Gillespie’s Beach when return trips were made to collect stores landed at Bruce Bay off vessels carrying supplies. On all the big rivers drownings were commonplace. Waiting for the tide to recede before negotiating the numerous rocky bluffs which protruded into the sea could be a hazardous affair, particularly when trying to coax reluctant horses into the surf. River mouths were also dangerous when men misjudged the force of the sea. Few of these gold-seekers would have been accustomed to the unpredictability of the West Coast climate and the wildness of its coastline as the first police book in Hokitika held in the National Archives will attest. A short few years later ferrymen or cages suspended from wires would provide a much safer service on all the southern major rivers, from the Taramakau near Greymouth down to the Cook river south of Gillespie’s.
The above itinerary assumes Laurence made the journey along the Coast. This assumption is probably correct despite the fact that boats did travel south to Okarito and Bruce Bay and Jackson’s Bay once there was a demand for supplies in these areas. However such a method of travel precluded the opportunity to fossick for gold along the way and also involved money to pay for the fare.
At the present time, we, the descendants of these first pioneers, can fly in to Hokitika, and journey comfortably by car along well-kept tar-sealed roads all the way to Haast in a few hours without breaking the speed limit or stopping too long to admire the many lakes and other scenic attractions on the way, the only danger being our own stupidity if we take a bend too fast or encounter an overseas tourist driving on the wrong side of the road. And we think we’ve got it tough if we have a puncture!
Rushes which resulted in no gold being found became known as duffers. Today, when travelling along Coast roads, numerous bridged creeks bearing this name are a reminder of the hardy souls whose dreams of striking it rich were proved to be just another pipe-dream.
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