AN ADVENTUROUS LIFE

Hokitika Guardian, 19 August 1929, Page 8

AN ADVENTUROUS LIFE

MEMORIES OF OTAGO GOLD FIELDS. .

After living at Onehunga, Auckland, for many years, Mr James Joseph hooper who came to New Zealand in J.BG3, celebrated iiis eighty-ninth birthday last Friday by taking a tour of the city arid suburbs of Auckland by motor car. '

“In my wildest dreams I never imagined that Auckland could have grown into such a city in so short a, time,’" was his verdict after the tour was over (.says the Auckland Sun).

Fifty-three years ago Mr Cooper was manager for the late Mr Robert Graham, and lie states that lie assisted in digging the heaviest crop of potatoes he ever saw from the present site of the Ellerslie racecourse, just before Mr Graham sold it to the Jockey Club. No fewer than 250 tons of potatoes were harvested, and Mr Graham chartered a schooner and shipped them, to San Francisco, as lie was unable to sell them in Auckland at even £1 a ton. On arrival at the United States port the whole of the consignment was found to be rotten.

Born at. Cromer, Norfolk on August 0, 1840, Sir Cooper went to sea at the age of 13, reaching Auckland in the ship / Ironsides in 1863, The Maori War was then approaching its height. Young Sir Cooper, filled with the spirit of adventure, packed up his sailor's kit, took French leave and swam ashore one dark night, landing on Mediaics’ Bay beach. From, there he walked to Mercer and got a job on Goveriiment river boat Gundagai, under Captain Enirqhild, who afterward commanded the Government steamers Stella and Hinemoa.

Hearing marvellous tales of the new-ly-discovered Otago goldfields, Sli Cooper obtained his discharge as a warrior by arranging for a substitute, and soon found himself in Dunedin, where one day he heard Hartley, oft Hartley and Reilly, the famous discoverers of gold at the Duntsan, addressing a crowd of men from the balcony of the old Provincial Hotel. He told them that if 20,0000 z of gold were not brought to Dunedin within a month, lie would allow himself to be lynched. In less than' a month the Dunedin banks bought 60,000 oz.

Mr Cooper and his party mined on the Molyneux and the Fox’s, now known as. Arrowtown, and did exceptionally well. He states that while on the Dunstan lie often met the notorious Levy, who afterward' joined the murderous hushranging gang of Burgess, Kelly, and Sullivan/and with the two former was subsequently hanged in Nelson gaol. While in Otago Levy carried on the trade of pedlar, and Mr Cooper often bought clothing from him. In 1867; Mr Cooper joined in the gold rush to {he West Coast, arid after many ups and downs at Hokitika and, Kanieri, found his way back to Dunedin, Here he had charge of the lighter Agnes, carrying timber from Port Chalmers’to Dunedin for Messrs Guthrie and Asher, later known as Guthrie and Larnach, who had extensive kauri timber lriills on the Manukau.

Returning to Auckland in 1873, Mr Cooper was married in Vincent street by the late Rev. Alexander Reid, and took up land at Pakiirpnga, which he farmed for the next 30 years. His wire died 29 years ago, and three years later Mr Cooper settled at Onehunga, where for a number of years he conducted a sailmaker’s business.

Although he is 89, the hand of time has rested gently upon him. His physical and mental powers are but slightly impaired, bis memory is exceptionally retentive and his conversational ability would shame many younger men. Mr Cooper is the father of 1.0 children, six of whom are living. There are 33 grandchildren and one great-grand-cnild. i