Banner of War Mine, Cardrona, Queenstown-Lakes District, Otago Region, New Zealandi

Regional Level Types
Banner of War Mine	Mine
Cardrona	- not defined -
Queenstown-Lakes District	District
Otago Region	Region
New Zealand	Country

Like all the mines in this area, gold was found within deep alluvial gravels, accessed by shafts, tunnels and drives. Gold was discovered in the Cardrona Valley November 1862, however in the Banner of War area only in 1865.

The mine was developed in the early 1870's by a group of northern English miners, eight in number, called the Geordie Gang. The lease was locally called the Geordie Claim at the time. Names were found for six of the syndicate, being Robert Studholme, R.J. Halliday, J. Loft, R. Hudson (Geordie Bob), D. Scurr, and G. Goldsborough. Mine manager was Robert Hodgson.

In 1873, Timothy Cottar or Cotter (depending on the sources which are about equal for both spellings) took out an agricultural lease, covering several mines. Cotter then launched legal action against the Banner of War Mine, leading to the cessation of work at this mine, and others which were on his lease. This caused much agitation in Cardrona, and a public meeting was held imploring the government to intervene. The Banner of War had sunk their shaft outside Cotter's lease, then were driving underground towards the lead, but within his lease.

A mediation meeting was convened by warden Stratford. Apart from the warden, and Cotter, were G. Yeldham representing the Empire Mine, T. Russell the Great Extended, and R. Halliday for the Banner of War. Halliday may have been chosen as the least hot headed of the Geordie Gang. After several hours Cotter agreed to abandon his agricultural lease, on payment to him by the mines of 300 pounds. 'We hear that everything was nearly upset by the tenacity with which Mr Cottar clung to about half a rood (0.12% of an acre) planted with potatoes, and was ultimately settled by his agreeing to give each of the claimants a bag of potatoes from its produce!'. The total area that had been in dispute was 10 acres.

Immediately after the cessation of hostilities, the mine sank a shaft on the formerly disputed land, down to the wash dirt bottom at 70 feet, then drove 300 feet towards the deep lead. However, this was later abandoned, for shallower ground. While gold was easier to find, the gold leads were much broken, and gold often patchy in nature.

The mine paid a reasonable wage from gold found of 5 to 7 pounds per week per man. (The papers use this method for the Cardrona field rather than talking about the amount of ounces, and is unusual compared to their treatment of other goldfields in New Zealand).

In 1875, the mine was sold at auction to Robert McDougall. This source is critical of the Geordie Gang they did not pursue finding gold at the bottom of the wash (about 70 feet from the surface), which was often the richest. It states they had the pumping equipment to do so, were industrious and steady men, but lacked initiative. It was probably perfect timing, as a disastrous flood in 1878, closed most of the mines in the area.

Farming has obliterated all evidence of the mine, and the co-ordinates are very approximate.

(The Cardrona Bra Fence noted nearby on Google Maps is exactly what you are thinking. A fence hung with hundreds of bras.)

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References