May 2018 Project Martha – Historical & Archaeological Background 12 western side of the spur.39 After several months of work the pair obtained two tons of ore which was assayed at £4.14.0d per ton.40 Despite the results, the potential of Pukewa ‘was reported upon unfavourably by almost everyone who paid the place a visit, and who considered themselves authorities on anything appertaining to gold and silver mining’, and McCombie and Lee left their workings to try prospecting at Te Aroha.41 The Waihi area was later tested by William Nicholl, a Coromandel prospector, who arrived in 1879 and examined reef outcrops of several Waihi hills (including the Rosemont and Union reefs).42 Nicholl described the reefs as ‘rooted about here and there by the early diggers who had abandoned them’ and noted ‘I tested the rubble on these outcrops at various places and never failed to obtain a trace of gold but not sufficient to be of any value.’43 He later prospected on Pukewa and discovered gold on an outcrop some 200 feet away from McCombie and Lee’s earlier tunnel.44 Nicholl spent two weeks gathering samples on Pukewa and applied for a claim of 5 acres at the northern end, which he named ‘Martha’, after his sister, Martha Dulcibel Nicks.45 Nicholl was soon joined by his friends and fellow prospectors Robert Majurey, J. Nicks, J. Patten (or Paton), B. Potter and T. Gilmour, who applied for several claims along the line of the Martha lode.46 Fred Hollis also visited the site around 1879-1880 and subsequently pegged out a claim to the north of Nicholl’s ‘Martha’ which he named ‘Young Colonial’.47 The success of the area attracted further claims and Parliamentary Papers, dated 1880, noted a dozen recorded claims including: Martha, Rosemont, Dulcibel, Union, Young Colonial, Silverton, Amaranth, Britannia, Winner, Old Waihi, Nelson and Nut.48 The claims were initially held by small syndicates, which, by November 1881 included the Waihi Goldmining Company (‘Manukau’ Jones) and the Martha Company.49 The first directors of the Martha Company were C.J. Stone, Wilson, Adam Porter, Firth, R. Majurey, and W. Nicholl, and shortly after its formation Nicholl recalled: ‘By this time a bit of a rush had set in, and about a dozen claims pegged out, five being pegged out on the Martha Hill, the hill taking the name from its prospecting claim. Mr. Manakau [sic] Jones staked a claim on the southern end of the hill, and bought the claim between him and the Dulcie. Mr. John Leydon (auctioneer) staked on the north side of Messrs. Hollis Bros. Mr. John McCombie and Mr. Andy Wilson staked the Silverton Hills. Mr. Alec. Macky staked a claim on the south end of the Amaranth Hill.’50 39 Ibid.; Auckland Star, 14 September 1921, p.8; Clough 2004, p.24. 40 Ibid. 41 New Zealand Herald, 23 June 1894, p.1 (Supplement). 42 Clough 2004, p.24; McAra 1988, p.41. 43 Ibid. 44 McAra 1988. p.37, Climie 1962, p.44. 45 McAra 1988, pp.39 & 41. 46 Climie 1962, p.44. 47 Ibid. 48 McAra 1988, p.39; Climie 1962, p.45. 49 Climie 1962, p.45; Thames Star, 21 March 1881, p.2; Thames Advertiser, 23 November 1881, p.3. 50 Auckland Star, 8 September 1921, p.7.
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