THE THAMES GOLDFIELD. A RETROSPECTIVE GLANCE. (Written specially for the Aroha and Ohinemuri News.)

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 282, 18 July 1888, Page 7

THE THAMES GOLDFIELD. A RETROSPECTIVE GLANCE. (Written specially for the Aroha and Ohinemuri News.)

Thames, July 14. At the present time, when foreign capital is being inf roduced to develop the mineral wealth of the Hauraki Goldfield, and vi°itors are arriving from England, Australia, and elsewhere to inspect our twining properties, a brief history of the Thames may prove interesting to the many readers of the Aroha and Ohinemuri News, and the public generally, especially those who hare arrived in your district within the last few years and are not conversant with, the stirring times that have been witnessed in the course of the progress of this portion of the goldfield. The hopetul anticipations formed on every hand respecting the mining ■" boom " which now seems within measurable distance, and the improved prospects of the Thames district in common with that of Te Aroha and the upper country, causes one to reflect for a moment, and recall to memory those busy days of yore, when mines which have now faded into insignificance — which like the fallen meteors, have departed, leaving behind them only the memory of their lustre, to be recalled by those conversant with the then existing scenes, when in a reflective mood — were in the height of their brilliancy, and ■were almost the all-absorbing topic of ■conversation both in the streets and at the fireside corner. I therefore think that a retrospective glance at the many stirring periods in the history of the Thames goldfield would prove both interesting, and, I might say, instructive to your readers at the present juncture. The reported find of alluvial gold in the vicinity of the Karaka Creek, and a little later the discovery ■made by Mr Hunt and party in the leader out-cropping near the "waterfall " in the Kuranui Creek, to which they were directed by a native, are important events in the history of the field. At first people were sceptical as to whether the whitish looking metal was really gold, but all doubts were removed when the test of Gcwt. treated in Auckland gave the splended return of 58oz gold. This was exhibited in Auckland for some time, and was the cause of great excitement, the result being that a "rush immediately took place to the Thames and the o]il paddle-steamer " Enterprise " TinH always an eager crowd of prospectors on bnnrd, only too anxious to arrive and commence their labour". Of course the "U«ual amount of ppcging-ont then took place, nnd tho gnldnVM ! ogan fp present quite an animated <=chip — the white tents scattered aroivul Tfi'auian'l Shortlaml, and the many hviicrons scenes daily witnessed on the arrival of tho steamers from Auckland, together with the frequent broils amount the prospectors, nil lent a rhaim to eohlfieM life. But how little did iho«p old pioneers fl'-'Mm of the £rie-it fn(ur<Mn =tore for the ii( 4 !<! — of the enoni'ons amount of gold ■which was yet to I>p won. from this hitherto barren wn«t° I But, en passant, I would observe th.-.t amongst the early prospectors there were men of indomitable perseverence, who had at heart the ; •advancement of the district, and to whom we owe, to a great extent, our present position — the premier goldfield of the •colony. Soon after the opening of the goldfield, payable gold was obtained by various parties, and it was then that some of those claims which were to play such a prominent part in the history of i the field were marked out, amongst them being the Caledonian, Manukau, and what was recently known as the i Golden Crown, but has within the past six months been purchased by the Waiotahi and New Manukau Cos. The Manukau ground, however, was abandoned after a little work had been done with indifferent results, but was again pegged ou*. by Mr R. Scbofield — now collector of wharf dues for the Harbour Board ; and others who were the first to strike the rich run of gold which was afterwards met with in the Californian and Golden Crown mines. In order to point out the uncertainty of goldmining, I mny mention that Mr Schofield sold a half-share in this mine for £24, but upon the red patch of gold being come across, the fortunate purchaser again sold it for ££„000, verily a handsome profit on the outlay ! But the first gold of any consequence which was struck on the field was that in Hunt's claim — the Shotover — the immense yields of gold from which placed the lucky propiietors in possession of an independent fortune. The fact of rich gold being struck in this claim had the effect of givin^ a great impetus to mining, and the population soon reached fully 15,000, mostly miners, who were engaged in prospecting in every imaginable direction. A rush at once took place, and a largo area of ground was marked out, many West Coasbminers who had previously left the field in disgust, declaring that the ground was barren and unprofitable, being among the first to return. It certainly did not take much to cause a rush in those days, and when gold was 'discovered in tho vicinity of what is known as the Collarbone, a party at once set' out in haste for the spot ; and in the confusion and excitement one poor fellow was unfor- ' tunate enough to fall and break his collarbone — hence its name. It is needless to individualise the various claims which obtained satisfactory returns, so I will confine myself to the more important evects, ( To be continued.)