Dispelling the sinister influence.
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| Blue quartz |
Thursday, 9 July
At Madman’s Gully, a branch of the Moanataiari Valley, a great rush takes place and every inch of available ground is taken up for miles beyond. Several claims in the long neglected Karaka now look promising. The Day Spring claim, Waiotahi, have purchased a second hand engine, formerly used in printing the old New Zealander newspaper. The shareholders, who include a practical mechanic or two, have done the work of construction themselves.
A party of men come on the Marquis of Stafford claim today and peg off afresh. The ground is a claim that has not been properly protected. Proceedings such as these retard the prosperity of the goldfield and such daring acts should be punishable by law. It is hoped the Warden will see justice done in this case and show these parties that they cannot prowl about the diggings seeking whom they may devour.
Beetham, Walker and Co’s report on the Shortland sharemarket
notes that the unsettled and occasionally tempestuous weather of the past week has
failed to produce its usual deadening effect on business. A larger number of shares have changed hands
than during any previous week in the history of the Thames goldfield. Foreign
capital begins to flow steadily into the place and Auckland speculators whose
caution kept them watching but waiting are unloosening their purse
strings. Little business, however,
except that of a speculative character has been transacted, the weather having
been too unfavourable and the roads too deep in mud to create a desire to roam
the hills in quest of hidden treasure in undeveloped ground.
A box of specimens of amazing richness has been sent to Sydney by Beetham, Walker and Co for public inspection. The specimens have been selected from the Dawn of Hope, Sweeney’s, Little Angel, Deep Lead, Hokitika, Nil Desperandum, Manukau, Williams, Kuranui and Co and other first class claims. This is a somewhat smaller collection than was sent to Melbourne about a month ago and which were procured from the Harp of Erin, Bendigo Independent, El Dorado, Tookey’s, Star of the North, Quinn and Cashell’s and others. Beetham’s believes that the public exhibition of specimens known to be from different localities of the goldfield will have more effect in dispelling the sinister influence of the bad memories of the failure of Coromandel goldmining than volumes of reports.
A box of specimens of amazing richness has been sent to Sydney by Beetham, Walker and Co for public inspection. The specimens have been selected from the Dawn of Hope, Sweeney’s, Little Angel, Deep Lead, Hokitika, Nil Desperandum, Manukau, Williams, Kuranui and Co and other first class claims. This is a somewhat smaller collection than was sent to Melbourne about a month ago and which were procured from the Harp of Erin, Bendigo Independent, El Dorado, Tookey’s, Star of the North, Quinn and Cashell’s and others. Beetham’s believes that the public exhibition of specimens known to be from different localities of the goldfield will have more effect in dispelling the sinister influence of the bad memories of the failure of Coromandel goldmining than volumes of reports.
Now that the Native Lands Court hearings have concluded Maori
prepare to disperse from the Thames. Before
the Ngatipaoa, who live at Taupo, Waiheke and other places in Hauraki, leave Chief
Taipari calls them together at the Shortland hotel to express the satisfaction of his
tribe and others in the Hauraki felt towards them in consequence of their
loyalty to the Queen. The proceedings
commence with two of the younger chiefs handing round refreshments to the
guests, who are a mixed lot of men, women and children, after which Taipari
addresses the gathering. Mr Swan, who is
present, is asked if he would use his influence to have some Maori prisoners in
the stockade released. They feel their
fellows are unjustly confined, although in life they are dead to
their friends. Mr Swan says when he goes
to Wellington, on behalf of the prisoners, he will do his best to have them
liberated. Taipari is exceedingly generous in his hospitality. Only one
individual has to be removed.
A meeting is announced to take steps towards celebrating the
first anniversary of the Thames goldfield in a becoming manner, to be held at Butt’s
Theatre, at 2pm, on Saturday afternoon.
The New South Wales
temporary branch bank is opened for the transaction of business at the
corner of Pollen and Richmond Streets, pending completion of their new
premises.
1pm
The John Penn arrives at the new government wharf, Auckland,
having experienced adverse winds throughout the voyage. She brings over 70 passengers, principally
diggers from the West Coast for the Thames diggings.
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Richard Plantagenet
Campbell Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville, 3rd Duke of Buckingham.
In March 1867, he was appointed Secretary of State for the Colonies.
