PARTICULARS OF COMPANIES WORKING TIN PROPERTIES IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

CHAMPION GOLD REEFS OF WEST AFRICA, Ltd.

Capital.—£50,000, in 200,000 shares of 5s. each; all are issued and fully paid.

Directors.—S. R. Bastard (Chairman), F. N. Best, Sir Horace C. Regnart, John Waddington.

Secretary.—Newman Ogle.

Offices.—Friars House, New Broad Street, E.C.

To this company belongs the credit of being one of the first to appreciate the almost unlimited opportunities the tin fields of Northern Nigeria offer for the employment of British capital. It is not surprising, therefore, that it has to-day, not merely one finger, but the whole of its digits in the Nigerian “pie,” from which it has already pulled out a “plum” in the shape of a dividend of 100 per cent. paid in March last. It is not always the pioneer in a new mining field who strikes the richest areas, but under the guidance of its highly capable engineers, Champion Gold Reefs of West Africa obtained exclusive rights over some properties and interests in options over others which promise a magnificent harvest in years to come.

It was in September 1909, that the company decided to abandon gold mining in Ashanti and devote attention to tin mining in Northern Nigeria. What were described as “very extensive alluvial tin areas” were acquired on September 20. In a circular to the shareholders, dated October 6, it was stated that the work carried on by the Niger Company, and the investigations of mining engineers in the district had “proved the existence of very rich alluvial ground, and already upwards of 1,000 tons of black tin, won by means of calabashes and sluice boxes, had been shipped.” It was further stated that on one of the properties, over which the company had exclusive rights, there was a waterfall of 480 feet, which would secure cheap and ample power; that the properties were situated some 3,500 feet above sea-level, and the climate was good; that the district was thickly populated, and the natives willing and anxious to work.

The first members of the staff sailed for Northern Nigeria on October 6, and were followed a month later by Mr. Charles G. Lush, the well-known expert on the working of alluvial tin deposits. Mr. Lush was to advise as to the best method of developing the company’s property, which was then stated to be 13 square miles in extent. Parenthetically it may be mentioned that other suitable areas were afterwards taken up and several handed over to subsidiary concerns. Mr. Lush first went to the Juga and Sub-Juga properties, and the first communication received from him was the following cable, dated Bauchi, December 17: “Have visited Juga, am very favourably impressed. Up to the present time proved alluvial extends over 200 acres and averages 9 feet; alluvial contains 4s. per cubic yard; the value of stream tin, £600,000. I will visit Sub-Juga this week.” On December 22 he again cabled as follows: “Sub-Juga—Have visited, am very favourably impressed. I consider admirably adapted for the Australian method of working. It will be necessary to erect a dam; will make survey and report upon. Alluvial extends over 500 acres and averages 9 feet. Estimated value of stream tin, 2s. 6d. per cubic yard.” From these and other communications subsequently received it was evident that Mr. Lush had been most favourably impressed with the field generally, and with the value of the Champion Gold Reefs property in particular.

Four subsidiary companies have been formed to date, viz.:

The Naraguta (Nigeria) Tin Mines is not only a productive concern, but one that has already entered the dividend list, 1s. per share having been distributed. The property was originally five square miles in extent, but the area has since been extended. It was held under option by Champion Gold Reefs, who transferred their option to the present company. The purchase consideration paid to the Niger Company was £50,000, payable as to £30,000 in cash and £20,000 in fully-paid shares. The Government and the Niger Company are together entitled to a royalty of 10 per cent. on the profits. Before the present company was formed the Niger Company obtained from the Naraguta property over 1,000 tons of tin concentrates, and it is stated that in one square mile of the property, which has been systematically tested by pits, there are 10,000 tons of black tin awaiting extraction. Up to the present time, the ground treated has produced tin to the value of £3,000 per acre, whereas in other countries, such as Australia and the Malay Peninsula, £1,000 per acre is considered phenomenal. Some of the ground gives fully 5 lbs. of tin to the cubic yard. There can be no doubt that Naraguta is going to be one of the “gems” of the district.

The Lucky Chance Mines, Ltd., was originally formed in May, 1905, to acquire property in New Zealand, but at the end of 1908 only seven shares had been issued, and the paid-up capital was £5 5s., the company having no assets or liabilities. Towards the end of last year, however, it was placed on its financial legs by the Champion Gold Reefs of West Africa. The latter company sold certain of its tin areas to the Lucky Chance Company for 200,000 shares, and agreed to procure the subscription of 8,000 further shares. To-day the Lucky Chance Company is a robust and ably-controlled enterprise, with excellent prospects of development. Its properties comprise nearly 12,000 acres. The South Juga property has recently been sold to the Juga (Nigeria) Tin and Power Company for £10,000.

The Juga (Nigeria) Tin and Power Company owns what is known as the Juga property, which is situated on a plateau 3,280 feet above sea-level, having a total area of 1,600 acres, and the Sub-Juga property, which lies upon the lower plateau immediately below Juga, the area in this case being 6,720 acres. As already remarked, the South Juga property has recently been added. Mr. Lush estimates that 200 acres of the Juga property will be highly payable. For the purposes of his estimate, he took the average depth as 9 feet, which, extending over 200 acres, equals 2,904,000 cubic yards, each cubic yard containing 6 lbs. “In valuing the ground at 6 lbs. per cubic yard,” Mr. Lush said, “I am not taking into account only the high results obtained from some of the bottom wash, but am reckoning it as a whole. I do this because working results may prove that the wash does not extend over the whole 200 acres, but the gravel does, and I feel confident will average what I state.” In a similar way he estimated that the Sub-Juga property would yield 3 lbs. per cubic yard over 5,808,000 cubic yards.

Tin Fields of Northern Nigeria, Ltd., is a company owning eight square miles at Federri and nine square miles near Dila River, both in the Bauchi Province.

In addition to having floated these companies—in which, of course, Champion Gold Reefs retains a large interest—the company has also large holdings in the following concerns:

It also still owns a lease over five square miles in Ashanti.

NARAGUTA (NIGERIA) TIN MINES, Ltd.

Capital.—£175,000, divided into 175,000 shares of £1 each, of which 158,500 are issued and fully paid.

Directors.—Frank N. Best (Chairman), H. C. Godfray, Herbert Moir, John Waddington, H. Bousquet, H. S. Reitlinger.

Secretary.—Newman Ogle.

Offices.—Friars House, New Broad Street, E.C.

This company owns an area of 3,200 acres at Naraguta, and two further blocks known as the “C” and “Q” areas of eight square miles. It was formerly worked by the Niger Company, who won from the alluvial beds its 1,000 tons of tin concentrates. The company was registered on 15th January, and the property was taken over on 4th February. Mr. C. G. Lush, the company’s consulting engineer, has inspected the property, and has stated that on the Naraguta property they had ground which would give fully 5 lbs. of tin to the cubic yard. He further reported that ten acres had already been treated and given that result, which could be taken as a very fair prospecting whole.

The returns up to and including the month of October 1910 amounted to a total of 350 tons of tin oxide made up as follows:

1910Tons
February28
March34
April36
May36
June37
July44
August45
September45
October45
350

Good profits can be, and are being, made under the present primitive methods in use, but the greatly increased profits to which the management is looking forward can only be secured by adopting the most up-to-date machinery, such as is used in Tasmania and other countries. In order to assure success experienced men are being brought from Tasmania by the Champion Gold Reefs group, and the Naraguta Company will have the benefit of their advice.

At the statutory meeting in April last the chairman stated: “We have the proud distinction of owning the property from which the first shipments of tin were made—not only that, but one of the richest out there, and I am quite confident this company can look forward to a very successful career. The extent of our property is four square miles, one mile only of which has been thoroughly prospected, and calculated to contain 10,000 tons of tin oxide. At the present market price of tin this should yield over £500,000 profit. Our engineer tells me that up to the present time every acre of ground so far treated has produced tin to the value of £3,000, whereas in other countries, such as Australia and Malay, £1,000 per acre is considered phenomenal: therefore, I consider we can congratulate ourselves upon being interested in such a unique proposition.”

As an indication of what may be expected when improved working methods have been introduced, Mr. C. G. Lush states that thirty men and one plant will be able to produce as much and even more tin than is now being obtained with three hundred men. “If we put only one plant on the property,” he says, “it will take us, perhaps, a hundred years to work it out, but there is no reason why we should not have four or five plants, and work it out in a lifetime!” In Australia, Tasmania, and the Straits Settlements 1½ lbs. of tin per cubic yard is considered very good, but Mr. Lush is of opinion that in Naraguta the ground will give fully 5 lbs. of tin per cubic yard; in fact, 10 acres have already been treated, and have given that result, which can be taken as “a very fair prospecting whole.” All that is necessary is to get the plant there as soon as possible.

In Mr. Frank D. Bourke the company has an excellent and indefatigable manager, and recently the directors engaged the services of Mr. A. F. Kitto, who left on October 12 to assist Mr. Bourke in the management.

LUCKY CHANCE MINES, Ltd.

Capital.—£75,000 in 300,000 shares of 5s. each, all issued and fully paid.

Directors.—Mr. S. R. Bastard (Chairman), Mr. F. N. Best, and Mr. Oliver Wethered.

Secretary.—Mr. Newman Ogle.

Offices.—Friars House, New Broad Street, E.C.

This company owns the following properties:—

(1) Dubbo.—A property in Bauchi, Northern Nigeria, consisting of 632 acres. This property is under the charge of two engineers.

(2) Rafinsiroma.—This is a small rich property of 33 acres adjoining Dubbo to the south, and capable of immediately producing tin by ground sluicing and calabashing.

(3) Bengalili.—A property of about 320 acres on the river Bukeru, situated about one mile to the north of Dubbo, and capable of producing tin by handworking at once.

(4) Bengalili North.—This is an area of about 120 acres adjoining and to the north of the Bengalili property, also capable of producing tin by sluicing and calabashing. The river runs through this property.

