FAMOUS MOUNT MORGAN

Hokitika Guardian, 27 August 1927, Page 1

FAMOUS MOUNT MORGAN

A. MODERN PACTOLUS. FIVE MILLIONS IN DIVIDENDS. From news lately to hand, it seems that, the wonderful deposit of goldbearing ore at Mount .Morgan lias at last been practically exhausted. Discovered iii tho ’eighties, its early history reads like a fable, the richness of the find fairly staggering tlie owners. Indeed, one can imgaine that King Midas of old must have drawn his fabulous wealth from some such source. The original prospector, Fred Morgan, in speaking of the mine, told how, finding a little alluvial gold in tho Deo River, below the mountain, he made efforts to trace the reef responsible. Pot lioling on the slopes and lip to the crest, it soon became evident that there was gold, and what was tnoro to tho purpose, in payable quantity. Carefully covering his tracks, lie hurried back to Rockhampton and consulted his backers, the chief among them being Air Wesley Hall, of tho Queensland National Bank.

Morgan soon convinced his partners that they were on a good thing, and stops were taken to secure an option over the mountain, which was owned at the time by two brothers named Gordon. A dray and provisions were provided, and Morgan and several of tho syndicate hastened to the scene of the find. A TENSE MOMENT. From tho cap of tho roof, a bag of rubble, etc., was brought down to the water, and the backers still sceptical watched Morgan deftly using the tin dish. A moment later, Morgan was dancing with excitement, and hoarsely cried, “Boys, boys, our fortunes are made,” for the panning off showed many ounces of ragged gold broken from tho reef. But what tho prospector averred was only partly true, for lie had discovered a veritable treasure house from which it was destined that over £5,000,000 sterling would be wen in dividends alone. Those were the days of tile bullock teams as chief transporters, and old hands still tell of tho rollicking early days of tho mine’s existence when mine timber, roofing iron, etc., kept pouring in. and the township grew apace, attracting as it did minors, speculators and venturers from all over Australia.

Another mining company was formed. the Mount Morgan Extended, and much litigation ensued, but time proved Hull the parent company held all the payable ore within its pegs.

Some idea of its richness may be imagined when an old miner, speaking of the first year or two after the opening up of the mine .said. “Why, man, the amalgam used to lay about the battery room like so liianv cricket balls.” Ai that time the art of gold extraction was not very advanced, and the day soon dawned when those working the mine found that the old shaking table arid battery process was incapable of dealing with rich refractory ores. THE MAN AND THE HOUR, Fortune favoured them in securing the services of an old German savant, named Meinherg, who. heedless of aught else, loved the work of dealing with mining problems. Little by little the difficulties were overcome. A large crushing plant from the famous Krupps works was installeed, the valuable ore was roasted and impregnated, and as high as 99 per cent of the gold was eventually extracted. The work of shovelling out the ground ore after treatment was always a very unpleasant job. owing to the nasty headachy whiffs from the gases employed. Indeed, so much so, that a. great deal of this work was done by now bands waiting for a steady jolt, or swagmen, etc., wishing to get a few shillings to help them along.

Bv this time the company’s share capital had risen to £1,000,000, and it was destined that a change was to come over the policy of the mines regarding payment of dividends. The cause of the Government's intervention was the booming of the shares by a number of the largest holders, who lifted the prices to about CIS per share, at which price they hung for a. few days. However, the price came down rapidly, and much distress was caused. One shareholder, an erstwhile butcher at Rockhampton, who had lieen. made wealthy with Morgan shares, lost almost his all. Going back to his shop, he used to say, “T was worth £BO.OOO once, but am just as happy now back among the chops and steak.” ltealising the importance of the mine, the Queensland Government put in a. branch line from Rockhampton, some 00 miles away. Tallis goes over the notorious Razor Back range, and is, 1 think, almost the only one worked on the ratchet cog system. So steep is the incline that it is said that a truck once got away, and, keeping tlio rails, ran for 15 miles.

prior to the advent of the line the gold was sent down under heavily armed escort, and it is not recorded that robbery was ever attempted.

Thieving, however, was fairly rife at one time at the mine itself, and eventually the gang was broken up, but owing to a technical flaw only one man was actually convicted. THE SUSPICIOUS STRANGER. < This reminds mo of a little incident which • occurred to me shortly before the trials camo on. Stepping off the coach, I crossed over to the hotel verandah, and in the usual hush style bid a man lounging there a cheery “Good day, mate.” To my surprise, ho barely answered me. A little later one or two other fellows moved away down th verandah as if to shun me. Tea time came, and I said to my neighbour, “Excuse me, but the boys don’t seem to like me. What’s the matter?” He eyed me up and down, and then muttered something about Jieing “one of them.” The truth flashed across me—they all thought I was another sleuth up from Brisbane for the company. In those days I remember much of the work of the mines was oif the open faces, which wore often 20ft or 30ft high. Heavy jumper drills would be used, and the hole charged with, say, a. fig of dynamite and a couplo of pounds of blasting powder. A light movable tram line was used, and after the shot the gang would move in to clear away the stone. One day tho foreman, either through inadvertence or for devilment, doubled the charge and scared seven bells out of the gang. The very side oT the mountain seemed to totter, there was a huge upheaval, the flimsy train-line was bent like wire, and a lingo rock of many cwt hurled down the mountain.

Mount Morgan itself is not a very attractive place, there being little to show visitors, but the few who came were always shown the little locomotive at the top of the mountain. The directors were very proud of the little engine, which must have cost annually a pretty heavy sum .in repairs. Painted green and scarlet, its dome and brass work shone like gold as it pulled and panted with its little rake of trucks. ALLUVIAL FROM THE REEF. Strange to say, the alluvial deposits from the main lode, despite many efforts were only discovered a few years ago, and, as everyone predicted, on ihe lied of the Dee creek. With a one-time bi-weekly payment of over £IO,OOO, and providing work for many hundreds of employees, the closing down of Mount Morgan will bo a blow to the Rockhampton district. However, in mining matters the unexpected often obtains. and some day. who can say, another find of great importance may be l.'catcd rivalling in magnitude the now almost depleted subject of my article.

Toasted tobacco? “What’s the great idea?” you may ask. Well, if you have not yet tried what toasting will do for tobacco leaf you've a pleasure in store. All our well-known New Zealand grown tobaccos are toasted in the making. This develops their flavour and aroma, just as the toasting (or roasting) of coffee or cocoa beans brings out the flavour and fragrance. These tobaccos are the purest on the market, largely because they contain so little nicotine, while the imported brands are all more or less loaded with it. Now do you see why the doctors recommend New Zealand tobacco ? The proof of the pudding is in the eating, and the proof of the “weed” is in the smoking. Those who try the New Zealand tobaccos quickly get to prefer them to all others. Hence their constantly increasing sale everywhere. You can get them in any strength. “Riverhead Gold,” a beautiful aromatic; “Navy Cut,” a. choice medium; and “Cut Plug No. 10” a fine full flavoured variety. “Cavendish Mixture” medium is the latest addition.—Advt.