CALL OF THE YUKON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21646, 17 May 1932, Page 5

CALL OF THE YUKON

AN OLD-TIME GOLD MINER BRIEF VISIT TO BIRTHPLACE. (Special to Daily Times.) AUCKLAND, May 16. “ I went to the Yukon 34 years ago to seek my fortune, and I am still looking for it,” said Mr G. O. M’Grcgor, of Granville, near Dawson City, who arrived by the Niagara on his way to visit his birthplace in New South Wales. From the twinkle in his eye, however, it seemed that fortune had not been so elusive as his words implied. Silver bearded, ruddy of face, and keen of eye and with a chest as deep as it was broad, Mr M‘Grcgor typifies the conventional old-time gold miner. “ I shall probably make my fortune in a couple of years’ time,” he added with the easy confidence of the confirmed seeker after gold, and went on to speak of gold-bearing land in which he was interested and the coming of a ponderous dredge which contrasts so vividly with the gold-mining methods of the past generation. Born at Morangarcll, near Bribaree, Mr M’Gregor said he • gave up “ squatting” to go gold mining 34 years ago. He went to the Yukon, and this was to be his first return visit to his homeland. In addition to active prospecting and mining and to holding interests in other gold-bearing land he had acted while in Granville as agent for the gold commissioner. Prospecting still went on, but the practice how was for a number of adjacent claim-holders to combine and come to terms with a dredging company. A certain amount of sluicing was done, but in some arefis there was a shortage of water which prevented satisfactory sluicing. “ I have met a number of. New Zealanders out there,” said Mr M'Gregor. “ One of them is Jimmy Wilson. He comes from the South Island. He used to be a member of the Yukon Council and has a place between Granville and Dawson. Yukon is the finc.-t place in the world for a young man with a bit of money, and the opportunity as boundless. When I have had a look at my old birthplace I am going back.”