Kumara township and goldfield on the Taramakau River, West Coast

The full extent of the field is marked by the great field of tailings, with the last working face on the left of the photo. The extent of the gold deposits would originally have been tested by shafts, and the major supply races and head dams constructed by the government of the day. The dam at left has been breached and is smaller than its original area. The water in the dam is about 200 by 80 m in extent. It fed a great many head races, one of which can be seen still lying on 'virgin' ground out in the general area of the tailings. Not only did the government construct the supply races, it also had to construct tail races, the spirit of cooperation being sometimes lacking among the miners.

The north-eastern (top right) corner of the photograph shows the freehold land on either side of the prominent road which had to be tunnelled under to remove water from the claims. Finer tailings (able to be carried in water) from the races show as elongated fans adjacent to the river. The heavy tailings (stones and boulders) are stacked in the various claims, left of the road.