GOLD DIGGING DAYS.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 368, 24 February 1937, Page 4

GOLD DIGGING DAYS.

WESTLAND PIONEER.

Early Experiences Recalled By Visitor To Stratford. . That vigorous era in the history of Westland, when it was the mecca of gold-seekers drawn from all parts of the earth was touched upon by a visitor to Stratford, Mr. D. Baybutt, J.P., in an interview with the “Central Press” this morning. With the assistance of modern dredges, gold is still being won from the earth, but the glamour that surrounded the search for the precious metal has departed. However, the memories of those early days are still treasured in the minds of the pioneers. , It was in 187 f that Mr., Baybutt went to the diggings at Granville and Duffers’ Creek, on the West Coast. When he arrived the first big rush was over, and those who had made money drifted away and became pioneer settlers throughout Ndw Zealand. There were then no roads, but Sir George Grey, after whom Grey? mouth and the Grey River, are named, had roads and bridges constructed. At that time the only taxation was in the form of a miner’s right costing 20/-, without which no one had any standing on the diggings. The holder was allowed to prospect thirty square feet of ground, and in addition 2/6 was deducted for every ounce of gold won.

i Concerning the origin of the name ; Duffers’ Creek, Mr. Baybutt says that, > according to the story which he had ! heard, a miner had reported that be | had found gold and a rush took place, i The disillusioned miners, finding that {they had been misled, are reported i to have cut off the ears of the man i who made the report and then sent I him on his way. Later gold was found j in the vicinity and the claims were ; successfully worked for many years. < Other names of historic interest men- ’ tioned by Mr. Baybutt included “Sulilivan’s Lead,” ‘‘Maori Gully,” and • “Haze’s Mistake.” ; He had found that in general the miners were a most law-abiding and good-hearted people. An appeal for the sick or injured was never refused. If a man died in poor circumstances, a collection was taken up to ensure that he would not be buried a pauper. In the early days, in Hokitika alone, some 60,000 miners were engaged; but when the gold was worked out the population of Hokitika and other large towns dropped to a few thousand. Some fairly large towns even disappeared altogether. For practically a lifetime, Mr? Baybutt has been connected with goldmining. He took part in the Kimberley rush in Northern Australia, and after ceasing active work on his West Coast claims he for many years acted as a gold buyer for the banks. For 30 or 40 years he was a storekeeper in various parts of the Grey Valley. In active life he found time to devote his services to a number of local bodies, being chairman of the Grey County Council, a member of the Licensing Committee, Power Board, Farmers’ Union, and other bodies, u ii til ill-health necessitated his retirement.