Pot, Dolly, Mining, 1865-1950
A cast iron 'dolly pot', used like a large mortar and pestle in mining to crush specimens and samples before panning. As this is an enclosed cylinder it may be the pestle. This one was used at the Round Hill Gold Mine. Gold mining in the Longwoods of Western Southland began in the mid 1860s and by the 1870s, it had extended to the Round Hill area. Ground abandoned by Europeans was taken over by Chinese miners, with good results. Water was supplied to the claims by water races, the largest of which was Ports Race. The first section was competed in 1877, by H. H. Port, to supply water to his claim. The Chinese asked Port to extend the race to Round Hill and a partnership was formed, the race being extended using Chinese labour. Larger creeks were crossed by using timber flume structures as flooding would destroy a simple log structure. The races picked up water from the surrounding streams, but lack of water in the summer often constrained operations, despite some large storage dams being constructed. With the advent of hydraulic sluicing in the 1890s, and purchase of mining rights from the smaller prospectors, the Chinese were gradually squeezed out. The Round Hill Mining Company Ltd (which was financed from London) became a major player, covering a lot of ground and employing many men. They operated five elevators and their gold saving tables were able to collect very fine gold. They worked their claims 24 hours of the day using an electric lighting plant, obtained from England. They acquired most of the water rights and owned more than 85 mining rights. Mining in the area continued intermittently until the 1950's when it was abandoned and the sites fell into disrepair.
Te Hikoi Museum via DigitalNZ
http://api.digitalnz.org/records/51332005/source
#NaturalResourcesAndMining #CastIron #Complete