Public Domain |
From papers laid on the table of the House of Representatives at Wellington it is noted that Chief Taipari is the sole owner of most of the flourishing township of the Thames goldfield. He derives £4,000 per year from rents and mining licences and has made liberal gifts of sites for churches for the Anglicans, Catholics, Presbyterians and other Christian communities, also for a hospital, a cemetery, a park and other public purposes. These details come from a letter from his Excellency Sir George Bowen to his Grace the Duke of Buckingham, calling them “rather interesting”. “Taipari employs Europeans to survey and lay out roads and streets, and to construct drains, culverts and the like. In short, he appeared to me, on the one hand as capable of maintaining his just rights, and, on the other, as desirous to improve his property, as any English Landlord . . . He has caused a commodious house, in the English style, to be built for himself on a slope commanding a beautiful prospect over the sea and rising town. Taipari’s example, and the knowledge of the wealth which he is acquiring by allowing the colonists to occupy his land on equitable terms are beginning to exercise a beneficial influence over many of his Maori countrymen who have hitherto lived in sullen and hostile isolation.”
7pm
A meeting is held at the Royal Hotel, Waiotahi, regarding
the building of a bridge over the Karaka Creek.
The meeting is attended by several businessmen but the bad weather prevents a full attendance and the meeting is adjourned.
At the Albert Street Congregation Chapel Anniversary Soiree in Auckland a stirring speech is given by the Reverend W Davies on the topic of the early days and the progress of Thames goldfields. “Crossing over to the Hauraki Gulf we should see,
perhaps a canoe or two filled with savage warriors bound on some expedition,
for plunder or revenge. The notes of the
bellbird, or the hoarse cry of the morepork, alone broke the stillness of the
forest ravines. Perhaps if they had
dropped in unexpectedly into the solitary raupo whare, they might have found a
party enjoying a dish . . . and now, in contrast, what would they see? A town
of some 10,000 inhabitants – steamers and sailing vessels traversing the waters
– vast cuttings and shafts in mountains, and bush felled in all directions . . . The whole aspect of life was rough and
its justice was equally rough.” He
relates an anecdote told of a reverend gentleman who had been collecting funds
among the diggers for building a church. Whilst engaged in this pursuit he was one day
suddenly shouldered by his admirers and carried into a hotel where
he was made to ‘shout’ for all hands out of the money he had collected. There was no harm intended but it was a rather rough sort of joking. The absence of women, he thinks, is a
remarkable feature at the Thames. He
believes that no community can be prosperous in the highest sense of the term if women are absent from it. The Reverend J
Buller adds a word of warning to many who, he is afraid, are burning their
fingers by injudicious speculation at the Thames. He even sometimes fears that there will be a
return next year of some of those dismal days through which Auckland has just
passed.
11pm
At Auckland a fire bell sounds – a small two roomed cottage
in Edwin Street is ablaze and within a few minutes totally destroyed. The owner of the house is Mrs Walker, a
widow, whose two sons are away at the Thames. The cottage is the property of one
son and she and her daughter resided there.
Mrs Walker, finding the house lonely, moved about 10 days ago to lodge at
the house of Mr Hunt, shoemaker, about 100 yards away. Mrs Walker had visited the house earlier today to retrieve some articles, locked the door and took away the key. No reason can be seen for the origin of the
fire and two cottages on either side of the house escape the blaze.
Friday, 10 July
The incongruously named Lovers’ Walk on the Collarbone
Range exasperates the Daily Southern
Cross correspondent when he passes through it on his way to some of the principal claims up the
Waiotahi. A worse track cannot be
imagined, he thinks. The negligence in
making some passable tracks is very bad policy on the part of the shareholders
in these very rich claims. Speculators
will not risk themselves along the road, much less think of getting machinery
up, which is greatly needed at this creek.
At the Lucky Hit claim in Tradesman’s Gully, beyond Nolan’s,
some rich specimens of blue quartz are taken out of the main leader. This claim
has been worked five months and is ten men’s ground. Some 120 tons are ready for machinery. A considerable amount of work has been
expended in facing down the creek, laying down a tramway and timbering
drives. Men are now engaged in sawing
timber for the five stamper battery which the shareholders are to erect on the
spot. The stampers have been ordered
from Melbourne. A small hand stamper has
been found totally inadequate. A site
for a water wheel has been cleared near a good fall of water.
A barmaid at one of the Shortland hotels has a crushing of
the specimens given to her from time to time by frequenters of the hotel. The result is £80 worth of gold.
At the Police Court, Auckland, George Rolton, brought up on a
warrant from the Thames by Constable McGinn on Thursday, is charged with a
breach of the 17th clause of the Destitute Persons Relief Ordinance,
by refusing to contribute to the support of his family. A short time ago the defendant was brought
before the Bench and ordered to pay £1 per week for the support of his wife and
family. He has, however, neglected to do
so for the last month. It is now stated
that he has paid up all arrears to his wife and he is therefore ordered
discharged.
The Poverty Bay district is gradually becoming smaller in
respect of population as tradespeople and others either make a start to
try their luck at the Thames goldfields or leave the district in disgust.
