DUNSTAN RUSH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26542, 18 August 1947, Page 6

DUNSTAN RUSH

RICH GOLDFIELD ANNIVERSARY OF DISCOVERY Eighty-five years ago to-day several thousand excited men were making their way by forced marches over the little known interior of Otago to what was to become known as the Dunstan Goldfield. On August 16, 1862, the Daily Times published the sensational news that two prospectors had discovered new diggings and had claimed a reward of £2OOO from the Provincial Government for finding a new field. These two men were the Californians Hartley and Reilly, and to prove their story they deposited with the authorities 871 b weight of gold. The following day the Daily Times published further details of the discovery, and a fever of excitement exceeding that which broke out on the announcement of Gabriel Read's successful prospecting at Tuapeka swept Dunedin and neighbouring settlements. No matter what his employment was any man who felt he could walk to the Dunstan set off to make his fortune on the new field. Even at Tuapeka most of the diggers walked off their claims and made for the new field. From three directions—by way of Tuapeka, over the Taieri and the Rock and Pillars, or through Waikouaiti and across the Maniototo—the gold-seekers trudged, and soon nearly 10,000 were on the field. At first there was disappointment and hunger, for the Californians’ methods were new to most of the diggers and stores were not to be had in a country which was settled by only a handful of runholders. But soon from the Molyneux and from neighbouring gullies rich gold was being taken and wagons were arriving with supplies. The first escort on October 3 left with 6031 ounces of gold and before the end of the year 70,000 ounces were sent from the Dunstan. As a direct result of the gold rush, the canvas towns of Dunstan (Clyde), Manuherikia (Alexandra) and the Junction (Cromwell) sprang up almost overnight and Dunedin became the wealthiest city of the Dominion. From the Dunstan prospectors spread almost all over Central Otago and many other rich fields were discovered. In four years over £7,000,000 worth of gold was exported from Otago.