. .. .. 40
• Daniel Brophy, Ballarat, hotelkeeper .. .. .. 40
• Frederick Nichol, Ballarat, commercial traveller .. .. .. 0
• John Dalton, Smythesdale, cordwainer .. .. .. 10
• Charles Bowen, Carngham, hotelkeeper .. .. .. 10
• Harold Peel, Smythesdale, cordwainer .. .. .. 5
• Daniel M'Gowan, Smythesdale, blacksmith .. .. .. 5
• Ernest Nicol, Smythesdale, miner .. .. .. 80
• George Skinner, Golden Lake, hotelkeeper .. .. .. 10
• Robert Stewart, Smythesdale, surgeon .. .. .. 40
• Ann Wilson, Smythesdale, laundress .. .. .. 5
• Ashton Gartside, Piggoreet, storekeeper .. .. .. 40
• Neil Maguire, Smythesdale, miner .. .. .. 40
• George Jared Jones, Smythesdale. newspaper proprietor .. .. .. 20
• John Lynch, jun., Smythesdale, clerk .. .. .. 20
• James Hilton, Haddon, miner .. .. .. 40
• Joseph Stephenson, Haddon, miner .. .. .. 20
• Benjamin Treverton Haddon. miner .. .. .. 20
• Conrad TenBrink, Smythesdale, hotelkeeper, in trust for the company .. .. .. 295

Dated this 12th day of August, 1873, CONRAD TENBRINK Witness to signature— FRANCIS SHERIDAN, Hotelkeeper, Smythesdale I, CONRAD TENBRINK, of Smythesdale, do solemnly and sincerely declare that - 1. I am the manager of the said intended company. 2. The above statement is, to the best of my belief knowledge, true in every particular; and I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true, and by virtue of the provisions of an Act of Victoria, rendering persons making a false declaration punishable for wilful and corrupt perjury.

CONRAD TENBRINK Taken before me, this 12th day of August 1873, at Smythesdale aforesaid. JOHN KEITH, J.P.

September 1873

September 23:

ATLANTIC QUARTZ AND ALLUVIAL GOLD MINING COMPANY (No-Liability), Smythesdale—-All SHARES upon which the 5th or any previous Call shall remain unpaid on the 24th instant, will be SOLD by PUBLIC AUCTION on Saturday, the 4th October next, at Twelve o’clock noon, at the Court-house Hotel, Smythesdale, unless such Calls and all Expenses be previously paid Dated this 20th day of September, 1873. CON. TENBRINK, Manager.

October 1873

Report of quarterly meeting held at Conrad Tenbrink's Court House Hotel, Smythesdale:

The quarterly meeting was held at Tenbrink’s Court-house hotel, Smythesdale, on 25th October; Mr G. Pender, J.P., in the chair. At the commencement of the meeting there were nineteen shareholders present, representing 1040 shares. Mining Manager's Report—“At the date of last quarterly meeting the shaft was sunk to a depth of 125 feet. At that depth water was struck in quantity sufficient to break the contract, and it was decided to open out at the 100-feet level and construct the chamber by wages, after which a contract was let at 16s per foot for driving, contractors to haul all the water and dirt with the windlass, and to find all labor in connection there-with. At a distance of 14 feet south from the shaft a drive was opened to the east. A heavy body of stone was struck in this drive, 8 feet wide, but on trying it on several occasions I could find no gold. I continued on the drive for say 25 feet further east, but met with no more stope; in all, this drive was driven 46 feet east. I then opened, out west, and put in a drive 43 feet, crossing a quartz leader 2 feet thick at a distance of 7 feet from south drive; also a leader 2 feet thick was crossed at 25 feet from south drive, when a sandstone country set in. The south drive was again commenced, and at 48 feet from the shaft a drive was put in east, which crossed the same stone, 8 feet thick, that was crossed in the first east drive; no gold seen. The south drive was continued on, and the course altered to go to prospecting shaft, where good stone was struck formerly: and immediately under this shaft we struck the reef, and in the first dish tried a good prospect of loose gold was got. The reef on crossing it showed to be broken up, about 5 feet thick in all, with over 2 feet of solid stone next the western wall. I continued the drive on the course of the lode for 15 feet south, with stone making solid in the bottom of drive all the way. I afterwards came back and broke up into the bottom of the prospecting shaft 2 feet above the drive, and got rough gold in the solid stone, the reef widening out in rising to over 6 feet. While working in the stone good prospects could always be washed from trials either with the dish or on a shovel. There is now on the surface about 25 tons of stone. I may say that I am of opinion that with a proper plant on it, the claim will pay handsomely, as, irrespective, of the quartz reef, there is splendid alluvial ground nearly all over the claim, and both quartz and alluvial can we worked at the same time, as plenty of water can be obtained by sinking the main shaft.—S. MADDISON, Mining Manager. Quarterly balance sheet. Receipts—£282 14s 3d. Expenditure— By contracts, £178 7s 6d; timber, £30; bonus to contractors, £8; advertising, &c., £15 13s 6d; wages, £19 5s; rope, £1 5s; salaries, £24; balance, £6 3s 3d; total, £282 14s 3d. The auditors, Messrs D. M'Leely and E. Knights, jun., reported the books and accounts all correct. The manager explained that he had discontinued operations for a few days, funds being exhausted; but he thought from the general appearance of things that the company would be justified in erecting a plant at once. Mr T. M‘Gee expressed a fear that unless a trial crushing were made there would be difficulty experienced in getting in the calls. The chairman intimated that he thought there was no doubt the claim would pay, and said that if only five shareholders remained with him he would give it a trial. Several other shareholders said they had seen satisfactory prospects in some of the stone tried in small quantities on the claim. Mr Tenbrink, in answer to Mr James M’Vitty, said there were 1225 paying shares in the company, and the whole amount due on the last call was £55. The liabilities were £123 9s 9d. After some discussion the general feeling seemed to be to have a trial crushing, and it was decided that 20 tons of stone be raised and crushed at Ballarat for a trial; the shares now in the company’s hands to be retained till after the crushing is made, a special meeting then, if necessary, to be called for their disposal. The chairman was here called away on business, and Mr T. M‘Gee was voted to the chair. Messrs S. Maddison, G. Pender, C. P. Funcke, S. Holt, and P. Steffen were elected directors, and Messrs E. Knights, jun., and J. Liston were appointed auditors. A vote of thanks to the chair closed the proceedings.