Catherine for Tookey’s Flat and Shortland with
bricks
The Midge hauls
alongside Auckland's Queen Street wharf. She
will not, as anticipated, resume her trade to the Thames today, but the
alterations which she has been undergoing will probably be completed on
Saturday, so she can sail off on Monday.
This evening a lecture is delivered at the new Shortland
court house by the Reverend Charles Hyde Brooke, in aid of the funds for St George’s
church. Owing to the very unfavourable
weather the attendance is limited. The
subject chosen is 'Voyages among the North Western Islands of the South
Pacific' and is an interesting narrative of the observations of the
lecturer during his labours among those islands in connection with the
Melanesian Mission. The manners and
customs of the natives are discussed and illustrated by diagrams of a fascinating character.
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| NZH 10 July, 1868 |
An agglomeration of weatherboards.
Saturday, 11 July
Great inconvenience is felt at the non arrival of any
steamers today. The Halcyon arrived yesterday at Auckland but does not leave
again for the Thames until tomorrow.
Two additional steamers are to be placed on the Thames
trade. The Duke of Edinburgh gets up steam for the first time today and progresses round the harbour. Her engines work well and her official trial
trip will take place during the week.
The Lady Bowen is the other steamer.
At the Resident Magistrates court before Major Keddell, Archibald
Campbell, John E Spence and Ernest Baber are each fined 20s, or in default
ordered to undergo 48 hours imprisonment with hard labour, for drunkenness. James Ryan is charged with stealing a hat,
value 9s, the property of Frederick Pym, of Tapu, on 3 July. The case is dismissed. George Roberts pleads guilty to stealing on
the 5th, one pair of trousers, value 15s, the property of John
Shaw. A previous conviction is disposed
of and he is sentenced to three months imprisonment with hard labour.
Business transactions at the Thames have picked up briskly during the week,
a large number have changed hands showing marked confidence in the stability
and richness of the field. Interest
amounting on value to nearly £1,000 sterling have changed hands almost daily
for the past fortnight and share brokers are reaping a rich harvest of
commissions on these accounts. Inquiries are constantly being received from
Australia and elsewhere respecting the real state of mining matters on the
Thames field.
The Commercial Report states that at C Arthur and sons,
Auckland, there are good stocks of potatoes, cheese, bacon, ham, onions,
butter, soap, oats and colonial ale.
There is a great demand for fowls, but only a few young ones are in stock.
A bet of £100 a side is entered into between two well known
gentlemen of Auckland that the yield from the Shotover claim will prove to be
ten thousand ounces at the expiration of one month from the commencement of the
operations of their machine, the Goldfinder. The machine will commence crushing on Monday
13 July.
A letter from a digger is published in the Wellington
Independent – “It is reported that three vessels are about to leave Sydney for
the Thames goldfield, similar reports have been received from Melbourne. The rate of living is from 8s to 10s per
week, There is at present comparatively
little doing on the Thames goldfield owing to the impossibility of getting the
quartz to the machines, for all the roads and tracks are knee deep in mud. The quantity of quartz stacked is
enormous. Some apprehension is being
felt of insufficiency of water when summer comes. The kauri forest has been destroyed in the
ranges. Kauri ranges and the necessity
of letting off the water from the claims is likely to cause immense waste.”
The Taranaki Herald also publishes an extract of a letter, from
James Butterworth, of Taranaki “This
town of Shortland has the aspect common
to all digging townships at new rushes – on paper it has compactness and
symmetry – in reality, however it looks but an agglomeration of weather boards,
hastily run up and save but in a few instances in the principal streets, none
of the buildings have a very pretentious appearance, or owe much to the
decorative ability of the builder or the house painter . . . from the water it
has a picturesque appearance . . . the discovery of this goldfield has proved a
boon indeed to the Auckland people – hither have flocked all classes of its
population, who have amongst themselves an intensely clannish feeling, very
discouraging to those who came from other parts of the colony . . . the
necessaries of life are cheap, and imported goods are 25 per cent cheaper than
in Taranaki. The demand for labour is
not so great - many claims
being idle. As to government works, such as roads and bridges, nothing has been
done . . . expectations are centred on
the coming spring. I hesitate to advise
any to follow my example, suffice it to say, however, that he who has a little
money, much energy and can stand up to hard work, might do worse than venture
here . . .”
On the Wellington wharf large quantities of machinery for quartz
crushing, imported from Melbourne, are waiting for transhipment to
Auckland. The principal machine has been
sent to the order of the Thames Quartz Crushing Company.
About 60 diggers arrive in the Manukau by the Ahuriri today
and more are expected immediately in the Airedale and Wellington. A good many of those who arrive in the
Ahuriri are from Otago. They came from
Dunedin to Wellington in the Lady Bird and were then transhipped to the
Stormbird which brought them on to Whanganui, where they went on board the
Ahuriri. Diggers coming up from Otago
show that a widespread interest is beginning to be felt in the Thames goldfield,
which will ultimately lead to numbers of them coming from every part of the
Australian colonies.
