344 PROCEEDINGS OP SECTION C. 



besides that, there were tramways to be constructed, also 

 water-races and flumes, and these had to be connected with 

 the reservoir in the I'iver and the sheds. Ore-dressing 

 apphances had also to be constructed to make the ore 

 marketable. And who could finish all these works in the 

 specified time ? The task was a herculean one. Here were 

 all the difficulties of pioneer life put together, and it was 

 hard to decide which of these was the greatest. 



The climate in those days was very wet, and it was nothing 

 uncommon to have rain for a month or more without ceasing, 

 and then only for a very short time. I have experienced in 

 my own time 16 weeks' rain, only bi'oken twice for a short 

 period ; and, without an almanac, no one could guess by the 

 look of the sky what stage the moon was in. This in itself 

 was enough to frighten a strong man ; but, in addition to 

 this, came the uncertainty of the food supply during the 

 winter (lasting about 9 months), as pack-horses had to be 

 depended upon for all supplies in those days, and these were 

 very irregular, owing greatly to the almost impassable state 

 of the road or track. 



No mail service was established until March, 1875, or 

 more than 2^ years after the mine was started, and it was 

 only natural under such circumstances that the people at 

 Bischoff expected every visitor to call at the Emu Bay Post 

 Office for letters and papers. Any one neglecting this 

 received a ver}^ indifferent reception ; but, with the mail in 

 his bag, the visitor was treated like a prince on bacon and 

 damper and other delicacies kept in the camp in those days. 

 One comfort they had, and that was plenty of firewood, and 

 the horrible horizontal scrub turned out to be, in this respect, 

 the best friend, as this wood burns almost better green 

 than dry. As time rolled on it became apparent that 

 a mine of this description, and with so many drawbacks, 

 could not be opened in 12 months and with the capital first 

 estimated. 



Shortly after the Bischoff Company started work, the 

 Stanhope Company (then known by the name of Walker 

 and Beecroft) and the Old Dan Company started almost 

 simultaneously, and, as all these Companies had common 

 interest in certain works, they came to an understanding to 

 assist one another and work in harmony where it proved 

 beneficial to all ])arties. Under this system the tramway 

 between Waratah and the mines Avas constructed, the 

 building of the reservoir in the river, and connecting this 



