Bogus Otago gold rush earns its instigator a whipping

Duffer, or bogus, gold rushes were fairly regular features of pioneer New Zealand, especially in the 1860s. The best known of these was the Bruce Bay duffer gold rush of 1866 on the West Coast, but prior to that there were a number of earlier bogus rushes in Central Otago. One of these followed Gabriel Read’s discovery of gold in the Tuapeka River, in what is now known as Gabriel’s Gully, near Lawrence in May 1861, and it almost ended in the death of the instigator, Sam Perkins. Read’s discovery was the first major gold find in New Zealand. There had been previous discoveries on the Coromandel, at Golden Bay, on the West Coast and near Nelson, and in Otago and Southland there had been insignificant finds at Goodwood near Palmerston, on the banks of the Mataura River, in the Dunstan Ranges and near the Lindis Pass. Read’s discovery changed all that because it was a major find, and within six months, an estimated 14,000 prospectors were hunting for gold on the resulting Tuapeka and Waipori goldfields. In November 1862, two shearers, Thomas Arthur and Harry Redfern, made another find on the banks of the Shotover River, kicking off Otago’s largest rush, which resulted in more than 18,000 prospectors working in the province by February 1864, as the Australian goldfields petered out. The intensity of gold fever at the time meant any rumour or misinterpreted comment could result in desperate prospectors upping stakes and rushing to the supposed new fields. One of the early rushes in Otago was to the Beaumont Gorge west of Lawrence, which took place after a prospector had applied for a claim on the banks of the Molyneux (Clutha) River, an application that was overheard by a passer-by who quickly repeated what he had heard. Within a few days, hundreds of prospectors had left the successful Tuapeka and Waipori fields and made their way to Beaumont, spurred on by rumours that the mysterious applicant had recovered 50 or 60 pounds weight (22 to 27kg) of gold. The rush was short-lived — no trace of gold was found in the area despite the efforts of the hundreds of hopefuls. It didn’t end the rush of hopefuls, however. Within days of the collapse of the Beaumont rush, another rumour went around of a rich gold strike at Mt Valpy, in the Blue Mountains, which lie between Tapanui and Lawrence. The Otago Witness newspaper of November 1861 reported that it had received information that a miner had returned to Tuapeka from Mt Valpy to “fetch his mates” and that he had with him 30 ounces (0.85kg) of gold. It also reported that it had seen a letter from a “respectable gentleman” at Tuapeka which stated that he had “been informed on authority which he had no reason to doubt, that one party had washed 70 ounces [2kg] of gold out of one dish”. The Witness qualified its report, however, with a closing statement warning that, “We give the report as it has reached us, but in these times of unfounded rumour, every statement has to be received with caution”. However, that warning didn’t deter hundreds of hopefuls who once again immediately left the Tuapeka and Waipori diggings and headed to the Blue Mountains in search of this new Eldorado. But, once again, they found nothing and returned to the Tuapeka and Waipori diggings. But on their return, the enterprising Samuel Perkins, who apparently had a bullock and dray cartage business, let it be known that he knew the exact location of the mysterious new goldfield, and offered to lead the prospectors to it, and carry their swags and provisions for them on his wagons at the price of one shilling (10 cents) per pound (about half a kilo). He also offered to provide them with sustenance during the trek with products he sold from his wagons. Not a lot is known about Perkins. He was a sailor who arrived in New Zealand about 1835 and was involved in the whaling industry. He was working at a shore-based whaling station at Toetoes Bay (modern‑day Fortrose) in south-east Southland until the station closed sometime about 1840. Thereafter he farmed in the area where he was well known not only for his pig-hunting skills but for his tendency for exaggeration. At some point he moved north to the Otago goldfields, probably seeing the opportunity to cash in on the gold-rush fever. The exact details of the gold rush he inspired are confusing and contradictory, but it appears that Perkins, who was described in contemporary newspaper reports as “an old man”, may have been part of a scheme by an enterprising group of local waggoners to generate some business for themselves. It was subsequently learnt that Perkins was known as “The Fortrose Liar”, but why or how he earned that sobriquet has been lost to history. Some reports suggest that more than 3000 prospectors joined his trek initially, despite warnings from local officials, and they headed off from Waitāhuna towards the Blue Mountains. Some prospectors apparently became wary of Perkins and his claims and withdrew early, but hundreds other hopefuls remained with him. When they reached the Molyneux, where Perkins had apparently arranged a fleet of doubtful-looking boats to ferry the party over the river, the cavalcade was met by the Otago policeman, Inspector Morton, who “subjected Perkins to a searching interrogative examination” and reported “many discrepancies in his statements”. Perkins told the inspector that he intended to “take the miners to Dr Menzie’s station, on the Mat-aura” (Mataura River). Gold had been discovered there two years earlier, but not in payable quantity. Inspector Morton was not impressed with the explanation, saying he was “unfavourable to the truth of Perkins’ story”. By this time, the remaining prospectors — now numbering some 400 according to Inspector Morton — were becoming increasingly suspicious of Perkins but they stayed with him, albeit with a guard placed on Perkins day and night. A few days later, the expedition reached Tuturau on the Mataura River (some 32km south of modern-day Gore) where Perkins led a deputation of 10 prospectors (other reports say there were four) up a gully, telling them, “This is the place”. The men immediately began to dig in search of the elusive metal, and while they were occupied, Perkins took the opportunity to sneak away into another gully in a bid to escape, but he was spotted and chased and eventually seized by the angry miners and returned to the camp where the other hopefuls were waiting. It was apparent that there was no gold to be found in the area, and the prospectors had been victims of a hoax. There were demands for harsh punishment for Perkins, with some wanting to shoot him and others demanding that he be lynched. But reason prevailed, and it was decided to put Perkins on trial. A jury of 13 was formed, another miner was appointed to act as judge, and the trial went ahead, which quickly found him guilty of misleading them. Perkins was sentenced to 24 lashes and to have his hair and beard chopped off with sheep shears. The sentence was carried out immediately with Perkins tied to a dray and given twelve lashes on his bare back with a whip. The whipping was to be followed with another dozen lashes the following day but, fortunately for him, before his second whipping could take place, a platoon of mounted constables from Invercargill came upon the scene and took him into custody. He was later charged in the Police Court in Tuapeka with obtaining money under false pretences and was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment with hard labour. A second man also said to be involved in the hoax — named only as Rogers, and probably a waggoner — was also convicted by the prospectors’ jury. Some reports say his punishment was also to be flogged and have his hair and beard cut off with shears, but the police patrol arrived before that could be carried out, and Rogers escaped in the confusion. To add insult to injury, when several hundred hoaxed prospectors returned from their wild goose chase — reportedly feeling very ashamed of their gullible incredulity — they found that in their absence significant discoveries of gold had been made at Wetherstone’s Gully near Tuapeka. The area proved to be as lucrative as Gabriel’s Gully, while rich returns continued to be made at the Tuapeka field itself. Between July 12 and December 12, 1861, 177,624 ounces of gold (5035kg) was taken to Dunedin from the area by the Gold Escort. At the same time, it was estimated that as much as 50,000 ounces of gold was still in the hands of the miners. It was said that miners generally only sold sufficient of their haul to meet their present requirements. As to Perkins’ eventual fate, it is known that he returned to Toetoes Bay, and it was reported that he drowned there while crossing a stream in May 1863. [Missing Credit][object Object] Great Tales of Aotearoa: Extraordinary stories from New Zealand’s Past, by Tom Clarke, published by Bateman Books, RRP $39.99, is out now.