United Hand In Hand and Band of Hope Company

The United Hand in Hand and Band of Hope Company operated gold mines in Winter Street, Redan

Site
The company operated two mines in Winter Street, in Victoria Park. The No.1 shaft was at the intersection with Sutton Street.

Map, No. 2 shaft
The No.2 shaft was about 215 metres east.

The company had other shafts in the nearby area of Victoria Park:
 * No. 3 shaft, in the park off Russell Street, near the intersection with Smith Street.
 * No. 4 shaft, in the old sale yards on what was Gillies Street.
 * The new No. 4 shaft in Victoria Park, where the existing mullock heap remains.
 * No. 5 shaft, Victoria Park, about 300 metres south west of the new No. 4.

History
The company was formed in 1867 and purchased the site from the Victoria Company. The No.1 reached a depth of 150 metres and recovered 61,370 ozs of gold.

May 1867
A meeting was held in April 1867 to work out the details for the new company, and how the shares held by shareholders in the Hand in Hand Company and those of the Band of Hope Company could be amalgamated. There were also a number of resolutions to cover the future financial needs of the new company "UNITED HAND-IN-HAND AND BAND OF HOPE COMPANY. An extraordinary meeting was held at the George Hotel on Tuesday, 30th April, Mr J. H. Downing in the chair. There were 396 shareholders present and represented by proxy, and holding in all 4167 shares. The chairman read the list of assets and liabilities aa follow:—Mortgage, £10,000; bank overdraft, £7230; bills payable, £9053; open accounts, £3200; total liabilities, £29,483. Assets —Uncalled capital, £6400; outstanding calls, £4000; balance of liabilities over assets, £19,080. The chairman next read a series of resolutions prepared for the consideration of the shareholders, in effect as follow:—1. That the capital of the company be increased from £192,000, in 6400 shares of £30 each, to £256,000, and that such capital be increased by the issue of 6400 new shares of £10 each..."

1870
In February 1870 the company was a large and profitable concern. They were trying to locate the Park lead and began expanding the No. 4 shaft: UNITED HAND IN HAND AND BAND OF HOPE COMPANY. The half-yearly meeting took place at the Unicorn hotel on Monday, Mr W. J. Coburn in the chair.

Directors' Report.— " We have the honor to present to you our half-yearly report ending 31st ultimo, of the progress of the workings since the last half-yearly meeting, with statements of receipts and expenditure for said period, as per balance-sheet, from which it will be seen that the revenue derived from all sources was £10,630 9s 8d, including £5917 10s, which accrued from calls, while the expenditure was £13,326 4s 4d. Since our last general meeting the adjoining companies were written to, requesting them to contribute their quota towards defraying the expenses consequent on pumping at No. 1 shaft, intimating at the same time that pumping would be discontinued should they not comply with the request. As applications were not complied with, we had necessarily to have recourse to the latter alternative; after which the Park and Band and Albion Consols Companies agreed to pay severally (on pumping being resumed) the sums affixed, the former £30 and the latter £15 per week. From other sources we get £3 per week ; making in the aggregate £48 per week, or £2496 per annum. On the 20th July No. 4 shaft bottomed at a depth of 267 feet from the surface, with a dip of 2 feet 6 inches in the length of shaft to the north. At our suggestion, the Park workings were then inspected by your late mining manager (Mr Davies), for the purpose of ascertaining the depth necessary to sink in reef previous to starting chambers, &c. The result of his inspection, as reported by him, showed deepest ground in Park mine to be 290 feet; average fall in gutter 2 feet in 100; also a rise in the surface of about 10 feet. We, being then guided by this information, decided to open out at a depth of 353 feet, or in other words, 63 feet deeper than the workings of the Park Company at that time. When this depth was reached and the opening sets fixed in chamber, two drives were commenced, one north-east and the other north west, the works of the chamber being prosecuted at the same time; after continuing the latter drive a distance of 460 feet it broke through too shallow. We then arrived at the conclusion that the ground in said drive was too deep to be the Park lead, and decided to start two drives from the end of chamber, one to the east and the other south-east, thinking the Park lead might traverse in that direction. These drives being continued for a distance of 205 feet from shaft, bores were put up, each breaking through at about 80 feet, showing the surface of the reef to be on the same level as the shaft bottomed at. The east drive was then discontinued, and the south east drive proceeded with a farther distance of 75 feet, at the termination of which a bore was put up which broke through at 77 feet, and this drive was discontinued. The north-east drive was again started and has since broken into wash, the particulars of which will be found in the mining manager's report. Further details concerning the sinking of the shaft will also be seen therein. Puddling machines, sluice-boxes, and all other appliances requisite are ready for work. — WILLIAM JNO. COBURN, Chairman of Directors; JAMES COTTER, Manager."

