THE GOLD FEVER.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 February 1925, Page 1

THE GOLD FEVER.

A SKETCH OF THE OLD WEST COAST. (From the Wellington “Post” of the “Sixties.”) “The gold news of the past month speaks of another of. these remarkable migrations of population so characteristic of gold fields.., It'is only about three months ago that the attention of miners on the West Coast; was directed to the neighbourhood of the Boiler, when, gold having been found at tie Pakilii and. Fox’s River, the tide of population set in there in overwhelming force, and ii the course of two or three weeks several thousands of persons found their way. to those and neighbouring. spots, where the ground .n places was exceedingly rich. This led to further prospecting both north and •south of the Fuller,mid a good deal of payable ground was opened twid is now being worked. (February, 1867). “The rumours of gold having been struck at the Haast River, 130 miles south of Hokitika, has led to a rush in that neighbourhood, and latest reports inform us that the miners, in thousands, are starting off for this new ground with the same disregard of consequences to themselves, as a few weeks before, they left other workings for the rush to the north.

“While, however, our goldfields have a large population ever ready to rush from place to place 011 the slightest possible encouragement, another class of men are pursuing their occupation of gold-mining in a more systematic manner, sinking large capital in machinery of various kinds, whence they expect to obtain something like permanent employment. This class of men, upon whom the ultimate prosperity of Westland will have mainly to depend, is increasing in number, and works of the character spoken of are being undertaken in various quarters.”