Part 1 concluded with Captain Rogers realising that he should not have sold his mines to ADM and he wanted them back at all costs. And he demonstrated that he was certainly one of the most determined pioneers in Bingara's long and proud history. (The source of this story is Bingara Our Town, Our People Vol. 2)
Australian Diamond Mining Company (ADM) & the Monte Christo Mine
The problem facing all miners on the Eagle Hawk and the Doctor's Creek fields was the lack of water. The soils were too porous for dams and the transportation of dirt to the Gwydir River was costly. Additionally, the sinking of wells barely supplied enough water for one day's mining. Besides the Monte Christo others were operating in the area and a report issued in 1884 by Mining Registrar Thomas Connolly listed these groups as Craddock's, Powell's and Dempsey's. All were finding diamond wash but the distances from the river made success almost impossible.
Interestingly, Captain Rogers was still mining. John Hume quoted a report, 'Mr. Charles Rogers, one of the oldest and a very intelligent miner, has some diamond saving appliances erected on the banks of the Gwydir River. These appliances consist of a puddling machine, sieves and other devices.' He had once again found diamonds.
By 1885 ADM had curtailed operations due to lack of water and many other parties had closed down. However Craddock and party continued on what was said to be, 'very good ground.' But by 1887 the Bingara fields were deserted. The plant of ADM was sold, leases were forfeited or taken over by other parties. The official records showed the yield of diamonds from the Bingara fields from 1887 to 1891 was very small. However, that man Captain Charles Rogers, again had other ideas.
The Captain Re-claims Monte Christo
John Hume often expressed admiration of Captain Rogers and he provided intimate details of his determination. For example, Rogers had accepted £3500 from ADM for the sale of his claims. However, according to John, he then realised that ADM had control of all the diamond bearing ground. He had no easy way back into mining. John explained, 'He could only lie in wait until a number of leases were cancelled. To show the determination of the man, he was idle for five years waiting to get the Monte Christo back.'
During 1892 Rogers sought the assistance of members of Parliament who on his behalf, approached the mining minister about the diamond fields not being worked. The lobbying was successful and once again Rogers had his lease back and resumed working. By then he was approaching 80 years of age and John described his efforts, 'He went to work by himself and for a long time the old man worked there, sometimes not seeing another human being for months, sinking his shaft himself, timbering it, filling bags with the dirt below and then climbing up pulling up the wash, then driving and crosscutting two levels, one at 30ft. and the other at 50ft.'
The payoff came when he sunk a shaft through 50 feet of very hard, oxidised diamond bearing cement. From fifteen loads of wash dirt, he recovered 2,189 diamonds. Other shafts sunk also proved very rich.
The prolific Monte Christo was visited by a NSW Premier, world experts, geologists and ministers of parliament. The Captain claimed, 'The Monte Christo mine is a mountain of diamonds and beyond doubt the richest diamond mine the world has seen.' He subsequently placed the mine on the market and suggested that he would not accept two million sterling for the property. But he did not sell.
The Final Years
In 1893 Bingara recorded its highest production of diamonds, 15,000 carats. However, the following years (1894-96) were poor due to lack of water. By 1896 Captain Rogers was experiencing ill-health and made an application for work suspension. The next year was another drought year and the Monte Christo closed due to lack of water. In 1898 Captain Rogers only produced 1,573 carats.
John recorded the last Bingara saw of Rogers when he said, 'The Monte Christo was sold in 1899 to W. J. Chick on behalf of an NSW syndicate. Unfortunately we heard nothing more of Captain Rogers, the man who had done so much to prove and publicize the field.'
The Diamond – 'Not a Rare Stone'
John had some very firm thoughts on the failure of diamond mining to blossom into a successful industry. He said the failure in Bingara was due to a combination of factors. Lack of reliable water, erratic distribution, generally small stones, lack of capital which he said prevented the installation of infrastructure to transport water from its sources. All these factors contributed but looming large was the hardiness of the stones compared to gem stones of South Africa. Additionally, with more diamonds coming into the market, the prices dropped.
Finally, John expressed a very sobering opinion of market control. 'At present day, diamonds are not a rare stone, their high prices are maintained by careful control of the market.'
This article is part of Rodney's Relics' ongoing series celebrating Bingara's rich mining heritage and the remarkable pioneers who shaped our town's history.