‘The Great Hunt’ for Gold in K.G.F
The report of John Warren in the Asiatic Annual Register-1804 was the first eye-opener that attracted the attention of many British mining prospectors which made them rush on Kolar district. Some of these miners tried their fortune on the field between 1804 and 1860; but, in utter vain! Lt. Nicholson who was appointed to investigate ancient gold mine workings in the south-east Wayanaad of Nilgiris also visited Kolar district in 1830. Local panners continued to win some gold from the ancient mines, but so numerous were the accidents that, underground mining was prohibited by law in 1859.
An interesting development in 1860s was that, few military officers at Bangalore Cantonment and East raised some funds and invested on this Goldfield. Their efforts were soon abandoned without tangible results. But, there were also men who chased nature to win.
Knowing about all the developments on this neglected land, an enthusiastic gentleman of the Royal Army made a more practical approach. Michael Fitzgerald Lavelle,—an Irish soldier after serving His Majesty’s Regiment during the Maori war of 1864 in New Zealand returned home at Bangalore on the cessation of hostilities. During his stay at New Zealand, he got acquainted with gold mining there. On hearing about gold being found in Kolar district, Lavelle wanted to try his good luck.
Michael F. Lavelle had served in the regiment that fought against Tippu Sultan in Srirangapatnam, near Mysore. Since he had nothing better to do, as he had retired from active military duty, he decided to explore the Kolar region and see for himself if the information was true. It is said that he traveled by Bullock Cart from his residence in Bangalore Cantonment to the present day KGF. He was accompanied by his trusted Man Friday. It took him almost a fortnight to traverse the distance of around 60 miles to KGF. When he reached the place, he was pleasantly surprised to see that the rumours were indeed true. He found old mining equipment and abandoned pits that went down several feet all over the area.He explored the entire area thoroughly with the help of the local people and acquainted himself with the workings in the abandoned mining pits. He was now fully convinced that the place was a Gold Mine (no pun intended) and that he could make his fortune in this place. He decided therefore to hunt for gold and other precious metals himself. Accordingly, he applied to the Mysore British Government and obtained exclusive prospecting rights from them for mining coal and other metals in 1873 for a period of 20 years. He began mining operations by sinking his first shaft near Urigaum (Oorgaum).
In his application dated 20th August 1873, Lavelle has stated that, he had investigated parts of Kolar district for prospecting coal and other minerals, but owing to advancement of monsoon and having no mining rights, had to abandon the search for time being. He also added, in case his request for a license is conceded under certain conditions, he plans to continue the search in November next. Lavelle also stated: Certain strata in this field correspond to that of Ranegunge (Raniganj of Bengal) and Baracka coal fields and he made gas from Bitumen and Shale found in the area. He further mentioned that, Dr. Orr and he found small quantities of coal on the bank of a sinking by the natives for irrigation purposes. He felt there was no reason to see for coal to be drifted there by any external agents. The application also mentioned: “Even magnesium, limestone, new sandstone, carboniferous slate and pudding stone were all to be found in one valley and in one position.”
Regarding gold Lavelle stated: “I found three auriferous strata, made a sinking in one of them to a depth of eighteen feet and found the yield of gold to increase in quality and size which become larger at each point of sinking. The value of gold that might be found cannot be determined until the system is reached by a shaft.”
Further he has stated: “There are no igneous rocks found in the area for any volcanic upheaval and lava to destroy the coal system.” Lavelle concluded his application by saying: “Should I be successful in my search, it will be of greatest value to the government; in case I fail, it will cost the government nothing as the only assistance I require is the right to mine, paying the government a royalage should I be successful.”
The application was submitted to the Chief Commissioner of Mysore and Coorg to which the Chief Commissioner drew up a draft agreement and submitted to Mr Lavelle on 14th April 1874. In the reply, the more intelligent government authorities had omitted any reference to gold or precious minerals. They assumed that, coal was the real object of Lavelle’s prospecting. But, soon it became clear that, the reference to coal by Lavelle was not genuine. Lavelle definitely refused to accept the terms offered until the right to prospect gold was accepted.
