Gold diggers have mixed fortunes

The gold fever that gripped many places in New Zealand in the late 1860s also affected the Mahurangi district. It was thought the formation of the land was indicative of gold and that the local ranges could be a continuation of Cape Colville.
Surveyors laying out new roads found quartz at Puhoi and samples were also taken from Matakana.

Prospecting took place at Kourawhero alongside what appeared to be a reef and a shaft was sunk more than 40 feet. A meeting was held to invite subscriptions to aid the prospectors but early optimism faded and the venture was abandoned. Times were hard and many were lured away from their land to the Thames goldfields.

Minutes of the Upper Mahurangi Highway Board show that forming new roads gave employment to some of those who stayed. Using the timber at hand they cleared
tea tree to tie into bundles and make fascines. Kauri and totara were used to form culverts over swamps and streams. Wages were seven shillings a day.

The first mention of metal was in 1876 when storekeeper J. B. Jordon was granted a boatload of shingle costing £7. In 1880, 100 cubic yards of metal was spread on Warkworth’s main street from the Police Station to the Post Office. Limestone at four shillings a cubic yard was laid in front of the Masonic Hall and a footpath costing no more than £2 was approved past the blacksmiths and on to the bakery. Shopkeepers were expected to take a hands-on approach and collect metal from the quarry to fill holes near their premises.

Image: The photograph shows Walter and Charles Wedding with horses, as well as Frank Yearbury, Harry Edmonds, Harold Grimmer and Mark Phillips at the Horby Phillips quarry, Old School Road, Kaipara Flats.