GABRIEL’S GULLY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22048, 2 September 1933, Page 14

GABRIEL’S GULLY

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —In your issue of August 28 appeared an article on Gabriel’s Gully coldfield. Was Gabriel Read the finder of the gully named after him? Nearly 50 years ago a man who was called “Black Peter told mo or gave me to" understand, that he found the gold there and brought it to a bank and Fold it and that Gabriel Read, knowing that “Black Peter' had sold some gold and was going back to his claim, followed him to the place and, after getting some gold with a butcher s knife, etc came to a bank and sold bis gold, and when the news spread throughout the country the place was called after him. Can you or anyone say for a certainty who first found the gold, and whether Black Peter ” ever received any reward or did Read get the lot?—I am. etc.. G. W. Kent. Milton, September 1. [The gully in which Gabriel Read made his sensational discovery of gold in the early days of June. 1861. and which bears his name, may have been known to a few-men prior to bis prospecting tour, but to him unquestionnb'y belongs the honour of making the discovery. He set out alone with “a tent, blankets, spade, tin dish, butcher’s knife, and about a week’s provisions.” His tour occupied about 10 days, and he travelled inland about 35 miles, examining the ravines and tributaries of the Waitahuna and Tuapeka

Rivers. Gabriel Read was in every sense a self-reliant man. He followed his own plan and made the discovery alone. He was also an unselfish man, reporting his discovery to the Superintendent of the province within a few hours after making it. Later, with Mr John Hardy, the member of the Provincial Council for the Tokomairiro district, he tested the field and gave every assistance and all information to the Provincial Government and the men who started in early to work the field. Edward Peters, an East Indian known as “Black Peter,” discovered gold in the late-fifties in Tuapeka Creek, at a point now known as Evans Flat. It was not a payable field for the ordinary digger,, and Peter himself left it. When Gabriel Read made his discovery Peter had left the district, and the latter was in no way responsible for Read’s discovery, There is no evidence that “ Black Peter ” had ever prospected in Gabriel’s Gully, and there is no shadow of doubt as to who was the discoverer of the famous goldfield. The story about Read following “ Black Peter,” or anybody else for the matter of that, is without foundation. He was a pioneer, and was ready .to share the rewards with his fellows. The claim of “ Black Peter ” for the reward for discovering a payable goldfield was fully examined and rejected at the time when the first-hand evidence was available. ■ Mr John Lillie Gillies, afterwards secretary of the Otago Harbour Board and a well-known figure in the life of the province, has placed it on record that 'Miad Read been of a selfish disposition he might have worked there (at Gabriel’s Gully) long enough, even as ‘ Black Peter ’ had done on the Tuapeka River, and kept the secret of his find for many a day, as that district then was in the wilderness—on the outer borders of occupation—and you could have counted all the inhabitants for 50 miles round on your 10 fingers.” In his desire to find fresh goldfields Read threw away his chances of pegging a profitable claim at the famous gully, and for his discovery and his “ tfratnitous services as a prospector ” he was rewarded by the Provincial Council with two grants of £SOO each.— Ed., O.D.T.]