Following this about 4,000 men thronged the field, which was situated midway between Hokitika and Greymouth, and there was intense competition between the merchants of the two towns anent the supplying of necessary requisites for the establishment of a new mining centre. Hokitika already had a road constructed to the new field, and Greymouth a tramway to Paroa, some seven or eight miles away. Apart from this the northern merchants had to solve the problem of crossing the Taramakau River, a stupendous obstacle. But where there’s a will there’s a way (those old timers were seldom beaten), and in no time a one-horse tram was running from Paroa to the northern bank of the Taramakau, which was crossed by means of a “bird-cage,” i.e. a box slung on wire, with pulleys running on an overhead wire rope, and propelled by means of steam winches. By this ingenious method passengers and goods were quickly conveyed to the southern bank, from where a tramway had been constructed through the heart of the forest to Kumara.
Discussing Old Westland’s last major rush, “Waratah,” in “Tales of the Golden West,” states, inter alia: “Before long the news of the discovery got round, and a proper rush set in, and the silent forest of majestic trees and tangle of undergrowth were replaced by a mining township. Seddon being camped on
