Sir William Don Company

Sir William Don Company

Sir William Don Company Source: Ballarat Historical Society
History
Town	Ballarat
Street	cnr. Ripon Street and Dana Street
Known dates	1866
Google maps	-37.562308426073,143.84068026543

The Sir William Don Company operated a gold mine in Ballarat, <1866>

Site

The mine was on the corner of Ripon Street and Dana Street, Ballarat, near the Sir William Don Hotel.

There was also an Old Sir William Don Mine on Cattle Station Hill Road, at Ascot, north of Creswick: -37.384608, 143.835309

History

In March 1866 mining investors were waiting for news from mines close to the Sir William Don Company claim before spending more money.

In October 1867 the company purchased plant and equipment from the Royal Saxon Company's No. 2 shaft, which was closed after poor returns.

Quarterly report, April 1868

SIR WILLIAM DON COMPANY. The quarterly meeting was held at the George hotel on Tuesday evening, Mr John Ditchburn in the chair.

Manager's Report:—" The shaft has been thoroughly repaired from top to bottom, and a set o£ 12-inch pumps were purchased from the United Hand-in-Hand and Band of Hope Company, at a cost of 600l, and have been placed in the shaft. The water was got out in seven days from time of starting the pumps. The drives have been all cleaned up, with the exception of the north-west lower level drive, which is not yet cleaned up on account of it needing to be re-timbered from one end to the other. The battery has also been completed, and started to crush quartz on Thursday, the 26th March. The stone looks well, gold being seen in breaking up, and the quartz will, I believe, give good returns. You will see by the mining manager's report, that some new ground has been struck which looks promising, but on account of the sadden dip we cannot say much about it, as we have to come back to gain level. This is in quite a different direction from the new ground discovered which I spoke about in my last report. I am happy to say that we have surmounted all our difficulties, and the mine will soon be in full work, when I have not the slightest hesitation in saying that we will once more be placed among the dividend-paying mines. I think great credit is due to Mr Simkin, the mining manager, and Mr Carlisle, the engineer, in pushing the work belonging to their various branches, and in getting the mine into full work. No shareholder can imagine, unless present on the claim, the difficulties that had to be contended with and overcome. Your works committee will confirm what I have stated, they having visited the mine regularly and rendered every assistance in their power. The Koh-i-Noor Company not being satisfied with the decision given in the Court of Mines on Ballarat, regarding gold said to have been taken out from under certain streets, have entered a new suit against your company in the Melbourne court, which I think will come on for hearing some time in April; your manager and directors have taken the necessary steps to defend it. During the quarter your directors agreed to form a new company of that portion of your claim which surrounds your No. 2 shaft; prospectuses were drawn out and brought before the public, but without success. Tenders have been accepted for the supply of firewood, props, and laths, for the mine for the winter months. Tenders for the supply of ironmongery and sawn timber for the ensuing six months have also been accepted. The number of meetings of directors held during the quarter has been 17, of which Messrs Butler and Kermeen attended all; Leo and Mitchell, 14; Hunt, 12; Ditchburn, 8; and Croyle, 5. The following gentlemen have been nominated for directors, namely:—John Ditchburn, John Hunt, Morgan Lee, R. S. Mitchell, William Kermeen, James Butler, E. A. Paige, George Richardson, Henry R. Manning, James Law, James M. Cos, William Farley, Philip Gay, Thomas Stitfold, and W. H. Collins of Geelong, of which you will have to choose seven as directors. Henry Norton, Manager."

The mining manager, Mr Joseph Simkin, reported at length on the works done during the quarter, and the state of the mine. A great deal of time had been necessarily occupied in cutting down the shaft and fixing the pumps. When the water was got out it was found that the whole of the drives in the lower level were filled up; 2200 feet had been cleaned up, and 1200 feet had to be timbered again. Several of the blind shafts, from 40 to 78 feet high, were filled up, and had to be cut down and fresh timbered. Bad air had prevented him from repairing some of the drives in the top level; but now that good ventilation had been secured he could disperse the foul air by means of a fan driven by tho engine. He had, in prospecting on the reef, met with a dip, and in following it had struck a good wash. The drives in washdirt and blocking were done by contract. Engineer's Report.—" In laying before you my quarterly report, I can state that the machinery is all in good working order. The contract of Messrs Walker and Co., Union Foundry, for a 10-head revolving battery of stamps has been completed during the quarter, and is now at work; the erection of pumping engine and 12-inch plunger and drawing lift has been completed during the quarter, and they are quite ample to contend with the water. The machinery and pumps at the No. 2 shaft are in good working order.—Robert Carlisle, Engineer."

The receipts for the quarter were—Gold, 3433l 13s 3d; claim account, 187l; machinery account, 37l 10s; balance, 973l 1s; total, 13,393l 1s 1d. Expenditure —Balance from previous quarter, 3268l 9s 4d; machinery, 2174l 1s 3d; ironmongery, 222l 2s; props and laths, 739l 11s 5d; timber, 270l 193 7d; firewood, 753l 15s 1d; wages, 4440l 14s 2d; candles, &c., 129l 6s 6d; claim, 228l 4s 1d; interest paid bank, 86l 2s 4d; legal expenses, 172l 6s 2d; drives, 539l 6s; general expenses, including charges,,&c., 368l 6s 2d; total, 13,393l 4s 1d. From the general balance-sheet it appeared that the total value of gold was 210,093l 4s 9d, and the amount paid in dividends 131,000l.

Mr Joseph Lander requested information as to proceeds of old iron and old timber sold. The manager stated that credit was given for the iron in the foundry account, and any wood sold was unfit for burning in the furnace. It had been sold for 5s a load. Some shareholders stated that the wood was worthless. The reports and statements were received and adopted. A letter was received from Mr Cazaly, secretary of the Benevolent Asylum, requesting a donation. It was proposed to vote 20l each to the Hospital, and Benevolent and Orphan Asylums, but it was agreed to postpone making any grants until the next meeting, as the overdraft was heavy. Messrs D. Christy and W. Allan were re-elected auditors. The election of directors was conducted by ballot, and resulted as follows:—Butler 737, J. Ditchburn 727, Kermeen 637, Mitchell 620, Hunt 609, Collins 427, M. Lee 397, Manning 395, Richardson 364, Gay 296, Law 254, Cox 205, Farley 98, Paige 94, Stittfold 90. The first-named seven were declared elected. Mr Jas. Stewart and Mr Hall acted as scrutineers.

External Links

^ Sir William Don Mine, mindat.org, https://www.mindat.org/loc-303813.html