Few of the Mysore authorities laughed at Lavelle’s request for mining gold; they believed, gold in the region was found only in alluvial soil. The concern of His Highness—the Maharaja was different. He was worried about the deep trenches that are to be dug might be left open in the event of failure. The clever Lavelle persuaded the authorities and finally succeeded.
After long correspondences, the right to prospect gold was also granted and an important agreement signed between the government and Mr Lavelle on 22 February 1875. Pending final agreement, Lavelle was formally permitted to do prospecting work from that date. Thus, the foundation for the start of a modern Goldmining in India was laid on 22-2-1875. The agreement gave Mr Lavelle the exclusive right to prospect minerals in Kolar district for a period of three years without payment of rent or royalty to the government. Within this period, he was also free to select ten pieces of land each not exceeding two sq.miles. On these selected blocks, the government agreed to grant a twenty years lease; the lessee was to pay a royalty of 10% on the net sale proceeds of gold and 20% on the saleable value of precious stones.
Lavelle was not a rich man to go with prospecting on a large scale; but, attempted sincerely in his endeavour. Slowly he realized, it was out of reach of him to proceed alone any further. He sank a shaft to the north-west of Lakshmisaagaram village (the present Maarikuppam to the west of Roger’s camp) and continued the operation. Being the first modern underground mining, he experienced lot of difficulties and confronted many dangers. Lavelle’s efforts, the dangers connected with the underground mining and the lives of the poor mining workers have all been well described by Mrs F.E. Penny in her novel ‘Living dangerously’ written in 1870s and was published at Madras (Chennai). This novel attracted many of the European companies and wealthy men in the west; they rushed on the field and tried all their luck with the mother earth. However, even though Mr. M F Lavelle, was successful in mining a little amount of gold, he did not strike as much gold as he had anticipated. He also didn’t have enough money to mine intensively. He then cleverly decided to sell his mining rights for a good sum, as he was the only person who possessed the exclusive rights to mine it. The news spread as he had intended and though many personalities and consortiums contacted him, the offers he received were not up to his expectations.
Oorgaum House,Lavelle Road – Bangalore
Lavelle Built an Imposing Bungalow of over Two acres on grant road that was characterized by it’s white, Pillared portico, Battlemented terrace and a large compound . The property was called oorgaum House (in memore of his first Mining expedition).Later it was sold to Rose D’Souza in 1918 . They bought not just a large home but a piece of history, Oorgaum House. Rose and her siblings had to trudge a long way to school and back when they were little. To rest on the way back, they stopped opposite a huge bungalow on Seshadri Road (later Grant Road). During rainy weather its low- lying grounds filled with water and Rose and her companions named the house the ‘Island House’. The house belonged to Lavelle, a Frenchman who discovered the gold mine in the Kolar Gold Fields, called Oorgaum Mine. The Maharaja of Mysore, so pleased with him, gave him about seven acres between Grant Road and Lavelle Road as a gift. Lavelle’s daughter Eliza married a horse trainer who named Lavelle’s house Ascot and built a huge number of stables in the grounds. Oorgaum House was actually a ballroom that Lavelle built to celebrate the homecoming of his son from England where he was working.When Lavelle died all his property was auctioned except for Ascot.
It was Oorgaum House that Rose and D’Souza bought from an agent at Rs. 9,000. Later, when bits of Lavelle’s grounds were auctioned, they bought some more land and added it to their property. The couple had to take a bank loan to buy the house and a further loan to strengthen the building and add a pretty portico.The couple lived in this house until their passing and it became the base for their huge immediate family and, later, their equally huge extended family. (Their dining table could formally seat 24, but still needed to be used in shifts during holiday time!) Oorgaum House was also home to any number of orphans or destitutes whom Rose wished to help and often housed in the extensive quarters in the grounds.In 1959, after her husband died, with no one to attend to at home, as her children too had grown up and moved away.
KGF ARCHIVES 