Eric Edward Akers Leach died suddenly at Barberton, Transvaal, on 17th August, 1951, at the age of 51.
Of New Zealand nationality, he was a New Zealand Government mining scholar in 1917, gaining experience as a battery hand in United G.M. Co. at Hikutaia, Auckland, and from 1918 to 1921 was a student at the Otago University School of Mines. He was granted the diploma of Land and Mine Surveyor and awarded the Associateship of the School in 1922. In November, 1921, he became assistant to Mr. L.O. Beal, mining engineer, and from February, 1923, to October, 1924, was Director of the Coromandel School of Mines, New Zealand.
He took up the post of assistant superintendent, Zeehan Consolidated Gold Mining Co., Ltd., Thames, in 1924, and a few months later joined Taranaki Oil Fields, Ltd., as geologist. He left that position at the end of 1927 on his appointment as mine manager, Edie Creek Propy., Ltd., New Guinea. In 1930, Mr. Leach went to the Transvaal and worked in several mines of the Rand Mines group. He began as study supervisor and machine learner with Crown Mines, Ltd., rising to shift boss and acting chief study supervisor in 1934. He then transferred to Transvaal Gold Mining Estates, Ltd., becoming acting section manager and underground manager after four years, and towards the end of 1938 joined East Rand Proprietary Mines, Ltd. He was subsequently appointed manager of African Chrysotile Asbestos (Pty.), Ltd., at Barberton.
Mr. Leach was elected a Student of the Institution in 1920 and an Associate Member in 1930.
Vol. 62, Trans IMM 1952-53, p.80
