THE BIG BAY GOLDFIELD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1544, 19 August 1886, Page 1

THE BIG BAY GOLDFIELD.

(By the special reporter of the Press).: Mo doubt many hav# heard the tradition —for it has almost passed into that jof the vast stores of wealth supposed to exist in one of the, lonely bays on the West Coast of the South Here gold was said to be as common as pebbles, and that years - ago some adventurous spirits; guided by tbe Maoris, had ladeu n vessel with the shining dust; r and saildd away to regions unknown. I More recently some amount of interest has been caused by the despatch, ; in, tlie interest of the Red HiU Mining Company, of a party of prospectors, headed by Mi Dim ward, who has been on a similar errand in the rugged country of tree Wilberforce. • In view of the return here of the expedition, and as a sort of preliminary lo the report of Mr Dunward and hi.mates as to their trip, I paid a visit to Mr R. Hill Fisher, the Secretary of the RedHills Mining Company, in the matter of mining, whether for gold or oil, Fisher is an enthusiast, and I was received most courteously. • i “You want to know something abc: (he legend of Martin’s Bay 1” said Mi Fisher, after the preliminary few minutes

chat was over. “Well, then, I, think I can give you just the beqt jnforqjat'on possible. It is a narrative by Mr Mickay, jun., who has been in llio district for years. You can take it just in bis own words.” Mr fisher then banded me a manuscript. , ' . i “The story as reported in Nelson in 1843,” says Mr Fisher, “ was that a caye N existed within"which was gold iirfabulous quantities. This is what is referred do in Mockay’s .narrative.”;; Haviag told me this much by the way of explanation, Mr Fisher gives, .me the following particulars as related by Mr J, M-ickay,' jun.,'and which I have taken the liberty of calling - l ' ''■■■ : *THE ’IECtENh 0# Blbilfc j/| It is as' fblldws: I i/mded 4-lack* son’sjßay;F.per ( f. : Maofi 1 4u J 1875 n wjffi my <ther, an/3,haye spent [nearly, of ray time' in the'' arid 1 Big 'Sothe time afterwalrds'-twas ijolhet: by , Mr, James ~Malcolm,,, jun-, : s and t *fcs engaged gold,. also .seeking directions 5 reported’ af Nbtsbn 1n'1843. On arriving at the place indicated,'which discovered the directions correct, and the tunnel of a mine caved 5 in/' BSiH'g of provisions .arid appliances had to roI to . ( Bay, and cam# .qver to doing over the Red Mountains . ,we j upwards j qf forty lodes intersecting one another, from ,wjt)i,ch jjjp j topic f specimens i tO; fDawedin, ,aiid after assay at We^l r iogto^ K 59.60 of chrofne, and one four 'and a ...hplf puncps describing the country to '‘lir'Hector, he that in JMg, opinipa tho best ’ specimens had and from the: description he. thought that one specimen in particular indicated rnby silver, which is oever less than fifty per cent; 'Wifli regard Ito th'erecqrds at Nelson as to the original discovery of gold reported in 1543, that is to be found in the "Nelson Examiner. The report stated that thehcbeoner RpyklMail put into Nelson on that day- and sailed shortly afterwards for Hydney, but sines that time they had never.beenheard of. The captain and several;of dfiqhre w were disabled by ;amexplosio.Q in the mine where they bad been quarrying for. greenstone.and .other minerals. The vessel Vsaq all ttie paraphernalia on, board: connected; witti mining pursuits, such .as wheelbarrows, picks, ;ji ammers, and blast jng ; Captain and crew However/ very reticent,’ and would ,giyq np jnfqrmation as to where they ,camei from or their movements. ■ One of toe crew, however, had a epfisin in Jind ho imparted the knowledge the Vessel had come from Big Bay and ; Had ! £IOO,OOO worth of gold bn board, 1 which ! tbey/had discovered. through : the /.agency M pfr the Maoris. Thislquaotity iof gold was the result of nine months’ work. The directions as to the place were giVento me by this said cousin in 1864 j aad Icommeoced to follow up the search.ini!B7s,-not being able to reach Big Bay.-earlier I through want of communication, t i I■■ {blind the directions correct in., every! particular. I made<about six' different attempts to reach the spot,, andthe best course 1 found was from Big Bay straight aqrqss to KqdpHill. I fquhd the; outcrop' of tHe reef as indicated, and' speint six months cutting a track. As my particular object' Waa to discover, so;;plpcq ; mentioned in 'the Nelson records as •’that at j the crew of the “ RoyalMaii” 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 mind but that the district is fall of all kinds of;mineral riches.”:. . v Here the narrative ends. ? t ; ''f , , Well,” sqid Mr. Fisher,' ”, our', party havb been all over that ground tb‘ Which Mackay refers. The specimens have been sent to Wellington for assay, and no doubt by and by yon will hear something about them. 1 The country is; : exceedingly rough, being covered- with dense undergrowth. But there are some lovely spots there. Just where Mr Dun ward .’pitched his tent was a magmficent ..waterfall, and the scenery all about is. charming. ” , A couple of questions put to get Un inkling of what Mr' Dunward has brought back with him from the district were'skilfully parried by Mr Fisher; and’the interview ended.