The Antimony Mines.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 1, Issue 54, 1 August 1890, Page 2

The Antimony Mines.

Among some of the largest local industries we. hays in Marlborough is the Antimony Mine .at. Endeavour Inlet, Queen Charlotte’s Sound. It was first brought under public notice by our enterprising settlers, Messrs Duncan Bros., H. F. Logan, and others, who have since parted with the bulk of their interest to an English Company. We are glad to hear the results of their working now leaves a balance to the right side of the ledger, and they have, at the recommendation of t mir energetic manager, Mr Wearne, purchased some splendid machinery with the latest improvements for saving more of the metal from the slimes, which have been previously wasted. When the new additions are complete it will mean another £IOOO invested, and shows .the practical faith the Company have in their property. They employ between forty and fifty men in the.mine and dressing works, and turn out about thirty-five tons of mineral containing from fifty to sixtythree per cent, of dressed ore, which is sent to London and sold: in a ready market. The greatest supply of raw ore is obtained from what is known as the slip tunnel, and they are rapidly extending both No. 2 and No. 8 levels. The wprk is carried on with two shifts of men, each shift working eight hours daily. Very few people who have not visited these works could believe that an undertaking of such magnitude was carried on in such an isolated and quiet locality, and it is in enoh .villages as this that every reasonable concession from Government should be made towards regular mail communication, and the Education Boards should always stretch a point in giving aid to these outlying portions of their district —in fact, while some politic! ms are getting almost fanatical about settling people on the land, we are continually pointing out how an immense mining industry is quietly left to take care of itself, and little or no assistance given to encourage further development. Now, we affirm that any Government who neglects this great factor in keeping up our standard of natural prosperity must come to grief, and we recommend that as one of the greatest incentives to get people located in the back country, §itbey at farming or mining, Government should provide every facility in the way of reading, mail communication, and education, and thus one of the present greatest drawbacks would then be removed, and we should soon find that instead of wasting their energy about the towns many more people would take up a pioneer’s life and become prosperous settlers.