Rimu Goldfields

Hokitika Guardian, 30 April 1932, Page 6

Rimu Goldfields

“I have trod the upward and the downward slope, I liave odured and done, in days before.”

A deserted mining township always looks depressing, Rimu .presents no exception to this general rule, het ns however, go hack fifty years, and revive for a few moments the glories of the past in view of the approaching jubilee celebrations. The old time digger is a fast vanishing type. He was an enthusiast and an optimist. If he got no gold to-day, there was always to-morrow. He was a simple, cheerful soul, and lived before the days of motor cars, moving pictures, aeroplanes and wireless. He was like the people in the Old Testament, who never explained or apologised. He simply did things, and went

away. The golden days of Haim are gone. No more can we turn into Hansen's Pioneer Hotel and have a drink with “Wombat” Jack or “German” Charley or play skittles in Lynch’s billiard saloon. No more can we spruce up. and catch Cameron’s coach, or the Kunier tram, to run down to Hokitika, to see Jimmy Wilkinson in “Struck Oil” or Robert Rede in “Callaghan on his hast Legs.” If, however, the perusal of those notes of the early days of. Rimu and the list of names of the old miners culled from the daily papers, brings a smile to the faces of those who remember, the object ol this article will be attained. The present day tourist, passing through the township in a motor-car, avoiding a stray cow grazing in the long paddock, and perhaps catching a glimpse of Martin ('ashman sitting in the sun, or Joe Surgenor and Bill Boyd getting ready for the approaching celebrations. little thinks that the township was once a hive of industry with over a 1000 men digging for gold. Rimu, w«s not always Rimu. At the beginning it wars called Upper Woodstock, and was so reierred to in the papers of February to September 1882. On 16th September 1882, the “West Coast Times” announced that after October Ist. Upper \\ ooiG.tock would be called Rimu. It was evidently a name given by the Postal authorities to avoid confusion in addresses of Woodstock and Upper Woodstock. On February 7th 1882, the “West Coast Times” noted that a small rush took place at Woodstock and some twenty men pegged out claims. Then on the I.sth, it. is noted that mining matters are improving in the neightbouiTood of Sunday Gully. Woodstock. On the Kith, Dr Uourke and party were granted a tunnel site at Sunday Gully. On the 17th. it is noted that several parties were setting in to work at a terrace close to, and just beyond Gnylon's store. This terrace has been worked years ago, several tunnels having been driven. Recently Ryan -find Pa.rty, who have tunnelled in .300 feet, had a good washing up, and other parties got decent returns. In consequence 15 or lb claims have been taken up. The terrace is almost in a line with the Brighton Terrace and runs hack a considerable distance in the direction of Arch (.'reek and Rack Creek. There arc 10 or 50 miners at work. On .March 7th, there is an account of a. visit to Woodstock or Woodstock Terrace, better known as the top end of the Brighton terrace. Leaving Gaylor’s store and travelling eastward, we reached tlu> following tunnelling claims, driving from 100 to 800 feet:—Duncan and party, Hancock and party. Clements and party, Jackson and party, Boiirke and party. Craig and party, MeKillip and party. McKenna and party, R.van and Richardson's party, Heard. Ihiske and [tarty, Pat Dowling. Logan and Hutchison and party. Nearly all acre ou payable gold. Two shares recently changed hands in McKenna’s claim for 055 to COO. Lubke and party (0) have been employing three wages men and unshed up about £BO of gold on Sal unlay week. Adjoining this claim, on the flat and beyond the, terrace, .lack fleam. Ansel 1, Boyd and White are sinking a shaft, surrounded by 10 others, who had pegged out claims, and were anxious to ascertain llcam’s prospects. They were down fitly feet. Roberts and party have just, coiimieined to sink. John the Greek sunk some distance and came on a heavy boulder. Others were Blundell and pil'L.V. Bussum. Charlie and Charles ( oilier. Beyond the tunnelling el.mi-, on Ihe re,'u| to Bae kCreek there are still at work, Brandt and party, ( htrke and partv. •John the Frenchman, Dougin- , and party, and Wo lan and party