Rosina for Shortland with 6,000 bricks etc
Rangatira for Tapu Creek with 2,500 bricks, 12,000 shingles and sundry
stores
Whau for Tookey’s Flat with
2,000 bricks
A public meeting is held at Butt’s Theatre this afternoon to
discuss the celebration of the first anniversary of the Thames goldfield. Captain Butt is called to the chair. There
is a moderate attendance of miners. Dr
Merrett says he thinks it desirable that some steps should be taken to
celebrate the anniversary. If it had not
been for the pluck of those around him, there would be no goldfield. He
feels convinced that if Ohinemuri was opened no country in the world would
excel the Thames as a diggings. A committee is appointed to arrange the details
of the celebration.
At Butt’s American Theatre tonight the house is crowded to
excess. A number of men are standing on the portico over the door, including
William Robertson, who starts a fight.
Several men jump down to make room. William is knocked down and
then struck as he stays down. He appears
anxious to discontinue the fight while his antagonist is struggling in the arms
of bystanders trying to reach his opponent.
William then jumps down from the portico and the audience cries out “Ring.” The parties then start to fight again close
to where Major Keddell, JP, happens to be standing. There are no constables to be seen so Major Keddell takes hold of one of the combatants.
There is great confusion and considerable excitement. Parts of the fittings of the theatre are
broken down. Almost immediately
Constable Bond appears and comes to Keddell’s assistance and removes
William. As soon as they get clear of the
crowd, William, who appears sober, says, “I will go home quietly with you.” Major Keddell afterwards bails the
prisoner. The cause of the row is
attributed to a large mob of diggers who have come back from Puriri after a
long absence.
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| DSC 11 July, 1868 |
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| NZH 11 July, 1868 |
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| Otago Daily Times 11 July, 1868 |
Tapu people will mob him.
Sunday, 12 July
At Tapu the Reverend J Atkin, of the Church of England, who
arrived by the Halcyon yesterday afternoon, holds divine service. Although he was not expected, there are large
and attentive congregations, both in the morning and evening. Both services are conducted in the open air,
under the large pohutakawa at the end of the flat.
The steamer Halcyon is chartered by William Hunt of the Shotover today in the
absence of any steamers proceeding to the Thames. Mr Hunt wants to be present at an extensive
crushing which is to commence at 12 tomorrow, of quartz from his claim. Considerable interest is manifested in the
result, when the yield during the next 12 months is anticipated to amount to 15
cwt of gold, of the approx value of £57,480.
Mr Walter Monro Wilson, Auckland Solicitor and author of
Practical Statutes of New Zealand, is in a terribly distressed state at Tapu.
He arrived there from Shortland, where he and his friend John O’Donnell, of
Great Barrier, have spent the past two days looking into some mining interests
of O’Donnell’s. They
have since looked over some claims at Tapu. Suddenly today Walter
begins repeatedly saying to Mr O’Donnell that he is tormented with
the idea that the Tapu people will mob him and that Mr O’Donnell is behind it
all. Nothing that can be said or done
will relieve him of this strange fancy.
He wants to get a boat and start for Auckland at once, although it is
blowing half a gale of wind and is bitterly cold.
He has been horrified at the thought of staying at Tapu until today although
nothing whatever of an unpleasant nature has happened to him since his
arrival. He steadfastly refuses to listen
to his friend’s entreaties to return to the hotel for tea. Night has now set in and they are on the
spit which is formed by Tapu Creek and the bay in front of Sceats' Hotel. At 8.30pm John O’Donnell returns to the Duke
of Edinburgh Hotel for his tea but soon becomes uneasy, as Walter does not
follow him as he had expected. Mr
Steadman, publican, asks him where his friend is and he replies he is on the
beach and will not come. Mr Steadman
says he doesn’t think it is safe to leave Walter alone; he doesn’t seem in his
right mind.
John O’Donnell starts
off for the spit with a miner named Henry Whelan and they find Walter lying on
the beach. He starts up when he sees
them and appears to be sick. After much
cajoling during which Walter goes into the water a couple of times, O’Donnell
tells Whelan to watch him while he goes to fetch Mr Sceats, who is personally
acquainted with Walter. Returning with
Mr Sceats they discover Whelan has lost Walter. Whelan is afraid to follow him for fear that he would go further into the
water. He did not like to go near him
as Walter said he was afraid of strangers.
