1893 Notarial Agreement between The Rand Mines, Ltd. & The Crown Reef Gold Mining Company, Ltd. - signed by J. Percy Fitzpatrick

1893 Notarial Agreement between The Rand Mines, Limited and The Crown Reef Gold Mining Company, Limited. 

An agreement dated 7th August 1893, prepared by Chas. Leonard, Solicitor, in which it is stated that Carl Hanau and George Rouliot, acting for the Rand Mines, Limited, appeared in person before witnesses Henry Louis Langley Feltham and David Foote, and notary public Willem van Hulsteyn, who notarised the agreement. 

The agreement allows The Crown Reef Gold Mining Company to construct a dam on property belonging to Rand Mines Limited, (on farm “Mooifontein” in the district Heidelberg). Attached to the agreement is Annexure “A”, this being a hand-written and signed statement by J. Percy FitzPatrick (of Jock of the Bushveld fame) to the effect that according to an extract from minutes of a meeting of Directors of the Rand Mines Ltd., held on 18th May 1893, the trustees of the company are authorised to sign the agreement on behalf of the Rand Mines, Ltd. This note on Rand Mines, Limited stationery is dated 27 May 1893, and contains a Zegelregt stamp of one Shilling, cancelled with the ink stamp of the notary public. Fitzpatrick has written this statement in his capacity as secretary to Rand Mines Ltd. Annexure “B” is the equivalent statement from the opposite party, signed by Chairman W.H. Rogers, and bearing another one Shilling Zegelregt stamp. The final attachment is a folding colour diagram of approximately 450 mm x 335 mm on coated linen, laying out the extent of various farms and water rights with respect to the agreement, and has been approved, signed and dated by the Landmeter on 28th July 1898, once again bearing a cancelled Zegelregt stamp.

A notarial agreement between two of the major mining companies on the Rand and dated right in the middle of the Boom - a very interesting piece of mining history indeed.