THE GOLD AGE IN OTAGO

Hokitika Guardian, 3 January 1931, Page 3

THE GOLD AGE IN OTAGO

A HISTORY OF THE PIONEERS.

(Early Days in Central Otago: Being Tales of Days Gone By.” By Robert Gilkison, Dunedin :)

The romance, of the early gold-min-ing days in Central Otago has had several excellent historians, yet the'fund o'f information seems to be inexhaustible and each new writer adds to our knowldege of those exciting, glamorous, dangerous days, which seem so far removed from the peaceful realities of 1930, but have scarcely yet become history. Mr Robert Gilkison has lived with bis subject, and knows its every phase. In “Early Days m Central Otago,’’ which appeared serially in the Otago Witness, lie presents vividly a picture that embraces the whole scene that was presented in the provincial district some 70 -years ago. He has, ; from close personal observaF ion, from the study of records and newspaper files, and from stories told to'him in Otago and by members; or the Anzae forces overseas, compiled a narrative that would be intensely, interesting even if it did not concern us so closely, and even were it not embellished by his competent pen, and its strands skilfully gathered and presented in correct perspective.

die chapters in which Dr Elder, in his “Goldseekers and Bushrangers” dealt with the Otago gold-rushes and Otago desperadoes, are here amplified and broadened out to make a hook which, despite its good volume is only too short. Mr Gilkison has realised that, however interesting to a few the facts of the gold days may be, as measured in ounces and population figures to the general reader the most interesting thing about any epoch is its people. His book contains a hundred personal narratives, and the glimpses of the diggers, storekeepers, and police who were outstanding in their time and place illumine . Jirisr narrative, giving it, in fact, “human interest.” One of the most famous of the men we meet is the notorious “Bully” Hayes, and Air Gilkison is able to produce what should be conclusive evidence that Hayes'not only lived in Arrow, but was undesirably prominent in its life. It is not unreasonable to assume with the author, that otf the hotels in Arrow which w.ere the scene of night orgies, Hayes’s was among the worst. Bv 1863 Hayes had departed, to continue - elsewhere his infamous career, and on .May 22 oi tnat. year a newspaper correspondent wrote: “In order to show the ueterioration in the value of property in tiiis place, I need only mention that the Prince of Wales Hotel and Theatre which (were it paid for) could hot have cost less than £250 to £3OO, whs sold by auction for £75. An inglorious fate lor a public house that had known as its proprietor none other than a noted. Pacific pirate!

One of the consequences, of the gold rushes was its effect upon the little I hamlet of Dunedin, which in a few months became blessed witli aii added, though . .mobile, population of some 16,000 miners, adventurers, and the rest. “The happy village,” Air Gilkison remarks, “which had required no mental hospital and no safe prison, suddenly found itself coni routed with an entirely new state of affairs.” Robberies, witli or without violence, were committed in various parts of Otag6, and a new gaol became a necessity. In its day it housed many notorious criminals, but none more interesting than Garrett the Maungatua bushranger, to whom Mr Gilkison devotes a most illuminating chapter. The facts of Garrett’s early life, and his sojourn at Norfolk island, may be studied in this book, and the reader will find himself rejiaid- for his investigation with a rare understanding of the psychology ot the dog witli a bad name. In his later years Garrett wrote extensively. He displays a rude natural ability to express himself, his spelling being phonetic and none the less taking for that. Among his writings is an article on Ruth, which from its opening phrases promises much: “Who lnit has read the beautifully simple and touching narrative of Ruth? And he who has done so without having his emotions warmed T should be slow to exchange friendship with.” The same man, in a review of Marcus Clarke’s famous book, said: “Passive endurance, while possible, is to b praktisd for the ope of revenge. Vengeance belongs not to God alone, but is the Net of all oo dare use it. Nay, it is more "than a riet: it is a duty wich neglected is .a. krime .. . but peifonnd, bekoms both pelsant and profitable and safe as wel.” Air Gilkison says:—

Those who remember Dunedin 50 years ago will bear in mind the scene when a procession of prisoners with convict garb well marked with broad arrows used to tramp along the streets from the gaol to Maitland street or the Rectory Ground and back again, while keen-eyed warders marched beside carrying their loaded rifles at the ready. And Prominent in that procession was for many years the giant form of the old busliranger. The High School hoys knew him well as “Old Bill” while the Rectory Ground was being formed

Around his story of the goldfields Mr “Gilkison. has built a riibv'ihg ; and gripping story of the personalities of Otago, and of the difficulties faced and overcome by the pioneers: He devotes

a chapter to the terrible storms and floods of 1863, when it was estimated that at least .100. prospectors lost their lives, he writes of the; murder of “Yorky,” and of the grave; error of. justice so narrowly averted: at the trial of Job Johnson on that, charge, remarking. whimsically, that the people of Dunedin are ,to-day less : emotional than they were at. that, : ti.me--“lt is difficult to imagine at the present day our worthy judge.weeping on the Bench while the. audience rend the air with deafening applause and conclude by carrying the prisoner and defending counsel shoulder high out of the court.” This, nevertheless, is what, on the authority, of the Daily Times, occurred. Of breezy, authentic stories the author has a fund. He tells of “Champagne Bill” Adams, who earned his sobriquet from the fact that lie once spent £2OO in a “shout”, even bestowing a. share of the “Widow” on the horses,;and he recalls a time when Vincent. Pike calling on the Minister of Lands and finding him .apparently smelling some Californian thistles that had been sent for inspection. said: “Very sorry, I. did not know you were at lunch.”

There is material m “Early Days in Central Otago” to stimulate the imagination of any Otago resident, you ire

orr old, and the book deserves to be read in other parts of the world along with those which tell of the romance of the other" goldfields, and of other pioneering peoples. As time passes it will become an increasingly valuable record. “Early Days in Central Otago’ iV illustrated by photographs and map. J.M. in “Otago Times”