(5) Polchi.—A property of 84 acres adjoining South Juga, and situated on the main road from Toro to Bauchi. The property is now being worked and is producing tin.

(6) Boidun.—This property is situated on the road from Dubbo to Bri, and is about one mile west of Dubbo. It extends for a distance of about a mile along the river.

(7) Bilidi River.—Three square miles, or 1,920 acres. Good tin was found on this property, besides an appreciable amount of gold in the wash.

(8) Kurdum.—Five square miles, or 3,200 acres. On the tests made the overburden went 3 lbs. of tin for 7 feet, and the bottom wash went 60 lbs. of tin for 1 foot.

(9) Kwall Falls.—The first application was made on behalf of this company for this power, which would be of great value, as it gives 2,000 horse-power in the dry season, and commands several properties.

The Dubbo property is situated near the village of Dubbo, on the Dubbo River, and west of the Soli Hills. It is sometimes described as Topaz Valley, so named on account of the large quantity of topaz found in the wash. It is situated about six miles north of Juga. The Lireui natives have done a lot of work on this property, sinking shafts in some cases a hundred yards back from the Dubbo River. These shafts run from 8 to 10 feet in depth, proving that the bottom wash must have been very rich for, as a rule, the Lireuis only mined shallow ground where the wash is easily got. Mr. Lush said that he had not seen similar work in any other part of the tin district.

Mr. Lush reported that the pannings from the river bed gave very high values, and four shafts sunk to a depth of 8 feet averaged 6 lbs. of tin to the cubic yard. One shaft, which bottomed at 5 feet, went 30 lbs. of tin to the cubic yard. An open-cut on the river bank exposed 17 feet of gravel, which went 6 lbs. to the cubic yard. The overburden thrown out at the shafts sunk by the Lireuis, where tried, gave an average of 5 lbs. of tin to the cubic yard. At the southern end of this property Mr. Lush says the river comes down from a hill with a fall of some 350 feet through a rocky gorge. By working a dam at the top of the rapids sufficient water could be conserved to run a plant by electrical transmission. This country is mostly granite sand, no stiff clay or pug. Mr. Lush states that nearly the whole of the 632 acres are an alluvial deposit, and in his estimates, in order to be well within the mark, he estimates that the payable dirt extends over 300 acres and averages 6 feet in depth. The manager reported on August 29 that he had 300 men employed, and for the four weeks ending August 27 he had recovered 31½ tons of tin, and had cut 735 feet of water leads.

Rafinsiroma adjoins Dubbo to the south, and the manager, reporting on August 29, said he had just started work on this property. On September 4 the manager reported that he had already shipped 505 lbs., and a cablegram received October 9 states that a further shipment is being made.

Work has been started on Polchi, and on October 9 a cablegram was received stating that the first shipment had been made.

On the Bilidi River property Mr. Lush reported that he made several tests from wash exposed on the river bank below the Kofai crossing, and obtained payable tin results in all. He then followed up the river for about three miles, and in one part he says he got gold as well as tin in the concentrates. In five pannings he reports there were from six to ten colours of gold in every dish, which in his opinion was highly satisfactory. Two miles below the Kofai crossing he found some very promising flats, where he also got eight colours of gold in one dish. At the time of his visit he says there was sufficient water running in the Bauchi River for centrifugal pump work.

As regards Kurdum and Dila Rivers, at the lower end of the ground, near the village of Bundas, Mr. Lush says he obtained very good prospects of tin in gravel from the river bed. At Dawka, some eight miles upstream, the wash taken out of the river went 80 lbs. to the cubic yard. Several pits were sunk on the banks, but owing to soakage water only one bottomed, the depth of which was 8 feet, and gave the following result:

Overburden 7 feet went 3 lbs. of tin to the cubic yard.

Bottom wash 1 foot went 60 lbs. of tin to the cubic yard.

The river between Dawka and Bundas falls 400 feet, and at the latter town it is 30 feet by 2 feet deep, flowing at the rate of 60 feet per minute. Even in the middle of the dry season Mr. Lush says a race cut from a point about a mile upstream would give sufficient head to generate 500 h.p. by electricity.

Mr. L. H. L. Huddart, in his report on the Kurdum River concession, says he feels justified in making a preliminary estimate in order to give an idea of what the property may be proved to contain, and he bases it on the following reasons:—

(a) The tin falls above the property.

(b) The river has its source in a country rich in tin.

(c) The good values obtained in the stream bed and samples taken from the banks.

(d) The method of deposition of the alluvial which indicates that “wash outs” are unlikely to be found. In fact some good leads should have been left by the river in the older gravels.

Upon these grounds he is of opinion that there are about 300 acres of alluvial ground that should prove to be about 2½ yards deep with values of about 3 lbs. per cubic yard. Mr. Huddart adds that an output of about 30 tons per month, or 360 tons per year, should be reached without difficulty. In conclusion, he says: “The property is a good one, and its ample supply of water cannot be too strongly emphasised. Tin will be produced quickly from the river bed, and systematic development should bear out the above estimate, and enable the work to be laid out with a view on ultimate production of about 40 tons per month.”

Application for the Kwall Falls for electric power has been made on behalf of this company, and great importance is attached to them. They are situated about 14 miles west of the Niger (Bauchi) Syndicate’s area, and it is stated that in the driest months there is ample water flowing with a drop of 400 feet to generate 2,000 h.p. without any expense of damming.

TIN FIELDS OF NORTHERN NIGERIA, Ltd.

Capital.—£100,000 in 100,000 shares of £1 each, of which 45,000 were issued to the vendors and 24,507 for cash, 10s. paid.

Directors.—Mr. S. R. Bastard (Chairman), Mr. F. N. Best, and Mr. C. H. Dudley Ward.

Secretary.—Mr. Newman Ogle.

Offices.—Friars House, New Broad Street, E.C.

This company owns alluvial tin property at Federri comprising an area of 5,120 acres, and a further property situated on the Dila River or Doss, comprising an area of 5,760 acres.

On the Federri property a tin-bearing area of 300 acres has been proved containing tin alluvial from 2½ to 3½ yards deep, going from 3 lbs. to 6 lbs. per cubic yard, and it is estimated that the property has a life of twenty-six years.

The second property is the Dila River or Doss, which has a proved area of tin alluvial deposit from 3 to 5 yards deep over 400 acres, with an average value of 3 lbs. per cubic yard. The life of the property has been estimated at twenty-three years. A fully qualified engineer is now in charge of the properties, and production of tin is expected to commence immediately. The consulting engineer is Mr. C. G. Lush.

JUGA (NIGERIA) TIN AND POWER COMPANY, Ltd.

Capital.—£275,000, in 275,000 £1 shares, of which all are issued.

Directors.—Sir J. West Ridgeway (Chairman), Mr. Segar Richard Bastard, Mr. Frank Norman Best, Sir Horace G. Regnart, J.P., and Mr. Henry S. Reitlinger.

Secretary.—Mr. Newman Ogle.

Offices.—Friars House, New Broad Street, E.C.

This company owns three properties, as follows:—

Acres
(1) Juga1600
(2) Sub-Juga6720
(3) South Juga1280

South Juga.—Mr. C. G. Lush, in reporting on the South Juga property, said: “On the northern end there are several native workings, in which payable prospects can be got. It would be advisable to have shafts sunk right along the lead from the Juga boundary to the Bauchi road, and boring plant used if water hindered sinking to bed-rock.... Some of the tin carried into Juga must have found its way into South Juga.” Mr. L. H. L. Huddart, reporting on the property, said: “The elevation is about 3,000 feet above the sea-level, with precipitous granite hills rising at least 1,500 feet above the valley on both sides.... The tin occurs in a valley about four miles long, running north-east and south-west. Bed-rock is granite with frequent outcrops of granite and granulite, which form baths more or less at right angles to the valley. The average width is about 2,000 feet.... The ground is friable and easy to work.... A water course which rises on Juga runs right down to the valley. From December to April there is practically no running water, but from May to November the stream runs freely.... If the small tributaries are dammed, and skill is used in saving the water, there should be sufficient for all purposes for six or seven months in the year. Later on a portable pump elevating plant would have sufficient water for at least nine months. There is a considerable quantity of water held up between the granite baths, and the water-locked ground provides natural reservoirs.... A thorough system of prospecting should be inaugurated.... Pits should be put in right across the valley at 100 feet intervals, and a property plan made out showing the depth of ground valued. These will enable the mining work to be laid out in a systematic manner, and will disclose the rich leads.” Mr. Huddart has formed a favourable opinion of the property, and gives the following reasons for the estimates he has prepared: (1) Amount of work previously done by natives who never touch anything but rich wash; (2) sampling and inspection of native working and their tailings; (3) the fact that this proposition is geographically a part of Juga on which rich wash exists; (4) personal knowledge of the ground tested and discoveries on every known part of this field, and general occurrence of cassiterite on all parts of the property. Taking the property as a whole, he estimates that there are 180 acres of alluvial ground, running 4 lbs. per cubic yard, averaging two yards deep. In conclusion, Mr. Huddart says this is an attractive property.... Importance is readily attached to the fact that the property can be made an immediate producer.

Juga Property.—This property is on a plateau 3,280 feet above the sea-level, and Mr. Lush estimates that 200 acres will be highly payable. He takes the average depth of ground as 9 feet, and this extending for 200 acres equals 2,904,000 cubic yards. The area is of exceedingly high quality, and exceptionally free from impurities. In his report Mr. Lush says: “Valuing the ground at 6 lbs. per cubic yard, I am not taking into account only the high results obtained from some of the bottom wash, but am reckoning it as a whole. I do this because working results may prove that the wash does not extend over the whole 200 acres, but the gravel does, and I feel confident will average what I state.”

