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 ton 17,700
Administration, rent, royalties, &c., about 4,300
------- 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.”
New Mining Regulations for Northern Nigeria
[NOTE.—_The Proclamation as enacted in the Protectorate differs from this
copy in the addition of a clause suspending—as regards licences to mine
issued under the previous Proclamation—the operation of Section 26 and
Regulation 23 (relating to royalties) until 1st January 1911, to which
date the provisions of the “Minerals Proclamation, 1902,” with regard to
duty on profits, are kept in force._]
THE MINERALS PROCLAMATION, 1910
A Proclamation regulating the right to search for minerals and also to
dig for, mine, and work minerals, and for other purposes relating thereto.
Be it enacted by the Governor of Northern Nigeria as follows:—
[Sidenote: Short Title.]
1. This Proclamation may be cited as “The Minerals Proclamation, 1910.”
[Sidenote: Interpretation.]
2. In this Proclamation, unless the context otherwise requires:—
[Sidenote: Person.]
“Person” includes a corporation.
[Sidenote: Holder.]
“Holder” of a prospecting right or exclusive licence to prospect means
the person to whom such right or licence was granted in the first
instance, but in the case of an exclusive licence to prospect includes a
person in whom such licence or a part of the rights thereunder has become
vested by transfer, assignment, or otherwise.
[Sidenote: Lessee.]
“Lessee” of a mining lease includes all persons having any right or
interest in or under a mining lease, whether by transfer, assignment, or
otherwise.
[Sidenote: Treasurer.]
“Treasurer” includes any officer appointed by the Governor to perform any
act or duty or to exercise any authority which by this Proclamation may
be done by, or is imposed upon, the Treasurer.
[Sidenote: Government Inspector of Mines.]
“Government Inspector of Mines” includes any officer appointed by the
Governor to perform any act or duty or to exercise any act or authority
which by this Proclamation may be done by, or is imposed upon, or may be
exercised by, the Government Inspector of Mines.
_Court._
“Court” means the Supreme Court or any Provincial Court.
[Sidenote: Minerals.]
“Minerals” means and includes the following as classed hereunder (_a_),
(_b_), (_c_), and (_d_):—
[Sidenote: Metalliferous Minerals.]
(_a_) Metalliferous minerals, including antimony, arsenic, bismuth,
copper, cobalt, chromium, cadmium, gold, iron, iridium, lead, manganese,
mercury, molybdenum, nickel, platinum, silver, tin, tungsten, uranium,
zinc, and all others of a similar nature to any of them, and all ores or
combinations of any of them with each other or with any other substance,
excepting only those that occur in the form of precious stones.
[Sidenote: Carbonaceous Minerals.]
(_b_) Carbonaceous minerals, including anthracite, asphalt, brown coal,
bitumen and its compounds, coal, graphite, lignite, and all substances of
a like nature to any of them, or combinations of any of them with each
other or with any other substance.
[Sidenote: Earthy Minerals.]
(_c_) Earthy minerals, including asbestos, barytes, clays, gypsum,
infusorial earth, sandstone, marble, mica, phosphates, potash, rock salt,
soda, sulphur, steatite, slate, talc, and all other substances of a like
nature to any of them.
[Sidenote: Precious Stones.]
(_d_) Precious stones, including amber, amethyst, beryl, cat’s eye,
chrysolite, diamond, emerald, garnet, opal, ruby, sapphire, turquoise,
and all substances of a similar nature to any of them.
[Sidenote: Saving as to quarrying, &c.]
3. Nothing in this Proclamation shall prevent any person from quarrying
stone for building purposes, or any native of the Protectorate from
mining for iron, salt, soda, or potash, except in any area over which a
mining lease has been granted.
[Sidenote: No person to prospect without a prospecting right, or
exclusive licence.]
4.—(1) It shall not be lawful for any person to prospect for minerals
without having first obtained a prospecting right or an exclusive licence
to prospect in the prescribed form.
(2) An exclusive licence to prospect shall not be granted to any
applicant who has not, either by himself or his duly authorised agents,
examined the area over which an exclusive licence to prospect is applied
for.
(3) It shall be in the discretion of the Governor for good cause to
refuse an application for a prospecting right or an exclusive licence to
prospect.
[Sidenote: Prospecting right.]
5. A prospecting right shall entitle the holder to prospect for any
minerals in those parts of the Protectorate which are not included in
any exclusive licence to prospect, and which the Governor has not by
Government Notice in the Gazette declared to be closed to prospectors.
[Sidenote: Prospectors employed by corporations.]
In the case of a company or corporation employing prospecting engineers
or prospectors, each prospecting engineer or prospector shall be
required to take out an individual prospecting right.
[Sidenote: Exclusive licence to prospect.]
6. An exclusive licence to prospect shall entitle the holder thereof, and
his duly authorised agents, to the sole right of prospecting for minerals
within an area not less than one square mile and not more than sixteen
square miles in extent, and for a period of one year from the date
thereof, subject to renewal in accordance with the prescribed regulations
for further terms of one year each, but so as not to exceed a period of
three years in the whole.
[Sidenote: Right to enter upon land to prospect.]
7. A prospecting right and an exclusive licence to prospect shall,
subject to the terms thereof and to the prescribed regulations, entitle
the holder thereof to enter upon any land and prospect for minerals, and
any person interfering with or obstructing such holder in the exercise of
any rights hereby conferred upon him shall be guilty of an offence and
shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding £25 or to imprisonment for a
term not exceeding three months.
[Sidenote: Settlement of disputes.]