May 2018 Project Martha – Historical & Archaeological Background 13 In 1882 H. Adams constructed a battery on the eastern side of Martha Hill for the Martha Company which contained 15 stamps.51 The battery was one of two erected by Adams at Waihi that year; the other belonged to ‘Manukau’ Jones (the Waihi Goldmining Company) and was built near the junction of the Ohinemuri River and the Mangatoetoe Stream.52 James Gribble was appointed the first manager of Martha Mine; however, progress stalled in 1882 when an insufficient supply of water rendered the newly constructed Martha Battery useless.53 Faced with reduced production and poor results the Martha, Young Colonial and Waihi claims were amalgamated under the Martha Extended Company in 1883.54 Progress was made following the relocation of the Martha battery to ‘Manukau’ Jones’ site along the Ohinemuri River. The combined facility worked 30 stamps and was referred to as the Martha Battery (NZAA T13/311).55 With the amalgamation of the Dulcibel in January 1884 the Martha Mine became the only surviving claim in Waihi.56 The area continued to draw large numbers of prospectors throughout the 1880s and a report by Mining-Inspector McLaren for the year ending March 1886 noted: ‘The Nil Desperandum, Yellow Jacket, Winner, Nelson, Amaranth and others are all vigorously prospecting; and, as they are discovering loose stones showing the best indications, I am led to believe they will shortly lead to the further importance of this portion of this field by making valuable discoveries.’57 H. Kenrick, of the Thames Warden’s Office, also reiterated that ‘during the past year some very rich reefs and leaders have been discovered and opened up in the Silverton, Union, Rosemont, and other claims, the stone obtained being very different from any previously got in the district—it is largely impregnated with silver, and has [a]ssayed up to very high figures.’58 From 1885 the Union claim was operated by the Union Gold Mining Company, which drove a shaft 76ft deep and made an open cutting – extracting 15 tons of ‘first-class ore’ by March 1886.59 The Silverton claim, situated on the south-western side of Waihi, was made by John McCombie in August 1885 and worked by the Silverton Gold Mining Company, of Auckland, and later by the Waihi-Silverton Gold Mining Company, of Glasgow.60 Despite the growing numbers of claims in the Waihi area, yields remained low and profit margins tight. The nature of the terrain (i.e. quartz reefs) required significant investment in heavy equipment for processing, a cost beyond the reach of most small companies.61 The 51 Ibid.; Climie 1962, p.45; Eric Lens, A History of the Waihi/Martha/Silverton/Union Battery Waihi, 18821915, np, p.6. The first Martha Battery was constructed ‘on the site which was later occupied by the mine manager’s residence, a short distance east of No. 4 shaft and near Junction Road…’ McAra 1988, p.39. 52 McAra 1988, p.40; Lens, 2017, p.6. 53 Climie 1962, p.45. 54 Ibid., p.46. 55 Lens 2017, pp.32-33. Lens also notes that the Martha Battery was the only one operating in Waihi until 1888. Lens 2017, p.4. 56 McAra 1988, p.40; Clough 2004, p.25; Thames Advertiser, 22 January 1884, p.2. 57 Appendices to the Journals of the House of Representatives (AJHR) 1886 C-04A, p.12. 58 Ibid., p.5. 59 Clough 2004, p.14, McAra 1988, p.50; AJHR 1886 C-04A, p.11. 60 Lens 2017, p.48; NZAA site record form T13/311. 61 Barber 1985, pp.37-38.
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