Sub-Juga.—This property, comprising an area of 6,720 acres, lies upon the lower plateau, or plain, immediately below Juga. The natives have done a great deal of work here, and their beds were extensively tried by Mr. Lush, who got very rich prospects when panning. Some of the dish concentrates went as high as 40 lbs. of tin oxide to the cubic yard, and in no single instance did he get less than 3 lbs. He considers that out of the 6,720 acres 400 are proved to be highly payable, but this only includes the main lead, which runs right through the property for 6¼ miles, and does not include any of the runs coming in from east and west. He takes the average depth of ground as 9 feet; this extending for 400 acres equals 5,808,000 cubic yards. Mr. Lush has recommended movable plants for these properties. Transmission of electrical power to run both the nozzle and the gravel pumps is, of course, the cheapest and best method of working, but it will be some time, probably two years, before the contemplated hydraulical scheme can be installed. Mr. Lush’s recommendations have been accepted by the board, and two plants are being constructed, and their cost when mounted and erected at the mine will not exceed £10,000. In addition to the sluice boxes at present on the property, there are now on the way a further sixty-nine sluice boxes, with all exhausters complete, and these will enable sluicing and calabashing to be carried on pending the arrival and erection of the hydraulic plant.

Mr. Hooke has been appointed manager, with Mr. Grant as his assistant. Besides sluicing, surveys have to be completed, dams constructed, prospecting done, especially by means of boring, tools being supplied for those parts where the water is too heavy for the pits to be sunk.

Mr. A. W. Hooke writes under date September 14, 1910, as follows:

“Attached hereto are my notes upon the leases of the company and the dam site. In setting forth this general report several difficulties have faced the writer—the absence of any systematic sampling record—the flooded condition of the existing holes, and the short time in which to cover the ground.

“At the same time also an effort had to be made to organise the labour and increase the output under existing circumstances. I give the following summary to show how the output has increased in the last four weeks. From August 15 to September 10 the production stands thus:

Week ending. Calabashers. Crude Tin Won. Purchased at
August 20 52 men 768 lbs. ¾d. per lb.
” 27 102 ” 3,319 ” ¾d. ”
Sept. 3 127 ” 3,327 ” ¾d. ”
” 10 133 ” 4,925 ” ½d. ”

“Some of this ore is being won on Juga, but by far the greater part comes from Nafuta. It contains much iron impurity, and a streaming box has already been made for its re-treatment at Juga. It will be understood that the natives bring their weekly winnings from Nafuta to Juga on Sundays, when it is weighed and purchased from them. The first three lots shown above were purchased approximately at ¾d. per lb., and the last one at ½d. The condition of the tin, &c., is a big factor in guiding one as to the price, but as time goes on I hope to instruct the native into the way of streaming his tin and bringing it to a better quality. If I can do this, and keep the price down, it means a big advantage to us.

“Labour at 6d. per day is most satisfactory (9d. is the ruling rate elsewhere except at Dubbo). This week my whole gang struck work and demanded an increase from 6d. to 9d. I flatly refused, and to time of writing have almost as many new men as I require. Some of the old hands have since returned to work. I have despatched a headman to Gingim and Polchi, who will doubtless secure all that I require.

“At Nafuta sampling shafts are being sunk at the rate of about nine per week. These cannot be quite bottomed on account of the water in the wash, but as the rain eases off they can be completed and sampled.

“General.—The three leases are all properties upon which hydraulic sluicing can be carried out satisfactorily, and the wash and overburden in each case is ideal material for gravel pumping. I am quite pleased with the general condition of things, but am anxious to have my sampling completed, so that I may form some estimate of yardage and the average value.”

PRELIMINARY REPORT BY MR. ARTHUR W. HOOKE, ACCOMPANYING HIS LETTER OF SEPTEMBER 14, 1910.

Juga Property.—This lease stands at the highest elevation of the three, and practically forms the divide between South Juga and Nafuta. Its watershed is large, and the greater portion of this goes north-east through the Nafuta gorge to the flats. The lease embraces an area of 1,440 acres and compasses the flats adjacent to two streams coming from the South, which unite and continue north-east, passing into the Nafuta gorge as the Juga River.

The maximum depth of the ground is only about 12 feet, and much of it is amenable to ground sluicing, though it could be handled more advantageously by gravel pumps. This latter scheme is eventually the policy to adopt, as thereby most of the material can be stacked after treatment, and any chance of silting-up be avoided.

The former (ground sluicing) will be a temporary expedient—I say temporary advisedly, because the detritus from such operations will eventually find its way to the area for the dam site above the Nafuta gorge. It will be readily understood that the shape of the property is irregular in order to most economically take in the desired area.

The rocky surroundings naturally bring down their storm waters rapidly, and this will always act as a deterrent in ground sluicing and be a point in favour of power plants.

The lease carries a sparse supply of timber, but will justify the installation of a steam plant of such dimensions as that already under construction. As time wears on, however, an alternative power must have consideration.

The contour of the country does not lend itself to the construction of earthwork headraces, &c., being too rocky; service water, will therefore have to be carried in a pipe service.

I am forwarding a sketch plan showing the two streams and their confluence under the name of the Juga. Pits as shown have been sunk and a sampling done. The samples (Mr. Robinson informs me) were taken by a native headman, and run very erratically from 17 lbs. to nil per cubic yard. Robinson says that some of the holes at that time had been flooded, and is of opinion that all the bottom wash in some instances was not included in the samples taken.

At the present time all the pits are more or less flooded and silted, but I will re-sample the whole of these and advise results at the earliest possible moment.

The two dams shown in the sketch have been carried away by floods. Higher up the river at “A,” a much better site exists, which will give more pressure and command more ground. I propose to place one here as soon as I can.

The tracts shown on the drawing will give some idea of the direction in which the other leases lie.

Viewed in conjunction with the plans, the directors will have a more concise idea of their relative positions.

Nafuta or Sub-Juga.—Of the exclusive area held here some 1,850 acres have been embodied in the mining lease just issued. It embraces what appears to be the pick of the Nafuta flats and encloses a maximum of alluvial drift with a minimum of rock, and at the same time adheres to the water-course. The Nafuta gorge terminates quite abruptly, and opens in an expansive plain lying some 400 feet below. The lease commences at the foot of the gorge, and runs along the river in a north-easterly direction. Its width embraces the deepest of the flats, though there is still some ground at the south-west corner of the exclusive area that warrants attention. I should say from a cursory examination that the amount of workable ground is in excess of that of the other leases, though no attempt can be made to quote tonnage until many more pits have been sunk. It is from this area that most of our present tin is being won. The tin contains much impurity, such as iron, and the natives find a difficulty in separating it by calabashing.

The average depth, judging by the present trial pits, is 12 feet. The wash is clear and medium sized, and the overburden is ideal material for removal where viewed in the old paddocks.

I see no difficulties in it as a gravel sluicing proposition, once provision is made for power. The lease carries no timber, and is a power consideration from the beginning.

Of tin value I can quote last week’s winning of 4,000 odd lbs. of crude tin by 120 men with calabashes, and this too in the face of many weather difficulties.

A site has been set aside for a native village, and already people are congregating and erecting their grass huts.

South Juga.—This lease, as its name implies, lies south of Juga. It covers 855 acres, and is approximately 4 miles long by 2,000 yards wide. It is traversed for its entire length by the track which leaves the Toro-Bauchi road and comes on to Juga. The lease is narrow—it lies in a long gully, and appears bound by a succession of rocky bars. These no doubt may be acting as excellent natural tin savers, but they will make work very irregular. Of the tin value here I cannot speak with any definiteness. I have not traversed the ground in detail, and as no pits have been sunk upon it, I have no samples to guide me. It will have my attention so soon as I can get one lease into a regular producing stage.

Nafuta Dam Site.—In proceeding from Juga to Nafuta one traverses the basin of this proposed dam. As a site its position would be hard to beat. It covers some 356 acres, which narrows down to a steep rocky neck, through which the waters debouch on to the Nafuta flat. The sides of the gorge rise in an abrupt slope, and are composed of granite. It forms an ideal situation for a retaining wall which, if reared 100 feet, would throw back 326 million cubic feet of water. This quantity of water would develop approximately 550 horse-power for 370 days of 12 hours, using 1,220,000 cubic feet per day, and allowing 525,000 cubic feet for daily evaporation and soakage losses.

At present the dam area is enclosed in the Nafuta exclusive area, which expires at Christmas. I propose therefore to take it up as an agricultural lease, which I believe can be secured at annual rental of 1s. per acre.

The dam is a necessity for the operation of Nafuta, though, of course once established, it could generate high tension electricity for transmission to Juga and South Juga, and operate them as well.

A masonry retaining wall could, I think, be most cheaply built, as the stone exists on the site. It would be the installation of a quarrying plant of say half-dozen rock drills and channelling machines, also a small aerial line up the bed of the dam for handling the stone, and a “flying fox” gear across the gorge for handling all the stone in the retaining wall.

In some places at the lower end the water is lost to sight 30 feet or more beneath the huge granite boulders that lie in the gorge.

GONGOLA SYNDICATE, Ltd.

Capital Authorised.—£9000. Issued and fully paid, £6607.

Directors.—Mr. S. R. Bastard (Chairman), Mr. C. G. Lush, Mr. Walter Wethered.

Secretary.—Mr. Newman M. Ogle.

Registered Offices.—Friars House, New Broad Street, London, E.C.

This syndicate owns the following properties in the Bauchi Province:—

Rein.—An exclusive licence to prospect an area of 4½ square miles near the towns of Rein and Forum.

South Bukeru.—An exclusive licence to prospect an area of 3 square miles south of Bukeru, and sold to the company of that name.

Shen.—A mining licence to work an area of 24 acres on the left bank of the Shen stream.

