Rimu Jubilee

Hokitika Guardian, 4 May 1932, Page 2

Rimu Jubilee

FIFTY YEARS AGO RIMU IN 1882. START OF THE RUSH. The Ilium Goldfield, at first known as Upper Woodstock, was discovered early in 1882, and by the middle .of the year there was a large. population in til© vicinity, about 500 miners being engaged in operations, -The country on th© top of the hill was at' the time heavily bushed, but quickly a young township sprang up on both sides of tfte road to Ross. A series of oordu* joyed tracks were soon made down th* Lead, the main on© being on. the roUt* of the present Adair’s road, numed after Sir William Adair, a former 1 roid. man for the Westland County Council. It was a busy scene in the days, following the first announcement, of a valuable gold discovery, , and miners flocked from all parts of New Zealand to take part in the hunt for the yellow metal. The field was a lairiy shallow one, bottom ranging flrom 1 40 to' 90 feet and generally the "'sinking was fairly easy. At times water-was the trouble, but in most cases the sinking was in dry, solid ground; The wash was; on a sandstone bottom, and the depth of the wash ranged from two to four, feet thick, the value of the. wash per load also being of a mixed nature. The wash dirt was hauled' to : the top ;of the shaft by means of ;a whim, horse- . drawn in most cases, and placed in : paddock which was washed by means of water supplied from; races which covered the field, though water on many occasions was not available until rain had fallen, and about , Christmas time especially, the varariesof the weather were the subject of mucin worry,'as to whether there' would be* r wash up before the holidays. The field was one in which the individuaU miner, with two or three part iters,..was able to carry on ’ operations, and there was no very large outlay involved in the carrying bii of the work of drying fcf the, yeilflW: . nibtal.: Though there were some'' .substantia' rewards fix the Work entailed, the ' field {generally proved : to be bhfe i~ ’ which mainly, a comfortable living : could, be obtained by. the lucky claim holders, while in many instances, tber' was not much more than a bare living for ttie hard working miners; engaged; Gradually the richer ground was work- 1 cd out, but there still remained a hardy band (of miners who had settled down there;, for the i-emainder; v of .their,.lives, in many instances, who;' eked ' outY.'i living , more or less frugal in the vie hiityjof the goldfield, for many years. The rush, which brought a great ; number of people to Westland hajl V; i great beneficial result- to Hokitika and district, which at thfe time, hid’: b&efl ■ suffering froip a distinct slump. v anb the new discovery of gold of e Valuablc ‘ nature gave a gre at impetus 'tb-trad’e;. { which lasted for several yearid tv '

In those days horse drawn 'ittHsfwwas in vogue and though many ...piiriers made their hemes 'at Rimu, adjacent to their drums, a large number of those working at the rush came home every evening, leaving again,-..' in - the early morning The coach drivers in those days call d up their patrons witl bugle calls, and it was the regular custom to hear the calls sounding ouf on the town before 7 o’clock in. the morning as the two and four horse coaches passed up the street's. collecting their passengers. As the township 1 at Rimu advanced and the conditions became more settled, the workers ■ set-: led down in their huts around their claims, those having homes in other centres o-nly making their way homeward for the week-ends. The townshigrew rapidly ard was soon a busy centre, with its row of shops, banks, churches, and several hotels. Gradually the gold product dwindled down, as the years passed away, . and though there were other discoveries cf gold made in the vicinity, at Seddon Terrace. in 1890. and Back Creek, the

claims there which - were of a different nature, mainly sluicing, and tunnelling from the terrace front, did not provide such an extensive area for operations and did not bring in such a largo number of miners Gradually the gloried of these new finds have passed away, and in its place the timber industry took its place. The Lead in now a deserted area overgrown with ferns and rushes, the woodcutter having completed the work of devastation of what was once a fine, virgin bush.

