CAPLES, PATRICK QUIRK (1830-1904) came to New Zealand in the early days of the gold diggings and had considerable success as a prospector in Otago. In Jan 1863 Caples started alone from Queenstown for the West Coast. Crossing the mountains at the head of the Dart river, he descended to a river he called the Hollyford, but was repulsed by want of food. On a second attempt he crossed near the head of the Greenstone river and followed the Hollyford down to Martin's Bay, which he reached on 10 Mar. He found only traces of gold but made a very accurate map of the country. His report was confirmed by Dr Hector, who visited the West Coast shortly afterwards.

Caples was elected a member of the Otago mining board (1862). Moving to Westland, he discovered the reefs at Point Reefton, Moonlight and Capleston, and erected the first quartz battery on the coast. He died on 27 Nov 1904.

Pyke; Press Association, 28 Nov 1904; Otago Witness, 18 Nov 1930.

Reference: Volume 1, page 85

🌳 Further sources