A WELL-KNOWN MINER.

Thames Star, Volume LXII, Issue 17438, 24 August 1928, Page 5

A WELL-KNOWN MINER.

MAN OF MANY PARTS. LATE MR. GEORGE COMER. PICTURESQUE PERSONALITY. Mr George Comer, who died recently in Auckland, was the true type of Devonshire miner, of fine physique, handsome featured, a blue-eyed, flaxen-haired, ruddy-faced sturdy Britisher (says the Observer). Born in North Devon in 1854, he emigrated to New Zealand 45 years, ago, took up m-ning on the Thames goldfields, and became one of Quartzopolis’ iqQ£t noted and respected citizens; active, not only in his own craft, but asso ciating himself with all its mqst active bodies. A borough councillor for eight years, member of the Harbour Board, Thames Drainage Board, School of Mines Committee, Charitable Aid Board, 15 years a member of the Licensing Bench, and a life member of the Thames Jockey Club, besides taking a keen interest in all social and sporting matters. Full of wit and good humour, his company was appreciated at all functions. His wife predeceased him some time ago. He leaves six sons and five daughters to mourn his loss. It was his standing joke in later life after retiring from active mining activities, tty- reply to questions as to hi§ means o f living; that having eleven children wfto insisted upon him staying one month with each in turn, that it was £in easy thing for him to provide for himself the one month in the year. Of independent means, a hobby for doing what Americans call chores, with a knowledge of all trades, his grandchildren welcomed him in their different homes with joy, as also did his many friends on all occasions. Trained in his youth in galena ore mining in North Devon, he first started mining at the Thames with the late “Long Drive” Walker, in the Kuranui mine, and was associated with that manager in driving the “big tunnel” in the Shotover shaft—a prospecting failure.

As a shareholder in Burch’s Tribute in the Reuben Parr, Upper Moanataiari, on the Dauntless and Sink to Rise reef, he and his mates of whom two, W. H. Burch (Bill), of Remuera, and H. J. Gentles, of Parnell, are still alive, won GOOoz. of gold in 12 months. After a spell of mining in Kuaotunu, and prospecting at the Miranda, with Mr Burch, Mr Comer took up the’ experiment of the wholesale treatment of thousands of tons of lowgrade ore, for the Kuranui Company, in conjunction with his brother, Robert Comer. The value was only a few pennyweights to the ton, obtained from surface workings in the vicinity of the Shotover gully and Kuranui Hill, After a few months’ experience, the experiment was discontinued. Another big work carried out by Mr comer was the driving of a longyirossCut for the May Queen Company, from the .Saxon shaft.

When thert Anglo-Continental Syndicate relinquished the control of the May Queen and Saxon mines, Mr Comer, was a member of a tributing syndicate, he and his mates, part of the time three mere lads, won hundreds of pounds worth of gold per month for quite a long- period. The company eventually disposed of the ground to *a syndicate, Mr Comer acting as manager. After supervising a 2400 ft. tunnel for a syndicate managed by the late H. H. Adams, from the end of Grey Street, Shortland, to the Dart Shaft, Hape Creek, one of the largest undertakings ever carried out on the field, a period of management of the Reliance mine ended Mr Comer’s mining career, retiring from active work 15 years ago.