MORE ABOUT D. J. MOORE.

Cromwell Argus, Volume IX, Issue 471, 19 November 1878, Page 6

MORE ABOUT D. J. MOORE.

To the Editor of The Cromwell Argus, Sir, — I read in your issue of the 12th a letter signed “ Truth,” the sentiments of which I fully endorse. For the information of “ Truth” and others I will give what I know is the truth in respect to who are the real and bona fide prospectors of the Garrick Range both in quartz and alluvial. As to the leading gentlemen and others of Cromwell district, I had, while in Dunedin lately, an opportunity of seeing a printed petition setting forth the claims of Mr Daniel J. Moore as being the greatest prospector of the Cromwell district for the last 17 years, the discoverer of the Garrick quartz-reefs, and so forth, attested by the signatures of some of the leading gentlemen of Cromwell. 1 must say 1 felt surprised at it, as I well know the character of Mr Moore—that he was an “oily” customer. And now, Mr Editor, permit me to ;state that I am one of the oldest residents! in the district, being, 16 or 17 years on the Garrick Range, and can positively and distinctly deny that Mr D. J. Moore ever discovered any quartz reefs or alluvial on the Garrick Range. His principal pursuit, when I first knew him, was peddling newspapers and books and other small trinkets, and taking advantage of every digger he could by foisting old 1 newspapers on them. Whatever prospecting he did bn the Garrick Range was fossicking at times in t old workedout ground in Potter’s and Adams’ Gullies for a pennyweight or two. Now to leading facts as to who were the true and bona fide prospectors of the Garrick Range. Having been here from the first up to the present time, I positively assert that a man by the name of “ Barney,” while returning from the Nokomai rush, first discovered Adams’ Gully, though Mr Adams got the credit for it. Mr Smith discovered Smith’s Gully, that is as far as alluvial is concerned, and the first legitimate prospectors of quarts reefs in Adams’ Gully, now being worked by Mr W. Radford, were Mr R. Randall, myself and brothers. Although we did not make known our actual discoveries until after the prospecting claim was granted to the pipeclay reef, better known as the Boypl Standard, we applied for a prospecting claim about that time. The first prospectors of the pipeclay reef were Mr Fred Pope and Mr .Edward Cornish, the first prospector of the Young Australia reef was Mr Jackson, and the first prospectors of the Carrickton reefs were Messrs Hoffman and Joseph Halliday, of the Heart of Oak claim. These persons I am well acquainted with, and know the whereabouts of some of jthera. If any honor or credit is due, these are the men that are deserving of it, and not our “oily” friend, who partly lived by scheming and obtaining all the knowledge he could for his own encls from honest, hard-work-ing diggers. If the Government has benefited by the goldfields, and has seen the wisdom pf setting aside a portion of public money for rewards, I say by all means let the right men receive it.—l am, &c.. Facts. Garrick Range, November 15bh.