The Rein property is situated on the south-eastern side of the Bauchi Tin Fields, between the pagan towns of Forum and Rein. The area encloses about six miles of a stream flowing in the northerly direction from Rein to Forum, where it junctions with a system of rivers on which the Ribon, Bisichi, Doss, and other properties are situated.

The area is three-quarters of a mile wide by six miles long, an extent of 4½ square miles, practically the whole of which is tin-bearing alluvial. The alluvial is composed of a sandy material of an extremely free nature, and the bottom is the usual coarse grey granite. The latter outcrops in very few places, and carries from about a yard to four yards of alluvial ground. Although the bottom could be reached in only a few places in the stream bed, good prospects of black tin were obtained in nearly all samples panned, and from the alluvial flats, as exposed by the banks of the stream, the results ran from about 3 to 5 lbs. of tin per cubic yard. The panning concentrates contained 10 to 15 per cent. of titaniferous iron sand (which was allowed for), but this mineral presents no difficulties, and can be easily eliminated by the ordinary dressing operations.

The width of the property (three-quarters of a mile) does not include the whole of the large alluvial flats that occur on either side of the river, but having secured the river and so much of the adjacent ground, these flats are protected, and, if necessary, may be taken up when the land for mining purposes is selected.

Of the area staked, certainly more than two-thirds carries alluvial ground of the thickness given above. Except in the bed of the stream, rich patches are not expected, but a fairly uniform value throughout.

Water.—There is a continuous flow of water for sluicing purposes all the year round.

Grades.—Cannot be determined without survey, but at the lower (Forum) end of the property there is sufficient fall to allow the tailings to be inexpensively dealt with.

Costs.—Will compare favourably with other mines in the district, i.e. with ground of moderate value the costs would amount to between £10 and £15 per ton of black tin, and present transport charges £27 10s. per ton inclusive.

Final tests of the flats are capable of being cheaply and quickly carried out by means of trial pits; boring is unnecessary. The probability is that the workable ground will prove to be of too large an area to be included in one mining lease, and that it will be necessary to split the present area into two or more properties.

Shen Property.—This property is situated on the left bank of the Shen stream, on which it has been pegged out for some distance with an average width of about two chains. The Shen property adjoins the concession acquired by the Bisichi Tin Company (Nigeria), Ltd.

South Bukeru.—This property, comprising an area of three square miles, is situated about four miles south of Bukeru. It is situated on the top of the Bukeru watershed, a basin heavily watered with small streams running through the whole area, which is stated to be alluvial, and all the ground is tin-bearing from the top to the bottom of the pits, which have been sunk to a depth of about fifteen feet. Pump or boring plant will be necessary to thoroughly test the property. This property has been sold to the South Bukeru (Nigeria) Tin Co., Ltd.

NIGERIA TIN CORPORATION, Ltd.

Capital.—£100,000 in 100,000 shares of £1 each; 34,782 issued; a further 25,000 are under option at 25s. per share until December 31, 1910.

Directors.—Oliver Wethered (Chairman), H. C. Godfray, R. J. Hoffmann, H. J. Moir, C. V. Thomas.

Secretary.—George Kerr, A.C.I.S.

Offices.—Capel House, 54 New Broad Street, E.C.

This company owns four areas aggregating 14 square miles in Nigeria, and in addition to these has large holdings of shares in the leading companies operating in this field, including:

Another of the company’s assets to which considerable importance is attached is the interest in the Juga (Nigeria) Tin and Power Company, whose property comprises what is known as the Juga area, situated on a plateau 3,280 feet above sea-level, amounting to 1,600 acres, and the Sub-Juga area which, as its name implies, is situated upon the lower plateau immediately below Juga, amounting to 6,720 acres. A further property, known as the South Juga, has also been acquired. From August 15 to September 10 the quantity of crude tin produced by the Juga Company was 12,339 lbs., but Mr. C. G. Lush, the consulting engineer, states that, as in the case of the Naraguta property, the bed of the river, in which the richest deposits of tin are contained, is exposed for calabashing in the dry season, which is now beginning, so that a much larger output of tin may be confidently expected in the near future. New plant is now being supplied capable of dressing twelve tons of tin oxide per day.

The Anglo-Continental Mines Company is largely interested in what are undoubtedly the best gold mines in the Tarkwa and Prestea, districts of West Africa, but it has also a substantial slice of the Nigerian “cake.” It has already had one profitable “deal” in the successful flotation of the Northern Nigeria (Bauchi) Tin Mines, Ltd.—a company holding prospecting licences over a compact block of 50 square miles in the Bauchi Province, and mining licences over three blocks of about 12½ acres each. Portions of the property have been worked sufficiently by the Niger Company to prove their exceptional value as tin-bearing areas. Mr. C. G. Lush, reporting in February last, stated: “From surface pannings I should estimate the over-burden, or rather stanniferous gravelly deposit overlying the wash, to go 2 lbs. per cubic yard.... Provided sufficient power is obtained, there is room here for at least four big plants capable of treating 10,000 cubic yards of gravel each per week. 40,000 yards at 2 lbs. equals 80,000 lbs. of tin oxide, equal to 35 tons per week, which, at £80, means £2,800; less cost of treatment at 6d. per yard £1,000, carriage on 35 tons of tin (at £15) £525, Government royalty at 10 per cent. £127, leaving a net weekly profit of £1,148.” The Anglo-Continental Mines Company has a large interest in this company, and is looking for big dividends therefrom in the not very distant future. But this is not by any means the full extent of its interest in Northern Nigeria, for it has acquired an adjoining area of 50 square miles, which are stated to afford equally satisfactory prospects.

Apart from the indirect interest the Nigerian Tin Corporation has in the Northern Nigeria (Bauchi) Tin Mines, through the Anglo-Continental Mines Company already referred to, it has a large holding on its own account.

The original intention, when the Nigerian Tin Corporation was formed, was that it should confine itself entirely to taking participation in deals and promotions, but feeling persuaded that this is the most important virgin tin field the world has yet seen, the directors decided to extend the scope of the corporation’s operations, and, as already stated, four areas have been acquired of eight, three, two, and one square miles respectively.

Mr. H. O. Crighton, late manager of the Pusing Lama Mine, in the Straits Settlements, has been appointed the company’s manager in Northern Nigeria in January last, and has already taken up three areas on behalf of this company.

NORTHERN NIGERIA (BAUCHI) TIN MINES, Ltd.

Capital.—£200,000 in £1 shares, of which 169,000 are issued and fully paid, including 100,000 given in part payment of the property.

Directors.—Sir Robert A. Hampson, J.P. (Chairman), Mr. Hugh C. Godfray, Mr. George T. Harris, Mr. Oliver Wethered, and Mr. Hetherington White.

Secretary.—Mr. E. Price.

Offices.—19 St. Swithin’s Lane, E.C.

This company has exclusive prospecting rights over an area of 50 square miles in the Naraguta district of Northern Nigeria, together with mining licences over a further area of 12½ acres situated at the head-waters of a small river.

The manager of this company in Nigeria is Mr. Means, who has done a considerable amount of prospecting on the property. This large property of 50 square miles was originally secured by the Anglo-Continental Company. It is believed there are several large areas of alluvial tin on the property, which has not yet been properly prospected.

With regard to the smaller concession of 12½ acres, Mr. Lush confirmed the statement that the alluvial tin at this point was exceptionally rich, averaging as much as 12 lbs. per cubic yard.

In his report on this property dated February 21, 1910, Mr. Lush said:

“From surface pannings I should estimate the overburden, or rather stanniferous gravelly deposit overlying the wash, to go 2 lbs. per cubic yard. It would be interesting to see the values and thickness of the bottom wash. Provided sufficient power is obtained, there is room here for at least four big plants capable of treating 10,000 cubic yards of gravel each per week: 40,000 yards at 2 lbs. equals 80,000 lbs. of tin oxide, equal to 35 tons per week.

“I look for a fair depth of payable ground, everything points to its being so, but only boring can decide this.

“Life of property would largely depend on the depth of the deposit and the number of plants erected, but presuming the deposit is 15 feet deep, and you instal four plants capable of putting through 10,000 yards weekly each, it would take fully eight years to work out this 500 acres of the property.

“I understand that the total area of land taken over by you from the Niger Bauchi Syndicate is 50 square miles, or 32,000 acres. In this report I am only dealing with the southern and south-western part of your holding, some 20 square miles, as I did not visit the northern portion. I was, however, credibly informed by one of the Government mining officials that on the northern block of 30 square miles there are also stanniferous deposits, and in addition a very promising tin lode, a continuation of the one that has been opened up by the Niger Company on your eastern boundary. The actual value and life of only the area I have reported upon would, in my opinion, quite justify your proceeding with vigorous development work at once. The probable values of the remaining 30 square miles may possibly turn out equal to the southern; there is no reason why they should not, as the whole of the property is within a rich alluvial and lode tin district that has hardly as yet been scratched.”

On June 15 the company’s representative in Nigeria cabled: “Active sluicing operations will be commenced as soon as sufficient water is available. Meantime 6 tons of tin have been produced by means of calabashes.”

A complete sluicing plant has been shipped, and pending its arrival washing by means of calabashes is being continued.

At the first statutory meeting, Mr. Lush said, since delivering his report:

“I see by a cablegram from Mr. Means that he has found good tin on other areas. There are about 4 square miles of about 2,600 acres that have been proved to carry tin since I left there.”

REPORT ON THE N’GELL RIVER TIN DEPOSITS, NORTHERN NIGERIA

By Mr. H. W. Laws

The N’Gell River, which is one of the sources of the Kaduna, rises in the pagan town of N’Gell on the highest watershed of the country.

Black oxide of tin is found in large quantities in the bed of this river where it is not deeply covered with gravel, and in the various streams flowing into it, especially those coming in from the south. The ore undoubtedly has a very local origin, it is derived largely from the denudation of the small tin-bearing quartz veins in pegmatite granite on the sources of the tributaries known as Nos. 1 and 2 streams, and lode matter containing massive crystals of tin is also breaking down in the neighbourhood of Nos. 4 and 5 streams. All these it will be noted are on the south side of the river.

