Mount Perry Mines

Flourishing Town

We are indebted to a gentleman who has lately arrived in town from Mount Perry for the following particulars.

The town is flourishing and work progressing rapidly at the mines; contracts for the erection of six more furnaces for the Mount Perry mines are about to be issued, and it is rumored that the Normanby Company is about to erect three furnaces, which are much needed, as a great deal of the ore consists of pyrites.

The great rage at Mount Perry just now is the Potosi mine (silver and copper) —the immense size of the lode and the consequent cheap rate at which the ore can be raised, auguring very favorably for its prospects.

Labour Shortage

It is the intention of the proprietors, we believe, to send some ore down to market at once. The place is at present is suffering from a great scarcity of laborers, especially of miners.

We understand that the latter class of workmen get over three pounds a week wages, and there are not one-sixth of the number required on the ground.

Poor Management

Not one of the mining companies have as yet made any effort to get a supply of miners from the South, fearing that their neighbours would reap the chief benefit from their outlay and exertions.

Would it not be advisable for the managers of all to unite and get men from the Southern colonies, instead of watching each other jealously and doing nothing?

Passage Money

Miners are generally men with families in the Southern colonies, and in most cases could not raise the necessary sum to transport themselves and families to Queensland at once.

But they would no doubt willingly agree to come on condition that their passage-money was to be deducted from their first year's wages.

We are credibly informed that four or five hundred men would find employment, indeed, at the present moment almost any man seeking work at Mount Perry can find it at once.

Source: The Queenslander - 22 June 1872
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