Gold Discovery Re-enacted

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29983, 19 November 1962, Page 12

Gold Discovery Re-enacted

(N.Z. Press Association) INVERCARGILL, Nov. 18. Thousands of people lined the bank of the Arrow river at Arrowtown this afternoon and watch as the gold discovery by William Fox and West and his party in 1862 was reenacted on the other side. As Fox’s party set up their camp and started to pan for gold a small party of miners, carrying swags, picks and shovels, came over the hill and rushed excitedly to the new diggings.

Fox allotted these men claims, and stopped two disagreements by telling the men: “If you want to fight fight me.” No-one took him on.

Then from along the flats, from down the river, a small army of whiskered, red and black-shirted prospectors converged on the diggings.

Some started panning, and some set up cradles. By this time there were more than 100 miners seeking gold—an unruly mob as several men were thrown into the river in the scraps which broke out When the first hotel was set up in the canvas town many miners left their claims for refreshments.

Then up the river rode Sergeant-Major Bracken, of the Provincial Militia, to restore law and order. He

told the miners: “Behave or be arrested.”

Whoops of joy from many of the miners announced the arrival of Bully Hayes's dancing girls. The girls were eagerly snapped up by the miners.

The gold coach, with a guard of eight mounted militiamen, arrived and the Bank of New Zealand “goldfinger” began weighing and paying for gold. Meantime, Pritchard’s store had been set up next to the hotel and the miners were supplied with all they wanted —at a price. Two hours after Fox’s discovery of gold spectators were allowed to join the 300 men on the goldfield. Some were taken across in big waggons and others used the bridges which were swung into position.