GOLD THIEVES

Evening Star, Issue 22572, 13 February 1937, Page 14

GOLD THIEVES

A TALE OF THE DRESSING DAYS [Written by N.K.S., for the ‘ Evening Star.’] Waipori Township was in darkness, and scarcely a sound could be heard, save for an occasional rumble from far up the river, where the Golden Dawn dredge buckets crooned their weird lullaby, while 12 times per minute the thump of the golden gravel falling into the drop chute sent strange echoes into the adjacent hills and gullies. Suddenly a steam whistle ■screeched its signal to the night shift that it was 11 p.m. and time to have supper preparatory to relieving the working shift. As the whistle ceased blowing a man stepped out of a hut on the sloping rise of river bank opposite the aredge and waved a hurricane lamp three times; the signal was answered aboard .the dredge, and the man returned indoors. Donald Campbell and Mick Grogan, they relieving dredgemen, were camp mates, and generally considered by Waipori residents as the best winchman and fireman on the field, respected and liked by their fellow-work-men and the dredgemaster. “ Hop out, Donald* the kittle’s bubbling over, and I’ve as tasty a bit of bacon in the pan as I’ve seen outside me mother’s farm in Quid Ireland, and the spuds are biled to a turn.” “ Righto, Mick, but y it’s sair work getting out o’ the warm blankets to gang aboard yon dirty frosty scow. Mony’s the time Ah’ve grippit the winch handles until ma fingers could’na let go; noo, Mick, wo maun clean up a bitty the nicht, and one of us must gang to Dunedin and sell the stuff before Christmas. There’s a gold-buying shark called Smuthers will gie us within 5s an ounce of its bank value and ask nae questions, and the nicht we maun make up enough to gie us three hunner pounds. We’ve got about 70oz the noo, and last niclit the wash was looking weel for 20ft in the centre of the face.” “ Are ye sure Smithers will play fair? I’ve heard some quare tales of that same gentleman. But come, Donald, it’s time we made a break to go aboard.” . Arriving at the river hank, Donald waved his lantern, and in response a boat shoved off from the dredge and a moment later the 4 to 12 shift stepped ashore.

“ Everything’s right, Donald, the cut is marked on the headline. We’ro pulling this way. Good-night, boys,” and the relieved «hift disappeared in the darkness.

Picking up a boathook, Mick shoved the boat clear of the bank, and with the stern oar sculled alongside the dredge. The mates lost no time preparing for their shift, and while Donald oiled the machinery, Mick cleaned the boiler tubes, and then throwing open the furnace door raked half the fire to one side and cleaned the clinkers from the bars, then raking the fire to the cleaned side, completed the cleaning of the furnace. Gla'ncing keenly at the gauge glass, he turned the cocks full open, and blowing out the water, watched while the water rose again showing a full glass, then going to a platform alongside the gold tables, selected a piece of cocoanut matting, which he carefully spread at the top end of the screen box, and as carefully placed a* heavy connecting link at the top end of the matting to keep it in position, and where it would receive the first catchment of gold from the revolving screen. “ There ye are now, me beauty. Yer set for three or four ounces, and then it’s me or Donald for Dunedin and Mr Sfnithers, licensed gold buyer.” Donald was giving the winches a run, and a moment later, Mick’s cry of “ all clear,” was answered by Donald's “ all clear,” and as the engine gathered speed, Donald pulled in the main ifiction, and with much grunting and groaning the dredge commenced to lift the golden spoil.

There was no doubt as to Donald’s ability as a winchman; bucket after bucket popped out of the water full of gravel, while at short intervals the ladder line brake was eased, and the buckets, dipping deeper, touched bottom; thereafter each bucket moving up the ladder carried on its lip a slice of red bottom. Then Donald’s tactics changed, as, slacking the starboard bow-line, he pulled with short, sharp jerks on the port bow-line, and with just sufficient pull on the head-line to give a Gin cut in the wash, the buckets were kept full and the bottom or bedrock thoroughly cleaned. Mick had also been busy, and after thoroughly inspecting the elevator and screen gear, glanced anxiously at the boiler steam gauge, which was falling and registered 1181 b pressure, while the buckets were commencing to drag. “Shake up the fire, Mick, I maun get to a run of guid wash, which I ken is only a few feet further along the face. A’hm going tae gouge it tho nicht, and mak a braw wash-up for our last bit of piracy, and losh, Mick, hero it is at last! My eyes are sair watching for it; bit up the steam and ah’ll soon pull some gold.” At 3 a.m. Mick brought a billy can of steaming tea to the winch, and Donald, after giving some instructions to his mate, sat down, and ate heartily of the bacon sandwiches which largely contributed to his frugal lunch. A few minutes after finishing his mdal, Donald rose and carefully scanned both banks of the river. “ All right, Mick, pull up the engine, and we’ll clean up the mat.” Ten minutes later the dredge was working steadily, and Donald was carefully planning the concentrates from the mat into the dredgoinaster’s new galvanised tub; then, after another hurried inspection of the river banks, opened the furnace door, and, taking a shovelful of hot embers, held the panning dish over them until the gold and sand dried, allowing »t to be emptied into a canvas bag. which Donald, after a calculation of its weight, passed over to Mick, who, after stowing it in his coat pocket, proceeded to throw the pannings overboard, and as a further precaution . sluiced and swabbed the dock.

