Index	LU=23Aug04	Contact: Dawn Chambers

Timeline for John Moginie Chambers (1862-1918)

c1883		Clerk residing at Princess Street, Auckland

1885 Nov 10	Champion Lode Nos 1, 2, 3, 4 Licensed Holdings registered

1885 Dec 7	Shareholder in the Dubbo Gold Mining Company

1886 Apr 1	Application for Residence Site at Te Aroha
1886 Jul 3	Transfer of 60 Champion Lode shares
1886 Dec 2	Requests Te Aroha Warden to protect leases
1886 Dec 24	Becomes the sole owner of Gladstone Licensed Holding
1886 Dec 28	Becomes the sole owner of Albion Licensed Holding


1887 Oct 20	Awarded conditional protection for Champion Lode claims
1887 Oct 28	Application No. 46 for Water Race
1887 Nov 24	Applied for a water race at Tui Creek

1888 Feb 23	Application for protection of claim at Tui Creek
1888 Oct 6	Becomes sole owner of Champion Lode Extended Special Claim
1888 Oct 15	Sells interest in Champion Lode Extended Special Claim

1890 Mar 8	Bankruptcy Declaration

1898		Residing at St Stephen's Rd, Parnell, Auckland

1907 ... .. 	Auckland - Patent no. 1425


Archives NZ Auckland Ref: BBAV 11289 11a (A556 Box 4 Bundle 1)
Te Aroha Mining Applications 1885

Te Aroha Gold-Mining District
Application for Residence Site - Ref: 28/8674

To the warden at Te Aroha I hereby give notice that I desire to occupy
for a Residence Site situate at Te Aroha Block LI Lot 6 and that I
have this day marked such land with 4 corner posts in conformity with
the regulations herein made and provided. Signed John M. Chambers

Any person having any objection to this Application, must lodge the
same in writing at the Warden's Office, at Te Aroha within fourteen
days from the date hereof. Geo. Wilson Warden dated this 1st day of
April 1886.

Other Residence Site Applications for Block LI dated 1 Apr 1886
Lot 4, Jno. C. Banks; Lot 5, Wm. Carpenter; Lot 7, E. Banks


Archives NZ Auckland Ref: BBAE A197 1890/18 and
New Zealand Herald 8 Mar 1890
Bankrupty Declaration dated 7 May 1890

John Moginie Chambers deposed as follows:- Up to May, 1886, I 
was in the service of T. and S. Morrin Co., Limited. On the 25th of
that month I left the colony for Europe, partly on pleasure and partly
on business. At that time I had scrip, land and other securities, of
the then value of 3,345 pounds 18s 1d, per list now put in; my
indebtedness against this being only 109 pounds 14s 7d. Whilst in
England I secured the patent process for Parkes' smelting apparatus,
for which I became responsible for 1,000 pounds, 200 pounds of which
I paid out of my own pocket, and the balance forms part of my present
liability. I also secured the patent rights for the Molloy process,
for which I personally paid 400 pounds, and got in exchange a complete
plant, costing me 150 pounds more for transport to New Zealand. I also
secured the patent right and sole agency for New Zealand of the Askham
Pulveriser, for which I gave bills of 463 pounds 14s; this also forms
part of my present liability. I returned to the colony in February
1888. During my year and nine months' sojourn in England, I earned, in
commissions, about 600 pounds, apart from the services just mentioned;
this money was all absorbed in personal expenses. When I reached the
colony I devoted myself to the floating of the Askham-Molloy Company,
and to Mining Agency in general. I was engaged on the Askham-Molloy
business for six months. It turned out a complete failure, and I not
only lost the whole of my interest in the concern, but never received
anything for my services. I estimate my loss at 1,500 pounds.

The Parkes transaction was also a total failure, and resulted in a
personal loss of 2,700 pounds. Whilst in England I made partial
arrangements for floating the Champion Gold Mine, and it was completed
in June 1888, after I returned. I was the holder of 2,650 shares for
services rendered, and I also owned five eightieths of the mine - a
promoter's share. The value of my interest in the Champion Company
in June 1888, was 900 pounds, and could then have been sold for that
money. I have now 1800 of these shares on my hands, which I value at
720 pounds. The remainder of the shares and the promoter's interest
are held as security for money advanced. The only other asset now
remaining is 300 Adeline Gold Mining shares, worth about 5 pounds.
Total assets, 725 pounds; and my unsecured liability amounts to
1,240 pounds 12s 6d. There is also a liability of 589 pounds 15s 7d in
excess of value of securities held. Total liability, 1,830 pounds 8s
1d; deficiency, 1,105 pounds 8s 1d. 

My actual cash earnings since my return to the colony have not 
exceeded 350 pounds, 250 pounds of which was earned in the year 1889. 
In October last I went to Sydney, where I was engaged as a clerk at 
125 pounds per annum until the 28th of February. I arrived in Auckland 
on the 4th instant. I returned to the colony because a creditor for 90 
pounds sued me. I returned for the express purpose of filing, in the 
belief that it was my duty to protect the interests of the general 
body of creditors. I am now out of employment. The only prospect I 
have at present is to canvas for orders on behalf of an English house, 
and I cannot expect to make a living from that source. I have what I 
deem a good cause of action for damages in respect of the  1,000 
pounds paid to the Parkes Company in London, and want of means only 
prevented me from going home to pursue them. I have nothing to suggest 
in the nature of a compromise with my creditors. I kept a full set of 
books showing all my transactions since 1886. I will put these in 
along with my bank pass book and cheque butts, etc.

The Cyclopedia of New Zealand Volume 2 Auckland p369 (1902)
Mr J. M. Chambers came, when an infant, to New Zealand with his
parents. His education began in New Zealand, and was completed in
England, where he served his time in the celebrated engineering works
of Messrs Tangye, where he qualified as an engineer. On coming back
to New Zealand he brought out the Askham-Molloy and Parkes process of
extracting gold from refractory ore, and erected plants at the Thames
and Karangahake, and for the New Zealand Red Hill Gold Mining Company
at Collingwood. He then returned to England to study more closely
various other branches of his profession, and re-entered the
employment of the Messrs Tangye. The knowledge and experience thus
gained by him have been valuable factors in the success of the firm
of John Chambers and Son, Limited.
Also: Portrait taken by Hanna.