Due to Public Demand

Well, demand from my no.1 daughter, here's another post. I've got some really nice photos, but you can't see them because the computer's being an ass again and won't upload them - maybe tomorrow. (This time I'm fairly sure that it's not my fault - the screen is showing that "Error on Page" message again and it Won't go away). NEway, life goes on. Brief lecture, (now's as good a time as any) :- Waiuta, (which our largest town is a model of), is now the West Coast's best-loved ghost-town. In its day it was the site the last major gold discovery in NZ and the 2nd richest mine in the country. This mine produced as much gold as all the other 69 mines in the Reefton district combined - more than enough to pay the entire national debt at any time in NZ's history. The profits all went straight to London as it was always a British-owned company, but they provided work for a lot of people for 45 years, which is a long time for a gold-mine. The town which grew up around the mine peaked at about 600 people and they packed a lot of living into those 45 years. The town died "overnight" when the mine closed following a shaft collapse in July 1951 - there was no other work in the area and everything was dependent on the income from the mine, so once it had gone - they left to all parts of NZ and beyond. Probably because it died so abruptly, there is huge nostalgia for Waiuta, even after 56 years. I'm always delighted when we get visits from ex-residents of Waiuta. The modelled town triggers all sorts of memories that, sometimes, haven't been thought of for years and I'm learning more about the place all the time. I love the personal stories - it was a town full of characters. Okay - that's it, enough lecture - we'll try to post the pics tomorrow. (Happy now Trace?) cheers