1882-1932 JUBILEE THE START OF THE RUSH SOME INTERESTING REFERENCES COLLECTIONS AND RECOLLECTIONS

On March Bth, Hearn and party, bottomed on payable wash at 54 ieet. Roberts, Curniek, Curliam and Berry are to bottom soon. John 15mannalete and party (John the Greek) are down 8 leet and will begin to start, 'and erect' a windlass and fly today. Blundell and party are timbering. Isbister and party will bottom next week. New claims were pegged out by Webster, Smith, Forsyth and Nolan also Jones, Loughlin and Roe. The water races held by Handley and Clausen command the field and Spence and Ferguson have two small dams. On March 30th, the Woodstock road wad lively, miners and vehicles winding their way to the new field. For half a mile ou each side of the road near the prospectors’ claim business areas have been marked out and building has commenced. Some test are pitched by parties from the -Set on teen Milo and Kuniara, but most of the men reside at Kanieri or Woodstock and return home in the evening. On March 15. the ground at the rear of Mr Hansen’s building was dotted with tents and Mr Stone, blacksmith, is getting ready for work. On March 22. Roberts. Curniek. Curliani and Berry bottomed their shaft, I grains to the dish. Air Hansen is in full swing with In's Temperance Hotel or coffee bouse. Mr Levy has completed a lair sized store, and Mr Linnemnnn ironmonger is building a branch stoic.

On March 25 Roberts and Curniek washed a load by cradle, for J Hints ('grains.

The following have taken up biisi ness sites: —A. P. Hansen, ( . J. E. Linnomanii, 11 Levy, G. Hatch. M G Johnston. W. Kenny. 1 bos. Pater-

son. 11. L. Michel, A. W. Buck. RWilburn, J. Allen, G. A. Paterson, F .1 Lloyd, Mrs McKenzie and Henry Delm.

March 2S.— There are now stated to lie :iOO men at the Woodstock rush. German Charley one of the shareM’lderivohi' the Greek’s claim--sold-his

share for LTS and the purchaser was offered CIO on his bargain, the shaft being only down a lew loot. A party , f juvenile diggers have started in, Emerson. Wilborg. Scliaof. AlcDonakl and another at an average age of Kb Tliov have Miners’ rights and call themselves the Juvenile Amateur Projectors.

On .March 29.- The Woodstock rush Another Golden Hole. 15 grains to 1 dishes. So runs the heading. It is reported that Mr Alexander Spence, storekeeper at Woodstock. has given Mr Delin £3O for a frontage on his r sidence area.

Air Delin has been offered £SO for the site on which his cowshed stands.

Mr Steve Glossop lias arranged for the erection of an hotel. On Alarcli 31.—Charles Chesterman and parly bottomed at 50 feet getting two grains to the disli with three feet of wash. Sinking, slabbing, pegging out. and

■‘jumping” seems to be tile order of the day. There in one tiling that has not abated in filly years, and that is the weather. On April I. it i.s noted that the

i'.tin came down in such super abundance yesterday, that only those who -Were supplied with llys or coverings over their shafts went to work. Other business licenses have been taken up by John Keirnan. John Dean. James Clarke, Bieluird Jolly, Daniel Cullen, Hugh .McKay. Rhode O’Malley, M\ I). Cullen, John Ca.sidy.- Daniel Lynch. 11. J. Hansen. R. AY. Wade, W. L. Fowler, David Broeklehursl, 11. Sharp. J. Maude. 11. Cameron. R. Upjohn, S. Morris. Fllon (Sklv, John Cameron. 11. L. Robinson. F. Foster, J. 1C Byrne, 11. Z. Levy. A. Saroison. A. Thompson and Thomas Fitzsimmons.

On flic same day. Speiu-r act loiicd (I seel ions, pari ol Air Delm s residence Yen. only Ihe right to occupy tile ground being oflercd. No. I L'22 to Mr Pearl. No. 2 to Air Beck cg(l, \'ns. 3 and I to Mr Murdoch L‘3D, Nik. 3 ,-md t; to Air diaries Hose C3O.

On April 8.. Clapton. Aliek Gibbs ;i ml Robert Douglas bottomed D'eY shaft. 2 grain- In Hie dish, with 0 foci of wash.

