CHAPTER V. Black Peter...
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CHAPTER V.
Black Peter. --Who are "Discoverers"?--Victoria and Otago. -- The Woolshed and Tuapeka Stream. -- Peters' Claim. --Mr. Forster's Letter. --Mr. Gillies' Statement. -- Mr. Munroe's Statement. -- Peters' Own Story. --The Reward. --The Superintendent and Provincial Council. --The Goldfields Committee and Black Peter.
THE story of the Tuapeka Goldfield would not be complete without a reference to Edward Peters-- better known perhaps as "Black Peter." The question has frequently been raised, both in Australia and New Zealand--Who is entitled to rank as discoverer? Is it he who merely finds, or he who actually develops a Goldfield? In Victoria, men who found gold, or even indicated its existence, were, in some cases, rewarded by grants of public money. How nicely the various degrees of merit were regarded by the Victorian Legislature may be gathered from the following extract, taken from Mr. Brough Smyth's "Goldfields and Mineral Districts of Victoria":-- "According to the Report of the Select Committee of the Legislative Council, on the claims for the discovery of gold in Victoria, dated 10th March, 1854, the amount of £5000 recommended to be given to Mr. Hargreaves was for his discovery of gold in Australia; that to the Rev. W. B. Clarke (£1000,) for his researches into the mineral wealth of the country; that to Mr. Esmonds (£1000) as the first actual producer of alluvial gold for the market; and that to Dr. Bruhn (£500) as an acknowledgment of his services in exploring the country, and diffusing the information of the discovery of gold in Victoria."
If the mere fact of "finding," accompanied by the public communication of the fact, is to be accepted as a "discovery," then undoubtedly Mr. Ligar was the earliest discoverer of gold
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in Otago--probably in New Zealand. Mr. Garvie ranks second; and Eward Peters third. But for all practical purposes, Gabriel Read must be held entitled to the first place. His claim to this position is two-fold. It was he who first gave life to goldmining in Otago by practically demonstrating the existence of gold in payable quantities; and the valley in which, by a strangely fortuitous combination of circumstances, he made his first essay had never before been prospected by anyone.
Peters had been getting a little gold at the Woolshed Creek for some years. Reference has already been made to the circumstance that in 1858 he had shown samples of the gold procured there to Mr. Thompson, the Chief Surveyor of Otago. 1 He had also found gold and wrought for it on the Tuapeka Stream, the precise spot where he worked being not far from where the main road now crosses it. He had not made any secret of his discoveries, for he openly exhibited his gold--sold it, in fact, to storekeepers, and freely informed inquirers where it had been obtained. To his frankness, indeed, Read's success is undoubtedly due. Peters had persuaded a man named Jenkins to accompany him in his gold-hunting expeditions, and for some time Jenkins "fossicked" about the Woolshed, whilst Peters went further ahead. The fact that gold was being obtained at the Woolshed was generally known, as is evidenced by the constant references to the "Tokomairiro Goldfield" in newspaper paragraphs, and its occasional mention in the proceedings of the Provincial Council. At this distance of time it seems strange that such little notice should have been taken of these circumstances. But the fact remains that they did not attract any attention until Gabriel Read startled the quiet little village--as it then was--of Dunedin into sudden, spasmodic activity with his marvellous story of "Ten Ounces in Seven Hours." But Read, as we are told by Captain Baldwin, was possessed of Californian and Victorian experiences, and knew how to give effect and purpose to his discoveries. Edwards was a native of India, and, like his
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comrade Jenkins was in very humble circumstances, and neither of them had the wit or intelligence to compel public attention to their discoveries. Evidently they wasted grand opportunities, and it is on opportunity that the fickle goddess of Fortune waits. It might be said of Peters that his work benefited nobody. This, however, can only be accepted with a limitation; for indirectly the labours and practical researches of Peters were the means of guiding Read to his famous discovery. I have been careful to ascertain the exact circumstances in connection with this interesting episode in the history of Otago, --indeed, it may be truthfully regarded as that of New Zealand; because amongst the Victorian miners who were drawn hitherward by the splendid reports of Gabriel's Gully, there were those who afterwards became the pioneer miners of Wakamarina, Hokitika, and the Thames.
That Read was the first and only discoverer of the gully that bears his name is indisputable. That he was induced to prospect the locality by the account of Peters' discoveries never has been, and cannot be, disputed. The following letter will show that Peters had put in a claim for the reward, or "bonus," offered for the discovery of a payable Goldfield, some time before Read made known the auriferous wealth of Gabriel's Gully:--
"Kaihiku Falls,
"Waiwera Bridge,
"July 8, 1861.
