THE CLYDE GOLD ROBBERY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22958, 13 August 1936, Page 16

THE CLYDE GOLD ROBBERY

TO THE EDITOR

Sir, —I am reading with much interest your early gold fields history. The account of the Clyde gold robbery is scarcely correct, and does not give all the particulars. Practically speaking, both Rennie and MacLennan escaped all punishment. It is s stated that there was applause in the court when MacLennan was acquitted. Ido not know if this applies to Constable MacLennan. but it was a fact, in the early days, that a man who shouted freely was a very popular man.

Rennie travelled in the darkness, so that no one saw him. He did not cross the Kawarau River, according to the present note. At that time the crossing would be at the Victoria bridge, and then by the punt at Gibbston. He travelled along the mountainside. Doubtless there was an early time bridle track When about opposite Gibbston, the horse knocked up. Rennie did not shoot it. The horse was afterwards shown to me at Wanaka. In quite recent years I made inquiries how Rennie was brought to book. I was told that Sergeant Smith, from Queenstown, rode to Gibbston to inquire if any strangers were about, or if anything suspicious had occurred. The owner of a bakery and small store told him that a few nights previously there was a small fire with thick heavy smoke which remained close to the ground, across the river on the mountainside. There was no one camped there, and' travellers did not frequent that part. Sergeant Smith then recrossed by the punt and rode down the river to the site of the fire. He soon found that a saddle and bridle had been burned, for there were pieces of scorched leather and the buckles, and other ironwork. He also discovered a big false moustache, tied up with wax ends He then rode to Arrowtown, and calling on the saddler, inquired the difference between saddler’s and shoemaker’s wax ends, and at once got a very important clue. Then he inquired about Rennie, and ascertained that he was away from home for a few days, but had returned and was walking about his house all the previous night. The sergeant then called on him, and Rennie was frightened and owned up at once.

It appears that the door of the lockup had a lot of bolts in It, and these were all slackened so that Rennie had no difficulty in unfastening them and getting inside. All the gold was recovered except about 30 ounces. About 20 years later, about this quantity was found outside Clyde, just below the surface of , the ground. Inspector Dalgleish lost his position after the robbery, but was subsequently appointed clerk of the court at Cromwell and afterwards resident magistrate and warden at Cromwell, and later still at Naseby. This appointment was regarded with much satisfaction by all classes of the community.— I am, etc., Richard Norman. Lawrence, August 11.