They search the beach and go to the Duke of Edinburgh hotel
thinking he has perhaps gone back of his own accord but he is not there. They are immediately joined by several others
in the search. They go back to
where they left Walter and also cross the creek thinking he may have gone
across. At 9.15 they hear a shout from
another party and learn they have discovered Walter, cold and apparently
lifeless. The water is not more than
about 9” deep, and the tide is coming in.
Means are immediately used to restore life, but failing to have any
effect, the body as carried face downwards to Mr A Caddil’s Exchange Hotel and
laid in front of a large fire. Every
known means of restoring life is put into practice and continued most
energetically for the space of an hour, but without effect. Mr Clayton, dispensing chemist, and Mr Pond,
formerly of Dr Fischer’s establishment in Auckland, are praised for the zeal and
skill with which endeavour to resuscitate Walter.
Monday, 13 July
A messenger leaves for Shortland from Tapu this morning to
report the death of Walter Wilson to the authorities.
The anticipated crushing of the Shotover's Goldfinder battery is thwarted as a necessary appliance has been inadvertently neglected - the pumping apparatus to supply the engine needs
to be completed. The crushing will now not
commence until Monday next, 20th.
The last few days of fine weather have improved the roads and augmented the supply of quartz to the various
machines. Grahams, Waiotahi, and Scanlan
and parties, Karaka, are again started today, after being idle for some
time.
The number of miner's rights issued for the Thames goldfield to date is no less than 7580.
Warden Baillie leaves Shortland this morning for Tapu to hold an
inquest on Mr Wilson.
A new leader is
discovered at McIssac’s (the Tapu Goldmining Co). Several rich specimens are got out in a few
minutes.
The schooner Success arrives at Auckland from Lyttleton with
494 bags of wheat, 130 bags of flour and 26 diggers for the Thames. Another 120
or so arrive by the ss Airedale and the ss Wellington. Another batch may be expected in a few days
by the ss John Penn. The influx of diggers from the southern ports and more
especially from the West Coast does not in any degree diminish. Scarcely from Napier does a steamer
arrive without an accession of from 12 to 30 souls to the mining population of
the Thames goldfield.
The Lady Bowen makes a short trial trip down the harbour
today, but the expectations that were entertained as to her steaming qualities
are not realised.
Robert Kelly alias
McKenna is apprehended at Shortland. He
escaped from the Mt Eden stockade in March and made his way to the Thames where
he has stayed undetected until now.
At the Resident Magistrates Court, Shortland, William
Robertson is charged with unlawfully causing a breach of the peace on Saturday
night at the American Theatre, Butt’s Hotel.
He pleads not guilty. Constable
Bond says the police force at present is totally inadequate to preserve law and
order in such a populous place. His Worship orders the prisoner be discharged and observes that he will suggest to the government as soon as possible that a proper police force be arranged for the Thames. Philip Patten, James Weld, Henry
Martin, Joseph Williams and Michael Sheehan are severally brought up before the
Bench and charged with drunkenness. They are fined 10s and costs each, or in default, suffer 24 hours
imprisonment.
D J O’Keefe’s
Shortland stock exchange report notes that the Thames goldfield continues to
attract the attention of the moneyed interests of the colony. A few representatives acting for Melbourne
and Sydney mercantile houses have been visiting the Thames. There is a demand for allotments of land and some
of the best properties on the Thames are now available to purchasers. Tapu is a fine field for mining enterprise
and fair speculating. The Tapu creek is
a wonderful rapid stream running nearly east to west for some 20 miles, and
would give employment to a considerable number for puddling
purposes, The Mata Creek, distant about
two miles from Tapu, is available for similar work and as larger tracts of
surface ground are known to be auriferous in the Tapu district, this class of
mining could be carried on cheaply either by tub and cradle, long tom or the
well-known puddling machine and ultimately steam puddling machinery might be
applied. The want for crushing machinery
is a great drawback to the immediate prosperity of Tapu and many claims in
consequence are commanding low prices.
At Kennedy’s Bay one of the southern creeks is being washed
up to the mountains by five separate parties, and Mr McDonald brings 5cwt of quartz
from there to Shortland to be tested. Prospecting
has been satisfactory at Mercury Bay and the gold is said to be of a superior quality
to that obtained at Kennedy’s Bay.
Prospecting is also going on at Wairoa and though nothing has yet been
found of a payable character, optimistic expectations are entertained in
respect to that place, a great many auriferous specimens having been
discovered. News is anxiously looked
forward to from the Wairoa regarding the alleged recent gold discovery there.
Noon
The declaration of
the poll for the electoral district of Franklin takes place at the Toll House,
Panmure Bridge. The numbers for Mr Swan are
619, and Mr Buckland 548, the majority for Swan is 71. Mr Buckland is a sore loser – he complains about
how the election was carried out at various places. He is disappointed with the result of the
election. He insinuates polling at
Shortland was obstructed and that polling was closed 15 minutes before it
should have been at Newmarket.
