TUE BIG BAY GOLDFIELD

Dunstan Times, Issue 1280, 10 September 1886, Page 3

TUE BIG BAY GOLDFIELD

A reporter of the Christchurch ‘ Press ’ writes : No doubt many have heard the tradition—for it has almost passed into that—of the vast stores of wealth supposed to exist in one of the lonely bays on the West Coast of the South Island. Here "old was said to be as common as pebbles, and that years ago some ad* venturous spirits, guided by the Maoris, had laden a vessel with the shining dust and sailed away to regions unknown. More recently some amount of interest has been caused by the despatch, in the interest of the Red Hills Mining Company, of a party ot prospectors who have been on a similar errand in the rugged country of the Wilberforce. In view of the return -here of the expedition, 1 paid a visit to Mr R. Hill Fisher, secretary to the Red Hills Mining Company In the matter of mining, whether for . gold or oil, Mr Fisher is an enthusiast, and I was received most courteously. “ You want to know something about the legend of Martin Bay i ” asked Mr Fisher. “ Well, then, I think 1 can give you the best information possible It is a narrative by Mr Mackay, jun., who has been in the district for years You can take it just in his own words.” Mr Fisher then handed me a manuscript. “ The story as reported in Nelson in 1843,” said Mr Fishar, “ was that a cave existed within which was gold in fabulous quantities. This is what is referred to in Mackay’s narrative.” Having told me this much by way explanation, Mr Fisher gave me the following particulars as related by Mr Mackay, jun , and which I have taken the liberty ot calling THE LEGEND OF BIG BAT. It is as follows: —“I landed at Jackson’s Bay in 1875 with my father, and have spent the whole of my time in the district and Big Bay. Some time afterward i was joined by James Malcolm, jun., and was eugaged prospecting for gold. On arriving at the place indicated, which is 45 miles from Cascade Point inland, we discovered the directions correct and the tunnel of a mine caved in. Being short of provisions and appliances we had to return to Big Jlay and came over to Queenstown. Going over the Red Mountains we discovered upward of 42 lodes intersecting one another, from which we took specimens to Dunedin, and after assay at Wellington they gave 59 60 of chrome, and one sample gave of silver to the ton. When describing the countiy to Dr Hector, he stated that in his opin'on the best specimens had not been selected, and from the description he thought that one specimen in particular indicated ruby silver, which is never less than 50 per cent. With regard to the record at Nelson as to the original discovery of go'd reported in 1843, that is to be found in the “ Nelson Examiner.” The report stated that the schooner Royal Mail put into Nelson on that day and sailed shortly afterward for Sydney, but since that rime she has never been beard of. The captain and several of the crew were disabled by an explosion in the mine where they had been quarrying for greenstone and other minerals. The vessel had all the paraphernalia on board connec'ed with mining pursuits, such as wheelbarrows, picks, hammers, and blasting tools. The captain and crew were, however, very reticent and would give no information as to wheie they came from or their movements. One of the crew, however, had a cousin in Nelson, and he imparted the knowledge to him that the vessel had come from Big Bay and had LI 00,000 wonh of gold on board, which they had discovered through the agency of the Maoris. This- quantity of gold was the result of nine months’ work The directions of the place were given to me by this cousin iu 1864 ; and I commenced to follow up the search in 1875, not being able to reach Big Bay earlier through want of communication. I found the directions correct in every particular. 1 made about six different attempts to reach the spot, and the best course I found was from Big Bay straight across to Red H ill. I found the outcop of the reef as indicated and spent six months cutting a track. As my particular object was to discover the place mentioned in the Nelson records as lhat at which the crew of the Koynl Mail obtained the gold I paid no attention to anything else; but in the course of ray exploration I found all sorts o% minerals. Tnere is no question in my mind but that the district is full of all kinds of mineral riches.” Here the narrative ends.

“ Well,” said Mr Fisher, “ our party have been all over that ground to which Maokjy/tefers. The country is being covered

with deuse undergrowth, but these are some lovely spots there. Just where our chief prospector pitche 1 his tent is a magnificent waterfall and the scenery about is charming."