GOLDFIELDS PIONEER

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1049, 13 August 1930, Page 13

GOLDFIELDS PIONEER

DEATH OF MR. M. ENSOR One of the pioneer miners on the Thames goldfields. Mr. Moses Knsor, died yesterday at his home in Victoria Road, Devonport, at the age of S 7. Born in Staffordshire, in 1842, Mr. Ensor spent his early life there, and in 1862 married Miss Ellen Little. They came out to New Zealand in the following year in the ship Helenslee. and in the early days of the rush went to Thames, where Mr. Ensor worked claims with varying success. Later he was in partnership with his father in the contract for driving the first I.FOOft. of the Moanataiari tunnel, the main prospecting shaft into the back country of the Thames. While working in the Golden Calf, on Moanataiari Creek he struck deposits of solid gold free from quartz. In 3 880 Mr. Ensor was blinded ! v an explosion in the Alburnia mine, a drillhole which had missed fire exploding when being recharged, the flames striking him full in the face and burning him terribly. Later he went into business at Thames, retiring more than 20 years ago. About 10 years later he moved to Devonport. Mr. and Mrs. Ensor celebrated their diamond wedding in December, 1925. Mr. Ensor is survived by his wife and nine children of a family of 13. There are 33 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.