GOLD DISCOVERY AT THE HAAST.
The probability of a rush taking place near the Haast river, to which we referred yesterday is likely to be realised even more speedily than we anticipated. Something like the facts of the case was known in Hokitika on Sunday evening, but the information was not sufficiently authentic to warrant its publication. Yesterday, however, a report received by the County Chairman from the Warden at Okarito set all doubts at rest as to the rumors which had been current for the last few days. The facts may be very briefly stated. A party of miners, consisting of John Marks, Simon Munroe, and William Harris, who have been prospecting for some time in the vicinity of the Haast, applied to the Warden at Okarito for a prospecting claim. They produced about 45oz of coarse gold — the smallest piece weighing half a pennyweight and the largest three ounces — which they stated was the produce, allowing for loss of time, of about a month's work. Besides applying for a prospecting claim, the men put in an application for the General Government reward of £200 for the discovery of a new goldfield, and also for the reward of £500 offered by the County Government. The Waipara being then at Okarito the Warden engaged to go down in her to inspect the ground. There was a great deal of excitement in the town yesterday about the matter, the general expectation being that a very great rush will set in. The excitement has been no doubt heightened by the activity displayed by business men connected with Okarito in endeavoring to get supplies down to the Haast. Mr Mace (of Mace and Canavan, Okarito) went down in the Waipara on Friday night, returning yesterday overland, and it was reported that his object in coming back was to endeavor to charter the Wallace to proceed to the Haast. Another storekeeper, Mr Alexander McFetterick, came up from Okarito on Sunday night for the purpose of procuring timber to be sent down to the Haast for building purposes. He states that the Waipara was filling with passengers when he left, over fifty miners having engaged passages for the Haast, and that she intended leaving Okarito yesterday morning. The actual locality where gold has been discovered is variously stated at from five to twelve miles inland, and about eight miles south of the Haast river. The return of the Waipara is anxiously looked for as upon the report of the Warden which that vessel will bring the, question will depend whether there are sufficient grounds to justify any large number of miners in proceeding 'to the locality. -West Coast Times, 23/9/1873.
THE WARDEN'S REPORT.
By the courtesy of the Hokitika Evening Star, we received on Wednesday evening a copy of an extra edition issued from the office of that paper, and containing a copy of Mr Tizard's report on the ground prospected, and on the claim for which a prospecting claim has been granted. The report, which is dated Haaat River, Sept. 26, and addressed to the County Chairman, is follows: —
"Sir — With reference to my communication, of the 20th instant, respecting the application of Marks and party, for a prospecting claim inland, near the Haast, I have now the honor to state that I arrived on Monday last, in the steamer Waipara, in company with the prospectors and forty or fifty miners.
"We were prevented from starting for the claim on that day by the heavy rain, but the following morning it cleared up, and, accompanied by Mr Marks, I proceeded, his two mates having, according to arrangement, gone up to the ground the preceding day.
"We went in a boat up the lagoon to the mouth of the Haast River, for about a mile, and landed at the back of the beach, where the miners who came by the Waipara had camped the previous night; most of them had already gone on, and carried a boat to Maori Creek, to which we proceeded, and there the body of the miners awaited us, but a few had gone on. About a mile further on we reached Ship Creek, which was forded about knee deep, arid took the bush track, cleared by Mr Mathies, which, although exceedingly convenient on an occasion like the present, is hard to travel over, for besides being generally muddy, it appears to be carried over the tops of all the hills, and in its present state is impracticable for horses. I took about two hours and a half to reach the prospectors' camp, but some of the men had heavy swags, and I suppose the distance would be about five miles. We crossed several small creeks, in which Mr Marks stated that he had got gold, and just below the camp is a creek from which the prospectors obtained about 350z of gold they brought with them to Okarito, including a 3oz nugget.