"Sir, --A man of the name of Edward Peters, working near here, has asked me to write to your Honor to say he put in a claim for the discovery of the Gold Diggings on and near the "Tuapeka" and "Waitahuna" Rivers, and also near "Tokomairiro," many months ago, and he now considers he is the person who is entitled to the reward offered by the Government, and not Mr. Read, as it is well known to many in this neighbourhood that he obtained gold from the above locality. Peters showed the gold to several parties, and I remember myself the discussion it created. He took one man of the name of Thomson with him to show him the districts, who is a respectable man, and corroborates Peters's statement.
"As it is only just that the first discoverer of the Goldfields should have the reward, I must ask your Honor to inquire into
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the case, and should there be any informality in Peters lodging his claim, I should feel obliged on his behalf that your Honor will direct that a proper form be forwarded to me, which shall be duly filled up.
"Edward Peters is an East Indian and comes from Bombay, and is, I think, a half-caste.
"I am,
"Your Honor's obedient servant,
"JOHN FORSTER.
"To his Honor the Superintendent,
"Dunedin."
I have seen this document. It is officially "memo'd"-- "Received 12th July, 1861. --Disposed of. "
Mr. John Lillie Gillies has kindly furnished me with the following information, which constitutes a valuable record of those times:--
"Prior to 1861, traces of gold had been found by various parties in different parts of the Province; but up to the time of Gabriel Read's discovery no payable field had been discovered. 'Black Peter,' as he was called, was fossicking about the Tuapeka River, and a party known as Jenkins' were doing the same at the Woolshed--Tokomairiro River--during 1860; but all that was proved by them was that there were auriferous deposits in these localities. I therefore come at once to the incident that led Mr. Read to go in search of gold to Tuapeka. In the beginning of 1861 there was a contested election for the office of Superintendent, the two candidates being the late Major Richardson, and the late Mr. M'Master, runholder. At a political meeting held by the latter in Tokomairiro, the candidate made certain statements in regard to the Squatters' Association in Victoria, which I, as one who had resided for some years in Victoria, felt compelled to dispute, and in consequence the meeting got very sultry. In the midst of the wordy duel, a stranger stepped into the arena, who soon made it plain that he was fully master of the subject, and was able to give dates and detailed data for the statements I had made in a general way, and completely silenced my opponent. After the meeting I naturally looked up my supporter, and found that he had come over from Victoria, and was working with Mr. John Hardy, then of Tokomairiro. This was Gabriel Read, whose brother's station--Lal-Lal, near Buninyong--I knew well. We had a 'corroboree' over our digging experiences on Ballarat, Fryer's Creek, Mount Alexander, Bendigo, Mount Korong; and during our conversation I told him that some months previous I had been up to the Tuapeka country after some strayed horses
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belonging to my father, which were discovered by Mr. James Whyte, shepherd on Messrs. Davy and Bowler's station, and that, with Peter Robertson, still of Lawrence, I had spent an hour or two with Black Peter, and I showed him two or three pennyweights of gold I had washed out with the tin dish, and informed him that a neighbour, Mr. Miller--another Victorian-- Mr. Peter M'Gill, and one or two others intended, as soon as we could spare the time, to go up to test the ground properly, as Peter was only hen-scratching on the edges of the creek. We then arranged that as soon as I returned from a Road Board meeting, to be held in Dunedin the following week, I would go up with him. A day or two afterwards he came over to Riversdale (my farm) and said he could not wait--he had been over to where Jenkins was working, and had caught the fever, and he must go. I gave him a letter to Mr. Robertson, who took him to where Peter was working, and up to Mr. George Munroe's. where he stayed that night. After breakfast next morning he climbed up to the top of the ridge, and down into the next gully, and before nightfall had washed out several ounces with his tin dish, establishing the fact of a payable Goldfield. I cannot close this" --Mr. Gillies continues-- "without remarking that had Read been of a selfish disposition, he might have worked there long enough, even as Black Peter had done on the Tuapeka River, and kept the secret of his find for many a day, as that district then was in the wilderness--on the outer borders of occupation--and you could have counted all the inhabitants for 50 miles round on your ten fingers."