For the purpose of discussing these tin deposits as a mining proposition, the river may be conveniently divided into three portions:

A. The headwaters of the N’Gell River (sections 49 and 50 on plan) with Nos. 1, 2, and 3 streams.

B. The portion of the N’Gell River flowing through the Niger Company’s area for a distance of 2½ miles with the tributaries known as Nos. 4, 5, and 6 streams, and

C. The portion of the N’Gell River flowing for a distance of six miles through section 46 and 36 to 40 on the plan.

A

This portion is actually on the apex of the watershed. The streams which fall rapidly to the valley below on the west are crossed by numerous bars of granite and quartz reefs, which act as natural riffles, and have served to concentrate the ore in high values, but relatively small quantities of alluvial in the beds and banks of the streams. Good alluvial also occurs in patches amongst the granite hills away from the waterways.

The streams get a fairly regular supply of water from springs and the drainage of the many veins, but they are also subject to scouring floods caused by heavy but entirely local rains. The floods are breaking down the alluvial with great rapidity, and large quantities of ore must be washed down to the valley below every year.

During three months of somewhat irregular work last year we recovered 30 tons of black tin from Nos. 1 and 2 streams. Part of this was won by sluicing the alluvial banks, of which 2,736 cubic yards, worth 10 to 11 lbs. of black tin per yard, were worked. Operations were commenced from the boundary, the ground was worked fairly, and although superficially it only represents some 300 square yards, it gives a fair idea of the value of the bank deposits. The values, of course, would not apply to the alluvial apart from the streams, nor to that on No. 3 stream, where there is far less grade and more alluvial, but, taken as a whole, the proposition is decidedly the richest yet found in Nigeria. Until further prospecting has been done and a detailed survey carried out, it is impossible to give any accurate estimate of the payable alluvial available on this portion; as a hand-work proposition it is not of great extent (as will be gathered from my report to the Niger Company last December, a copy of which I attach), but as an area systematically worked with the aid of machinery, it is undoubtedly a property which should produce a large tonnage of tin over a period of many years.

The above-mentioned report also clearly sets forth the difficulties in the way of systematic mining, if it is to be regarded as a separate concern. I have carefully considered the methods suggested by Mr. Lush in his report. The first we have already tried. The second is impracticable, because we have no higher level at which we could conserve water for hydraulicing the whole of the alluvial deposits, and the third and fourth can only be considered in conjunction with one or both of the other portions of the N’Gell River.

A modification of the second suggestion might prove satisfactory as a temporary measure. It would be possible to conserve in a reservoir constructed near the head of one of the streams sufficient water to sluice by gravity—I do not think there would be pressure for hydraulicing—the alluvial in and near the main river and part of that about the three streams. The ground higher up the streams could not be worked by this means.

B

This portion of the river flows through the Niger Company’s area, as shown on the plan attached. The river, after leaving the town of N’Gell, falls into a fine open valley within which is an apparently deep basin filled in with loose gravels heavily charged with water.

Four important streams numbered 3, 4, 5, and 6, enter the river from the south, three of them having falls in the position marked on the plan.

In addition to the alluvial being washed down the main stream, this basin must also be enriched by the tin-bearing wash in the tributaries, which also show good prospects.

The basin covers an area of roughly 300 acres, not including the bank deposits on the streams or the higher level flats. As would be expected from the nature of the ground, the top gravels do not carry payable values, but it seems to me almost impossible for the bottom to be other than rich when it is remembered that tin will not travel far without easy outlet and good grades, and that for a long period tin-bearing dirt has been emptying itself into this basin from so many channels. We have been unable to reach bottom in ordinary trial pits owing to heavy water and the running nature of the alluvial, and it will now have to be tested by boring.

Even if it proves only a low-grade show, it is obviously a big mine, and one that must be worked by dredging or pumping methods. Possibly the three falls above mentioned would give sufficient power, in which case the problem of working the “A” deposits would be solved at the same time. Otherwise it would be necessary to acquire the Kwall Falls, and generate electric power there.

C

I am not so familiar with this portion of the river, but, generally speaking, it is of a similar character to “B,” and the same remarks apply, but with this important exception, that it is down stream and therefore farther away from the source of the tin. I am not in a position to say whether it is fed by other tin-bearing streams or rocks further to the west.

As your Chairman very reasonably suggested, there may be an obstruction in the shape of rising bedrock or bars about Section 46, in which case this portion may prove of little value. This can only be disclosed by continuing the boring operations, and I would here emphasise Mr. Lush’s opinion that the greatest care should be exercised in taking samples from holes in these loose gravels where boring has a tendency to concentrate the heavier mineral at the bottom.

RECOMMENDATIONS

As some difficulty is anticipated in holding the areas as they now stand after this year, I suggest that they be dealt with as follows:—

(A) The streams and alluvial deposits on this portion are spread over some six square miles of country, so that my previous suggestion that the whole should be taken up in one rectangular mining area is not feasible. A mining area should be acquired over Sections 49 and 50 as under:—

Commencing at the N’Gell Beacon, thence 2 miles due west, thence 1 mile due north, thence 2 miles due east, and thence 1 mile due south to the starting point, enclosing an area of 2 square miles.

Mining licences over Nos. 1, 2, and 3 streams should be renewed.

The above four mining areas will not include all the alluvial mentioned in this report as existing on this portion (A), but if the three streams are held, the alluvial lying between them will be safe from others, who would have no water for working it. This is only intended to meet the case temporarily, and until further surveys have been made and the Mining Laws revised.

(B) Negotiations should be entered into with the Niger Company to take over this part of the river, or with a view to an amalgamation of interests.

A mining licence should then be obtained to commence at a beacon 10,343 feet due west of the N’Gell beacon, thence 2½ miles due west, thence 1 mile due south, thence 2½ miles due east, thence 1 mile due north to the starting point, enclosing an area of 2½ square miles.

(C) I recommend that an exclusive prospecting licence be applied for, identical with Sections 36 to 40, enclosing an area of five square miles. If a prospecting licence is not allowed in any form, the expense of holding this piece of land under mining licences must be borne until prospecting is completed.

There remains only the river flowing through Sections 46 and 35. A rectangular prospecting area (or, if refused, a mining area) ½ mile wide, east and west, by about 1¼ miles long, north and south, will be sufficient to hold this while its examination is going on.

With regard to staff and the work for the immediate future, a good surveyor and assistant must be sent out whose chief duty, apart from the demarcation of boundaries, would be the determination of grades in the rivers, measurement of water, survey of falls, and the preparation of sections showing the alluvial beds as disclosed by the pits and bores. An experienced man to carry out the boring operations should also be provided, and the whole work placed in charge of a capable hydraulic mining engineer.

CONCLUSION

It is above all things desirable to aim at working the whole of the deposits about this river as one large power proposition, deriving the power either from falls on the property or from Kwall. Should it be found impossible to do this (from failure to secure the land and falls required), then it will have to be proved whether the deposits on the six square miles of “A” portion justify the expense of harnessing falls and conveying power to the heads of the streams. If not, as much of the alluvial as possible must be worked out by the same system of sluicing as was employed last year, but on an increased scale, and with a more elaborate method of dealing with the water supply.

I am of opinion that it will take a year with a competent staff to prove the six miles of land referred to in “A” portion.

(Signed) H. W. LAWS, M.I.M.M.

3rd September, 1910.

N’GELL STREAM AREAS

28th December, 1909.

The Secretary,
NIGER COMPANY, LIMITED,
London, W.C.

Dear Sir,—I beg to hand you herewith Summary of tin returns for the months of November and December.

Tin Recovery.—Work ceased on the 14th instant owing to Mr. Carpenter’s time being completed, and his desire to return to England; otherwise sluicing on No. 1 stream could have continued to the end of the year. Sluicing on No. 2 stream was stopped early in November owing to want of water.

The black tin recovered for November amounted to 12 tons and 2 lbs., and from December 1st to 14th, 4 tons 14 cwts. 3 qrs. 12 lbs., making a total of 30 tons 0 cwts. 1 qr. 3 lbs. for the three months that mining operations have been carried on, as shown on the summary.

The ground sluiced at No. 1 stream measures approximately 2,736 cubic yards, worth 10 to 11 lbs. of black tin per cubic yard.

In arriving at these figures, the tin taken from the actual river bed, where it was impossible to measure the ground sluiced, is excluded, and this value will be found to be a fair average for the alluvial bank deposits on the N’Gell areas.

I estimate there is sufficient of this to last for six years on the two areas we have taken up, but this does not include some fairly extensive deposits between the three N’Gell streams and outside our small mining leases, which we have recently found to exist. We have not attempted to develop these higher deposits, but wherever tried they carry good values, and if by careful selection we added them to the existing areas, the proposition would become an important one as far as quantity is concerned. The difficulty lies in economical working. The present method, although profitable, is unsatisfactory, at any rate from an engineering point of view; my experience of the last three months has proved that sluicing in a small way can only proceed between seasons—in the dry season only hand-work can be done, and at the height of the rains the sluices cannot be fixed low enough to receive the sluicing water. It is essentially an elevating proposition, but without power, fuel, or water, we are helpless. I therefore recommend you, should an opportunity occur, to give careful consideration to any amalgamation scheme which our neighbours on the N’Gell River might think desirable after they become familiar with their property, especially if they decide to work on a large scale.

Should no opportunity of the kind occur, I advise you to take the best out of the three streams and their alluvial banks by our present cheap sluicing methods and handwork during the next six years or so. A good engineer and an assistant would be required to supervise, but the former would only be required at certain seasons and not permanently on the property. I am preparing a list of plant required to work economically on these lines on the three streams.

