“Pioneers of Civilisation.”

That the Ngati-Mamoes should know their way from Jackson's Bay, inland, is not surprising. Mountains formed no barriers to the Maoris, who found passes by which, for trading purposes, they travelled across the South Island from coast to coast. Particularly important was the route now known as the Haast Pass, which from early times has been linked with Jackson's Bay.

In 1863, about the same time that Dr. Julius von Haast discovered the pass that bears his name, courageous men—alone, or in small groups—found their way by sea or overland to Jackson's Bay. Their object primarily was to find gold; but their labours should not on this account be lightly treated. Dr. von Haast pleaded their cause, speaking of them as “pioneers of civilisation,” and those of their number who fought through perils to Jackson's Bay, certainly deserve a place in its history.

In June, 1863, a party reached Jackson's Bay by sea, on board the Nugget. An interesting item in the record of this expedition is that on arriving they met some Maoris who said they had often seen as many as ten vessels in the bay. Probably these were whaling ships. The Nugget party prospected in Jackson's Bay and its vicinity for about seven months.

Several expeditions were made overland from Wakatipu to Jackson's Bay. The most notable—at least of which there is any record—is that, in 1864, of A. J. Barrington and his companions. These men suffered terrible hardships; Barrington becoming so weak from starvation that he had to reduce the weight of his swag, leaving behind many valuable things, including a carefully-drawn chart of the country he had passed through. According to Mr. Vincent Pyke (Gold Fields Secretary), the loss of this chart was deplorable.

In August, 1865, Vincent Pyke himself, accompanied by Mr. Coates (Mining Surveyor) and three men, started from Dunedin with the object of finding a practicable line of road via Lake Wanaka to the West Coast. After a perilous journey they reached the coast but could stay only three days, their food being almost spent. Had they known that miners were then at work in Jackson's Bay and Bruce Bay, probably assistance would have been sought from them.

The same year, 1865, the great rush to the Coast diggings took place; the miners gradually spread down the coast, 80 to 100 coming as far south as Jackson's Bay and Bruce Bay. The year 1869 saw the first gold rush to the Haast.

Thus, through the years, interest in South Westland slowly grew, culminating, in 1870, in a proposal by the county council to establish a special settlement there.