Mr. George Munroe--referred to in Mr. Gillies' letter --is still residing in the Tuapeka District, and in response to my inquiries he has favoured me with an interesting account of Gabriel Read's first appearance on the scene:--
"I came to Tuapeka in January, 1857; and in March of the same year 'Black Peter' came, he being employed at that time by Messrs. Davy and Bowler. I was also in company with Peter when he got the first gold in the Tuapeka Creek, at what is now called Evans' Flat being the first gold that either of us had seen in its natural state. Some short time afterwards, Peter went to the Clutha, and was joined by a man named Thomson, who came back along with him, and set in mining in the same place--viz., Evans' Flat, --where they worked for about six months. During that time a good many people came and stayed with both Peter and myself, and tried their luck, but found nothing to pay. The prospects were good, but none of them knew how to work it. Amongst others, was Mr. J. L. Gillies, who maintained that it
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was a payable field. But what Peter and Thomson found was small, so they had to give it up, after a hard struggle. It was in June, 1861, that Read came, and I met him at the foot of what is now called Munroe's Gully, when he accosted me, saying-- 'Can you tell me, mate, where Black Peter was working?' I gave him the information required, and asked him to come and stay with me for the night, which he did. Next day he accompanied me to the head of Gabriel's Gully, and while sitting resting he told me if there was gold to be got in the district "he would find it there"--meaning Gabriel's Gully. He found it there the next day. I came upon him working in the creek, when he sang out: 'Hullo, mate!--I have got him.' And so he had. Both of us worked hard for a week or so, and got a few ounces with a tin dish. Read stayed with me during the time. He wanted me to go 'mates' with him and find him in 'tucker,' and we would keep it quiet for a few months; but as I was employed by Mr. Smith, now of Greenfield, I could not comply with his request. Therefore he went down country and reported the discovery. I might mention that Read was only a few days away when he came back. I went down to Tokomairiro with a flock of sheep, and during the time I was away, my wife discovered payable gold in 'Munroe's,' where I took up a prospecting claim, which did not pay very much. I may also mention that Black Peter did not come back to the diggings."
Mr. Read's own narrative of these events is embodied in a letter which he kindly sent, at my request, for the purpose of this "History." It was not received in time for insertion in the original publication of this chapter, and it is therefore printed in the Appendices. 2
One thing more is required to complete this chapter of the great gold discovery at Tuapeka, to which all others are subsidiary--namely, Peters' story. Very recently I heard it from his own lips, and it is, in effect, as follows:-- Peter is, as has been said, a native of Bombay. He knew nothing of gold except by report. But he is a man of sharp, shrewd intelligence, and when he was shown a small sample of natural gold by a Californian, whom he chanced to meet at Balclutha, and had learned from him that gold was usually found where white quartz prevailed, Peter bethought himself of the
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Woolshed Creek, the margin of which he had often seen strewn with quartz pebbles. Upon this hint he wrought, and thus blundered upon a discovery of the greatest possible moment.
In the end Read was awarded £500 by the Provincial Council under the following circumstances:--On November 4th, 1861, the Superintendent sent to the Council a "Message" (No. 4), couched in significant terms:--
"In placing the sum of £500 on the Estimates as an acknowledgment of the services of Mr. Gabriel Read, the discoverer of the first remunerative Goldfield in the Province, the Superintendent was guided by the formerly expressed opinion of the Provincial Council at a time when it was deemed advisable to offer a bonus for such discovery. Since that period, and the effectual working of the Tuapeka Goldfield, the neighbouring Provinces of Canterbury and Southland have each offered £1000 for a similar service.
"Considering that Mr. Read placed his discovery immediately and unreservedly in the hands of the Government, and also his gratuitous services as a prospector at their disposal, when fears were entertained that Gabriel's and the adjacent gullies might soon be worked out; and taking into consideration also the vast advantages already reaped from that gentleman's discovery, and the offered bonus of the other Provinces, the Superintendent feels assured that such a recognition of Mr. Read's service will be made as will be honourable to the Province, and a fitting reward for such disinterested and generous service.
"J. RICHARDSON,
" Superintendent. "
The hint thus delicately conveyed by Major Richardson was disregarded, as the following extract from the records of the Provincial Council--November 7th--will show:--
"The item for 'Bonus to Mr. Read' (=£500) having been moved, Mr. J. L. Gillies moved--'That the vote be £1000.'
"The amendment having been put, the Committee divided, when there voted--Ayes, 6; Noes, 7.
"The original motion was carried."
The claims of Edward Peters were altogether ignored by the Provincial Council. Money was scarce, and generosity was a scarce commodity in those days. It was not until 1885 that any public recognition of his services was made. In the session of
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that year a sum of £50 was placed on the Appropriation Act by the Government for his benefit, on the recommendation of the Goldfields' Committee, "conditionally on an equal sum being raised by public subscription" These niggardly conditions were assented to by the public; the necessary sum was raised, and by a judicious investment of the money the future years of "Black Peter" have been secured at least against absolute want.