"The next morning we crossed the range to the prospectors' claim. It is in a very small creek in a blind gully, and I was certainly disappointed at the small extent of ground left after pegging off their claim, there being only room for about three other claims besides their own. I have no doubt they have a payable claim; the prospects taken varied from a color to 1dwt 11gr to the dish — coarse gold. The claim was only just opened, the prospectors having worked in it but for about three days before they left for Okarito, having no provisions left. There is about a foot of gravel wash on a soft blue clay bottom. I enclose a copy of the grant of the claim.
"The range, on which is situated the claim, runs north and south, and round the base of it winds a creek of only moderate size, and on each side of the range are small creeks, running out of blind gullies into the main creek. The prospectors state that gold is to be had in nearly all of them. Their claim is on the eastern side of the range, whilst the creek near the camp, from which they obtained most of the gold they took to Okarito, is on the western side; but whether the gold runs through the range, it is impossible to say, for although the fact of finding gold in creeks on each side would tend to that opinion, still, the appearance of the ground close to the creeks does not support the idea of there being an extensive alluvial diggings. In the main creek there is every appearance of gold, but no one could get a prospect. I accompanied four men a long way up it, but we discovered nothing, and it was difficult to travel.
"Some miners are trying the ground, but a good many will leave at once; but then it must be remembered that some have left good claims to come here, in the expectation of rich finds, and are now anxious to get back, whilst others have not the means to do a few weeks' work on speculation. On Wednesday night and Thursday morning, a number of miners arrived on the ground, overland from Gillespie's and Hunt's Beach. Some of them intend to return by first steamer.
"I only remained the one day on the ground (and a part of that it was raining), as I thought a steamer might come in and return to Hokitika, and I was very anxious not to lose the opportunity of making a report, so as to prevent a large influx of miners being induced by mere rumors, and with this object I would request that you will take measures to make public the particulars of the prospectors' claim granted, as early as possible. However, I consider that the discovery will be the means of opening a permanent goldfield, and I would suggest that, to facilitate its development, a pack track should be surveyed and formed from the beach to the diggings, so as to lay down provisions on the spot at moderate prices, without heavy swagging and, further, that some bush tracks should be cut inland from the range, so as to enable prospectors to travel further in, particularly as many miners have strong opinion that, from the nature of the country, there must be reefs not very far off.
"The men who came overland state that they passed through a most likely country, but they describe the track cut through the bush as very difficult to travel, being carried over very high hills, and quite impracticable for the formation of a road, and I would further suggest that if the General Government could be induced to survey only for a main road from the Haast to Bruce Bay the work could not only be done cheaply, but would b a great assistance to proprietors, whilst the men engaged on it would be sure to prospect on their way. The bush track would most facilitate the work by affording excellent observations of the country.
"It should not be overlooked that the formation of the bush track between the Haast and Bruce Bay has led to the present discovery.
"I am, &c.,
"Edward F. Tizard,
"Warden."
The following is a copy of the official communication in reference to the prospecting claim: —
"A prospecting claim has been granted to the undermentioned miners — John Marks, Simon Monro, and William Harris.
"Situation of claim — About twelve miles from the Haast River (seven miles along the beach and five miles on Bush Track), on a range about five miles in a direct line, south-east of Arnott Point, in a blind gully, on a very small creek falling into the south side of Bullock Creek, which runs into the sea between Ship Creek and Arnott Point.
"Size of claim — Quadruple ground, 720ft by 30ft.
"Description of working — Sluicing with a small supply of water.
"Yield. — The gold is coarse, and the yield very variable; in some cases but a color; in others, more than a pennyweight to the dish.
"The prospecting claim includes nearly the whole available length of the gully in which it is situated, and the remainder is taken up. The other gullies on the range known to be payable are not sufficient for the men on the ground. Fresh men must be prepared to prospect, and none should come unless prepared for a month's work in a likely country.
" (Signed) E. F. Tizard,
" Warden. September 25, 1873." -Grey River Argus, 9/10/1873.
Notices.
DISSOLUTION OF PARTNERSHIP.
THE Partnership hitherto existing between JOHN MARKS and THOMAS McFETRICH, as Storekeepers at the Haast, is this day DISSOLVED by mutual consent.
