Saving goldmining’s relics

Press, 15 April 1978, Page 15

Saving goldmining’s relics

Because goldmining played an important part in the history of Otago and New Zealand, dwellings, machinery, and hydraulic systems that are still in reasonable condition should be protected and preserved, according to a preliminary report made to the Historic Places Trust.

The report was made by archaeologists working on the Waipori Station, near Alexandra. Mr B. A. Vincent, Mr D. Still, Miss J. McArthur, and Miss M. Philips recorded archaeological sites in the Lands and Survey Department farm development block at Waipori.

The work was done for the Historic Places Trust as part of its continuing scheme to survey and record archaeological sites throughout New Zealand.

Extensive and numerous gold workings, with associated living and processing sites, were found and recorded. More than 200 water-races, and the remains of nearly 100 houses, were found in association with gold workings.

More than 70 dams and reservoirs were also found, along with quartz crushing batteries, and many large water pipes as

much as 38cm in diameter. The sites were of different types — sluicings, ponded areas left by hydraulic elevators, quartz mining, and small-claim areas probably worked by shovel and cradle.

Some rock shelters w>ere used by goldminers, but there was no evidence anywhere of pre-European settlement of the area by the Otago Maoris.

There were traces of old cart roads, stock or horticultural enclosures, tunnels, diversion channels, and bridges and causeways.

The water-races ranged in length from a fewmetres to 25 kilometres.

but the average length was 2.5 km. A total of 650 kilometres, of water-races was surveyed and recorded. The largest race belonged to the Otago Pioneer Quartz Company, and measured 2.5 meatres wide by one metre deep. Most house remains were of sod-wall construction, only five being of stone construction. Early

photographs Of the area showed that thatched roofs were favoured. Many of the sites suggested for preservation were fortunately within the area of the proposed Otago Goldfields Park, but

several others of importance were not included and should be carefully looked at, said the report.’ In the Devil’s Stream area, at an altitude nearing 900 metres, is a worked area w'ith associated dwelling sites covering about six hectares, reputed to have been worked by Chinese goldminers.

South-west of the proposed park is a hydraulic complex containing reservoirs, dams, water-races, and sluiced areas in good condition. These provide an excellent illustration of the gold-working tech-

nology of the area, says the i eport. The whole area survey - ed was being used for hydro-electric storage and high-country grazing, with a low stocking capacity. Old roads had revetted to farm tracks, and oncesettled areas were now small isolated pockets in a high-country farm, said Mr Jim McKinlay. the trusts senior archaeologist. Oversowing of grass and new afforestation would mean the deterioration and loss of many' sites, including those in good condition.

Photographs from ‘'The Press” files