Canterbury Armed Gold Escort 1862

 

1862 Armed Gold Escorts

 

In the early 1860s gold escorts were established in Otago to prevent armed robberies between the Central Otago gold fields and the provincial capital, Dunedin. The escorts were armed with carbines, revolvers and sabres.

The first gold escort from Christchurch to the West Coast set out in March 1865. It comprised 10 Canterbury Provincial Policemen, fully equipped and spic and span in their uniforms and accoutrements. They were to take charge of the precious metal which was to come from the West Coast to Christchurch. The route was over the Hurunui Saddle and by way of Lake Brunner. They arrived at Greenstone near Hokitika in a most pitiable state, their condition and appearance being emphatic evidence of the roughness of their journey. This was the first and only gold escort to start from Christchurch via this route.

After this, and in anticipation of future escorts, the Provincial Government established stations at intervals of 25 miles along the route to Hokitika, but they were never needed for that purpose.

In December 1865 a second escort was sent via Arthur’s Pass, but was found to be too expensive. The West Coast gold escorts were abandoned and the gold shipments continued to be sent to Nelson and Melbourne by sea.

Rowan Carroll