THE MEN OF 1861.

Evening Star, Issue 14574, 24 May 1911, Page 4

THE MEN OF 1861.

GABRIEL’S GULLY CELEBRATIONS. [By Our Own Reporter.] LAWRENCE, May 23 (10 p.m.). Mr Henry' Wilkinson, of Invercargill, relates with as much vivacity as a young man his experiences at Gabriel’s. Ho came Bora Canterbury in July, 1861, in the paddle steamer Lyttelton, which took three days to do, the trip, and walked up to Tuapeka alongside the bullock dray that carried their traps. He, took a claim just below the Provincial Hotel. 'There were four in the party, all new chums at digging. Gabriel Road showed them how to wash a dish of dirt. The claim was shallow, the sinking; being about sft. _ Each man got 21ft square. Mr Wilkinson is sure about that. He says that the common stream carried five or six heads of water. There v.is never ary quarrelling about the use of this stream, so far as he knew. There was more disputing about pegging out. Some of the men took a hit more than they wore entitled to, and the surplus was sure to bo measured off. _ The gully was patchy, but thp poorest of it was payable. He know of men malting as much as £25 per week; others perhaps made more, but kept quiet about it. Meat sold at Is per lb, bread half a crown a loaf, bacen Is 6d per lb, and very inferior at that. Melbourne unloaded a lot of inferior bacon. After four or five months Mr Wilkinson and his mates went to Munro’s, and in August of 1862 joined in the rush to the Dunstnn.

Another Invercargill man, Mr James Clark, came from Home in the Lady Egidia in January of 1861, and worked for Mr Gow on (ho Taicri. He and the other six men on the farm left when the diggings broke out. They look their own team of bullocks, and were thus able to got a fine supply of tucker. 'Hie fust night out they trmpvd at Wuipori, and time escaped the clutches of the bushranger Garrett. There were not a dozen tents in Gabriel’s when they arrived. 'They sank several holes and got splendid prospects, but could not bottom for the water, so they shifted to Monro’s. Gabriel’s Gully, in parts whore the sinking was 10ft or 12ft, could not lx> worked until more men came to use the water and put up Californian pumps. From Munro’s tho party moved to Waitabuna, and in the shallow sinking there they got nearly £4OO in six weeks. Mr Samuel Dixon, of Hawera, reached Gabriel's from Wellington in July of 1851. 11l mates were Win, Tustin and Win. Gawith. -Mr Dixcn brought out the fact that some of the sinking in the gully was os deep us 40ft, and had to be worked with a winch. Not 40yds from that spot one could get the odor just under (ho sods. Mr Dixon also speak from the evidence of his diary as fo (he prices the gold brought. He sold Ids first parcel to a storekeeper at £5 10s per ounce ; six weeks later ho got £3 12s; then Die price was raised to £3 15s. and in October it went to £3 17s 6d. There was only one case of stealing whilst he was there, and only one tight. and that was not the result of a quarrel, but a regular match between "tho Sydney Pel’’ and "the Wellington Chicken.” 'The. diggers wore not at all jealous of new arrivals. RAILWAY TICKETS EXTENDED. 'lhe ll on. J. A. .Millar has sent word lo the Hon. R. MTConziu that in compliance. with the. request of the visiting pioneers he has arranged for the duration of the railway concession tickets being extended for a week. The Mayor made the, announcement at the social to-night, and lo shew their appreciation the diggers gave three resounding cheers for the Minister of Railways. THE PREMIER’S MESSAGE. Sir Joseph Ward lias sent from London a- message of congratulation in regard lo the success, and expressing a hope that the old pioneers may find their declining days happy. A JOKE. Whilst "Works and Mines” was walking down the street lie felt a heavy hand on his .shoulder, and, turning about, the accartcr said "Hullo, Jack." And the Minister hud to explain somewhat at length that lie was nut Jack Tyson. The mistake is quite easy to understand, for there is a resemblance. THE VETERAN PIONEER, In a previous message ] mentioned one or two really old men wiio are amongst the visitors, but. the veterans 1 then referred to are young men alongside a patriarch who turned up yesterday. Michael M.'Garthy, formerly of Dumbarton Rock, now of (lore, is said to be a hundred years old, and persons who should know say they believe it to be perfectly true. THE MIXERS’ SOCIAL. The function this evening was a social in the Town Hall it was certainly a remarkable meeting. For one tiling, the sight from the rear was of a groat mass of grey heads or bald heads—not a middleaged one amongst them except at the rear. Then, again, there wa.s no set programme. The pioneers did everything themselves, as at a camp free-and-easy, thus it came about that Schumann and Lehman and Mallinson were laid aside foilin' occasion, and we heard stout old songs like 'The Englishman,’ ‘The Rhine Wine,’ and so on. One of the singers is the mail who first took a fiddle to Gabriel’s Gully. The mayor presided and did his duties admirably, keeping everything going and bringing in manv recollections of the old days. LAWRENCE. May 24. Mr Henry Wilkinson, the violinist a.t last night’s social, played on an Amati violin, 168 years old, an heirloom in his family. By mistake the name of Mr Thomas Morris, Morningum. was omitted from the list of 1861 pioneer?. Ho is taking part in all the functions;. EMPIRE DAY CELEBRATION. This morning the weather was still fine, but overcast and V“ry cold. The lii.st business was a muster of the old diggers in I front of the courthouse for a photograph, i There were 225 in the. group, the, central j place in the. foreground Iming given to Mr Michael Mac.irthy, the centenarian. j Afterwards the crowd walked up the hill I to the District High Selim], where the I Empire Day celebration, was held. ’.I lie children were mustered under the control of Mr W. \V. Turner, rector, who was supported by Mr J. Norrie, chairman of the School Committee, Messrs John Edio (secretary). D. MTntosh, and other members of the Commit tee. _ , Mr Norrie briery welcomed the pioneers, and (hou called on Mr MTnto-sh to break out the mart hard (lag and hoist the others at the yardarm. The cadets. und'T Captain Dailon, gave a general salute with splendid pivi Lrton ; then ail the scholars, ciidcr the leadership of Mr J. E. Stradian, one of fhc teachers, sang ‘Rule, Britannia.’ Mr James Alien, M.P.. made what may be, considered a model patriotic speech—simple, free of fire. I give some ot his sentences; " Wc are hero to celebrate Empire Day and .all it moans to us. It was wise for the Committee to include this in the celebration programme, because tho Empire was founded largely by men who devoted to its interest their wonderful energy and enterprise—men like you, who romc here and opened up the goldfields. Next month we shall ho celebrating Coronation Day. What does it mean’/ Not tho honoring of an individual, for the King is a man such as vou and me, with oil a mans failings. Wo’honor him for what he represents. Lot us not, however, forget _ to thank God for our Sovereigns in late times. All feel tremendous respect for Queen Victoria, who did eo much to lav the foundations of a wholesome family life ; also for her great soa Edwaixl, the Peacemaker; and quo cannot but pray that tho virtues of King George’s father and mother may be with him all the days of his life, and that ho may bo known as the great Empire consolidator.— (Applause.) Lot ns recognise the tremendous responsibilities of Empiremaking. It is no use our extolling Great Britain as' the ruler of tha seas unless we are in a position to, say to every nation: ‘We insist upon you keeping the peace and leaving the ocean highways open, and allowing every realm to develop itself in peace.’ But wo cannot attain to that position without effort. I have been a military ynan for twenty-two years, and J don’t J:

