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 1866 by when the Hand in Hand Gold Mining Company and the United Extended Band of Hope Company joined together, and purchased a site from the Victoria Company.

The No.1 shaft reached a depth of 150 metres and recovered 61,370 ozs of gold.

The Melbourne Herald in 1934 reported on the company in a retrospective look at mining in Victoria: "Not many years later (c.1866) it was being reported that the United Hand-in- Hand and Band of Hope Company had spent over £300,000 on development without having paid a dividend....These years, with the transition to incorporated companies and the closer definition of legal rights, were filled with law suits. One celebrated legal issue involving the United Hand-in-Hand and Band of Hope, the Great Extended Redan and the Kohinoor companies, cost £60,000 in law and ended in a compromise."

September 1866
Advertisements in the Ballarat Star on 28 September 1866 promoted the establishment of a new company: "HAND-IN HAND G. M. CO. (Registered). The Ordinary General Meeting of the above company will be held at the Union Hotel, Sturt street, on Friday, the 28th instant, at 2 o'clock p.m. Also, A Special Meeting of the above company will be held same day, at 3 p.m. Business-To confirm the acts of the directors in entering into agreement with the directors of the United Extended Band of Hope Company. G. GRAHAM, Manager." "THE UNITED EXTENDED BAND OF HOPE COMPANY, (Registered); AND THE HAND-IN-HAND GOLD MINING COMPANY (Registered). We hereby convene a General Meeting of the Shareholders in the above companies, to be held at the Mechanics' Institute on Friday, the 28th instant, at the hour of half-past seven o'clock p m., to consider and settle the deed of settlement of the new company, to be called ' The United Hand-in-Hand and Band of Hope Company,' and to appoint a manager, directors, and auditors for the new company. Dated this 25th day of September, 1866. G. GRAHAM, Manager Hand-in-Hand Company. ANDW. J. FORBES, Manager of the United Extended Band of Hope Company (registered)."

October 1866
A report on the amalgamation of the two companies was in the Ballarat Star on 1 October 1866 "There has been very little litigation during the week, and some of the companies appear inclined to settle any disputes that might arise amongst themselves without appealing to a court of law. The most important case of this kind had been that of the Hand in-Hand and Band of Hope Companies, with regard to an amalgamation, so far as concerns No. 1 shaft of the latter company. A board of directory and the necessary officers have been appointed, and the title has beon changed to that of the United Extended Band of Hope and Hand-in-Hand Gold-Mining Company. The transfer-books of the Hand-in-Hand Company were to have been closed to-day, but aa many persons who have lately purchased will be seriously inconvenienced, the members of this association are of opinion that they ought to be kept open one week longer."

On 9 October 1866, the mine manager placed a series of advertisements for tenders in the Ballarat Star. These were for a reef drive, a pump, prop timbers and an office building: UNITED HAND-IN-HAND AND BAND OF HOPE COMPANY. REEF DRIVE, TENDERS for 200 feet (more or less) of sundry Reef Drives will be received at the office, on the claim up to 4 p.m. on Friday next, the 12th instant. Specifications to be seen on the claim. G. GRAHAM, Manager. UNITED HAND-IN-HAND AND BAND OF HOPE COMPANY. TO ENGINEERS AND OTHERS. TENDERS will be received until 4 p.m. on Friday next, the 12th instant, for the erection of pumping engine at No. 1 shaft. Plans and specifications to be seen at the company's office, on the claim. G. GRAHAM, Manager. UNITED HAND-IN-HAND AND BAND OF HOPE COMPANY. TO WOOD CARTERS. TENDERS for supplying 500 six-feet props, not less than eight inches small end, will be received at the office of the company on the claim, up to 4 o'clock p.m. on Friday next, the 12th instant. G. GRAHAM, Manager. UNITED HAND-IN-HAND AND BAND OF HOPE COMPANY. TO BUILDERS AND OTHERS, TENDERS for erection of office for this company will be received at the office on the claim, where plans and specifications may be seen until 12 noon on Monday, the 15th instant. G. GRAHAM, Manager.

A list of the original 633 shareholders was published on the 15 October 1866.

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 the board, Mr Coburn declining to serve. The auditors were re-elected.

1884
"The case of the United Hand-In-Hand and Band of Hope Company, to admit of proofs of debts, was continued at the Court of Mines yesterday, before his Honour Judge Trench. The evidence in reference to the debt to James Cotter sought to be admitted was concluded. Mr Finlayson urged that Mr Cotter was not entitled to draw the salary claimed from the registered company at the time he was engaged by the no liability company, as the latter had taken over all the assets and liabilities and carried on the business of the old company. Mr Pearson, who appeared for Mr Cotter, contended that as the old company were receiving Mr Cotter’s services during the long course of litigation he was entitled to salary therefor. His Honour reserved his decision until the 8th December next. The court then adjourned." "The Court of Mines was formally opened yesterday morning, before his Honour Judge Trench. The applications in reference to the City of Ballarat Company, to settle the list of contributories, and in reference to the United Hand in Hand and Band of Hope Company, to admit proofs of debt, adjourned from the last sittings of the court, were called on and then adjourned until Friday."

1886
The liquidation of the company was in the court in November 1886: "In the matter of the United Hand in Hand and Band of Hope Company, Registered, a motion was moved for the taxation of the costs of the late liquidator, Andrew Brown. The amount in his case was fixed at £113."

1887
In August 1887, a new liquidator had been appointed and the assets and debts of the company were being established: "In the Court of Mines for the Mining District No. 4 of 1884 of Ballarat, at Ballarat. IN the MATTER of the UNITED HAND-IN-HAND and BAND OF HOPE COMPANY, Registered. TAKE NOTICE that the Liquidator of this Company has this day lodged in his office at Lydiard street, Ballarat, a STATEMENT of the ASSETS and LIST of DEBTS proved in this estate, and that a List of Contributories is comprised in the said statement; and that on the twenty-fourth day of August, 1887, the List of Contributories will be settled by this honorable court, and that on that day, or any day to which such settling shall be adjourned, any objections to the said list by any contributor or creditor will he heard and adjudicated upon by the court. Dated the fifth day of August, 1887. EBENR. COX, Liquidator."

In November 1887 the company was still in the process of being liquidated: "The matter of the United Hand in Hand and Band of Hope Company was partly heard at the Court of Mines yesterday, before his Honor Judge Casey. Mr Finlayson appeared for the liquidators, and applied for substituted summonses to be served. After a little argument, further hearing of the application was adjourned until the next sitting of the court, on the 1st December."

The People

 * List of the original 633 shareholders, 15 October 1866.