Edward Carl Joachim Meyer died on his farm at Welverdiend, Middleburg district, Transvaal, on 13th July, 1957, at the age of 76.
Mr. Meyer was born in Kimberley district, Griqualand West, and spent his life in South Africa. He was trained in mining engineering at the then newly inaugurated South African School of Mines, qualifying in 1901, and gaining the degree of B.Sc. in 1902. From 1901 to 1902 he was employed as junior surveyor at De Beers Consolidated Mines, Ltd., and as surveyor to the New Vaal River Diamond Exploration Co., Ltd. In 1903 he was appointed an assistant surveyor with the Government Land Surveyors, Messrs. Howes and Brayshaw, in Cape Colony and in the Transvaal, and later joined the technical staff of Dr. F.H. Hatch, consulting engineer to Messrs. Lewis and Marks. Mr. Meyer then worked as a learner miner at Simmer and Jack gold mines and then as shift boss with New Comet Gold Mining Co., Ltd., between 1907 and 1908, being promoted mine captain in the following year.
He worked for a short while in 1910 on the technical staff of the manager of East Rand Proprietary Mines, Ltd., before returning to New Comet as manager for almost a year. In 1911 Mr. Meyer was appointed sectional manager of East Rand Proprietary Mines, Ltd., and in 1913 deputy general manager. He was manager of East Rand Proprietary from 1914 to 1925, then became general manager.
Mr. Meyer took up the position of general manager of New Modderfontein Gold Mining Co., Ltd., in 1926, a post which he occupied until his retirement almost twenty years later in 1945.
Mr. Meyer was closely connected with the Association of Mine Managers of the Transvaal during his career; he served on their Council and was Vice-President in 1921 and President in 1922. In 1945 he was created an Honorary Life Member of the Association.
At the Third Empire Mining and Metallurgical Congress held in South Africa in 1930 Mr. Meyer presented a paper entitled ‘Drill steel and drilling at the New Modderfontein gold mine’.
Mr. Meyer joined the Institution as an Associate Member in 1913 and was transferred to full Membership in 1933.
Vol. 68, Trans IMM 1958-59, pp.19-20
