Enterprise Mine, Cardrona, Queenstown-Lakes District, Otago Region, New Zealandi

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

The mine was developed around 1868 by Bond and party. The gold was found in deep alluvial gravels.

The party sank a shaft at the foot of the terrace, then traced the lead into the terrace, expending vast sums of money. The lease was always waterlogged, and the ground gave way. Already seriously in debt, the syndicate did not have the money to start new workings, and was compelled by the courts to sell.

John Torrie was a local storekeeper, who sued the Enterprise syndicate in October 1875, for unpaid bills, the verdict going his way for 30 pounds. Unable to meet the payment, the syndicate lost the lease to the bailiff, who placed it up for auction, and the lease was purchased by Torrie. He then set about seizing the syndicate member's houses, until Robert McDougall stepped in, and paid the remaining amount owing. There are some small goldfields in Australasia where the local storekeeper ended up owning most of the goldfield from this method.

However, his win was short lived, as in 1878 a major flood hit the region, closing most of the mines in the Cardrona area. An un-named party is mentioned as trying to get the mine operational again in 1883. Its stated there is 45 feet of standing water in the old workings. The miners are sinking new workings, with constant icy water pouring onto the men as they work, and the danger of breaking into the old workings, with the resultant deluge of water pouring in.

Subsequent farming has obliterated all trace of the mine, and the co-ordinates are very approximate.

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References