MOUNT BI8CH0FF. 343 



had been transacted between the parties, all negotiations 

 were abrujitly broken oflt', and for some time everything in 

 connection with this undertaking looked very disheartening. 

 And no wonder. How was it possible that a single individual 

 could undertake in those days to open up a mine 50 miles 

 from the coast, with many miles of impenetrable scrub and 

 heavily-timbered country intervening !* All had to be 

 accomplished with the axe and perseverance, and a certain 

 amount of money, which was no easy task to find in those 

 days. But even after that was effected, many other obstacles 

 stared the pioneer in the face, which made it almost impossible 

 to start an undertaking hke this single-handed ; and only with 

 the help of others could he hope to succeed. At this par- 

 ticular time the discoverer of the tin ore at BischofF got an 

 introduction to Mr. W. Ritchie (subsequently and up to the 

 present time a Director of the Mount BischofF T.M. Co.), 

 who was willing to undertake the floating of a company, 

 provided the result of his visit, in company with other 

 gentlemen, should prove satisfactory. 



In August, 1873, the Mount BischofF Tin Mining Com- 

 pany, Registered, was formed, in 12,000 shares at £5. 

 4400 paid-up shares and £1500 was the purchase price Mr. 

 James Smith received for the mine, consisting of two 80-acre 

 sections. 



Work was started shortly after the formation of the 

 Company, and Mr. W. M. Crosby was appointed the first 

 mining manager. 



The condition of the Company had to be made very 

 liberal, on account of the depressed state of the Colonial 

 money market at that time, and on that account it was 

 decided to make only one call of 20^. per contributing share, 

 and get the bank to advance the balance of the money 

 required to open the mine, £15,000 was considered sufficient 

 capital, and twelve months sufficient time to do all the work 

 required, and hopes were held out that not only would all the 

 money be paid back by that time, but also a small dividend. 

 This, we all know at the present time, was only looking at 

 the sunny side of the picture, but the difficulties followed 

 soon. There was more hard work to be done than any one 

 connected with the Company at that time could foresee. 

 The main points had been overlooked, or not seriously con- 

 sidered. It was not only necessary to prepare a track or 

 road from Emu Bay to the mine, and partly to clear the 

 mine of the horizontal scrub and the heavy timber, but, 



