MINING CAMP LIFE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 52, Issue 247, 1 August 1932, Page 6

MINING CAMP LIFE

THE SOCIAL AMENITIES. CENTRAL OTAGO EXPERIENCES. ASHBURTON MAN’S IMPRESSIONS Impressions of the social anienities of life in a Central Otago mining camp are given by an Ashburton man in the following article:—■ Imagine a small township perched at the foot of the hills—hills for the most part covered with snow, and many with sides scarred from man’s endeavours to wrest mineral wealth from the earth. There is a store and a hotel in the settlement, and a disused church, relic of more prosperous days. Two or three dwellings near these buildings form the nucleus of tills township. All these buildings are of mud or sodwalls, the more pretentious being plastered on the outside. The residents of the township have their civic pride as ivell as citizens of nobler towns, and have built a community hall. Wednesday night is the weekly function, shall we say conversazione? Officially it takes the form of a euchre tournament, but unofficially it is the rendezvous of towndwellers, farmers, settlers, rabbiters, and last, but by no means least, miners. In the prosperous days mining was extensively carried on, but with the higher wages offering, the low price of gold and, most potent of all reasons, the scarcity of the gold, the industry lost pride of place to husbandry. But now wages have dropped, the value of gold lias soared, and the vast army of unemployed has caused the small amounts of the precious metal to be sought for eagerly and intensively, and a miniature boom has swelled the centre’s importance. So there is a large crowd at the euchre tournament. The prize is small, the charge is small, but there is supper, to the miner a meal cooked by other hands, and a chance to discuss prospects, claims, and the world’s news. For the farmer, there is the opportunity of discussing crops, wool, markets and prices, and for the wives, the ever-fresh problem of fashions and tho luscious morsels of harmless gossip.

But what of the game? Euchre is the most accommodating of games for sociability. The packs of cards appear to have been collected from the various mining camps, while the marker plays an occasional hand when someone keeps shaking the copper. Jokes, chaff and witticisms are mingled with the jargon of the game, with an occasional triumphant cry of “Got you,” overshadowed by a more jubilant “No you haven’t, here’s the right bower.” Wlnit could he more enjoyable with the kerosene heaters fulfilling their purpose, the crackling snow outside forgotten?

To these gatherings come young and old, whiskered and clean shaven, some with collars and ties, some without, the ladies in their homely all good friends together. Contrast for yourself this scene with a modern bridge afternoon. What if a rough miner leaves liis spoon in his cup while ho is drinking, or a bluff farmer reaches across the table for another cream-cake? All are gentlemen at heart, and have proved their worth in life’s battle though perhaps they would fail miserably in society’s drawingroom.

At the hall pipes are filled or cigarettes rolled, the room becomes filled with burnt offerings to Lady Nicotine. T.s not man a pagan, unwitting though liis oblations he?

Some may say that this is an Irishman’s way of retailing things, putting the cart before the horse. • But there are many Murphys, O’Connors., Dooleys, and Flanagans among the gathering intermingling with true colonial camaraderie with McTavishes, Davis’s and cousins of good old John Bull. The games are played, the final whistle blown. Much good natured banter flows while the results are sought. A cheer for the winning lady, and an. equally loud one for the blushing recipient of the “booby.” A handclap and cries of “good old Pat” for the winning “gent”, and a laugh when two miners, brothers, are discovered to have the least number of games. A play off ensues, the men crowding round to watch every trick. “Happy ’ reneges, winking solemnly at the audience, while Joe plays ,on serenely, missing the renege but getting in a couple of extra deals while his brother is preening himself in the onlookeis eyes. Supper, such as only the country can provide, is heaped upon the table. Then do the miners take- their turn. Eating all the week food cooked by themselves underdone steak and chops burned to a frazzle, boiling tea and burnt toast the change of sitting down to a repast prepared by hands other than tlieii own is welcomed as much as the -quality of the provender. The country lives up to its reputation,, with featherlight pikelets, dainty scones, wedges of cream cake filled with real cl earn a feast for a king indeed. Not that any are gourmands. Far from it. They do not discuss the merits 01 demerits and patie-de-fois gras and caviare, or the relative proficiency of the cooks at the Savoy or the Ritz. No, they roll their cigarettes or fill their pipes, and file out, thanking the ladies for what they provided, in uncouth and unfamiliar phrases or words, hub sincere none the less. And so to bed but stay, there are several miles to he traversed before camp is _ reached. The farmer packs his family in his ca. and drives off with good lights along macadam roads, and the settler crosses a paddock or two and opens his door. The miner, ho has several miles to go, across tracks, paddocks, perhaps a hill and a stream or two. The paths aie narrow and full of ruts, overgrown with gorse and broom, .ankle-deep in mud and slush, for it snowed hut yesterday With no moon, probably no lantern, or maybe a hurricane lamp fitfully gleaming at his side, lie plods along his way. A crust of ice, not quite thick enough, may put him ankle-deep in a. freezing stream while he goes over in his mind what would have happened if lie had left it to his partner to trump that ace. Reaching his tent, he

is soon, in his bunk, or rolled in his blankets, still pondering why his partner trumped his king. So ends the night of dissipation. Another week must roll along until the gathering of the clans. Perhaps a dance is in view, or the annual football match, the Town v. the Miners. But the most popular and most beneficent social event is the weekly euchre tournament.