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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Abbott, Frederick William

Abbott, Frederick William, Mine Owner, Auckland. Born in North Molton, Devonshire, England, in 1865, and educated at the national school of the district and privately, Mr. Abbott determined to follow the vocation of a farmer. He left England for Wellington in 1893, with the intention of becoming a sheep farmer, but the outbreak of the Westralian Goldfields lured him to Coolgardie. Owing to sickness he returned page 464 to New Zealand, and, on the revival of mining in the Hauraki Peninsula, visited Kuaotunu, Tairna, and Whangamata. At the latter place, in conjunction with Mr. Withers, an old prospector, he had the good fortune to discover a valuable reef, which he named the “Luck at Last Reef,” and obtained 500 acres for mining purposes. A large portion—about 294 acres—of the “Luck at Last” property was successfully floated in London, and a company was formed entitled “The Whangamata Proprietary Company, Ltd.” This mine bids fair to become of great value, and may possibly rival the great Waihi Mine. Mr. Abbott, being so well pleased with the prospects of the district, secured 200 acres more in the vicinity. He considers that Whangamata will become a great mining centre. Possessing a splendid harbour, great water power, abundance of timber, and a genial climate, it affords exceptional facilities for the advancement of the industry. The district is greatly indebted to Mr. Abbott for his pluck and perseverence in promoting mining interests, and he can justly claim to be considered one of the practical pioneers of mining at Whangamata. In 1897 he entered on a course of study to qualify himself, in a knowledge of theory and practice, as a mining engineer.