MR. ANDREW KAY'S NARRATIVE.

Thames Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 18409, 1 August 1917, Page 4 (Supplement)

MR. ANDREW KAY'S NARRATIVE.

RE THE OPENING OF THE THAMES GOLDFIELD.

SOME SUBBING EVENTS.

(By Andrew Kay.)(

Towards the close of ith© Waikato War, a great depression spread over the Aucklana Province. The Treasury wi\s empty. 5 soup kitchen was opened in Princes Street under the supervision of John King^ The Government offered by advc^taemfen* £500 for the discovery of a payable goldfield, which was immediately supplied. There "became a comtnon saying, "Anything may be obtained through advertising, even a gold. field."

I visited tße fiV-d at any early stage, was shown over Hunt's eJaimT Only aurface work was then in progress. A small stream was running over a tore jock, which woe intersected by a rich gold-bearing leader. Only picked stone was rudely treaitd by roasting and grinding, all Hand work, from.which a fair amount of gold was won. I previously knew Oobley, one of the prospectors. He was a 'tailor by trade, and had been a Waikato- military, eettier at Cambridge. In my* presence CoWey, .with his pick, knocked off a '■mail piece of quartz showing gold free. Jy; He.fleered me a half share for £150 Samo wa» shortly worth thousands. 1 then knew nothing about gold mining. Jtfy visit was with an eye to commaree. I secured a cite on Tbokey's flait, erected a small building for * genera! store, which George Bennet* conducted. This was the first house on Tooicey's flat.

Reluming to *he Waik&to I converted Borne assets into cash, and shortly, aiferwords started business in Shortland under the firm name of Wallnutt and Co. For working a share in a prospecting claim the wages was 30s per week \nSh an advance when payable gold wae obtained. I got firs* class fciuri timber deErered on the beach for 6s per 100 ft. Fresh bultiter was sent up from Tarannki and sold for Is per lb. a«d under. All stores and provisions wero at leaaonaßle rioee, and living was 1 fairly cheap.

Law and order was for some time maintained by one policeman. Disputes •were often settled by a fight; the'miners would make a ring and always saw fair ploy; the policeman might look on w walk away. SetJbooe without gloves was nob uncommon. Barry,, of prespeating fame, was champion for a while, and was always ready to take the conceit ottfc of any one, but he fought once too often.

Boxing and sparing became quite a favourite pastime. Harry- Sellars, the Jock Johnston of that time, a .negro nod champion boxer of Australia, opened a school end gave'lessons on the rtt of self-defence, which became a popular pastime.

AN OLD HAND

Jack Shaw, my mine mate in the City <rf Glasgow claim, was about to geb married to a young lady tab the Wfliroa, now Cfevedon. I was booked to attend *be wedding as best man. Two or throe days before the event 1 had occasion to visit Grahamstown on business, I left my horse tied up on the Street. When I came out I saw a man gwiitig exhibitions of horsemanship on my niounib, to the amusement of a small crowd. I quietly got alongside thb ndcT }

gave his foot a slight tilt, and he fell down in a heap en the other side. My action was resented by the rider and the crowd. I tried to explain that I had acted within my rights in taking possession of my property. The crowd wanied more amusement, and ruled that th« fallen rider had a case to settle in the usual way. I had \isioois of. attending the wedding with a black eye. 1 protested, saying that I was a man of peace, and used some arguments as Itoo-comtialtanta who appeal to the Military Board for exemption. It was to no effect, my appeal was dismissed, tho ring was formed, and I was directel to prepare for the combat. My opponent took off hie coat and hat and rolled up Wa sleeves. He looked a big man, and J feltf very email. I did not direst any

clolhes, nor did I assume a hostile or fighting attitude, but just remained passive. Time was called. My opponent assumed the aggressive. He made a wild lounge at my head, which he just mi«s«d, a™* his hody hii tho g™und This -was repeated. I then deemed the time opportune for peace proposal, saying -feat I regretted the misunderstanding. I held out my hand and we shook. My escape was due to my opponent's ignorance of the atffc amd the littlo whisky he carried.

