The Beginning
In 1905, four prospectors fossicking in the upper reaches of the Blackwater Stream discovered the ìBirthday Reefî of gold, on King Edward VIIís birthday. They sold the rights to a speculator for $500 each (about two yearsí good wages). The speculator ëprovedí the reef (to be more than just a block of rock on the surface) before selling the site on to the London-based Consolidated Goldfields Company for £30 000. Not a bad profit! The first mineshaft, near the town site, was fully operational by 1908. It was 563m deep. This was the Blackwater Shaft. A second shaft took over in 1936 and was 879m deep.

By the 1930s the population of Waiuta had grown to around 600 people. Due to its location at the end of the road, Waiuta had to become relatively self sufficient in terms of facilities, shops, and social life. It became well known on the Coast for its many sports teams and its regular balls which drew people from far away.

Basically, the miners drilled and blasted gold-bearing quartz rock out of the underground reef. The rock was then trucked through tunnels to the shaft where it was winched to the surface. Timber props were used to prevent the mine shaft  and tunnels from caving in. The hillsides around Waiuta were cleared to provide timber for this purpose, as well as for housing.

Gold Processing There were two means of crushing the quartz to extract the gold. 1. The Battery Process ñ Gold was pounded out of the rock using a water powered ìbatteryî of iron stamps. This occurred at the Snowy Battery.
2. The Ball Mill ñ Iron balls in revolving steel drums crushed the quartz
rock. This occurred at the Prohibition Mill site.
Mercury, cyanide and other toxic chemicals were then used in various
gold-saving processes. Because of the hazards associated with the
cyanide tanks and foundations, visiting these sites is not recommended
for large groups of primary school Ss. If you are keen to have a look,
break into smaller groups and ensure there is an adult with each group.
Minerís Phthisis
In addition to the obvious dangers such as falling down the mineshafts,
a more insidious hazard facing miners was quartz dust. It caused a lung
complaint: minerís phthisis (pronounced locally as ëtie-sisí), or silicosis,
which was responsible for the early death of many a miner.
The End
In 1951, the Blackwater Shaft, being used for ventilation and pumping
at this time, collapsed and gas and water could no longer be extracted
from the mine. The company decided that repairing the shaft would not
be economic in the light of falling production, fixed gold prices, labour
shortages and wage increases. The mine closed and the town was
abandoned.
For more information about Waiuta, borrow the Waiuta Resource Box
(see above) as it has copies of books and leaflets and a series of old
photographs.
Mahinga Kai
Uta is the M‰ori word for track. The Hukarere Valley was used in the
past as a short cut to the Maruia. Along this track, Waiuta was a Mahinga
Kai area and was especially good for birding and eeling. The current
Hukarere track is part of the Snowy Battery loop walk.

There were two means of crushing the quartz to extract the gold.

1. The Battery Process ñ Gold was pounded out of the rock using a water powered "battery" of iron stamps. This occurred at the Snowy Battery.

2. The Ball Mill ñ Iron balls in revolving steel drums crushed the quartz rock. This occurred at the Prohibition Mill site.
Mercury, cyanide and other toxic chemicals were then used in various gold-saving processes. Because of the hazards associated with the cyanide tanks and  foundations, visiting these sites is not recommended for large groups of primary school Ss. If you are keen to have a look, break into smaller groups and ensure there is an adult with each group.

Miner's Phthisis
In addition to the obvious dangers such as falling down the mineshafts, a more insidious hazard facing miners was quartz dust. It caused a lung complaint: minerís phthisis (pronounced locally as ëtie-sisí), or silicosis, which was responsible for the early death of many a miner.

The End
In 1951, the Blackwater Shaft, being used for ventilation and pumping at this time, collapsed and gas and water could no longer be extracted from the mine. The company decided that repairing the shaft would not be economic in the light of falling production, fixed gold prices, labour shortages and wage increases. The mine closed and the town was abandoned.

Uta is the Maori word for track. The Hukarere Valley was used in the past as a short cut to the Maruia. Along this track, Waiuta was a Mahinga Kai area and was especially good for birding and eeling. The current Hukarere track is part of the Snowy Battery loop walk.