Early Discoveries.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20476, 30 November 1934, Page 6

Early Discoveries.

Remarkable West Coast Returns.

(Special bo the " Star.*’) HOKITIKA, November 29. to official reports the first gold to be located in New Zealand was at Massacre Bay (now Golden Bay), in the Nelson Province, in 1842, when the precious metal was found by a party under Captain Wakefield. At the time, however, it did not attract very much notice. It was not until ten years later that gold was found in any quantity, when, in 1852, important discoveries were made in the Auckland and Otago provinces, creating public excitement, and efforts were made to develop this new resource. Only some 1100 ounces were secured, and the field, at Coromandel, was soon abandoned. The Mataura River attracted attention in 1856, the metal having been reported found in fair quantities. In the same* year further discoveries were made at Motueka. and a year later attention was again drawn to Massacre Bay. A rush, set in here, and over a thousand miners were soon engaged, meeting with moderate success. This population, however, was soon reduced by the severe winter conditions and want of roads. From this district 16,400 ounces were exported up to the end of October, 1858. There were several reports of gold found in Otago, at Waikioi and Makarewa Bush, and in the gravel and sand of several streams and rivers. The gold, generally, was small and scaly. In 1858, however, some good specimens were secured in the Dunstan Gorge. This locality, a few years later, yielded some excellent returns, which resulted in the opening up of one of Otago’s greatest goldfields. Discoveries were also made near the mouth of the Tuapeka River, and in the Lindis River, in the same year. Nelson Nuggets. In 1859 some large nuggets, weighing up to nine ounces, were found in the Rocky River, in the Nelson province, where further discoveries had continued to be made. Finds of some importance were made in the province in 1861, and also in the Buffer River. The river Lindis again featured in the mining world in 1861, large quantities of small nuggets being revealed. It was the result of prospecting by Mr Gabriel Read in the upper reaches of the Waitahuna and Tuapeka Rivers which led to the establishment of Otago as an important gold-bearing district. In ten hours, with the aid of a knife and a tin dish, he gleaned seven ounces, and the announcement of his discovery established a big " rush.” Find after find then took place, and an extensive goldfield was soon established. Later two Californian prospectors turned their attention to the Molyneux River, where they met with fabulous success. In three months they secured eighty-seven pounds weight of gold! In recognition of their find leading to the opening up of new territory they received a bonus of £2OOO from the Provincial Government. Excellent discoveries were made on the west coast of Nelson in 1864, and also in the Wakamarina River in Marlborough, where a considerable quantity of the yellow metal was obtained by the large “ rush ” which set in. The progress of the field was greatly handicapped by floods and the desolate nature of the country, and its activity soon dwindled. The list of discoveries now extended to the West Coast, to the ‘Teremakau River, and the Hokitika, Rimu, Ross and Okarito districts. The yield of gold from the Hokitika field was considerable. The value of gold won on the West Coast in 1864 was £5560; in 1865, £1,127,000; in 1866, £2.141.000; and in 1876, £2,019,000. The total won from the Coast at the beginning of the new century approximated £26,000.000, the yield in 1866 being the largest.