The Hawaiian gazette., 1870-11-02
The Past and Present of the TIL ames
GOId-EieIds.
BY A TRAVELLER.

Two years ago, the inhabitants of the Province
of Auckland. more especially the jewellers in the
great city, were rescued from the state of poverty
into which from Il combination of circumstances
they were gradually but too surely sinking by
the discovery Of very rich gold-bearng quartz at
the Thames" place about forty mics from
Auckland. Like wildfre, the news soon spread
throughout the length and breadth of the Island,
and in the course of few months the district
was swarmng with men from the various Prov
inees of New Zealand and the Australian Colo
MES, all intent on trying their fortunes at the
new FL Dorado. The existence of auriIerous
quartz IN the district was fact well Known TO
several Europeans, for some years prior to the
opening of the field and the only reason why the
ground had not been taken up, and the reefs
thoroughly prospected, was owing to the deter
mined opposition of the Maores, who, with that
Extraordinarily some called foresight-pe-
culiar TO the race, positively refused to allow the
PAX has to trespass on their lands. By degrees.
however, their scruples were at length overcome.
and in consideration of their receiving a good
round sum as a yearly rental. together with all
the moneys collected from the dggers for mining
licenses, they gracously condescended to allow
certain portion of their country TO be proclaimed
gold field, delivering up their dilapidated habi-
tations, their peach-groves, ana their vineyards
to the mercy of the white man. whilst they
looked wonderngy on at the vast alterations
and Improvements dolly taking place around
them. In less than twelve months from the time
of its opening the Thames had become a place
of great Importance fine substantial buildings
were rapidly sprnging up in every direction :;
business people were paying fabulous prices Tor
building allotments several small steamers were
daily dispatched from Auckland for the newly
discovered gold-feld, crowded with passengers,
consisting of merchants, mechanics. spectators
and dggers. Several good Claims had been
opened. viz. The Long Drive, the Shotover,
Golden Crown, Moanatairi, Jockeys, Kelly's
City of Glasgow, Inverness, and many others
their yields surprising in richness anything pre-
viousy discovered in the Southern Hemisphere.
Every inch of ground was taken up for miles
around innumerable mining companies we're
already organized, and hundreds more were in
course of formation the officials in the Mining
Department were besieged by applicants DESTROYS
of leasing land within the proclaimed boundary
of the gold-feld bank managers and government
officers, holding good positions, resigned to take
the managership of companies scrip" was
offered to, and eagerly purchased by the public
as fast as it could be issued laborers readily
found employment; money was plentiful; bust
ness brisk. and every one seemed to be on the
high road to fortune.
One short year has elapsed since then, and
''Oh, what falling off is there ?" Many Of the
claims have ceased to produce paying quartz
The once famous Long Drive-the picked stuff
from which never. yielded less than 81 to 4 0zs
crushed, causing the original scrip issued at $50,
to go up to $1,000, at which price sales were
readily effected-has now fallen to $50, and no
buyers. The Shotover-the pioneer claim of the
feld-has literally ruined those who bought out
the original shareholders the City of Glasgow,
whose scrip met with ready sale at S72.5O is
now wound mp Jockeys and Key's are never
spoken. Of and even the Golden Grown has
dwindled into comparative insgnifcance Many
of the legal managers have resigned; some have
made tracks with the funds of their Com
panies others have become bankrupt, and the
rest soon will be. Shorthand, the first township
in the diggings is deserted; nearly the whole of
the shops on POLAND Street are "to let" with
no prospect of their ever again being occupied.
except that the Maoris make them their i1hares
for the future. The banks in that locality are
all closed; those of the mining population who
have the means are leaving the district BY every
opportunity for the newly discovered diggings in
Queensland and New South Wales. Men in
business would gladly dispose of their stocks in
trade. together with the " good viii and fixtures"
of their establishments. could they but find pur-
chasers Scrip is drug in the market; mining
leases and claims have been abandoned, whilst
mining plant of every description. imported and
erected at an enormous outlay, can now be pur
chased for mere song; failures are frequent.
and commercial confidence has ceased to exist
In shoEt.tb Great Thames Qnartz bubble has
burst, and every one who dabbed in mining
shares has come to grief The only things now
wanting to complete the ruin of this once pros
porous locality, are, heavy food and an earth
quake.