Thames (NZ): Kuranui - Caledonian Gold Mining Company Boring Operations

Boring Operations at The Thames 1903:

The Auckland Weekly News 17 September 1903, published photographs of the new boring / drilling operations being carried out for the Kuranui - Caledonian Goldmining Company.

The Thames Goldfields Improvement Committee (photo below) made the announcement early September that two drilling sites had been chosen. One near the entrance of the Albert low level near the Moanataiari Creek; and the second along the Tararu Road, near the entrance to the Moanataiari Main Tunnel.

NEW ZEALAND HERALD,  8 SEPTEMBER 1903 PapersPast (c)

The Kuranui - Caledonian Goldmining Company were working with the Committee and engaged an Australian company to carry out the drilling - the Goldfields Diamond Drilling Company of Kalgoorlie. The photograph below shows a crowd gathered around the drilling plant, installed ready for use. The boiler used to operate the drill was made by A & G Price of Thames. The drill was to be used to assess the worth of the second auriferous floor of Thames. The first official bore took place 12 September 1903. The photograph below is likely the official opening and start of the drilling.

Kuranui-Caledonian Goldmining Company's Drilling operation.
Source: Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19030917-12-2 (3) and (4) 
Above Left: Some of the Drilling experts, and assembled crowd.
Above Right: The Thames Goldfield Improvement Committee. Back Row: Messrs A Bruce (Hon Sec), T H Crawford, H Green, J McEnteer, J Stevenson, Wm Scott, and M Paul. Seated: Messrs F Trembath (Mayor), J M Lennox, T A Dunlop (Chair), E F Adams (Donor of the Hidden Treasure ground), Thos Radford.

Drilling Progress:
By the 18th September 1903, the drilling depth had reached 187 feet. The drill had passed to date through hard sandstone.On this day, the first ever 10 foot core in New Zealand had been lifted. The cores had broken, but it was envisaged that in the future the cores would be whole.

By the 5th October 1903, the bore had reached a depth of 614 feet on the Kuranui - Caledonian ground. By the 16th of the same month the depth reached was 785 feet, no further details were supplied.

Location of the Drill:
Thanks to Tom for indicating the exact location of the drilling operation in 1903.

Source: Figure 1: From Fraser C. 1910. Bulletin 10: The geology of the Thames Subdivision, Hauraki Auckland. https://archive.org/details/geologyofthamess00fras/page/n11

Background Reading:
New Zealand Herald 9 September 1903
Thames Star 11 September 1903