OLD CARDRONA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3364, 4 September 1918, Page 54

OLD CARDRONA.

Bv Geo. M. Has.sin-c;

Except by the earliest shepherds employed on Roy's and the Wanaka runs. little was known about the Cardrona Valley prior to 1860. In that year Messrs Rees, \ T on . Tunzelman, Hopkihson, and Lowe, accompanied by two hired men, set out from Oamaru by way of the Waitaki across the Lindis Pass, and made their way to the junction of the Hawea and Clutha Rivers. Here the expedition nearly came to grief through an attempt to ford the Hawea River with their loaded packhorses. When the strong current reached the packs, the horses were washed off their feet and rolled over and over into the Clutha. By the party galloping into the river the horses were all rescued hut one, which disappeared down the Clutha and was never again seen. The party was finally crossed safely in a small square flat-bottomed punt belonging to Wanaka Station, and, after a few days' spell and drying- their soaked provisions and clothing, they started on their journey up the Cardrona Valley in search of new country. The entrance to the Cardrona Valley from Mount Roy on the north to Mount Pisa on the south is about six miles wide, narrowing gradually to about a mile wide in a distance of some 12 miles, to where the township is located. The whole of this area from hillside to hillside was at that period one impenetrable jungle of manuka scruh, necessitating hill-travelling in ascending the valley. But the hills on both sides were broken by creek chasms, precipices, and stretches of matagouri and rank speargrass, so that progress was most difficult and fatiguing, and hut a few miles a day was gained. On the evening of the third day there was no sign of the travelling improving-, so a consultation was held, when all, excepting Mr Rees, decided to give up further attempts and return next morning to Wanaka. Mr Rees, however, was determined to push ahead, and by appealing to the party for one at least to stick to liim, Mr K. van Tunzelman decided to accompany Rees. After struggling along for days, they reached and climbed the Crown Range, which revealed to the two intrepid . explorers the magnificent scenery of the whole of tin? beautiful "Wakatipu district. The subsequent stocking of the Wakatipu runs by Rees and von Tunzelman I shall not here dwell upon. In the latter part of '6l and beginning of '62 two station hands—Messrs Low and M'Gregor—discovered payable gold in the Arrow River near the present township. While working quietly they were sin-prised by a party of prospectors—Messrs Wm. Fox, W. Melody, and J. O'Callaghan—who had left the Dunstan, and by way of Kawarau Gorge, Roaring Meg, and Gentle Annie, reached the Arrow River. They immediately pegged out a prospecting claim : rushed back to the Dunstan, where the title was granted by the warden, and Fox's Rush took place. Thousands of miners from Gabriel's, Dunstan, and Australia flocked to the new Wakatipu goldfield. Hundreds of pack-horses were employed in carrying food, tools, and necessaries from Dunstan and Albertown to the new diggings; and Cardrona Valley became the principal avenue of traffic. In '62 payable gold was struck in the Cardrona 'Creek, just below the Crown Range. In '63 a township was laid out, and several canvas-covered sod buildings erected for stores and saloons. These shortly gave place to structures made of timber with iron roofs, and a busy, lively little township sprang up. Most of the gold was obtained above the township; but in '65 rich ground was opened a mile or so below the town. The three principal claims were the Pirate, the Homeward Bound, and the Gin and Raspberry. These were alluvial claims, worked by shafts and drives or tunnels about 24ft to 30ft below the surface. The gold, running through the wash gravel resting on a false bottom in narrow, well-defined leads, was easily traced. It was a nice, coarse sample, and yielded on an average £IOO a week per man, and for about 12 months' work each of the 15 or 20 -working shareholders netted from £SOOO to £SOOO. There were a number of other claims paying from £lO to £2O per week a man, so the little township was just booming. Four hotels and as many billiard saloons were doing a roaring trade, and everyone had a pocket full of -money. Balls, races, and carnivals were held, and everybody went the whole hog - . Even "Port-wine Mary," from "Drybread," came over and planked down a little stand. It was really a wonderful pande monium. - The West Coast Rush, however, caused many who were doing really well to clear