Mining manager's report— Since being appointed as mining manager to your company the works at No. 4 shaft hare been chiefly confined to prospecting for the deep ground. A drive driven about north-west (under the superintendence of the late mining manager, Mr Phillip Davies) broke through into a mixture of clay and sand at 460 feet from the shaft, being too shallow for the gutter, from the appearance of the drive when it broke through and the trend of the north reef in the Park mine at that time, the general opinion was that the drive broke through into the gutter worked by the Inkermann and Durham Company, and that the Park lead had taken a south- westerly direction; to prove which two drives were commenced, one east and the other south-east. After driving about 200 feet from the shaft a bore was put up in each drive, both bores breaking through at the same height, viz., 80 feet from the bottom of the drive, proving the ground to be about the same height as where the shaft bottomed. A drive driven about north 24 degrees east which has been discontinued for some time was again resumed, and after driving a further distance of 180 feet, broke through into wash at 600 feet from the shaft. Since breaking through about 40 feet have been driven, which shows a slight dip to the north. The appearance of the wash is greatly improving as the drive advances. Several prospects have been tried, in all of which good paying dirt bas been found. Having fully 5 feet of reef in the face of the drive at the present time, I am of the opinion that an extensive area of ground will be available from the present drive, which will give ample time to bring in the lower level and open up the mine for full work. Your directors, having been convinced of the shaft being too shallow to work a large portion of the gutter, decided to sink the shaft without delay; to facilitate which a small winding engine has been erected to wind through the pump shaft. A contract was let on the 7th of the present month to sink 100 feet at £3 5s per foot, and if completed in four weeks the contractors are to receive a bonus of £25. At a meeting of directors bolden on Thursday, the 20th January, it was decided to open out the shaft at 73 feet below the present level, that is to say, 426 feet from the surface, which depth has already been reached. The shaft is enlarged for putting in the opening sets of the chamber, which will be put in this day, 25th instant. Ten feet of a well will be sunk; after which driving and making the chambers will be carried on simultaneously. It is arranged to sink the shaft a further depth of 74 feet after the chamber is completed, making the shaft in aggregate 500 feet. This will be a great advantage, as the shaft will be sufficiently deep to command the most distant part of your extensive mine, and a deeper level can be put in at any future time (if required) without delaying the works in any other part of the mine. In conclusion I may say that, from every appearance at present, a very prosperous future may be anticipated for your mine; from the well known richness of the Park lead, also the gutter worked by the Inkermann and Durham Company, which is proved beyond all doubt to junction with the Park lead about 200 feet west of our eastern boundary, I have every reason to believe it will be one of the richest and best dividend paying mines in the district. — WILLIAM NICHOLAS."

Engineer's Report. — "No. 1 shaft — Since my last half yearly report the machinery at this shaft has been working well and effectually for the whole of the time. No. 4 shaft — The double engines spoken of in my last report have since then been completed, and are erected in their places, and steam has been laid on; a preliminary trial has been made, and that satisfactorily; the pair of engines is ready for winding at any time. A 14 inch cylinder engine has been erected, to be devoted entirely to the winding from shaft now sinking, after that it will be useful for repairing the shaft and changing the bucket, also clacks driving the duck machines, and pumping the feed in the boilers. The whole of the puddling machines will be ready by Saturday evening next, the 29th instant. All the machinery at this shaft is in good order and working well.— JOHN WARD engineer."

