Early Gold Town Former Glory For A Day

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29165, 28 March 1960, Page 9

Early Gold Town Former Glory For A Day

(From Our Own Reporter)

GREYMOUTH, March 27. The attractive little South Westland township of Ross again experienced a rush, similar to that of the 1860’s, oh Saturday, when an estimated 15,000 persons poured into the little town to join with its 570 local inhabitants in their centennial celebrations. From a very early hour in the morning cars were entering the town bumper to bumper, and officials worked hard throughout the morning to direct the constant stream into parking spaces. Evan the borough shingle pit was crammed to capacity with parked cars. , The focal point of the celebra-l tions was the specially-built canvas town situated on high ground overlooking the town, where a line of log shacks resembling the shops of the gold-mining era had been erected, divided from the rough tents of the miners by a hard packed clay street. By 10 a.m. unprecedented crowds were flocking up the hill to the shantytown to watch the re-enactment of the gold rush and the arrival of the miners’ wives in period costume. Black-stockinged dancing girls in crinolines arrived too, and entered the Casino de Paris, a facsimile of an old West Coast hotel-cum-dance hall. A frock-coated, top-hatted bank manager arrived on horse-back and walked authoritatively into the bank of New Zealand premises to begin business of gold-buying, whilst further along the street, a blacksmith prepared his forge and anvil for work. Billies heating over smoking fires outside the tents, and old-fashioned clothes slung to dry over hastily erected clothes lines, all lent an air of authenticity to the little village which seemed complete in every detail. On a terrace below the canvastown, bearded miners in their bow-yanged trousers began to work on their claims. Here six displays were situated, depicting the various methods by which the precious yellow metal had been won. Special quartz, brought to the site from Mount Greenland, was crushed in a “dolly pot" preparatory to the gold being extracted. Panning, one of the earliest methods was demonstrated, and several of the miners showed to the watching crowds their pans with flecks of gold lying on the bottom after the washing. A small drive shaft, used for underground mining, had been driven into the hillside and a bush wheelbarrow, constructed entirely of wood in typical miner’s style, was used to carry out the soil. Cradling, one of the earliest methods used on the West Coast to extract gold, was demonstrated, while a more modern method, that of ground sluicing was carried out with a hydraulic nozzle and sluice boxes to retain the gold from the spoil washed down. Further along, black-sand miners worked with black sand transported from Mikonui beach, with the special boxes used in this particular method. Procession .At 11.30 the centre of attraction changed from the mining village to the procession where, led by the Hokitika Brass Band, the stumed miners walked with their picks. and their (pans, followed by the pack horses. Two

Chinese figures, reminders of the large Chinese population of early days, padded along, while tophatted officials rode on horseback. The Kelly Gang was also there with their erstwhile foe the mounted policeman. Two coaches, still in good re-, pair, rumbled along. One, marked “A. Hall,” formerly covered the route Arthur’s Pass to Otira, and the other was originally used on the road south to Waiho Gorge. Included in the procession was an extremely old G.M.C. tractor,, dated 1016. reported to be the first used in Westland.

Numerous floats depicted the contrast of old and new in digging methods. Washing machines, and living conditions. Progress in production was shown by two very fine sawmilling floats. Cultural activities and transport were also depicted, and a tractor, dated 2060, showed what may be expected in the future. Another of the attractions of the day was the very fine display of historical exhibits in Mr Bevemage’s old shop in Aylmer street, where a replica of the “Hon Roddy” gold nugget, found on the Ross goldfield, was displayed. Also of interest was a blue-ribboned Victoria Cross, won by Sam Mitchell, who lived in Ross and was drowned in the Mikonui river. Many old documents and records were on display together with an old book published in 1685, and titled “Remedies To Cure the Ailments of Satan.” During the afternoon, a sports meeting took place in the domain, with chopping events, dancing, and sports events, followed by a centennial concert at night