Export.—The tin won was all first grade, assaying 72 per cent. to 73 per cent. 644 bags, weighing net 19 tons 9 cwts. 3 qrs. 7 lbs., were despatched in November, and 350 bags, weighing net 10 tons 10 cwts. 1 qr. 24 lbs., were despatched this month, making a total of 30 tons 0 cwts. 1 qr. 3 lbs.

General.—The plant has been properly laid up and protected from the weather for the dry season, and a watchman has been placed in charge.

I am, &c.,

(Signed) H. W. LAWS.

Since the preparation of the foregoing particulars a report has been received from the company’s manager giving the first detailed particulars of the prospecting as follows:—

“Prospecting.—With regard to this important subject I expect to have a little more to say when I have a general map ready to forward to you. The shaft in Section 26 which you asked about in your letter of 26th July was not got down to bedrock on account of water, and there were no results to report. In prospecting the streams of the central and northern part of the 40-mile area, we found tin in many places in various quantities, and irregularly distributed. Apparently the best stream is that one which runs through Section 28; while prospecting there we calabashed out five tons very easily from the bed of the stream, which tin we have in stock and shall report it to the Government as soon as the mining lease is applied for. The prospecting by numerous pits shows that the ground is too irregular in values outside the bed of the stream to make satisfactory estimates until some sluicing is done, which will be a relatively easy matter when we have the mining lease. There is another stream about three miles further north which I think will warrant taking up, but perhaps not quite so good as that in Section 28.

“In prospecting other streams of the northern part of the 40-mile area we generally found from a trace of tin to say a pound or so per yard with limited yardage, and none of them offer much encouragement to the company for mining purposes.

“A part of the N’Gell River, in Sections 49 to 50, I think is suitable for taking up as a mining lease. The tin, however, appears to be mostly confined to the river bed, and therefore it is more suitable for calabashing than for sluicing purposes. Also the parts of streams Nos. 1 and 2, which are in the prospecting area, should be included in the areas applied for.”

The manager further states, in regard to the drilling operations which are being carried out on the more remote and westerly portion of the property, that the results hitherto obtained have not been very encouraging, but that it is too early to arrive at a definite conclusion in regard to final results.

Cable advice has been received of the recovery of ten tons of tin during the month of October. The manager adds that the water is falling rapidly; this should permit of calabashing on an extended scale. The value of the tin already won by intermittent working should realise nearly £4,000, a sum in excess of the outlay in respect of the surveying and prospecting on which the small staff has been principally occupied.

TIN AREAS OF NIGERIA, Ltd.

Capital.—£60,000 in 240,000 shares of 5s. each.

Directors.—Assheton Leaver (Chairman), Cyril D’Arcy Leaver, James Ramsay Parsons, Franklin Stokes Saunders, Lewis Norman Way.

Secretary.—Henry Thomas Miller.

Offices.—St. Bartholomew House, 58 West Smithfield, E.C.

This company owns two alluvial tin properties of about one square mile each, and when the company was formed they had a further option for an area of about 1,920 acres, which option has since been exercised, and the property referred to in it floated as a subsidiary company called the Jos Tin Area (Nigeria) Limited.

For the purpose of identification the two properties owned by the company were described as Jos No. 2 and the Fusa property.

Mr. Malcolm has been appointed manager of the properties, and on behalf of the company has applied for and secured permission to take up a further area on the Fefan River.

Mr. S. W. Carpenter, who was in the employ of the Niger Company for five years, has been appointed engineer. Mr. A. Higgins, who has also joined this company, was formerly in the Public Works Department of Nigeria, and has been in the country for the past ten years. He will make his headquarters at Lokoja, in which place the company has contracted to acquire a site and buildings to be used for trading, with a steam launch and two barges on the river. In connection with this trading and transport work, the company have acquired properties in Nigeria belonging to the firm of Messrs. Siegler & Co., and their place in Lokoja occupies the best river site there.

This company promoted its first subsidiary company in May 1910, and was called the Jos Tin Area (Nigeria) Limited. The property was a producing one.

ANGLO-CONTINENTAL MINES CO., Ltd.

Capital.—£200,000 in 400,000 10s. shares, of which 300,000 are issued and fully paid.

Directors.—Messrs. W. F. Turner (Chairman), Edmund Davis, J. Schaar, and H. White.

Secretary.—Mr. A. W. Berry.

Offices.—22 Austin Friars, E.C.

This company, in addition to having interests in various West African and South African concerns, is interested in the Nigerian Tin Fields, and in addition to holding share interest in various companies, they have a prospecting right over an area of 50 square miles in the Bauchi district to the west of the Naraguta area, and to the north and adjoining the area of the Northern Nigeria (Bauchi) Tin Mines, Limited.

JOS TIN AREA (NIGERIA), Ltd.

Capital.—£110,000 in 440,000 shares of 5s. each.

Directors.—Assheton Leaver (Chairman), C. D’Arcy Leaver, H. T. Miller, J. R. Parsons, F. S. Saunders, A. T. Schmidt, L. N. Way.

Offices.—58 West Smithfield, E.C.

The company acquired from the Tin Areas of Nigeria Limited, an area of 1,920 acres which were originally held by the Niger Company. Mr. Charles Scott has been engaged as mine manager, and is now on the property, from which about 20 tons of black tin were won during May, June, and July.

At the statutory meeting held on 22nd August, the chairman said:

“I may say that I have had the pleasure on two or three occasions of meeting Mr. H. W. Laws, who was the chief mining engineer of the Niger Company in Northern Nigeria, and is now their consulting engineer here. He had for some time the direction of the work on this particular mine. In the course of friendly conversations with him, he told me that he was of opinion that our company should get back its capital, together with interest commensurate with the risk run in all mining enterprises. He also told me that he considered the mine could go on producing indefinitely anything up to 200 tons of tin per annum, without any capital expenditure, but he added that he thought that would be a very wrong policy to pursue, and that the right thing to do was to have, as we intend having, a thorough survey made of the property, and then come to a conclusion as to the best method of working it. I think that it is very satisfactory to hear this from Mr. Laws, because it points to the fact that we have really got a sound property, and one which, if properly managed, will prove to be a sound speculative investment. It is a property which must be regarded as a low-grade proposition. Although, of course, it is more fascinating to have a property which may be called a very rich one, yet a large low-grade property is really far more satisfactory from the shareholders’ point of view than a property which is simply rich in patches, because with a large low-grade proposition it is a case of “cut and come again” and as often as you like. There is always something to go away with. Mr. Lush, in a report which he gave us at the time of the flotation of this mine, estimated that we could reckon upon having 500 acres containing 2 lbs. of tin per cubic yard, and if that estimate is realised—and I have no reason to anticipate that it will not be realised—and the profits are made that he foreshadowed might be made, you have a very handsome property, and one containing apparently something over half a million sterling worth of tin.”

BISICHI TIN COMPANY (NIGERIA), Ltd.

Capital.—£200,000 in £1 shares.

Directors.—The Earl of Wharncliffe, Sir William Wallace, K.C.M.G., William Scott Coutts, Samuel Watkin Carlton, James Gardiner.

Secretary.—Stanley Aldous.

Offices.—51 and 52 Fenchurch Street, E.C.

This company was formed to acquire and work mining rights over a property known as the Bisichi Valley Tin Area, comprising an area of three square miles in extent, situated in the Bauchi Tin Fields. It is located about 12 miles south-east of Jos, at the head-waters of the river Gongola, on the main transport route from Keffi to Naraguta.

Mr. Laws, the general mining manager of the Niger Company, in his report, says:

“One of the most pleasing features of this property is its constant supply of water for sluicing and power purposes, and the ample head of water given by the three falls for hydraulicing.”

In the Bisichi Valley there is a large alluvial deposit of light sandy material which is quite free from clay, and is extremely friable, and consequently capable of cheap and rapid concentration.

Black oxide of tin occurs abundantly in the river beds and adjacent alluvial flats, and is of very good quality, there being practically no iron or other impurity associated with it. The tin-bearing alluvial is all on the surface, and varies in depth from a few inches to some 20 feet in the vicinity of the river.

Systematic tests of the alluvial by trial pits were commenced this year, and up to the present the great proportion of the alluvial of the river Bisichi has been tested.

The tested ground averages 4 yards in depth, and contains approximately 2,120,000 cubic yards of payable alluvial wash. The latter varies in value from traces to 129 lbs. of black tin per cubic yard, the average value being 7.27 lbs. of black tin per cubic yard. The total contents of the tested portion therefore amounts to 6,800 tons, exclusive of the river bed deposits, which the Niger Company’s engineers estimate to contain about 1,000 tons.

The nature of the river-bed wash does not lend itself to accurate sampling, but Mr. Laws, judging by actual returns from similar deposits on this field, considers this estimate of 1,000 tons a moderate one, and states that it may be taken that some 7,800 tons of black tin (containing over 70 per cent. of pure metal) have been developed to date. Taking the costs as estimated by Mr. Laws at £45 per ton, the above tonnage contained in the area already proved, shows an available profit of over £350,000.

Payable tin-bearing alluvial exists on other portions of the Bisichi Valley area, but as it has not yet been measured or tested, no exact estimate can be made of quantities and values. The ground already tested represents about one-tenth of the total area; but the very high values and quantities so far disclosed cannot be taken to apply to the whole area, as it is natural that the course of the main stream should carry better values and deeper ground than the remainder of the land where the alluvial would be more patchy and shallower. It will be seen, however, that the estimated working costs per ton have been placed by Mr. Laws at a figure which will permit of lower grade ground being worked than that already referred to.

Mr. Laws advises the immediate erection of an hydraulicing plant capable of dealing efficiently with wash dirt sufficient to produce 800 tons of black tin annually, an ample head of water being available for this purpose throughout the year.

He also states that it would be quite possible to commence work on the property immediately by ground sluicing; but he is strongly of opinion that this policy would be unwise, as the disturbance of the ground might tend to interfere with the economical working on a large scale such as is proposed.