Al r Fitzsimmons of K om.ora ; JigS ,a !i<.l cl building nearly completed. Mr |» icluird Jolly, and Mrs Bliek ol Larrikins lane opened re.slaiiinuls. A letter Mas written to the paper abnul furious driving by coaches to I lie now rush and predict ing accident s. Tom Hamilton had not yet started driving. On ihe IHih. O'Ciuinor, Mi Governn and party struck payable wash. On I3lh April, several eases were | ricd about encroachments. A pai I y of , s j\" |||C|l, (>'( oil our. Met on era it. Dei',call, Bradd'Ui. Bailey and Nile ept were supposed In be holdine ii'.-ii's ground K'-' '•■"I I v '"T Lel .1 t m D.. 1 m being hud on ' aped them oh there wr; e/oit excitement

expected to bottom

On the 22nd a Rost Office was opened, and called Upper Woodstock.

Oil 28th several others had bottomed. Mrs Blink's Kiimm-a restaurant was in full swing, thirty sitting down to dinner, a substantial meal for Is (Jd, board Cl per week. Jolly Dick at the Full and Plenty restaurant Mas doing croud business.

On May 2nd, Irwin and party struck good gold, and the Chinamen were

Oil May 9th. the report stated that there were 1000 men digging and 250 on payable gold. Rabv and and party and Martini and party struck goicl. one mile to the west of the prospector's claim. A mile and a half ol country, half a mile wide is being sunk on. Wombat Jack’s party are driving and cradling, two pennyweights to the load; McKenna and party five pennyweights to the load. The Chaff-cutters shaft has been bottomed a duffer.

On 20th. the Chinamen bottomed at Olil't two feet of wash, two grains to tile dish. John is going to dr.ve it. He is [Hitting up a but first. Captain Brown's party have not struck anything yet, they are busy driving. On May 29, Bevan and party bottomed cm payable gold, lour grains to the dish.

A section and building was sold for £SO.

On June Ist, the Warden. F. Bird Es« i, granted conditional licenses to 11. J. Hansen, R. Stephens and S. Glosxop, all of Upper Woodstock within tlie Aluhinupua Special Licensing District. Mr it. J. Hansen christened his place “The Pioneer” and broached a case of champagne. On June 39th, Curniek and party had a washing up, 22.(ounces of gold from 45 loads of wash dirt. At the County Council Mr Jack moved that to reward should be given to the prospectors Joint Aliearn, Win. Ausell. Wm boyd. and Win. White. Duske and party put in a claim. Oil June 26th, McDonald, O’.Fkrien and party bottomed at 50fl, three leet of the wash being very good, half an ounce to the load. Hunter and Co. have finished a substantial whim and brace.

On .June 3(Hh, a petition was s l> nl to the Government by John Emannelate, Frank Boatridgo and James McKenna claiming to be the original prospectors.

On July sth, it is noted that the extent of Llie, rush and the increasing amount of litigation in the Warden’s Court must shortly necessitate the erection of a Court House at Upper Woodstock.

On July 21st, a licence was granted for Mr Costello’s Brian Born Hotel. On .July 27th, Mr Worrington was appointed agent of the Bank of New Zealand at Woodstock.

On August sth, a license wim granted to Mr Clarke for the Melbourne Hotel. Upper Woodstock.