OUTBREAK OF THE RUSH HALF A CENTURY AGO 0- ~ TO-DAY’S CELEBRATIONS

RECOGNITION , OF PAST HAPPENINGS. FESTIVITIES AT RIMU. ; Rimu’s Jubilee Celebrations to-day were favoured with line weather. A public holiday was observed throughout •■the district", for the special occasion, and throughout the morning a- large assemblage made its Way tU Woodstock and Rinittj mbtOr bars Serving capably in yjliveying the people to the scene of the festivities. The people of. Woodstock and Rimu have been very busy during the past few day* In making arrangements for the Jubilee celebrations, and these proved very aucce*sful.

T h E DECORATIONS. Ferns and greenery qlways make a notable feature in ai’.l West Coast decorative efforts, -and at Woodstock and Rimu these ready adjuncts have been called freely into service. Four large arches form notable port ions of the decorations, traversing the roadway, and each had a specially attractive appearance..’

No. 1 is in front of the residence oi Mr J. Stoop senr.j Woodstock,' aiid has for;its-.motto .‘‘Welcome,’’ and is the first to-be seen by the visitors from. Hokitika. ", i

No/ 2 is -in front of the Royal 51811 Hotel, (Mr. M.' Keenan), and has depicted on it a painting by Mr Menzies of /‘The poyal Mail.’’. ;.No. 3 is on the ' top of Rimu hill I forms another attractive feature, •s it ispans ..the road at the entrance to the. township of Rimu. No. 4 is .in • front of the All Nations Hotel, and depicts a sluici'ng cflaim in operation, a ; novelty well worth in ipection.

- 'Rimu- Town Hall is decorated profusely and there. is -a full working modol of a niinihg tunnel, fully .quipped, therein, a >i more than passing interest. The decoratioits are of a most expensive nature. The roadway from the Woodstock 'Hall, up ft portion of Rimu Hill, a distance of some 400 yards is i mass of ferw *r.d greenery on both sides, mass of tree ferns being utilised tor the display, r

All through Rimu there is a wealth of tree , ferns and greenery on the Various houses and fences, while all the flags available in the district have been utilised, the whole makes a very orave display. , THE PROCESSION.

The next feature of the celebrations A’lpya ’monster' procession from- Woodstock, up'the . hill to Rimu and on to he Domain.- There were many special ‘features' the procession,- 'quire a number v of- ' tableaux"' being. presented, many -jtt hovel : lines; and: exemplifying’ scenes of- fifty. ’ years ago, and .of a typical 'iatui'e to --those-• brave mining days. ■ The procession as it passed on itway was greeted with much appreciation' and. applause as the special features thereof came into view, wending ts way through the-decorated street, <nd under the several tine "arches which i-ad been erected across the roadway at the various poinVi. 0

It was a busy scene, I’imu holding a eoord crowd in attendance and the place w.ore a lively appearance. Many ild faces were there, having forega'therd - from all parts of the district for -.i;e special occasion, 'and there was much. handshaking, inquiries, and good vUh.es extended 1 , with many voicing their recollections of those happy days it the time of the run'h when so many had: made their eager way, full of hope, to -the new goldfield. .

THE' SPEECHES. Arrived at. the Domain, the large assemblage gathered round an improvised platform, from which references were made tJo the notable gathering that day in recognition of ' the brave days of fifty years ago. The speakers included Mr. (J. A. Perry (Mayor of -Hokitika), Mr Michael Keenan '(Chairman of Westlaud' County ’Council). SPORTS GATHERING. After the conclusion of the speeches, the large assemblage were entertained at luncheon provided by the Celebration Committee free of charge. A strong ladies’ committee were in charge attending to the wants of the visitors, who greatly -appreciated the. hospitality extended. The sports gathering for young and old then took place lasiing throughout the afternoon. THE WIND-UP. To-nighf. the proceedings will be brought to a successful conclusion with a grand ball for which the halls at [Rimu and Woodstock wi-'l be jointly utilised, and at which a record attendance looked' for.