HARTLEY, HORATIO (?-1903), an American by birth, was attracted to New Zealand from California in 1861 and, in company with an Irish-American, Christopher Reilly, prospected for gold. They first tried the Lindis, Otago. Early in 1862, working in the bed of the Molyneux river about 15 miles below the junction of the Manuherikia, they found signs of gold, but made no report. Having obtained stores, they returned and, taking the western bank, worked back to the junction of the Kawarau, a distance of 13 miles. There they obtained good results. After returning to Waikouaiti for provisions, outfit and packhorses, they followed up the eastern bank, examining especially the rocky bars. In the hard winter of 1862, with consequent low water in the river, they obtained 87 lbs weight of gold. One day, while they were washing good dust, a Victorian miner visited them but, not noticing their result, moved on.

In Aug they took their gold to Dunedin, disclosed the field to the authorities and were awarded £2,000. Hartley led the warden (Keddell) to the field, which was proclaimed on 23 Sep 1862. Within three months 16,000 oz was taken out, 6031 oz being brought down by escort on 3 Oct. Hartley returned shortly afterwards to California, taking his fortune with him. He died in Jan 1903, leaving most of his estate of 50,000 dollars to the Tacoma school district.

Reilly abandoned his claim at the Dunstan, and spent some months investigating (without success) the feasibility of opening the Molyneux for navigation to afford easy access to the field. He petitioned the Provincial Council (5 Dec 1862) for £400 still owing to him for expenses incurred in this service, but did not appear before the committee to support the claim. He does not seem to have remained in New Zealand.

Otago P.C. Proc., 1862; Pyke; Gilkison; DOI; Otago Daily Times, 16-20 Aug 1862; San Francisco Call, 1 Apr 1903.

Reference: Volume 1, page 200

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