WAIHI GOLD MINES 1878 - 1988: some facts & figures...

Discovery:
1878 McCombie & Lee discover gold but are unable to find backers for project.
1879 William Nichol stakes a claim on the Martha Lode, so named after a relative.

Claims registered:
1880 Amaranth, Dulcibel, Rosemont, Martha, Union, Winner, Brittania, Old Waihi, Silverton, Nelson & Nut, Young Colonial.

Drilled or Mined Unsuccessfully:
Waihi Beach, Waihi Extended, Waihi Monument, Favona-Brilliant, Queen of Waihi, Waihi Consolidated, Waihi Reefs, Waihi South, Gladstone.
The Cornish Pumphouse at the end of its working life.

The poppet head for No.5 shaft can also be seen.

This shaft descended to 1309 ft.
Producing Companies and Values:
1882 - 1886 Martha Company, Martha Extended Company
£ 17,370
1885 - 1887 Union Company
£ 2,375
1885 - 1889 Rosemont Company
£ 932
1886 - 1889 Silverton Company
£ 48,346
1887 - 1902 Union Waihi, Rosemont, Silverton Waihi Companies
£ 107,048
1887 - 1954 Waihi Gold Mining Co. (after 1935 Martha Gold Mining Co.)
£ 28,469,011
1893 - 1896 Cassels Company (tailings)
£ 19,285
1897 - 1939 Waihi Grand Junction Company
£ 2,739,623
TOTAL
£ 31,403,981
Employment:
Waihi/Martha Gold Mining Company:
1885
238
1902
1141
1907
1500
1935
646
1948
481
1951
401
Waihi Grand Junction:
1906
238
1910
462
1925
385
1936
7
Underground goldminers at crib. A welcome break during a long shift.
Batteries & Treatment Plants:
1882 Martha, near No.4 shaft and Junction Rd. Abandoned due to low head of water.
1882 Manukau Jones Battery near Mangatoetoe Stream junction with Ohinemuri River.
Later became the Silverton and then later the Union.
1889 Waihi Gold Mining Co. at the foot of Union Hill. 1892 60 stamps, 1894 90 stamps.
1892 Victoria Battery, Waikino, 200 stamps.
1896 Grand Junction, 40 stamps, extended 1913
Waihi Gold Mining Company (later the Martha Gold Mining Company):
Total length of tunnels approx 110 miles (190 km)
Deepest level 1910 ft (600 m)
Total ore tonnage 11,931,047 tons
Peak production (1909) £ 959,594
First Waikato hydro station Horahora 1913
Ratio of silver to gold by weight approx 7.5 to1
School of Mines:
1897 - 1905 Director - P.G.Morgan
1905 - 1946 Director - A.H.V.Morgan