LURE OF GOLD Mild Recurrence Of Fever

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 February 1947, Page 5

LURE OF GOLD Mild Recurrence Of Fever

Interest In Whitianga Claim A mild recurrence of old-time gold fever has followed the reported discovery of quartz at Mercury Bay by a Maori bush-worker, Mr. James McLean, whose movements have suddenly assumed major significance in the eyes of residents, anxious to peg adjoining claims states a Whitianga correspondent. Mr. McLean, who took out a miner’s right earlier this month, has become a focus of envious interest, but meanwhile he is continuing with his work in the bush above Simpson’s Beach, and has stated that he will finish his contract for removing puriri logs, before beginning work on his claim. From conflicting rumour and amateur detection has emerged a belief that the quartz Mr. McLean claims to have located with his bull-dozer is part of the once-famous Kapai Vermont Try-Fluke reef. An old miner, Mr. William’ James Maclean, is still in possession of the Kapai Vermont mine, and although it is many years since the mine was worked, he is confident that it still carries gold, and is hopeful that it will produce again in the future. The Old Mine The connection between the old Kapai Vermont mine, alongside the portal of which stands the shjick of the 75-year-old Mr. William James Maclean, and the find reported by the Maori, Mr. James McLean, is nebulous, but "has some foundation in local history. Since the Kapai Vermont reef gave out there has been a general belief that an extension of it might one day be picked up on a line between the old mine and the Whitianga Harbour, and it is in this vicinity that Mr. McLean is known to have been working in the bush. Wealth produced by the Kapai Vermont mine was vividly recalled by Mr. Maclean, who was interviewed at his hut in the bush. He said he had lived there for over 12 years, having unearthed the abandoned portal while prospecting. He and his son had carried in the drive for 600 ft., hoping to find gold in addition to the 12,8000zs taken previously from the mine.

Mr. Maclean explained that some 25 years before he rediscovered the oid workings, they had been abandoned when a collapse occurred, burying the winding plant, and a Hood in another shaft had made it difficult to continue. Work had been abandoned, and the mine had remained untouched for many years until he had stumbled across it. Found by Tired Maori Discovery of the Try-Fluke reef by a tired Maori was recalled by Mr. Maclean. He said that one of a party of Maoris had decided to rest while walking through the bush, and on sitting down had found himself among quartz. He filled a billy, with samples, took them to Coromandel and promptly registered a claim, front Which he received £30,000. First discovery of gold in New Zealand was at Coromandel in 1852, and sold production in the area has since been valued at about £1,750,000. much of this having been won over 50 years ago. The patchy but rich nature of deposits has long been recognised, and the New Zealand Mining Handbook, of as long ago as 1906 refers to this feature, and state’s that “it is no criterion that because a mine is apparently worked out further developments may not prove it to be a veritable bonanza; and for this reason, if for none other, the field will always be a home to the tributer, and an attraction to the