Provided no unforeseen difficulties arise, Mr. Laws is of opinion that the whole of the plant would be in operation within nine months.

If Mr. Laws’ advice is taken, he estimates that working cost would amount to about £10 per ton on ore of the value already found, but, as stated above, to allow for working a larger quantity of lower grade ground, working costs should be placed at £15 per ton of ore. The price of the ore in the market at Liverpool may be taken at £90 per ton, which, after deducting £15 for working costs, and £30 per ton for transport and contingencies, would leave a margin of profit of £45 per ton of ore. Although it is proposed in the earlier stages of development to equip the mine with plant capable of producing 800 tons annually, any increase on this rate of working will depend on surveys determining the head of water available.

WEST AFRICAN MINES, Ltd.

Capital.—£100,200 in £1 shares, of which 100,000 are ordinary shares and 200 founders’ shares; all are issued and fully paid.

Directors.—Rt. Hon. Lord Harris (Chairman), Edmund Davis, Friedrich Eckstein, H. Strakosah, R. G. Fricker (Managing Director).

Secretaries.—The Consolidated Goldfields of South Africa, Limited.

Offices.—8 Old Jewry, E.C.

This company, which is managed by the Consolidated Goldfields of South Africa, Limited, has secured an interest in a tin business in Nigeria. The company have sent out Mr. Balfour, who has had experience in tin dredging in the Straits Settlements. The tin property which is here referred to was floated in conjunction with the Anglo-Continental Mines, Limited, and was called the Northern Nigerian (Bauchi) Tin Mines, Limited.

BENUE (NORTHERN NIGERIA) TIN MINES, Ltd.

Capital.—£10,000 in £1 shares; 8,500 are issued and fully paid, the balance are under option at par till 31st March, 1911.

Directors.—Charles E. Pearson (Chairman), C. L. W. Wallace, H. Kemble, G. F. Jones.

Secretary.—J. H. Dormer.

Offices.—21 Great Winchester Street, E.C.

The company originally held a prospecting mining licence over an area of ten square miles, situated in the Benue River district, Northern Nigeria.

Mr. Harry Kemble, accompanied by an experienced engineer, left for Nigeria early this year. The following circular was issued to the shareholders on 29th August 1910:

“I beg to inform you that Mr. Kemble, writing from Naraguta, on 21st July, reports as follows:—

“‘Please inform my brother-directors I have acquired four square miles of very rich tin area, as stated in my cable of the 19th inst. It is mainly in the streams, and will be almost entirely recovered by calabash washing (i.e. natives washing the alluvial in calabashes).’”

In a cable from Mr. Kemble, dated 8th August, he states that he has acquired a further six square miles, also rich, and on 21st August he cabled that he has acquired “another square mile extremely rich.”

With regard to the exact locality of these areas, Mr. Kemble says: “Mr. Knight will have plans, report, &c., ready for sending home as soon as possible.”

The following was issued to shareholders on 15th September 1910:

“Referring to my circular of 29th August, in which I informed you that Mr. H. Kemble reported having secured in all eleven square miles of very rich tin area, in a letter just received from Mr. Kemble, dated 3rd August, he states that as a test they have washed 3,000 lbs. of tin in five days’ work. With reference to seven square miles which Mr. Kemble has secured for the company, he says:

“‘(1) Property on which camp is built lies nearly half-way between Bauchi Town and Naraguta. It is two miles long by half-mile wide, taking in the Ademi River in its length. There are other smaller streams on the property running into the Ademi, and also containing tin. One square mile. (2) Property on the river known locally as the Kogin Zungur, one day’s march due south of Bauchi Town, and commencing quarter-mile south-west of the town of Zungur, is six miles long and one wide. Mr. Knight reports it rich in tin. Six square miles. It is impossible for Mr. Knight to make detailed plans yet, as all his time must be devoted to getting hold of further concessions.’”

GEL TIN LODE AND ALLUVIAL COMPANY, Ltd.

Capital.—£100,000 in 400,000 shares of 5s. each; present issue 240,000 shares.

Directors.—Mr. P. G. Hamilton-Carvill, J.P. (Director of the Van Ryn Gold Mining Estates, Ltd.), Mr. T. F. Dalglish (Director of the Taquah and Abosso Gold Mining Cos.), Mr. James A. Duncan (Director of New African Co., Ltd.), Mr. Leama R. Davis (Director of Millar’s Karri and Jarrah Co., Ltd.), and Mr. George Ochs (Director of Abosso Gold Mining Co.).

Secretary.—Mr. H. J. Smith.

Offices.—34 Clement’s Lane, E.C.

This company has secured an area of 5¼ miles next to Naraguta, the alluvial area comprising about 785 acres. Mr. H. W. Laws reporting on these 785 acres, says:

“The bed of the stream is extremely rich in tin, in fact it is one of the richest in the country.”

Mr. Laws also says that fifty natives with calabashes can earn 10 tons of tin per month at a cost of less than £10 per ton, and that the extra expense for transport, &c., to England, would not come to more than £30. This would mean that fifty tributers, with the most primitive methods, could earn 100 tons per annum, since it is stated that there is plenty of water for sluicing purposes during eight months of the year. During the remaining four dry months of the year there is ample water left in the pools. In addition to the alluvial properties, the Gel Company has a half share in a lode firm on a property covering 640 acres. Upon this lode the Niger Company have already spent £10,000 in prospecting shafts with satisfactory results. The lode formation is 20 feet wide on an average, and an analysis of prospects gave 20 per cent. of tin.

AKERRI (NIGERIA) TIN COMPANY, Ltd.

Capital.—£125,000 in £1 shares, issued as fully paid in part payment of purchase money; 25,000 were offered at par, and are 2s. paid, and the remaining 35,500 are held in reserve for future issue.

Directors.—Mr. Charles Vivian Thomas (Chairman of Tronoh Mines), Mr. Arthur Oliphant Burton, Mr. Louis A. Neel.

Secretary.—Mr. C. M. Champness, C.A.

Offices.—103 Cannon Street, E.C.

This company acquired their property through Mr. W. H. Champion, who has also reported on the property. Most of the other companies which have been formed up to this date, are working in the Bauchi Province, and as the Akerri Company is proposing to work in a new district near Zungeru, the present capital of the Colony, a copy of Mr. Champion’s report is given in full:

“Having been appointed by you to prospect and report on your tin properties in Northern Nigeria, to which place I proceeded in March, I have now much pleasure in submitting to you the following particulars:

“Situation.—Your property is situate one day’s journey in a south-westerly direction from Zungeru, the present capital of the Colony, and one and a half day’s journey north-east of Jebba, which is an important railway centre.

“There is one important point as regards its position, which places it far ahead of any property of any company at present working in this Colony. That is, you have as boundaries, on the north the Lagos Railway (Northern Extension), on the west the Kara River, and on the east the Kaduna River.

“It is a granite country, and although in the Naraguta district reefs have been proved to exist, large alluvial deposits, which yield cassiterite (tin oxide), are of chief importance.

“Mining.—For a couple of years the natives have been working in the rivers adjoining, and also on your property, treating the ore in their usual primitive way by means of ‘washing’ with wooden pans or calabashes.

“Under my supervision a large number of bore-holes were put down, varying in depth from 10 feet to 35 feet. I can form no idea as to the depths of the tin-bearing soil, as on the western boundary I have reached 35 feet in depth without getting to the end, on the eastern boundary about 30 feet in depth. You have over the whole of your area alluvial deposits existing on a very large scale. These deposits yield cassiterite (tin oxide) containing on an average 62 per cent. metallic tin, which proves the alluvial to be as rich or even richer than you find in any other part of the world.

“I estimate the yield at 7 lbs. per cubic yard—equal to, say, 5 s. per cubic yard, with tin oxide at £85 per ton. The cost of production would be approximately 6d. per cubic yard.

“The extent of the property is great, the natural facilities for mining are favourable, and the output of tin will be simply proportionate to the number of men employed. Assuming that a minimum of only 250 natives be employed, they should produce 500 tons of metallic tin per annum. Taking the price of tin oxide at £85 per ton, there would be a profit of some £36,000 per annum.

“The mining rights are over 3,200 acres, or five square miles, granted by the Northern Nigerian Government, and are subject to an annual rent of 5s. per acre.

“There is also a 10 per cent. royalty on the net profits derived from production, but I can assure you that there is every prospect of a reduction taking place in the near future.

“Labour.—This is undoubtedly one of the most important questions with which mining companies will have to deal at a very near date. This I foresaw, and am now pleased to say that arrangements have been made with the Zereki, or Chief of the Village, close by, to provide you with not less than 300 natives at any time or date, the same are required.

“Transport.—This is another important question.

“At the present moment the railway has not been completed, but I assure you that it will be before the end of the present year. They are now laying it at the rate of one mile per day, and are only some forty miles from your property when I left on 14th May.

“In this matter you have a very great advantage over those companies who are exploiting the Bauchi district, for, to quote the words of their expert, the cost of carriage from their tin fields to Liverpool is some £27 per ton. The cost to you will not exceed £12 per ton, so you will have on every ton arriving in Liverpool a clear profit of £15 more than they get. This is a large margin, and when worked out on the small production of 500 tons per annum (which I have previously mentioned), means a sum of £7,500 over and above what they can get on the same quantity.

“Water.—There is no need for me to dwell on this point, as the very large rivers you have as boundaries will be more than ample supply for all or any companies who will be operating here in the near future.

“Climate.—Northern Nigeria is far different to any part of West Africa. You are at an elevation of some 500 feet. The nights are quite cool, and any man who takes ordinary care of himself and lives well ought to have good health. It is, in my opinion, by far and away the healthiest part of West Africa, and I say this after sixteen years spent in different parts of it.

“In conclusion, the results obtained prove conclusively that there is immense alluvial wealth which can be cheaply won, and I believe in this property you have one which will prove an astonishing success.