All debts due to the firm are required ta be paid to JOHN MARKS, who will pay all debts owing by the firm.
T. MARKS, J. McFETRICH. Witness — R. C, Reid. -West Coast Times, 10/1/1878.
Jacksons Bay/Okahu is a place I have visited only once, but have plans to see in the near future. It has a cemetery there. It was the place chose for an assisted immigrant project in the 1870 which sought to build a port town for the inland resources of timber, mining and farming. Heavy rain, isolation and sandflies doomed it.
The Government will no longer dispose of stores to the settlers at Jackson's Bay, having made arrangements that supplies will be sold by private hand. Mr John Marks, storekeeper, Haast, was the successful tenderer for the stores at present in charge of the Resident Agent there. Settlers will, in future, be settled with in cash, for any Government work they may perform, and will be at liberty to procure what stores they may require in the ordinary way. This will be found to be a great convenience, not only in saving the Government the time and labor in keeping store accounts against each of the settlers as formerly, but will be a boon to the residents by allowing them to make what purchases they may choose for cash. Mr Marks proceeds by the Waipara in a day or two to take over his new charge. -West Coast Times, 12/1/1878.
At around this time, John Marks seems to have had money problems. Whether the administration of his estate was voluntary or not, the tender below gives an idea of what his household at Haast contained.
IN THE ASSIGNED ESTATE OF JOHN MARKS.
TENDERS are INVITED for the PURCHASE of the ASSIGNED ESTATE of JOHN MARKS, Storekeeper, of Haast River, as follows: —
Store and Dwelling (Leasehold.)
Stock-in-Trade.
Book Debts.
Horned Cattle (20 Head.)
Horses (3.)
Spring Cart (1.)
Pigs (20.)
Tenders to be lodged with Mr W. G. Johnston, Revell Street, on or before FRIDAY, 5th March, 1880, from whom all particulars may be obtained.
W. G. JOHNSTON, Trustee. -West Coast Times, 24/2/1880.
Mr John Marks, the well known storekeeper at the Haast, has disposed of his business there to Mr Adam Crowe. Mr Marks brought up an excellent parcel of coarse gold from the Haast yesterday. He reports no new discoveries of any kind. The population in the south in very limited, but contentment rules supreme. -West Coast Times, 18/10/1882.
The funeral of the late Mrs John Marks takes place this afternoon, the body having been conveyed from the Haast by the steamer Waipara. Much sympathy is expressed for Mr Marks in his sad and unexpected bereavement. The funeral cortege will leave the residence of Mr A. W. Bock in Revell streets at 2.30 this afternoon. -West Coast Times, 24/4/1884.
FUNERAL NOTICE.
THE FRIENDS of JOHN MARKS, Haast River, are respectfully invited to follow the remains of his late WIFE to the Cemetery. The Funeral to move from the residence of Mr A. W. Bock, Revell street, THIS (Thursday) AFTERNOON, at 3 o'clock. SINCLAIR & JACK, Undertakers. -West Coast Times, 24/4/1884.
Mr. John Marks, of the Haast River, Westland, has resigned his position as a Justice of the Peace. -Evening Post, 3/9/1886.
John's resignation of the above position was possibly part of moving away from the Haast area. At about this time his name appears on an application to dredge for gold in the Hokitika area. In 1896 he is mentioned in a "Ramble through the Jackson Bay Riding" as being "of happy memory."
The death of Mr. John Marks, which took place at the Westland Hospital on Tuesday morning removes another of that sterling band of pioneers who came to the West Coast in the days of the gold rush. Mr. Marks, who was a native of England, and 78 years of age, followed the various rushes, residing in the south and having a store and homestead on the Haast River for many years. Of late he has resided in Beach Street, Hokitika, where he passed the end of his days in peace. Some ten days ago he had a paralytic seizure and was taken to the Westland Hospital, where he passed away quietly. Deceased was a widower, his wife being a daughter of Mr. John Murdoch, of Ross, who predeceased him many years ago. Grey River Argus, 3/12/1914.
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