GOLD

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1933, Page 3

GOLD

THE FIRST REPORTS.

NEW SOUTH AVALES ANNIVERSARY.

SYDNEY, February 16. Last Sunday was the eig-.ty-second a'linivervairy or the ‘“official” discovery of gold in New South* AA 7 ales—the. beginning of the digging days in the state. It was on February 12, 1851, that Edward H|a.r graves, newly returned from California, and John Lister, .washed the firs;. ,pan of goldDearing gravel at the junction of the ■Summerhill and Lewes Pond creeks, in the ranges beyond Bathurst. Bathurst, now a prosperous inland centre, was inthe mids:- ot the earliest gold finds.

There are several well-authenticated reports of earlier discoveries than those made by Hargraves and Lister. For instance, it was on February 13, 1823; 110 years ago, that James O’Brien, a surveyor, noted in his field book that near the Fish river, and between Rydal and Bathurst, lie found “numerous paiticles of gold on the' hills, convenient to the river.”. This is probably the first authenticated discovery of gold in Australia, as doubt attaches to all the earlier reports.

It is a strange fact that in the earlier days of New South AValos talk of gold discoveries was officially discouraged, ai:d it was many years before this attitude could be broken down. In 1849 one AA r . J. Smith exhibited to the Colonial Secretary in Sydney a piece ctf gold embedded in quartz, and offered to reveal the place whore G was found if lie were paid a large sum of money. He was told, almost in < t ,s many words, to get about liis business, hut it /is understood that the field on which he made liis find turned, out to be one of the most probable in the 'State. It is evident that the politicians of tha earlier days feared, a rush with which, they might not be able to contend. Many go’dseekers were discouraged, but not all of them. The geld fever is not easily cured, and in the years that have passed since, New South AValos, has given to the world an. enormous quantity of gold, with a promise of much mere to follow. The politician of,, today realGes the value of gold and would welcome further rich discoveries.

The history of gold-seeking in Australia is the most romantic of all histories. Countless fields have disgorged untold wealth; and the search goes on unc-eias’iigly Thrive are probably more fessickers cut to-day 'than at any tj me in recent history, and perhatii? the day is not far off when another rich find will be made. A geologist said the other day that he was convinced that, there was more gold in New South. Wales than had been taken out of it. AVho will be lucky enough to prove he is right?