■want to fight.—(Applause.) Nor does any soldier. His life is dear to him as yours is to you; but if the call comes he will answer it nobly, and if need be with his life.— (Cheers.) And the object should be so to prepare ourselves here that if ever called upon to defend our country, our homes, and our Empire we shall be in a position to do it effectively.—(Applause.) Our King represent*; the embodiment of that principle. So docs the Flag. Our ships arc all over the oceans, and the only thing that keeps that safe is the Flag at their peaks.—(Cheers.) The great message of Empire Day is to be strong ! not for battle, but for peace.—(Applause.) To you boys I say ; When you are called to do duty do it willingly and fairly, and give of your best, so that your mothers and sisters may be proud of you, and that in your strong arms they may feel that our homes awl the country are safe. —(Great applause, and throe cheers for Mr Allen.) The children than sang ‘ The Red, White, and Blue.’ Mr Joseph Grimmond, of the West Coast, gave a short speech, quite in the nature of an oration as to the value of individual duty. The Mayor (Mr James Robertson) addressed the children on the virtue of loyalty. Mr Henry Walton, of Waikanae, also spoke. Ho is a Gabriel’s Gully man, mid before coming to Otago served in the Navy, being a seaman on the Exmoutb, one of the fleet that Napier took to Croiv stadt. Ho also did service in the China Seas. Mr Parker M'KinJey, as a member of the Education Board, was the last speaker. He showed how education was the main ingredient in our freedom. Mr Janies Walker, a pioneer, led the crowd in that rousing song ‘ Marching through Georgia,’ and the proceedings concluded with the National Anthem. The gathering was attended by about 1,000 citizens and visitors. OVER 1,600 VISITORS. Mr W. Murray, station-master, informs me that passenger arrivals since Friday number 1,610. Deducting the ordinary traffic from this ho finds that about 1,500 came by rail to the celebrations. AN IRISH METHUSELAH.

I have seen ;md spoken with an Irish Methuselah—Mr Michael M'Carlhy, Ho was bom in Dublin, and had fourteen children. The youngest son, who accompanies him, says tliat the. family and friends always believed that ho was born in March, 1811, and that is what ho says himself. The old man walks well, hut in repose loolis his age.

This afternoon is devoted to a football tournament and sports. To-night a dinner to the pioneers will ho followed by a concert, waxworks, etc.