GOLD.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 October 1921, Page 1

GOLD.

THE DAYS OF 18« A

RUSH TO COAST GOLDFIELDS,

(Excerpts from the ‘'Wellington Post.”).

On Saturday afternoon, 21st. October 1860, readers of The Post were offered a bargain tints •‘FOII SALE.- A Mare, thoroughly broken to saddle-; would suit a lady. A new Saddle and Bridle also tti he disposed of. Tip- above will lee sold cheap, as the present owner is about to 1 Irex-eed to the diggings. Apply to MV Barry. Ship Hotel. Manners Street.”

I’-v (that time many 0 settler of AA'cliingtim liad rushed off to the

J Smith Island’s gold const, and sought fortune in the wilds of M-'stland. at Hie hack of ‘‘OKit-iki’’ (as Hokitika was known hen- soon after “payable gold was found in that locality, early l in ’(Vi). The fever spread quickly I thinnig!mu|t New Zealand. The- lure lof the gold disturbed many a steady settler, and many a now homo was brcikon up h.v the craze for sudden riches. Owners of schooners and pack * Inflates pruspe-re.-eij ex rtf -dingly fifty years ago; there' was very much money spent' in the quest of gold. ECLIPSING 'ELECTIONS AND WARS. Wellington people had t-lie excitement of the Maori War in '66. but tlio gold soon overshadowed the war. On Ith. March Tile Post remarked:—“The goldfields arc of course- the topic of the day; interest in elections. Governors, warsi and rumours of wars is entirely merged in ‘gold.’ It has a pleasant sound, a healthy auriferous ring in the ears; all are anxious to lie oil' to El Dorado, and all start with lively hopes of making a rapid fortune. Words of wholesome- ciiuX' ion Hill lightly on ties- ele-tei-miieotl digger’s ear: led away by tiler prevailing excitement lie is deaf to reason, and runs blindly, or as he calls it in iiis simple dialect, goes in bald-head-ed for the orthodox swag, and starts off in most eases to return a sadder and a wiser man.” 011 11th. March The* Post heel Ibis paragraph : “The Otago Daily Times, e f Thursday last, says that in tile excitement now e-xli United in the city, ami cm Hie increase, relative- to the- West Coast Gold Fields, nearly all business -lot-ms suspended. Tin- e-e msi-e | nonce to the e.-n ryiilg interests are disastrous in tin- extreme and many e-.i 1 - rii-rs are retiring from-the trade in disgust.”

The quantity of gold brought to Dunedin h.v the fortnightly escort on the 2nd. .lime amounted to 666"0z. t Ida t. The return increased steadily. Oil 22nd Septeinlk-r the escort brought 8211 W.. of gold to Dune-din. A TOWN OF RFIVER.

Tile town of Hokitika took shape rapidly. Carpenters and other workers who preferred sure gold in hand to tin- elusive nn-tal iii tin- luisli column mbtd very high wages. Tin- Post stated. Oil lJtli. April : —“The survey uf Okiliki township is almost completed. Sites jirc- reserved fur ‘important public buildings.’ The first importation of Victorians arrived in t lie Albion on the .Nth. hist. The Nelson steamer lias come to grid, and it is hard and fast on shore, not a tiim-dre-d yards from the Storm Bird. The overland route to Canterbury appears to be n failure, the- track is in a horrible state-, liK'ii and horses continually succumbing to tile fatigues of tin' journey.”

The Post of 21st November gave this item : The following extract from a private letter received in Geelong by n parent IYOIII his son. who, like many oilier rovers, no doubt, thought that at Hokitika, lie was to make his pile, is given by the- Geelong Advertiser: —“A nicst frightful place. There are 15 ships on the bar. and I counted 183 public house's. Board and lod.dug is e;i His a week. Have to sleep oil a ■lable or on tlie door, and no lied. Hundred* are walking about the st re-ctss. N'oilhiers Is for everything. Meat. 2s ,’-<1 to 2s Del tier poaml. The place is full of thieves.” PRECIOUS BEEF

Messrs Jones. M’GWlian, and Co’s rep,ol mi the Hokitika live stock marlet for October'. 1565 stated:

Tin- Hokitika market was supplied

i’ii,-iii l ' tbe 11' niltli with: Fat cattle, 380 bead si fltte’l; nigs. 55; calves, none introduced. Now perhnns tie- most em_ plinth- argument wc can adduce will lie a simple quotation of prii-es realised by \es in our yards for good--not prime—

entile. Altogether we have disposed of hy nuetion to tlio trade 135 head of InilloeUs and rows, wliieh brought us a, total of eloso upon £IOOO. Mr C. Russell's lot fd!) head") wore the host offered during the month, and averaged £:IR nor head all round. One ehoiee pen realised tlio astounding price of £.'>!) per head. A\'o ran safely renew mii- i|iint:itions of Inst month, with every pros poet of Kuril being maintained say. for primo fat rattle and yood quality. £0 per Cl Of); second do., or medium £d per 1001 b : or. varviiiy according to quality and immediate roquireini'uts. from £35 to £lO per head. Wo nuote prime wel tiers, heavy weiyhts at 70s to SOs; medium, dOs to 00s; small sheep. 30 to Ids. Pigs -Fiftyfive int rodiieed. a very small number indeed, and wliieh sold readily at ahout Is .'id per lh. live weight-.” KRCORT ACROSS TTTE AI.PS,

On Sth Dereinher. The Post reprinted this news from the l.yltellon Times: “On Monday last f-tth December), at 0 a.m,. the escort, starte.l from Christehureli. The force consisted of four cnnsl aides, an inspector, and a soryennt. They were first mustered at Hi,, st a Ides temporarily occupied by t linn ; they then marched to the police station near the Afeelianies Institute, and I home to the river side, opposite the ("tin-eminent buildings. Here M"ssrs Mu.ndv and T.a Mort were in attendance with their photographic apparatus. ami tool; a view nT them. The oseni't van is a light American one, painted crimson, picked out with yellow. linviny wheels of the same colour. Tt, was drawn hy a, team of four grey horses. The escort seemed a smart

body, and several persons niweinl.led to " Th*i-i S inm'-vat ion ' soon I'atne' to an in-,lori-ns end : it was ridiculed into abandonment.