PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 224, 16 June 1920, Page 10

PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY

THB GOLDFIELDS DP HAUKAKI PENINSULA. A meeting of the Historical Scot ion of tho Philosophical Society was held last night Mr. Elßdon Best presided over a largo attendance. Miss Hcthorington read a paper on the opening up of tho groldficlds of the Hauraki Peninsula, which included, tin: goldfields of Coromandel, Thamcß, and Waiii l . Gold was first found at Ooromandol in 1852. It ivaß found in the north after Hargravca had mado his discovery of gold in New South Wale's. After this event a committee at Auckland offered a reward of £500 for the finding of a payablo goldflold, but although thoro vcro oevwal claimants the reward was never paid. Tho fields at Coromandel were not found to Ixj uftyiblc, and they were only workoS at Irregular intervals. At the Thames the rights of the Natives to a Roldflold wove purchased at tho rato of £1 for each miner's 1 icon bo, and £1 ss. for ovary kauri tree used. During recent years tho work on the Thames goldfield has mostly boon concerned with retreating of huge dumps left' over, and which having only been treated by primitive methods have yielded a fair quantify of gold. A hearty voto of thanks to Miss Hetnerington was carried by acclamation.