THE BIG BAY GOLDFIELD.

Kumara Times, Issue 3056, 19 August 1886, Page 3

THE BIG BAY GOLDFIELD.

AN OLD STORY RE-TOLD. [By a Special Reporter for the Christchurch Press.] No doubt many have heard the tradition—for it has almost passed into that—of the vast stores of wealth supposed to exist in one of the lone’y bays on the West Coast of the South Island. Here gold was said to be as common as pebbles, and that years ago some ad venturous spirits, guided by the Maoris, had laden a vessel with the shining dust, and sailed away to regions unknown. • More recently some amount of interest has been caused by the despatch, in the interest of the Red Hills Mining Company, of a party of prospectors, headed by Mr Durward, who has been on a similar errand in the rugged country of the Wilberforce. In view of the return here of the expedition, and as a sort of preliminary to the report of Mr Durward and his mates as to their trip, I paid a visit to Mr R. Hill Fisher, the Secretary of the Red Hills Mining Company. In the matter of mining, whether for gold or oil, Mr Fisher is an enthusiast, and I was received most courteously. “You want to know something about the legend of Martin’s Bay ?” said Mr Fisher, after a preliminary few minutes’ chat was over. “ Well, then, I think I can give you just the best information possible. It is a narrative by Mr Mackay, jun., who has been in the district for years. You can take it just in his own words.” Mr Fisher then handed me a manuscript. “ The story as reported in Nelson in 1843, says Mr Fisher, “ was that a cave existed within which was gold in fabulous quantities. This is what is referred to in Mackay’s narrative.” Having told me this much by way of explanation, Mr Fisher gives me the following particulars as related by Mr J. Mackay, jun., and which I have taken the liberty of calling THE LEGEND OP BIG BAY. It is as follows :—“I landed at Jackson’s Bay per Maori in 1875 with my father, and have spent nearly the whole of my time in the district and Big Bay. Some time afterwards I was joined by James Malcolm, jun., and was engaged prospecting for gold, also seeking directions reported at Nelson in 1843. On arriving at the place indicated, which is 45 miles from Cascade Point inland, we discovered the directions correct, and the tunnel of a mine caved in. Being short • of provisions and appliances had to return to Big Bay, and came over to Queenstown, Going over the Red Mountains we discovered upwards of forty lodes interseting one another, from which we took specimens to Dunedin, and after assay at Wellington they gave 59.60 of chrome, and one sample gave four and a half ounces of silver to the ton. When describing the country to Dr. Hector, he stated that in his opinion the beat specimens had not been selected, and from the description he thought that one specimen in particular indicated ruby silver which is never less than fifty per. cent. With regard to the. records at Nelson as to the original discovery of gold reported in 1843, that is to be found in the ‘ Nelson Examiner.’ The report stated that the schooner Royal Mail put into Nelson on that day and sailed shortly afterwards for Sydney, but since that time they had never been heard of. The captain and several of the crew were disabled by an explosion in the mine, where they hadjbeeu quarrying for greenstone and other minerals. The vessel had all the paraphernalia on board connected with mining pursuits, such as ’.vhcelharrcv’-, :ucl:;', !;a:-;:ver ; . and blasting tools. The captain and crew were, however, very reticent, and ■would give no information as to where they camn from or their movements. One of the crew, however, had a cousin in Nelson, and he imparted the knowledge to him that the vessel had come from Big Bay and had ,£IOO,OOO worth of gold on board, which they bad discovered through tliH agency of the Maoris. This quantity of gold was the result of nine mouths’ work The directions as to the place were given to me by this said cousin in 1864, and I commenced in follow up the search in £875, not oeieg able to much Big Bay

earlier through want of communication, I found the directions correct in every particular. I made about six different attempts to reach the spot, and the best course I found was from Big Bay straight across to Bed Hill. I found the outcrop of the reef as indicated, and spent six months cutting a track. As my particular object was to discover the place mentioned in the Nelson records as that at which the crew of the * Royal Mail ’ obtained the gold, I paid no attention to anything else; but in the course of my exploration I found all sorts of minerals. There is no question in my mine but that the district is full of all kinds of mineral riches. Heie the narrative ends, “ Well,” said Mr Fisher, “ our party have been all over that ground to which Mrckay refers. The specimens have been sent to Wellington for assay, and no donbt by and by yon will hear something about them. The country is exceedingly rough, being covered with dense undergrowth. But there are some lovely spots there. Just where Mr Durward pitched his tent was a magnificent waterfall, and the scenery all about is charming.” A couple of questions put to get an inkling of what Mr Durward has brought back with him from the district are skillfully parried by Mr Fisher, and the interview ended.