After many consultations the mates decided to tender their resignations, to take effect on Christmas Eve, a fortnight bonce. Then a doubt arose as to whether the gold buyer would be in Dunedin over tho holidays, so a few clays before Christmas Doiiald became ill. and. with the drcdtjeinastor’s permission. made arrangements for his immediate departure to consult a doctor.

“ There’s the stuff, Mick, and it’s a bonnie sample; the risk is small, laddie, but it’s uao guid hanging roon here. When Ah come back wi’ the three hunner pound wc’ll say guidbye tae Waipori and yon dirty mud barge Come awa doun tae the pub and we'll have a whusky for luck before the coach starts.” “ Goodbye. Donald, me bhoy, I’ll be watching for ye on Christmas evo.” and Mick, with a farewell wave, turned slowly homeward, his thoughts wandering to a terrace at the head of Post Office Creek, and the best way to set about prospecting it before Donald returned.

The morning following his arrival in Dunedin, Donald walked into the gold buyer’s office, and in resposo to his rapping on the counter a gruff voice from an inner room invited him to come in. Tho gold buyer sharply scanned Donald’s face, and his eyes glistened as Donald, after fumbling in his brief bag, produced a well-filled chamois. “ I was told you gie a better price than the banks, so thocht Ah’d drop in and hae a word wi’ you aboot buying this parcel. Whore’d Ah get it? Noo, what the hell is working in ye? Ma mate and I hao been sluicing for nigh on sax months at the heid of Post Office Creek, and if ye don’t want tae buy All’ll step over to the bank. Ah’iu no hasty, but Ali’iu not hero tae swap nows. What price will vou gie me?' “ Three pun five! What’s ailing ye now? Pass along you blower and All’ll show yon as bonny a sample of gold as cud be found in Now Zealand.” The gold buyer closely examined the gold, then, taking a sample from his desk, compared the two parcels. ‘ There is a fair amount of sand in your gold. Mr—ah—M'Kenzie, it is now lunch time. I will put the hag in the safe, and if you will join mo at 2 ole lock we will clean it ready for weighing. At 2 p.m. Donald, hastening towards tho gold buyer’s office, slowed up and finally stopped as a policeman sauntered along, and seemingly took some interest in tho gold buyer’s sign. Donald’s heait commenced to thump as a vague sus picion raced through his mind that something hud gone amiss. Ah in no running any risk, and Air 11 wait a wee until von splay-footed loafer gangs awa.” "'A few seconds later the policeman resumed his walk, and Donald once more hastened to keep his appointment. In response to Donald’s knock, the gold buyer came out of his inner office, and wishing Donald good day, inquired if he had any business to transact. “ Ah’ve came aboot ma gold, mister, and if you’ll get it cleaned Ah’ll be pleased tae finish ma business and get awa’ back tae Waipori.” The gold buyer looked surprised and pained. “Gold; you must bo dreaming, my man. I don’t remember .having any transaction with you. The parcel of gold you left before lunch ? Nonsense; you get along or I will call the police and nave you arrested. I have an idea that you have been working on a dredge, and if you don’t make yourself scarce within two minutes I will ring for the police ” ; and, walking to a phone, Smithers turned over the leaves of the register. Donald, shaking with passion, took a step towards him. “ Gie me ma gold, you dirty, thieving scum o’ helJ, or All’ll cut the pelt off you.” The gold buyer put the telephone receiver into Donald’s hand. “ Tho police number is ten. Ring up and explain your business to them. My time is too valuable to be wasted on such folly.” And Smithers, passing into the inner room, locked the door, then, going out by a back passage, took up a position where he could watch Donald leaving the office.