| THE MINING BOOM. ! One morning my representative in the City of Glasgow claim, <L D. Wickham, alias A Tramp, Esquire, brought from the mine to my office a. lump of quart stone weighting 551bs, showing- . rich goIHV When crushed it produced 80ozs gold. The reef or leader irom which this piece of stone was taken was just touching the boundary of the Inver ness ckirn. "Before the tgavs of the find had- got about I was able to buy a half share in the Inverness for £150. which was sbontly worth £4000. Jack , Shaw, wnen away on his wedding +our. sold his share in the City of Glasgow

for £2000. When he returned it was worth £4000. Shaw tried to repudiate' -the sale, and refused to sign the transfer. The, purchaser's solicitor advMc-d to make legal tender in gold, which was done. Cheques or notes were then, not deemed a legal tender. . SHARES IN THOSE DAYS. Mining interests went to fabulous priceß. I began to think myself a mining expert. I secured a piece of ground, go* a mining engineer to make a survey and report. The map % plan showed all tho principal reefs of the field running right through the ground. The engineer christened the claim Mount Alexander, after a famous Australian mine. I floated a company. The shares went •like hot buns. I drew several hundred pounds as promoter. They were £1 shares. No capital paid up, and no development done. There was a boom, on the shaites, which rose to 18s. The company fell into the hands of tfte official liquidator. This was typical of many other mining ventures.

I kept my banking account with the B.N.Z. Ait one time I had £5000 to my credit, and inteieflt easily worth, another £5000. This then appeared to me a very insufficient sum. I decided to make the amount £20,000, and them retire, fate was against me. I brought some capital on to the field, but took none away.

The mining boom brought a wrga increase of population. Some of tho newcomers were not so law-abiding its the early arrivals, and tried to enforce a, law of their own. x

AN HISTORIC ELECTION

'The election .of Superintendent was about due. Dr. Pollen was a candidate, and was advertised to hold his first meeting in the Grahamstown (Theatre) Ball. T-he hall Mid platform was eair'yocoupied by a hostile audience, v/ho elected a hostile chairman. Dr. Pollen was refused a hearing. The -mob broke the piano and furniture, and there was general disorder. Dr. Pollen retired from the contest. Mr Gilles then took up the running, and like Dr. Pollen came to the Thames to give his first address. His committee deemed it unwise to hire a building, but erected a platform on an open piece of ground in Shortland. At. the appointed hour Mr Gilles mounted the platlorm and called upon the assembly to appoint a chairman. Mr Gilles' friends,, as arranged, nominri.ted Mr Nolan, the opposition nominated Mr

Ooolaban. On a show of hands^ each side claimed a majority. Over the chair, mamship a fight was imminent. Mr Gilles wtfh great tact settled the master by saying he would bo deiighed to have Mr Coolahan for his chairman reaching his hand to help Mr Cool.than on to the platform. This knocked the pro-arranged cause of fight out of tho opposition. Mr GiHes had a successful meeting. By a strange coincidence a company of volunteers, fully armed and equipped, was being drilled by an officer close by during the address. Few people ever knew that if any disturbance had fcfcken plfioe thofie volunteera were there on purpose to take a part.

On election ctay, tEen open voting the Courthouse waa tho polling booth! The mob took possession of the en-

trance, ■ and only allowed Williamson's supporters adntiseioit However, many Gilles' supporters obtained admission on the pretence that they were Williamsons men.

After the election mob law became eerious. A hostile flag was hoisted on the Courthouse. It became indiscreet to spoitk your political opinion. To wear a Glengarry cap was to invite being knocked down. Life became intolerable. Many took to carrying revolvers i'or self-protection. The police took no steps to vindicate the law. A Vigilance Com mittee was organised, and secret meetings Avera. held in Mackay's house. An., drew Beveridge, solicitor, was president, an<i drew up a bond or tath which each admitted member subscribed to, the purport of which was to reinstate and maintain law and order. I went to> Auckland and got 200 iti.tree batons turned. They were about 15 inches Jong and a little 'over an inch thick. When on patrol the baton could be carried up the coo* sleeve. A complete seit of signa.ls, which embraced the use of some church bells, was fixed upon, so that help coulß. be diredted to any place required. In Grafoamstown a man was knocked down, kicked, and left in the gutter. Members of the committee cared for the injured man. His assailant was well known. The police took no action. One nigfiit between 12 and 1 o'clock, members of the committee, led by a. Justice of the Peace, surrounded the assailant's house, caused him to get out of bed and dress, and marched him to the lock-up. We collected evidence to convict, and he got six months' hard. Minor offences were similarly adjusted without the aid of the Court. The Jawless element disappeared; The police force was taken over by" the General Government and re-organised.

There became a scarcity of employ meat, and there were many idle men on the field. A deputation waited on the Superintendent requesting him to be«in some pußlic works to relieve the dis. tress. The Superintendent, asked' the deputation to name some reproductive works on which the unemployed could be employed. This the deputation were ■unab!*? to do, but stated that men were actually starving. Mr Gilles said men would not be allowed to starve. He had only a limited amount of cash at his disposal. Road work would be provided Wages, Is per day, sufficient to buy food. An overseer or time-keeper was appointed, a. place selected, notice given for unemployed to assemble. One man only turned up. Julius Vogel was then launching his public works scheme, backed by a ten million loan, which re. lieved the situation.