“I should recommend you to at once commence operations on a large scale.

“A large working capital is unnecessary; and I consider that £25,000 will be more than ample for all requirements.”

NEW AFRICAN COMPANY, Ltd.

This company, which has been dealing for some time in South African business, has recently acquired an interest in a Nigerian tin property comprising an area of 640 acres, containing a lode which is claimed to be the mother lode of the district. Arrangements are now being made to prove the lode at depth. In addition this company have also acquired an alluvial property adjoining, which runs along the bed of a stream for a distance of about 5¼ miles, and extends to a width of 200 yards on each bank. The property has as its northern neighbour the Naraguta Company, with the Jos Tin Company on the east, and the Bauchi Tin Syndicate on the west. This company appears to be working in conjunction with the Gel Tin Lode and Alluvial Company, which company is probably a subsidiary company issued by it.

THE SOUTH BUKERU (NIGERIA) TIN COMPANY, Ltd.

Capital.—£50,000, divided into 50,000 ordinary shares of £1 each, of which 20,000 are for working capital.

Directors.—Segar R. Bastard (Chairman, Champion Gold Reefs of West Africa, Ltd., and Director of Juga (Nigeria) Tin and Power Co., Ltd.), Wm. F. Jackson (1-2 Great Winchester Street, E.C., and Stock Exchange, E.C.), John Waddington, J.P. (Director, Naraguta (Nigeria) Tin Mines, Ltd.).

Consulting Engineer.—Charles G. Lush, M.E.

Secretary.—H. Tuffrey.

Offices.—Blomfield House, 85 London Wall, E.C.

This company has been formed to acquire the exclusive rights to prospect for minerals, mineral oils, and precious stones over an area of 3 square miles, situated about 4 miles south of Bukeru, in the well-known Bauchi Tin Fields of Northern Nigeria.

The property is situated on the top of the Bukeru Watershed, a basin heavily watered with small streams running through the whole area, which is stated to be alluvial, and all the ground is tin-bearing from the top to the bottom of the pits, which have been sunk to a depth of about 15 feet. Mr. Lush, the consulting engineer to the principal Nigerian tin mining companies, who thinks well of the property, has consented to act as consulting engineer for this company.

A party, consisting of four engineers with boring plant and stores, has already sailed for Nigeria to take possession of and work this property, as well as two other properties belonging to the Gongola Syndicate, Limited, and arrangements have been made for giving to this company the benefit of this organisation, on payment of a proportion of the charges incurred and to be incurred in connection therewith. There will be set aside £20,000 of the capital for working capital, of which 10,000 shares will be subscribed for immediately.

The purchase consideration is 30,000 fully-paid shares to be allotted to the Wadu Syndicate or its nominees, and the right to subscribe at par for the unissued capital of the company.

It may be mentioned that it is estimated that a profit of at least £45 per ton of ore will be obtained, taking the actual price at £90 per ton and deducting £15 for the cost of working and £30 for transport, &c., which latter item will shortly be considerably reduced.

RIBON VALLEY (NIGERIA) TIN FIELDS, Ltd.

Capital.—£200,000 in 200,000 shares of £1 each, of which 50,000 are set aside for working capital.

Directors.—Mr. Edward Hooper (Chairman), Mr. Sidney J. Messenger, Mr. Herbert Moir, Mr. James Wickett (Director of the Malay Tin Mines), and Mr. H. W. Pelham Clinton.

Secretary.—Mr. George Kerr, A.C.I.S.

Offices.—Capel House, New Broad Street, E.C.

This company has acquired a most extensive property—nine miles in extent—and holds it under an exclusive prospecting licence from the Northern Nigerian Government. So far the prospectus has only been privately issued. The licence carries with it the right to select areas for mining purposes for periods of twenty-one years, at an annual rental of 5s. per acre, and a royalty on the mineral output. The property is situated on the head-waters of the river Gongola, the river flowing through the area being locally known as the Ribon. It is about 20 miles south-east of Naraguta, and within easy reach of the main transport route. There is a constant and unlimited supply of water, and a large quantity of timber suitable for fuel. The labour is plentiful, cheap, and suitable for alluvial mining. The costs are put approximately at £20 per ton of black tin, of a minimum of 70 per cent. Mr. H. W. Laws, M.I.M.M., the chief mining engineer of the Niger Company, says: “I consider the area has excellent prospects of proving very large and profitable, and that in selecting land for mining purposes it will probably be necessary to acquire two, and perhaps three, separate leases, owing to its unusually large extent.” An engineer of wide experience and an assistant has left London for the property, and Mr. Walter Wethered, who is paying his third visit to the Nigerian tin field, is to attend to the Company’s interests on the spot. The intention is that the Ribon Company shall become one of the parent kind, because it is quite impossible that, unaided, it can develop so large a sett.

THE REIN RIVER (NIGERIA) TIN MINING CO., Ltd.

Capital.—£76,000, divided into 270,000 ordinary shares of 5s. each, and 170 deferred shares of 1s. each.

Directors.—S. R. Bastard, Chairman of Champion Gold Reefs of West Africa, Ltd., Lucky Chance Mines, Ltd., Tin Fields of Northern Nigeria, Ltd., South Bukeru (Nigeria) Tin Co., Ltd., Director of Juga (Nigeria) Tin and Power Co., Ltd. (Chairman).

C. G. Lush, M.E., Director of Tin Fields of Northern Nigeria, Ltd., and Goss Moor, Ltd., Consulting Engineer to South Bukeru (Nigeria) Tin Co., Ltd., and Naraguta (Nigeria) Tin Mines, Ltd.

Julius L. F. Vogel, M.I.E.E., M.I.M.M.

John Waddington, J.P., Director of Naraguta (Nigeria) Tin Mines, Ltd., Champion Gold Reefs of West Africa, Ltd., South Bukeru (Nigeria) Tin Co., Ltd., and Great Boulder Proprietary Gold Mines, Ltd.

Offices.—Friars House, New Broad Street, E.C.

This company has acquired an exclusive prospecting licence over about 1,440 acres of alluvial tin-bearing ground, situated at Forum on the Rein River, in the Province of Bauchi, which is at present the richest known tin district in Northern Nigeria. From this district alone over one thousand tons of tin have already been won. The property extends for a distance of about three miles along the river. Hand-washing by calabashes and simple sluice-boxes, using a stream of water, have been employed, and this method will be adopted by this company for the present.

ESTIMATES

By comparison with the results obtained in the district it is estimated that, when the property is opened out, an output of 50 tons a month or 600 tons a year of “Black Tin” should be obtained, and the following results may be anticipated on the basis of the report:—

Sale of 600 tons of “Black Tin” at £90 per ton (the present price being over £100 per ton)£54,000
Cost of production (maximum estimate) at £15 per ton£9,000
Freight under present conditions at £29 10s. per ton17,700
Administration, rent, royalties, &c., about4,300
31,000
Estimated nett annual profit£23,000

By about March the new freight conditions should be in force, which would increase the estimated nett profit to about £29,000 per annum.

Life and Tonnage.—Assuming Mr. Wethered’s figures that more than two-thirds of the area carries 3 to 5 lbs. per cubic yard for a depth of from 1 to 4 yards, the following is an estimate of the tonnage of tin and the life of the property:—

1,000 acres 2 yards deep at 3 lbs. per cubic yard should yield about 13,000 tons of Black Tin over about 20 years, which at £90 per ton represents a profit (taking into account reduced freight) in excess of £500,000.

Management.—An arrangement has been made with the Lucky Chance Mines Limited, for the superintendence of the company’s interests, and for organising the work under a suitable manager.

The following report by Mr. Walter Wethered, one of the pioneers of the Northern Nigeria Tin Fields, was made on the original concession, which comprised an area of six miles along the river, of which this company have acquired one half.

“This property is situated on the south-eastern side of the Bauchi tin fields, between the pagan towns of Forum and Rein.

“The area encloses about six miles of a stream flowing in a northerly direction from Rein to Forum, where it junctions with the system of rivers on which the Ribon, Bisichi, Doss, and other properties are situated.

“The area is three-quarters of a mile wide by six miles long, an extent of four and a half square miles, practically the whole of which is tin-bearing alluvial. The alluvium is composed of a sandy material of an extremely free nature, and the bottom is the usual coarse grey granite. The latter outcrops in very few places, and carries from about a yard to four yards of alluvial ground. Although the bottom could be reached in only a few places in the stream bed, good prospects of black tin were obtained in nearly all samples panned, and from the alluvial flats, as exposed by the banks of the stream, the results ran from about 3 to 5 lbs. of tin per cubic yard. The panning concentrates contained 10 to 15 per cent. of titaniferous iron sand (which was allowed for), but this mineral presents no difficulty, and can be easily eliminated by the ordinary dressing operations.

“The width of the property (three-quarters of a mile) does not include the whole of the large alluvial flats that occur on either side of the river, but having secured the river and so much of the adjacent ground, these flats are protected, and, if necessary, may be taken up when the land for mining purposes is selected.

“Of the area staked, certainly more than two-thirds carries alluvial ground of the thickness given above. Except in the bed of the stream, I would not expect rich patches, but a fairly uniform value throughout.

Water.—There is a continuous flow of water for sluicing purposes all the year round.

Grades.—Cannot be determined without survey, but at the lower (Forum) end of the property there is sufficient fall to allow the tailings to be inexpensively dealt with.

Costs.—Will compare favourably with other mines in the district, i.e. with ground of moderate value the costs would amount to between £10 and £15 per ton of black tin, and present transport charges £27 10s. per ton inclusive.

“Final tests of the flats are capable of being cheaply and quickly carried out by means of trial pits; boring is unnecessary. The probability is that the workable ground will prove to be of too large an area to be included in one mining lease, and that it will be necessary to split the present area into two or more properties.”