Despite evidence to the contrary, the Evening Post pours cold
water all over the alleged success of the Thames diggings. “A telegram has been received this morning to
the effect that the ss Wellington had left Hokitika for Auckland, and from the
small number of passengers she carried, stated to be only 14, the extensive
migration from the West Coast to the Thames has not taken place. The distance from Wellington to Hokitika is
some 300 miles and from thence some 700 miles.
In noticing this subject we are given to understand that the last
official return from the Thames and Auckland only gave 1500 oz received during
the preceding fortnight. These dry hard
facts and figures certainly would not justify a general or even considerable
move from the West Coast to the north as yet.”
A meeting is held this evening at Stephenson’s Royal Hotel,
Waiotahi, to discuss the building of a bridge over the Karaka Creek on the
beach road from Shortland to Waiotahi.
There is a good attendance of business people. A request will be made to the Warden for
advice and assistance in making the bridge and improvements in the beach line
of road from Shortland to Tookey’s Flat.
A committee is appointed to collect subscriptions and it is agreed to
advertise for plans and tenders.
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| DSC 13 July, 1868 |
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| NZH 13 July, 1868 |
Never saw gold lying so thick.
Tuesday, 14 July
At Tapu this morning the
inquest of Walter Wilson is held before Alan Baillie and a jury of miners and
storekeepers. Mr O’Donnell says when
they left Auckland Walter was perfectly sober and in his right mind and he had
had little to drink since being on the diggings. A verdict is returned that the deceased died
from apoplexy and a rush of blood to the head. Walter was a married man who had been in the colony about 18 months to two years and was aged about 30.
The recent rush to Tapu has turned out bona fide, the ground
being unusually rich, and a large number of claims marked out. There is a rich mullocky leader, which lies
NE by SW in a direct line with McIssac’s.
Large numbers of people, including several Auckland capitalists, have
visited the ground and all express their surprise at the rich find. Old West Coast diggers say that in all their
experience they never saw gold lying so thick.
A small sample has been taken to Shortland and another sent to the Bank
of New Zealand, Auckland, to be tested.
Mr D J O’Keefe takes
his collection of specimens to the NZ Herald office. The specimens altogether weigh 60 or 70
pounds and were taken from a variety of claims extending over an area of five
square miles. These specimens afford a valuable history of the Thames reefing
claims. They comprise every variety of stone, from the mullocky leader to the
hard blue and white quartz of the Dawn of Hope claim. Each stone is labelled with the name of the
claim it comes from. The Herald says “ It is gratifying to us as
journalists, independently of the fact that our interests are, in common with
those of all Auckland men, bound up in the prosperity of the Thames, that this
goldfield shall have verified the expectations which we formed of it from the
first and which when others attempted to pooh pooh them, we consistently,
through good report and through evil report, adhered to . . . The Thames,
before another year has passed will come to be acknowledged as the most
extensive and richest goldfield ever yet discovered in the world.
And as to the area of the field, for sometime after it was opened the
miners, then of course much fewer in number, kept to the coast as nearly as
they could, . . . parties are now working 11 miles back from the Hauraki Gulf
coast, and finding still the same rich prospects as were found nearer the
coast.”
The men working in the Edgecombe claim are on a very rich
golden leader and today take out some of the richest stone seen on the Thames.
A party of West Coast diggers report that another party have
returned to Shortland from prospecting in the interior 45 miles up and that
they have discovered some rich beds of alluvial gold, They were, however, driven back by the Maori,
and unable to continue their search.
They speak well of the country and predict a bright field for future
operations.
Major Heaphy asks the
Colonial Secretary in the House of Representatives today whether it is the
intention of the Government to introduce to this session any bill to provide
for the representation in the House of the Thames goldfield. He says that there is at present on the field
a very large population. In previous
instances when the population of a gold district became large, the government
extended representation to them. The Hon
Mr Stafford says the government has not in contemplation such a bill. It should be borne in mind that, when
representation was given to Westland and other goldfields, the population at
those places amounted in each case to 30,000 or thereabouts. There is no such increase of population on the
Thames goldfield, although it was likely to increase. Another consideration should be borne in
mind, namely, that the Thames population is rather the removal of people from
one part of the province of Auckland to another. If a great number of people came to those
goldfields from Victoria or other colonies, then it would be incumbent upon the
government to provide for the representation of such a population. Major Heaphy also inquires whether it is the
intention of the government to equalise the gold duty raised in the colony. The gold of the Middle Island is worth £3 17s
an ounce, and the gold found on the Thames is worth only £2 16s, but they both pay a duty of 2 shillings and sixpence. Mr
Stafford admits the hardship and promises that something should be done to
alleviate it.