Fear and murder were striving for the mastery in Donald’s mind, and as his racing thoughts mirrored Mick waiting for him, a cold fear entered his heart. “Ma certes, what will the laddie think o’ me?_ Ah couldna’ expect him to believe sich a tale. Ah’ve a guid mind tae throw maself into the bay; but. Lord, that wadna’ mend matters.” And Donald, stopping, wiped away the beads of perspiration which were coursing down his face. “ Aweel, All’ll no’ bilk ma mate. I’ve twa hunner pounds in the Savings Bank, and I’ll draw one hunner and fifty and give it tae tho laddie, and then All’ll get tae hell out of the country. Lord Almighty, if I cud get my hands on yon thief’s throat. But there, I must awa’ tae the bank, and may God forgi’e me for a miserable coward/’ Mick was waiting as the coach pulled up at Cauldwell’s Hotel, and' as the mates gripped hands Mick, watching Donald’s face, sensed something had come undone. “ Have a drink, Donald, and a bite of dinner afore we go home. It’s myself can see that something is troubling ye.” An hour later the mates were sitting in the hut. and Donald, taking out his pocket book, placed 30 five-pound notes in his mate’s hand. “ Noo, Mick, Ah’m no’ saying it’s the exact value of your share o’ the gold, but it’s near enough. Mony’s the nicht Ah’ve worried ower the thocht of getting nabbed, and often Ah’ve wonnered if the game was worth the candle; but there, maun, Ah’m no’ painted angel, but sair thochts are trickling through my mind tho day, and from noo onward Ah’m running on the square.” “ What, the devil has hit ye, Donald? It’s mysdf can see something has gone wrong. We’ve been mates for many a long day, and when trouble hits ye, I get landed too, so let’s have the yarn. Donald.” After some hesitation, Donald gave a full account of his journey, and as he related how the gold buyer had bluffed him, Mick’s fist thumped the -table, “ The dirty, murderin’ scoundrel, I feel like starting for Dunedin to-morrow, and if I cud find him, I swear by everything I hold sacred that I’d choke the lying dirty swab. But hark ye, Donald, couldn’t ye have more faith in me than to think I’d doubt your word, or to imagine that when had luck plugged you I couldn’t stand up alongside ye and take me share? Here, old mate, put the fivers back in the Post Office and shake hands, for I’ve dropped on as rich a sluicing claim as cud be found in tho Waipori district. You know where that wash spur shows out at the head of Post Office Crick, forninst the blind gully we prospected? Well, me hhoy. I’ve sunk two shafts, and both bottomed on rich gold. There will be no trouble in life to bring in a few heads of water, and only a trifle of thirty chains of race-cutting. I’ve taken out miners’ rights, and applied for the claim and water rights, and to-morrow morning we’ll take the coach for Dunedin and revisit our friend Mr Smithers. Hark ye. Donald, I’ve a cousin in the South Dunedin Police Force, and the same bhoy and mo are sizes, and ho would take any risk before he wud see his first cousin taken down by you thieving shark.” Two days later Donald and a tall policeman walked into the gold buyer’s office, and without knocking opened the door of the inner room, where Mr Smithers was industriously cleaning a parcel of gold. “ Guid-day. Mr Smithers. Ah’m no a chief wh’all make unnecessary trouble, and Ah’m no saying you kenned mo when Ah called for ma gold, but Ah’m no taking risks, so Ah consulted tho inspector of police, wlia, after examining ma miner’s right and claim grant, forbyc telegraphing tac Waipori, sent this chid along tae bring you and the gold tae the police station. But Ah’m no revengeful, and if you can prove tao me that ye had nao intentions of bilking me Ah’d be prepared, if the police officer is satisfied, tae tak delivery of the gold.” Sraithcrs’s face was a study as his eyes shifted from Donald’s to the tall policeman. “ Ah, yes, certainly, Mr M'Kenzie. I have to be very careful of my clients’ gold, and my sight is not. as good as it was.” “Kin you see these bracelets, Smithers? By the powers, Mr M'Kenzie. like all gold diggers, is too soft. Hold out ycr hands, yo dirty vagabond. Come quietly., will ye, or by the hokey I’ll squaeze the life out of yo. What, wud ye resist? Then take that and that. Now hold out. ycr paws, yo dirty thaving blackguard.”

As the constable was about to clamp tho handcuffs on the now thoroughly cowed gold buyer Donald pleaded with tho constable to “ gio tho puir loon a chance,” while Smithers frantically claimed ho was cleaning the gold for the owner with no thought of trickery. “I can now recognise Mr M'Kenzie, and will give him full rate for the gold, or ho can have tho parcel and sell it to the bank.” “ There’s some quare reports about ye, Smithers, and if the matter rested with me I'd have ye safe in the cooler; but Mr M'Kenzie has the last word, and if he won’t charge ye his next move is to put the gold in his pocket and proceed with mo to the police station and report the recovery to the inspector. And hark yc! Smithers, if I hear so much as a murmur of any further complaints I’ll be after coaxing ye into our lodgings for a spell, and if I happen to break yor neck on the way it nd be small loss to a decent community.” As the mates disappeared into a side street Mick’s anxiety _ deepened. “ Step out, Donald, Dennis will bo waiting for the uniform, and it’s myself is anxious to get into me own togs and outside a dacent glass of whisky.” “ Mick laddie, ye’re a fine actor, and noo Ah’m thinking, sin we’ve got a guid claim of our ain, that wo wad hae mair luck if we drappit this gold into tho dredge buckets when we get back tae Waipori. Losh, Mick, it wud mak a bonny wash-up for the company forbye the ordinary week’s dredging return, and wad gie the sharebroker laddies something to think aboot.” “ Ye’re right, Donald. It’s myself has lost many a night’s sleep over the same gold, and by the powers, we couldn’t expect white man’s luck if we didn’t put the stuff hack.” “ Aweel that’s settled, and Mick, Ah’m no sentimental, but I canna help remarking that ye’re a grand mate, whom any mon would be proud to gang wi’ on a lang dangerous journey. Forbye_ ye’ve a small failing, laddie, which is really nae concern of yours, for everyone canna belong to the ‘ land o’ cake and Burns.’ ”