On August 25lhj. Mr Garril4> bad erected a smithy next to .Mrs■■ Clarke's store, and Mr George Redman had opened a butcher’s shop adjoining. ...r Steve (Jloss' 1 )) has been adding extensive additions to the All Nations Hotel. Mrs Piezzi has nearly completed one of the finest looking hotels on the Coast, and the remark i.s often heard that it i.s too good for Woodstock. The Bank of New Zealand have a branch office opposite Air Glossop’s hotel. Mr Croft for the Bank of New South Wales has a temporary office opposite. Air Hansen has started to build a large billiard room. Air W. McCracken has started a shoemaking business. Mr Schroder has opened a handsome little shop next to Mr Fggcrs. tobacconist. The police barracks arc nearly completed. Air Thomas .Malloy has opened a tidy 'shop for hoots. Air Malison's building would 'make a splendid public hall. Joe Drake’s party have just finished a brace and paddock. Campini and party arc driving and washing with a Californian pump. O'Sliauguassy is sinking for the sandstone. Sabot and Sharkey are logging up for a paddock. Frazor and party showed ,-i piece of quartz like a duckegg, .studded with gold. r l'he Welshmen’.s party are getting 31 pennyweights to the load. On September 2nd, things were looking well, several of the host claims wore yielding L'2() a man per week. The lead is non- a perfect network of llumiug, and the work in the way ol paddocks, whips and whims is ol quite a substantial nature. On September 7th, All's Film I’iezpa was granted a lieeii.e for the Swiss Mountain Hotel. She applied for an extension to 12 p.m. for miners on night .shifts. The exleiisoii Mas refused.

riah: rush. On September 2711 i, the first, article appeared headed “Rimu Push'' hereininre known al Woodstock rush. Near the .Maori mill a good many claims were marked out. but they are now abandoned. and the rats and Maori liens are in possession once

again. .McKenna and party got 22', miiue.s from 70 loads and Marshall and party d ounces from HI loads. The ruling price ol gold was I'd Id lid per ounce.

A movement is on lent to establish a Literary Society, and ai: Amateur Christy .Minstrel Club is being lot mod. Mrs Pie/.zi lew a good .-tail o! the lair sex, and is doing good business al ihe Ini is By far l lie busiest mun in the |owu is Mr Tom Burns. Die village hlacksinil It. Mr Al. ( ashman has opened a new , loro nex I i lie ( 'dim inert ia 1 Hotel. So Rimu began. and j lie old digger. Id e a -oldior broken in the tuns, -id and dreams ol the good.-, old Jaw-, j Wji h bis m, livable opt imi-m he | u ill I el| 1 oil tha I as soon as lie "ft : I tier of the I lieu lo d. n•. lie b Hot) I I : i'lcc M il'.U'iJ he lilll eel U iiU-le P'Ad-

OLD MEMORIES, (By a Correspondent). In “Looking Backward” to 50 years ago when Rimu was called Upper Woodstock, one has only to close one’s eves and call up “old memories” of the new goldfield. AA here are the o,d miners of those days who turned day into night in feverish activity in their quest for gold? Echo answers, where? "The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep.”

In passing a few days ago I was struck with the difference to-day to wliat Rimu was in the old days when everyone was busy, working day and night. Many will remember the coaching days when Billy Holmes, Harry Jacobs, Jack Mitchell, Old Alex, and others drove between Hokitika and Rimu. A good story i.s told of Old Alex, who was deaf, hut liked his wee drop. He was sitting on the box when passenger came out of the hotel and asked him what time he was leaving. He said, “1 don’t mind if J do.” “No! I want to know when you are leaving.” “Well then. I’ll have brandy.” In recalling residents of 511 years ago my mind goes hack to the top of Rimu Hlil and on tlie left as one looks towards the town the first house was that- °f Mr Keenan, the father of the present. County Chairman. The next Mils Air Hill, whoso son to-day is an Inspector for the Post, and Telegraph .Department in Wellington. Then Air Williams, Catholic Church, AVm. Randt, (tlie blacksmith). Bank of New Zealand. Pridgeon’s (the horse doctor) ; Hansen’s Hotel. Alos.s Levy, Linneman’s Post Office Store; Pollard and Anderson’s Boarding House; Afelveev-c-r’s chemist: James Lynch: Public Hall : Alilligan’s; George Hatch’s Store: Comports; David Spence’s bakery; Church of England. On the other side T can remember Linstrom’s butcher .shop; Martin Cash man's store; Stephen’s Hotel; Dan Cullen’s store; John Maher, sawmillers; Surgenor’s ; The Library. Later, the Post Office was sbi t-cd to this side of the road. Police Station, Delius, Win. Spence’s store, Hathaways Hotel, etc. Messrs Handley and Clausen owned the dams and water races that- supplied miners with water for their claims. These are only some of the names familiar to old identities of other days.