Receipts and expenditure for half-year ending 31st December, 1869. — Dr — To balance at 30th June, 1869, £1478 3s 11d; calls, £5917 10s; claims and plant, £199 15s; contractors for candles, £23 17s; advertising, £12 13s; charges, £35 7s 6d; deposit, £2; sale of water, £897; Park Company, being rent of lease, £63 6s 3d; balance of forfeited shares account, 15s; acceptance, National Bank, £2000; balance, £2695 14s 8d; total, £13,326 4s 4d. Cr.— No. 1 shaft, £546 18s 11d; No. 4 shaft, £10,210 14s 10d; sundries, £2568 10s 7d; total, £13,326 4s 4d.

General Balance Sheet — Dr. To capital account No. 1, £192,004; capital account No. 2, £60,914 10s; deposit account, £25; sale of water account, £2000 5s 6d; gold account, £59,056 3s 10d; forfeited shares account, £54 2s 6d; National Bank, £19,000; debit balance, being amount of overdraft at National Bank, £2695 14s 8d; total, £335,749 16s 6d. — Cr. By claims and plant account, £243,136 13s 7d; plant account No. 1 shaft, £11,131 4s 1d; do do No. 3 shaft, £154 10s; do do No. 4 shaft, £5737 14s; wages account No. 1 shaft, £23,787 12s; do do No. 3 shaft, £205 6s 8d; do do No. 4 shaft, £2812 11s 6d; sinking contracts account No. 3 shaft, £1048 18s; do do do No. 4 shaft, £2904 19s 10d; boring account, £280 10s ; salaries account, £2602 14s 4d; firewood account No. 1 shaft, £5976 16s; do ds No. 4 shaft, £263 18s 10d; driving timber account No. 1 shaft, £2898 3s ; do do do No. 4 shaft, £176 3s; driving contracts account No. 1 shaft, £3731 14s Id; do do do No. 4 shaft, £864 3s 6d; sawn timber account No. 1 shaft, £2250 17s; do do do No. 3 shaft, £265 19s 5d; do do do No. 4 shaft, £3006 7s; charcoal account No. 1 shaft, £223 4s 8d; do do No. 4 shaft, £61 17s 10d; ironmongery account No. 1 shaft, £4179 12s 3d; do do No. 4 shaft, £1077 5s 2d; candles account, £1756 18s 61; law costs account, £3671 3s 10d; advertising account, £294 16s; printing and stationery account, £481 0s 9d; charges account, £2225 12s 6d; interest account, £4515 18s; office building account, £284 6s; office furniture account, £26 13s 6d; Bullarook railway account, £80; survey fees account, £316 12s 9d; directors' fees account, £1072 8s 6d; registration fees account, £228 15s; auditors' fees account, £126; rent of lease account, £1483 7s 5d; Water Commission supply account, £349 13s 6d; fire insurance account, £55 12s 6d; total, £335,749 16s 6d. Examined and found correct, DUNCAN CAMERON, JOHN LAKE, Auditors. Ballarat, 7th January, 1870 — JAMES COTTER, Manager.

Auditors' Report. — We have the honor to report that we have carefully examined the books of your company for the half-year ending 31st December, compared them with blocks receipt and bank pass-books, and find the same correct as per statements to be submitted to you vouchers duly certified by your directors having been submitted to us. — DUNCAN CAMERON, JOHN LAKE, Auditors. Assets — Uncalled capital, £3090 10s; claim, plant, and machinery, £64,000; total £67,090 10s. Liabilities — Overdraft at National Bank, £21,695 14s 8d.

Mr Lee brought under notice the conduct of Mr E. Morey, who had bought and sold shares on time without having them in his possession, and moved that his name be expunged from the list of the directors. The chairman explained that Mr Morey had ten shares registered in his name, and according to a legal opinion he was qualified to sit. Mr Lee pressed his question, and called the conduct of the chairman in question for not putting the motion, following up by moving that the chairman leave the chair, after some humorous passages, the matter was allowed to drop. The reports and balance-sheets were adopted. Messrs J. Croyle, J. Forshaw, W. Canning, J. Honeyman, and C. Kinnear, were elected to the vacancies on tbe board, Mr Coburn declining to serve. The auditors were re-elected.