Avon for the Thames with sundries
This afternoon at Auckland a man named Thomas Jones is apprehended
by Detective Ternahan on a charge of stealing a bundle of clothing, value
about £2, from the Kensington Boarding House in Wakefield Street. It seems that Jones was stopping at the house
and the bundle of clothes belonged to a young man who went down to the Thames
and who left it in charge of Mrs Catherine Rogan in Barrack Street. Mrs Rogan being about to join her husband at
the Thames, left the bundle at Kensington House from where it was taken. Jones was suspected and watched by a little
girl belonging to the house until he was apprehended.
Mr Mulligan, the proprietor of the Governor Bowen Hotel, Thames, gives an entertainment to a number of gentlemen on the occasion of placing the
first rafter on the large extension of the hotel made towards Pollen
Street. Champagne is freely distributed
and the success of the undertaking is drunk with cheers. This hotel is the largest and most commodious
yet built in the district, the extreme length being 170 ft with a breadth of
50 ft, containing large public rooms and the accessories of a first class hotel.
 Otago Daily Times 14 July, 1868 |
 |
Wednesday, 15 July
The Enterprise arrives in Auckland this morning from the
Thames and brings among the other passengers the convict Robert Kelly alias
McKenna, who escaped from the stockade on 25 March and then hid out at the
Thames. He has been sent back to the
stockade along with two other prisoners convicted at Shortland and also brought
up by the Enterprise in charge of Sergeant Lipsey and Constable Bond. George Roberts is charged with stealing a pair of trousers, value £1 10 s,
from Robert Shaw of Shortland and sentenced to three months hard labour, and
Henry Barker, charged with stealing a hat, value 10 s, from Abraham Levy,
Shortland, and clothing from Bernard Levy, Shortland, is sentenced to four
months hard labour. Alexander Andrews,
a lunatic, is also brought up and is sent to the asylum, being found to be of unsound
mind on the evidence of Drs Sam and Lethbridge. Robert Kelly is sentenced to eight months at
the expiration of his former sentence which was two years imprisonment.
The Midge today
resumes her trade between Auckland and the Thames.
The Daily Southern
Cross correspondent visits the Shotover claim hoping to see the Goldfinder
crushing machinery in operation but is disappointed to find the process
temporarily delayed. Messrs Hunt and White very courteously conduct him over
the ground and into the drives, and in every stone gold is plainly
discernible. In the face of the
celebrated rock over which the Kuranui creek fell, where gold was first
discovered, a drive has been made. Of
the quartz from a leader several sacks of specimens have been selected. One of the sacks is opened and a piece
weighing about 30 lb is broken, showing gold thickly throughout, portions of it being gold flakes. It contains 100 oz
gold. A remark made by an old Victorian
who is present, is that after this, if there was no faith entertained by
certain persons in the Thames, they were infidels. Although a notice is posted warning the
public that they are not to advance beyond a certain point indicated, the
shareholders say they are always happy to show visitors over the ground.
A gentleman named Creagh sells a full share for the sum of
£1,600 for which claim he had but a few weeks previously paid £25.
A slight rush takes place to Puriri in consequence of the
quiet working of a party who have been making wages for some time past by
sluicing ground near the Golden Crown claim.
Attracted by their success a party of eight today takes up ground below
them which they have named the Golden Star.
A number of claims averaging from four to eight men’s ground have been
pegged off with equal success.
There is also a small rush to some new ground which lies
about a mile and a half beyond the Tararu Creek. It has often been tried and pronounced a
duffer. An old hand at prospecting had another look and, being satisfied with the
appearance of the stone, has some tested by Mr Wilkes, at Mr T A Hicks, in Grey
Street. The test is very carefully applied
and the result is half a grain of gold to 7 oz of stone. The report having got
out, a large number of men go and peg off the ground.
The NZ Herald observes of the growing momentum on the Thames goldfield that it is gradually attracting more and more attention in the other Provinces of New Zealand and also in Australia. There have been many visitors to the Thames, who have gone there not to dig in the hills, but to satisfy their curiosity and to ascertain if it is a bona fide goldfield likely to give profitable employment to a large number of men. One circumstance continues to make those living at a distance sceptical. Stories are related of wonderful yields, of leaders surpassing far in excess anything which the experienced have ever seen on other goldfields, while at the same time the export of gold from Auckland has by no means been large. It is this absence of a large gold export which still makes faith weak and causes men to waver.
Every vessel that now comes from the other Provinces brings diggers and speculators to the Thames. This exodus is not confined to the West Coast goldfields. Otago and Canterbury are also losing numbers who migrate to the Thames goldfield.
