‘The Hon. Roddy’

Press, 16 June 1982, Page 20

‘The Hon. Roddy’

Ross is one of the small townships on the West Coast frequently overlooked by visitors. Those who do take the opportunity to stop are often surprised by the number of industries the township supports. The limeworks, which began production in 1918, still operates, and forestry and farming are strong features of the area. At Ross Furs, the opossum fur factory, because of the open work-room visitors can watch garments being completed. Further along the road a real opossum is on show. Orinoco, the opossum, is part of the unique wild-life museum run by Heather and Basil Detloff. Geckos, wetas and bees are -.some of the other live exhibits. Basil is a taxider-

mist and the thar. chamois, kea and pukeko on display demonstrate his skill. There is also an extensive documented history of Ross with a replica of "The Honourable Roddy," the largest gold nugget ever found in New Zealand. Two diggers. John Scott and Arthur Sharp, unearthed the nugget at Donnell's Creek in Ross in 1909. The nugget was the size of a man’s hand and weighed 12.83 kg. A local storekeeper paid $BOO for the nugget and baptised it in champagne: “The Honourable Roddy," after the then Minister of Mines. Mr Roderick McKenzie. It was eventually sold to the Totara Hospital Committee in Christchurch for $9OO. But it was not long before the nugget again changed

hands, this time in a lottery. After a short time the winner sold the nugget for $BOO. Finally, the New Zealand Government bought “The

Honourable Roddy" and presented it to King George V as a coronation gift. Since then it has been melted down for a Royal tea service. The Goldfields Walkway

encompasses the area where this famous nugget was discovered. This is a two-kilometre walk and follows the old mine workings.