Correspondence relating to the Tasmanian Magnesium industry from C.H. Grant and John Reynolds, Managing Directors Australian Magnesium Co., to the Minister for Mines

Typed copy of transcript made by Ronald E. Smith. This is a very detailed diary, noting daily work on the farm, seeds received and planted, stock sold or bought, orchard apples and other fruit, water wheel, water and drainage, trial of triangular troughs, seed drill, mowing machine. He tried a salt solution to treat the destructive parasite dodder on lucerne. As well as sheep, feed crops and orchard fruit, he tried angora goats. James Smith also noted daily payments made or received, letters sent, visits and visitors, including neighbours, E. N. C. Braddon and family, John Henry, Rev. Fairey, Col. Crawford and many others, and he even noted books or periodicals and other items borrowed or lent. His regular attendance at chapel on Sundays, usually the Congregational Chapel but sometimes the Independent or Wesleyan Methodist Churches or occasionally the Church of England, was recorded with the name of the preacher.
Prospecting trips and visits to mines are frequently mentioned and he had a laboratory built at his home. Other miners and prospectors visited to consult him, including Capt. L. Herbert Noyes of Mt. Bischoff, James Hancock and another James Smith from the Barrington Copper Mine.
James Smith took part in local activities and politics, including the School Board and the North West Railway League. He resigned from the Town Hall Committee over a proposal to establish a museum and open it on Sundays. He liberated salmon trout fry in the Forth and other rivers between 1887 and 1890. He "counselled Braddon not to be too extreme in advocating reform of the Legislative Council" (Dec. 1880).
There are occasional references to his wife and family: his wife was "delivered of a daughter about noon" on 23 September 1878, his wife and the children drove to Leven beach, the boys helped with farm work and in February 1891 Mrs Smith and her daughters went to a demonstration at the Town Hall on fixing photographs on glass by a Mrs Abrams.

Notes by R.E. Smith on the discovery of Mt.Bischoff Tin Mine.

Historical study entitled "Eastern gold mines 1870-1914"

This collection is comprised of scrip certificates of shares issued to Edward le Rossignol of New Town in Tasmanian mines: Royal Mint Gold Mining Company, North Mount Cameron; Savage River Silver Prospecting Company; City Prospecting Association, West Coast; Sunrise Prospecting Association; Godkin Silver Mining Co., Whyte River Tasmania; New Waverly Gold Mining Co., Lefroy, Tasmania; South Oceana Silver Mining Co. , Zeehan.

Correspondence and notes relating to Federal Grants to States and Taxation dated 1934-1935

Letter written by Frederick K. Astell a miner from Zeehan to his uncle, referring to a downfall in the share market, friends and family, the Waratah to Zeehan railway would be a boon to the coast if constructed, house on Argent Tram property, changes and building at Zeehan, Zeehan and Queen mines lodes good, working underground at Western, then underground boss at North East Dundas.

Collection consists of copies of a diary, letters and official documents relating to James Smith.

Correspondnce relating to Jane River Mining and a copy of the 1935 report. Also correspondence on vibrating screens.

Collection consists of diaries, mining and business correspondence, historical studies and biographies, and miscellaneous items

Correspondence relating to limestone - Premier & Chief Secretary's Office, dated 1939

Files of correspondence relating to the mining industry in Tasmania

Undated mining biographies including the biographies of James Harcourt Smith (1864- ), Government geologist; William Renison Bell (1840-1915); Guillaume Daniel Oelprat (1856-1937), Manager Broken Hill P.C.; John Walter Gregory (1864-1932), geologist; Patrick Hannan (.Q 1843-1925), Kalgoorlie Goldfield; Edward Hammond Hargreaves (1816-1891), goldminer; Henry Yorke Lyell Brown (1844-1928) geologist; Sir Tannatt William Edgeworth David (1858-1934), geologist; William Arthur Pretyman (1863- ), Chief Clerk Mines Dept., Hobart. Also miscellaneous newscuttings and notes.

Scrip certificate of The North Bischoff Valley Tin Mining Company. Number of issue 68 to James Smith of Westwood, River Forth, member of this company and holds 10 shares therin, on each of which the sum of five pounds has been paid, dated 7th day of May 1878.

Two files of correspondence and one folder of newspaper cuttings relating to the Scamander Mineral Exploration Company, dated 1967 to 1968, some newpaper cuttings from 1957

Notes on production and uses of silicon carbide, aluminium oxide etc. Dated c1942-58

Correspondence related to the Tasmanian Tin Producers Committee , dated 1960 to 1963

Historical study entitled "The red metal - copper"

Historical study entitled "The silver boom"

Correspondence related to tin mining , dated 1957 to 1958

Correspondence related to Tin smelting, silica, etc. 1960 to 1963, John Reynolds & Associates

Correspondence relating to the production and sale of Tasmanian wolfram and scheelite for the production of tungsten metal and contract for sale to United Kingdom, some written by John Reynolds as Commerce Officer, Department of Agriculture & Industry . Dated 1939 to 1940