AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT.

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

AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT.

Extract*, from the 0.T.8.A. Souvenir jusb publshod in Auckland. Wo take the f O'llmv iixg :

About, tho 13th of August, 1867, confiidorohle excitement Avas. caused by the discovery of the fthotovor Claim by Messrs Wm. A. Hunt, Geo. Oladwwi, Wm. Gobky,"and- John E. White. The party had been. prospecting on the flat, and getting good prospects right up to the Kurunui Creek, the boundary of tho fiad rs then opened, a<ncl decide<l to try higher vp tho crock. They vvero blocked Sy-a waterfall, and, in passing, Hunt stuck his pick into the face a,nd displnoed v \)ovlion. s exposing a rich

I body of gold-bearing quartz. Protection was grunted the party for two weeks to procure tools fond gear. Later in the month TooEey and party-struck a pay., able roof on the Moamataiari Creek. By "tho 3rd of September four claims on tho h:gher ground above the Shotover CwaLii struck gold and 'two days later the ' Waiotahi district was declared open for prospectors. This was brought about by a native being fined £5 or two months for an offence. As he had no cash to pay the fine, the authorities offered the chiefs the money on account if they would give up the land in dispute. This offer was accepted. By tho 19th the whole of the peninsula w«>6 thrown open .to prospectors, taking in, Kennedy's Bay, Tairua, Mercury Bay, and Whan-

The first return published from Hunt and party's claim was sdwt 10 grains from 24ozs quartz, this evidently being the test aib the time of discovery in August 1867. In September, a trial .crushing in Auckland of 6cwt of stone produced 68ozs gold. Early in November this claim cleaned .up 1380z5., and in December 70()ozs, in January 143iiozs, and in March the party chartered the s.s. Midge-to take up lOOOozs in time to caiteh the mail steamer. Among other claims turning out gold were Barry's, Tcokcy's, Pollard's (Caledoman), Murphy's, Roberts and Cooper's sluicing c'aim, All Nations, Moaniataiari.

The need of a crushing plant wns greatly felt at this time, all stone having to be sent to Auckland for treatment. There/ MasefieTd had a pbnfr made to the plans of Mr Alexander. Fraser and Tinne crrajiged to erect a plaat at the Thames to treait 100 tons of quartz per week, but before this or any othar got to w-.xrk there were 1000 tons awaiting crushing.

On December sth, Goodall's battery started on Moaniiitaiari 6tone, and before Cnristmas Frasei's plant was ait work for Hunt and party. All the while steady progress was being made afc the Thames,