Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):	45° 16' 43'' South , 170° 18' 46'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):	-45.27882,170.31290
GeoHash:	G#: pzcn7t4pf
Locality type:	Mine
Köppen climate type:	Cfb : Temperate oceanic climate

Abandoned gold mine.

Said to be on the north side of Mareburn (creek). The exact location is unknown, and until more information comes to hand the Mindat map is at the Mareburn homestead. The Mount Highlay homestead, and geographic hill by the same name is south of Mareburn.

What was called the Mareburn Reefs were large, but low grade in gold. They also contained scheelite. The reef dips north-west, and was described by a mines inspector in 1900 as like a coal seam (we are assuming he means the quartz easily breaks apart).

The Mount Highlay Consolidated Quartz Mining Company was formed in 1888, with 20 000 pounds capital. It had taken over two leases, of 25 and 30 acres, one it owned outright, and another from McAuley and party. They had also leased a water race from Mareburn (creek). The company had purchased the land at 9500 pounds, with 2000 pounds cash, and the rest in shares to the vendors. The proprietors retained half the shares.

The company had fifteen directors, a ridiculous number for a mine that would have to keep costs down with the low grade ore it had. Each would take fees and expenses out of the company. Many were the usual suspects, seen in mining circles in the region at the time, and often on multiple mining companies as directors. They varied from politicians, the Naseby mayor, local farmers, managers of mining related companies, and probably most useful Vincent Pyke. Apparently being employed by the provincial government as warden/mines secretary did not preclude him for applying himself in private enterprise despite the obvious conflicts of interest that may arise. They were (Hon) W.J.M. Larnach (Dunedin), Vincent Pyke (Dunedin), (Hon) P.A. Buckley (Wellington), (Hon) John Martin (Wellington), John Elliott (Gladbrook Station), John Laverty (Hyde), (His Worship) P. Hjorring (Mayor Naseby), Richard H. Browne (Engineer Maniototo County Council), Robert Strong (Manager Naseby Hydraulic Mining Company), James Mitchell (builder, Naseby), John B. Neale (general manager Green's Reef and Seam Working Company Ophir), Charles Slater Hay (Deep Dell Station Macraes), Leslie Athol Norman (managing director Great Eastern Gold Mining Company Rough Ridge), Thomas Foster (Foster brothers Hamilton South), W. Eric Reynolds (Taieri Lake Station Hyde), Alexander Teviotdale (manager Mareburn Gold Mining Company Hyde).

A battery was erected in a gorge (assume Mareburn) in 1889, with a wooden tramway following a tortuous route from the mine above, three miles to the battery. Mine manager is P.P. Hilton. Shortly after Matthew Thomas is mine manager. Around ten men are employed.

Late 1891, the company is voluntarily wound up. The mine remains active for the rest of the 1890's, but ownership details are vague. Hogg and Battleman (surnames) are noted as controlling the mine in 1895, appearing to be new owners. In 1896, another battery is erected by the Mount Highlay Quartz Mining Limited. In 1900, Cockerell and party own the mine, planning to mine both scheelite and gold. Meanwhile at the same time, Peddie, White, and Phelan (surnames) are excavating a site for a small battery for the mine.

In 1899, the workings completely cave-in. Luckily it happened at night, when no miners were underground. This generates a visit by the mines inspector the following year, who finds the miners lacking in knowledge of underground timbering,and highlights this to management. The inspectors had little powers at the time to close unsafe mines.

The visit was useful as the inspector provides some details at this time. The mine is owned by the Mount Highlay syndicate, covering 100 acres, with ore obtained from several different points along the line of lode. There is a ten stamp battery on-site, with a long tortuous tramway from the mine to the battery. A new inclined tunnel had just commenced to follow the dip of the reef.

Fink takes over the mine around 1909, erects another ten stamp battery, and constructs a tramway 3 miles long, with a suspension bridge 350 feet above the gorge, and a span of 1000 feet. This collapses a year later. The battery is at the coal deposit, a strange choice considering by far the bulk of material is the quartz ore. Fink plans to mine both gold and scheelite, and the battery is set-up to process both. A. Williamson is mine manager. P.M. Fink floats a public company in 1911, with 12 000 pounds capital.

At some point, probably very quickly this all ends. At least in 1917, a tender is put up for the removal of the battery and all machinery from the mine to the Hyde railway station, by a Donaldson (surname) who now owns the mine.

References