Camerons, Greymouth, Grey District, West Coast Region, New Zealandi

Regional Level Types
Camerons	- not defined -
Greymouth	- not defined -
Grey District	District
West Coast Region	Region
New Zealand	Country

Camerons is a small settlement 18 kilometres south of Greymouth near the mouth of the New River. After gold was discovered at South Beach near Greymouth in 1864, miners fanned out discovering gold in terraces between the lower reaches of the New and Taramakau rivers, and also the lower reaches of Saltwater Creek. Five small areas of dredging from more modern times can be seen, a couple with dredges still in place, however how active these leases are is unknown. Historically gold mining activity was found all along the New River to above Marsden.

The New River area was favoured for dredging for its lack of boulders, and washed down timber, which would otherwise interfere with machinery. In the early days it was a reasonably rich area, with men earning up to 50 pounds per week, whereas 5 pounds a week was considered poor man's diggings of tucker money only.

The Victoria, or Deep Lead was found on the northern side of the lower New River, active from the late 1860's. It is reported in 1869, miners are working the Manukau Flat, between Rutherglen and New River, conducting 2 to 4 feet down of near surface stripping, although the site is described as not rich in gold. Scattered mining parties are reported in neighbouring areas.

The Golconda Gold Dredging Company worked a beach lead claim on the coast, containing the beach, and river flats in the late 1800's. Gold mining in this area did at times, divert both the flows of Saltwater Creek and the New River. One party of miners were digging for gold in a shingle bank, when a sudden flood came down the river, rushing through their workings, and cutting a new deep channel to the sea.

The Camerons (New River) Gold Dredging Company applied for a lease of 100 acres at Cameron in 1901, and a further 97 acres later in the year. The No Town Creek Gold Dredging Company applied for 81 acres at Camerons in 1908.

In 1935, the Bundi Tin Dredging Company NL, erected a huge dredge on their lease at Camerons, claimed to be at the time the largest electric welded dredge in the southern hemisphere. The steam driven dredge moved 32 000 cubic yards of material in its first 167 hours, returning 230 ounces of gold. The dredging operations ceased in 1938, when over a 4 month period, 88 752 yards of material was processed yielding 142 ounces, and not enough to cover costs. The dredge had gone over a test drill site, only obtaining 10% of the original gold values shown in the drilling.

The Maori Gully Gold Dredging Company had taken a six month option over 200 acres near the Bundi dredge in 1937.

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