out, and in '67 all the rich claims had been worked out, and the miners left almost in a body. Then the Chinese influx took place, when some 600 Chinamen took up all the old workings and opened out the whole creek-bed in large, deep paddocks on a great face. These Celestials, working like bees in a" hive, were doing; uncommonly well, and three large Chinese stores, cookshops, and gambling dens were erected in the township, which reminded one, both in odour and appearance, of the outskirts of Canton or Shanghai. In the late sixties European miners struck a lead of gold in a flat a mile below the township, at a depth of about 30ft. Here two large claims —the Empire and the Banner of War were opened out and worked by inclines and tunnels, the wash being drawn up by powerful waterwheels. Other claims below were worked on a smaller scale. What was known as the lower township sprang up here, with its hotel, store, and many neat miners' residences, while in the upper township were erected a bank, public school, police quarters, and gaol. The Warden and Magistrate's Courts sat monthly, and church service of all denominations were held regularly. A strong branch of the Miners' Association was established, and got busy at once, obtaining many Government and local concessions, such as straigth-out grants of £2500 for the construction of the Crown Terrace road, £7OO for gold prospecting, 1500 acres for a commonage, a cemetery reserve, and a fine public library. The teacher also held evening classes for the education of adult Chinese. In the early seventies the whole of Branch Creek, a tributary of the Cardrona, four miles below the township, was pegged off for hydraulic sluicing. This creek yielded a lot of gold for several years, and it was predicted that Cardrona would have a bright and permanent future. But in 1878 a great flood overwhelmed the place, and swamped, gutted, and filled up with thousands of tons of tailings many of the workings, especially on the lower flat. This catastrophe Tuined many of the miners, myself included. I thereupon made application to the Southland Education Board for the position of teacher of the Cardrona School, which happened then to be vacant. I was successful in obtaining the appointment, and have followed that occupation continuously under the same board for 40 years. On looking back upon the 11 years, from 1874 to 'BS, spent on Cardrona—very happy days, though not without caTe, anxiety, and sorrow, —the outstanding feature was the cosmopolitan, brotherly, charitable, and - helpful spirit animating the whole community. This was especially noticeable in cases of accidents, sickness, or distress of any kind. There was never any question as to who or what the sufferer was: it was simply to know that help was needed, and all were eager to assist. The women were especially worthy of praise, and just here I cannot refrain from mentioning two names in particular —Mesdames J. O'Callaghan and M. Lafranchi. They were indeed true Samaritans. Mrs O'Callaghan, the first white woman in Arrowtown, wife of one of the original prospectors of Fox's, died on Cardrona some years ago. She left four sons and two daughters, one of whom is married to Mr A. Lafranchi, dredgeowner, Cardrona. One of the boys,' Ted, paid the supreme sacrifice in France some months back. Old Mrs Lafranchi and her devoted daughter are still living on Cardrona, while the youngest boy, Albert, is fighting the Empire's battles. Mrs J. Small, still living at Hawea Flat, also distinguished herself by many acts of kindness in the early mining days. I must not omit the late Mr Bobt. M'Dougall, a true friend of the pioneer miners. Coming over from the early Australian rushes, he was one of the first to establish storekeeping business at Arrow, Macetown, Cardrona, and Pembroke. An educated, energetic, and enterprising man, he thoroughly identified himself with the fortunes of the miners. No hard-up digger went short of tucker or tools if M'Dougall knew it; and the whole of the Wanaka district bear evidence of his foresight and activity, and is materially indebted to the late Mr Robt. M'Dougall for the progress it has made. Bobt. M'Dougall, jun., is still running the old store and the coalmine on Cardrona. A few of the early miners, now all passed away, who kept Cardrona humming in the early days may also here be mentioned. The brothers Charles and Alf Austin, both clever as organisers, decorators, and social entertainers, handy men in any capacity. Bobt. Miller, a most accomplished musician on the piano, violin, concertina, and banjo. He was' a musical genius. Joe Needham, the factotum and general handy man, especially at auditing and balancing accounts; a man of erudition and mathematical knowledge. Bob Hodgson (Geordio Bob), sport, and boss miner on the creek. John Loft, the light-weight champion of Durham, is still living on Cardrona; and John Willoughby, the old-time blacksmith and farrier, now proprietor of the old Empire Hotel, did good work as Sunday School teacher and member of school committee in the early days. The old gentleman and his estimable wife are still hale and hearty. Walter Little and Ned Bauman are also stemming the tide fairly well. Old Cardrona has had its ups and downs periodically. A revival took place in 1889, when the Robertson Bros., from Martin's Bay, arrived and opened - the rich high-level run of gold, Many thousand pounds' worth of gold was then acquired easily while it lasted. My own opinion is that, judging by the geological formation of the country, other runs of alluvial gold at a higher level on the same line of country, with probably quartz reefs higher still, will yet be discovered on Cardrona, and the placo again assume tho humming prosperity of the early days. At any rate, to me it is a mental pleasure to occasionally dwell upon the memory of those happy years, spent amidst truly democratic surrounds and genuine friends.