Part-Time Gold Miner Dies

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30961, 18 January 1966, Page 14

Part-Time Gold Miner Dies

"The Press" Special Service AUCKLAND, Jan. 17.

A link with the gold-mining past of tjie Coromandel Peninsula was broken last week with the death in Auckland of Mr Patrick Joseph Lillis, of Coromandel. He was 70. With his younger brother, Jack, and his sister, Mary, he had for years mined parttime for gold in the steep hills above Coromandel.

The three, all unmarried, reopened a mine worked by their Irish father, John Lillis, and their uncle, Patrick Ryan, to the 1890 s.

‘They did fairly well,” said Mr Jack Lillis. “That was the boom time. But gradually the mining faded away and my father came to Auckland to go into business cabi-net-making.” However, during the depression, the family returned to Coromandel where Patrick, Jack, and Mary opened a general store.

For years the thought of opening up their father’s mine again was at the back of their minds.

Finally in the 1950 s they began what was to be about seven years of hard work. They obtained a prospecting licence for 100 acres and staked a 20-acre claim to cover the mine site—l2oo feet above sea level and about nine miles from Coromandel. About 15 months were spent carrying in materials to build a three-roomed bach among dense bush at the head of a steep climb about three miles from the nearest road. Later a jeep track was bulldozed. A second-hand battery for crushing quartz was brought from Tapu and other machinery used in separating gold from rock was installed. A creek was dammed to provide water for the battery, old tailings had to be shovelled away . and new levels dug trying to pick up the reef. Much was done at weekends, but the Lillis family often spent long periods at the mine during the summer. A regular helper was Mr W. Kayser, of Coromandel. Other friends gave assistance from time to time.

“The last couple of years we were there almost fulltime after retiring from the store,” said Mr Jack Lillis.

“We eventually got it into fairly good order, but through ill-health we had to give up about three or four years ago.

“We did it because we liked it and, although we never

made anything out of it, it was worth while. There was always the chance of getting on to something good which kept us interested.” Miss Mary Lillis said: “We had a lot of fun and enjoyment out of it. There was always that chance.” Mr Patrick Lillis, through his interest in mining, was often sought by visitors as a local authority. He was one of a group which brought the Coromandel School of Mines back into existence and later served as a trustee of the school.

He also had a workshop in Coromandel with all the equipment necessary for

studying and testing specimens from the mine. Because they were no longer able to work the mine, the Lillis family sold it in 1964 to an Auckland man, Mr A. G. V. Bale. They now look forward with keen interest to a strike by Mr Bale, who has installed yet more equipment. Mr Jack Lillis confessed that gold mining must be in his blood. He said: “That mine always had good potential. We got it to the point where if we could have kept going we could have realised some of the potential.” Added Miss Lillis confidently: “We’re sure Mr Bale will get something.”