THE DAYS OF GOLD

Taranaki Daily News, 10 December 1931, Page 12

THE DAYS OF GOLD

WESTLAND fio YEARS AGO. INTERESTING OLD RECORDS. There are comparatively lew people living outside Westland to-day who fully realise the activity that prevailed in that district in the early days of New Zealand. The lure of gold was responsible for a large influx of men seeking their fortunes, and. flourishing towns were in existence everywhere. To-day it is a different tale. Towns have dwindled down to sleepy settlements, their inhabitants having scattered as before the wind. The goldmining industry suffered a gradual decline and, although prospecting has been carried on through the intervening yeans, both by individuals and by companies, it is only to-day, owing to the task of finding work for the unemployed, that a decided effort is being made to revive the industry. Considering the many changes that have occurred in the last half-century, a review of the activities of the early pioneers pubished by the Christchurch Times, is of interest. Local body and Government statistics are not exactly the source of romance, but although the books 'are old and without covers, they contain some instructive items. It is astonishing what one does find sometimes in a dry and technical work. For instance, Haast’s Geology of Canterbury and Westland contains a romantic account of a visit to Hokitika in the early digging days. The records from which the extracts are made start in February, 1868. Up to that time the affairs of Westland were nm by a commisioner from Canterbury, the well-known Mr. G. S. Sale. They then established the Westland County Council, from the proceedings of which these notes were extracted? This continued until 1873, when Westland was made a separate province, a situation that lasted until 18(6, when the provinces were abolished. The police force for Hokitika, Grey, Ross and Okarito, spelt then Okarita, consisted in 1867 of one inspector, one senior-sergeant, five mounted sergeants, six mounted constables, TT foot sergeants, 32 foot constables and four detectives. In Hokitika there were 99 hotels with all sorts of fancy names to attract the thirsty digger. Mr. Marcq Medard, the proprietor of the Lambing Flat Hotel on Gibson’s Quay, advertised that his bedrooms were clean. There were three architects, four artists, six auctioneers, 13 bakers, five blacksmiths, 21 bootmakers, three brewers,' nine butchers, 31 carpenters, 12 drapers, seven dressmakers, 25 grocers, 10 jewellers, I’2 ironmongers, 32 merchants and importers, six soliciitors, six tinsmiths, nine tobacconists, 12 hairdressers and two wigmakers. Truly if competition is the life of trade Hokitika was well provided for. Hokitika must have been a very healthy place in those far-off days, because in spite of the fact that there were eight surgeons and eight chemists and druggists, there was only one undertaker. Anyhow if there were more they did not advertise their business. The staff of the Customs House numbered 15. The rates of postage were, twon Id, province 2d, New Zealand 3d, and England 6d. The West Coast Times cost fid a copy. There'was a German Association, two Masonic Lodges and the Oddfellows and a Foresters’ Court. The population of New Zealand by the last census was 1,373,746. In December, 1867, the population was 218,668. Assisted emigration began after this and in 1874 there were 32,118 assisted emigrants. The country surrounding Hokitika was well populated and Pipers Flat, Stafford Town, Ballarat Hill, Scandinavian Hill, and Waimea had an estimated population of. over 5000.

The leading article in the West Coast Times of January 1, 1868, begins: “The present first of January, 'lB6B, is the birthday of the County of Westland, the first county established in New Zealand, and the first territory in the colony enjoying an existence apart from the provincial system of Government since that system was established.” There were then 25 ports of entry in New Zealand, and three were in the new County of Westland. For the quarter ended June 30, 1867, the imports were £206,088, exports £367,650. For the same quarter in 1866, the figures were. £176,255 and £534,387. This latter figure was much the largest in New Zealand.

In the tonnage of vessels entered in 1866, Westland was 6563 and Auckland .14,170, but for 1867 Westland was 15,395, heading the list, Wellington being next with 13,394. The glories have departed! When the county was established, 'Westland was debited with £117,205 13s sd. This was rather a grievance as they seemed to think that Mr, Superintendent Moorhouse had used the Westland revenues to Canterbury’s advantage.