November 1873

Tenders called:

ATLANTIC QUARTZ AND GOLD MINING COMPANY (No-Liability), Smythesdale—TENDERS are invited up to Saturday next, at 11 o’clock a.m., for RAISING QUARTZ. Specifications at the Court-house Hotel, Smythesdale. C. TENBRINK, Manager. 24th November, 1873.

January 1874

Report of quarterly meeting held at Conrad Tenbrink's Court House Hotel, Smythesdale:

The quarterly meeting was held at Tenbrink's Court-house hotel, Smythesdale on 31st January; Mr G. Pender in the chair. At the commencement of the meeting there were 10 shareholders present, representing 780 shares. Mr Tenbrink and Mr Maddison gave explanations to the effect that it had not been thought necessary to prepare any report, as it was well enough known that operations had been suspended for a time in order to get in calls, so as to have a trial crushing of the stone made, and funds had not been obtained. Mr Tenbrink stated that at the beginning of last quarter the liabilities were £126 7s, but since then had been reduced to £54 1s 9d, while the calls outstanding amounted to £71. In answer to Mr Knights, Mr Tenbrink stated that there were about 1050 shares that might be regarded as likely to be good for present calls. The chairman intimated to the effect that the prospects of the company were fairly promising, and that if the proposed crushing turned out well it would give an impetus to the undertaking. He remarked, however, that a good deal of the stuff taken out for crushing was mullock, and supposing the yield from the crushing would be small it would be hard to get the public to believe that the stuff had been mullocky. Mr Maddison said he did not think that even if the quartz now taken out were paying the stone could be regarded as a fair sample of the mine. If there were means he would be in favor of putting a plant on the claim without any trial at all further than had been made. It was the finest show in the district, but everything was so dull now that it was hard to get calls for anything. Several shareholders expressed themselves satisfied as to the value of the claim, both for the alluvial and the quartz, but doubted whether the company in its present position could undertake putting on a plant. Mr Maddison created much amusement by pointing out the inconsistency of some shareholders he had met with in his rounds, who called out, "Why don't you go on?" while at the same time they would not come forward with their calls to enable the work to be carried on. After some comments on the probable value of the mine, the work already done, and not much more money being required to test the quartz, it was decided to go on and get a trial, crushing, and the directors, on the motion of Mr J. Liston, seconded by Dr Stewart, were recommended to make another call of 1s per share for that purpose. Mr Tenbrink explained that the board had recommended that Mr Maddison be appointed general manager, with the view of his having more time to collect calls. The meeting decided that it would be better to make no change in the management till after the result of the crushing be known. Quarterly Balance-sheet.—Receipts— To balance from last quarter, £6 3s 3d; calls, £98 10s; total, £104 13s 3d. Expenditure—By contract for driving, £40; Humphries, timber, £9 8s; A. Veitch, ditto, £22 10s; salaries, £18; audit fees, £1; Mr Voss, advertising, £2 10s; Mr Liston, ditto, £1 11s; balance in bank, £1 16s; ditto in hand, £7 ,18s 3d; total, £104 13s 3d. The auditors, Messrs Liston and Knights, jun., reported the accounts all correct. The balance-sheet and verbal reports were adopted. The retiring directors, Messrs S. Maddison, C. P. Funcke, P. Steffen, G. Pender, and S. Halt, were re-elected; and Messrs J. Liston and E. Knights were re-appointed auditors. The meeting adjourned for a fortnight. Some forfeited shares was subsequently sold by auction, but were bought in by the company.

The People

• C. P. Funke, director, 1873-1874.
• S. Halt, director, 1873-1874.
• S. Maddison, director, 1873-1874, General Manager 1874.
• Peter Steffen, director, 1873-1874.
• G. Pender, director, 1873-1874.
• Conrad Tenbrink, Company Secretary 1872, Manager 1873.