Until recently very few experienced reef miners were to be found at the Thames. The number is still exceedingly small. Skill is wanted to work a gold reef, science is wanted to save the gold. Visitors are astonished that claims are so unskillfully worked and that hidden treasures are not discovered to be anything like the extent they could be. Proper slabbing and many other practical works are greatly wanted.
The evils of the present system are great and manifold. One or two loafers or persons of disagreeable habit practically prevent the working of a claim. These men have no ambition to do more than to eat and drink and smoke and are great hindrances to their go ahead and industrious companions. The influence of this class has greatly retarded speculation and prevented the influx of capital to the Thames goldfield. These defects, great as they are, will gradually vanish. Time and experience will doubtless do a good deal to counteract this great evil, and the formation into registered companies will be the first step towards it.
The Thames goldfield is still viewed with a great amount of suspicion in Sydney and the other colonies, many believing it to be a mere ”duffer” puffed up by interested parties. Every vessel that now comes from the other Provinces brings diggers and speculators to the Thames. This exodus is not confined to the West Coast goldfields. Otago and Canterbury are also losing numbers who migrate to the Thames goldfield.
Until recently very few experienced reef miners were to be found at the Thames. The number is still exceedingly small. Skill is wanted to work a gold reef, science is wanted to save the gold. Visitors are astonished that claims are so unskillfully worked and that hidden treasures are not discovered to be anything like the extent they could be. Proper slabbing and many other practical works are greatly wanted.
The evils of the present system are great and manifold. One or two loafers or persons of disagreeable habit practically prevent the working of a claim. These men have no ambition to do more than to eat and drink and smoke and are great hindrances to their go ahead and industrious companions. The influence of this class has greatly retarded speculation and prevented the influx of capital to the Thames goldfield. These defects, great as they are, will gradually vanish. Time and experience will doubtless do a good deal to counteract this great evil, and the formation into registered companies will be the first step towards it.
Noon
The Lady Bird arrives
in Lyttleton with 47 miners en route for the Thames goldfield. The ketch Eagle, from Tahiti and Rarotonga, sails for the
Thames today with the balance of her cargo of oranges.
Ringdove for Tookey’s Flat with 15,000 ft timber
There is indignation at Tapu over their postal arrangements. It can be scarcely credited that in the year 1868 that a letter posted in one town for transmission to another
about 70 miles distant would reach its destination in from seven to nine days,
and that too when there is almost daily steam postal communication, yet such is
the case between Tapu and Auckland. A
person residing there wrote a letter to his wife in Auckland and she got the
letter nine days afterwards. She
immediately replied to it and her husband received the letter at Tapu nine days later. Another letter was posted in
Auckland for Tapu on the 2nd July - it was received in Shortland on
the 3rd and in Tapu on the 10th. Men come down from their claims day after
day, expecting letters from their wives and families in Auckland and return
disappointed; the same thing is enacted over and over in Auckland. The diggers residing at Tapu would feel much
obliged to the Chief Postmaster if he would be so good as to remind the public
servants that England still expects every man to do his duty.
Mr. William Griffin of the Molly Bawn claim, writes to the Thames Advertiser on the proposed Thames goldfield
anniversary “It would be a source of
satisfaction to myself, and to the public generally, if the managing committee,
when elected, would take advantage of this opportunity for the purpose of
disseminating statistical information in reference to our goldfield - namely by
getting up data showing the approximate amount of exports and imports during
the last year; the number of steamers brought into requisition for the conveyance
of passengers and luggage; the number of houses that have been erected and in
the course of erection; the amount of timber and its value; the number of
machines, and their probable cost, that have been completed, and;in course of
erection the number of miner's rights issued, and total amount of gold exported
up to the end of the present month. A document
such as this would convey valuable information, and tend to create confidence
in our goldfield by capitalists and diggers at a distance. It would be also a
valuable document for reference and comparison at the end of next July. However,
judging from the warm manner in which the matter has been taken up, and the
public spirit that is likely to be evoked before the end of the month, I have
every reason to hope that much will be accomplished, and the result highly
satisfactory to all who give us a helping hand."
Walter Wilson’s body is brought up to Auckland from the
Thames this evening in the steamer Halcyon.
Mr O’Donnell has charge of the body and accompanies it to town. It is thought better not to take it to Mr
Wilson’s residence and it is deposited at Mr H Riding’s mart until the funeral
tomorrow afternoon. His death is much regretted, for he was a greatly respected and able man who made the first systematic attempt to collate the statute
law of New Zealand.
 |
| NZH 13 July, 1868 |
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Source
Papers Past
© Meghan Hawkes / First year on the Thames Goldfield 2017 - 2018
Please credit Meghan Hawkes/ First year on the Thames Goldfield 2017 - 2018 when re-using information from this blog.
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