Goldfields Cavalcade rides begin
More than 150 years ago, gold fever gripped Otago, as hundreds of miners flocked into the region to seek their fortune.
Now another fever hits annually, the Goldfields Cavalcade.
This week hundreds of feet, hooves and wheels will be pounding the paths of those pioneers who landed on coastal Otago in the 1860s and made their way overland as prospectors, not just of gold, but of timber and pasture.
Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust Cavalcade co-ordinator Terry Davis hit the road on Saturday, to begin the enormous task of seeingoff the nine trails operating this year; horse riding, wagons, walking and the newly introduced cycle trail, which starts from Kaitangata.
‘‘With 500 entered, this is going one of the biggest and best [years]. Well done to the Owaka [host town] committee for making this happen. It’s going to be huge.’’
The trails start from all corners of south Otago and eastern Southland, but they all end up at one place - Owaka - on Saturday for the grand parade.
Owaka host town committee secretary Katy Button was in Papatowai yesterday to see off one of the most well known features of the cavalcade, the Cobb & Co heavy wagons.
These will wend their way over hills and back country roads, through farmland and native bush on the way to Owaka, travelling along part of the old bush railway, and onto the Catlins coast.
‘‘All is under control and we are very excited that the cavalcade is under way. We are a bit nervous about the weather, but there’s nothing we can do about that.’’
This week’s forecast is a mixed bag of wind and rain, but was expected to stay warm.
‘‘The dinner on Saturday is all but sold out. I don’t think we expected this after the success of the 25th anniversary [at Omakau last year] but it just goes to show, you can’t underestimate Owaka,’’ Button said.
Most horse and wagon trails are already in camp and under way, with walkers and bike riders meeting tomorrow to set out on Wednesday.
Defamation trial begins
A defamation lawsuit by Invercargill city councillor Karen Arnold against Mayor Tim Shadbolt and Fairfax – now rebranded Stuff – over opinion columns Shadbolt wrote in The Southland Times in 2014 and 2015 begins in the High Court at Invercargill today. The jury will be empanelled today and the trial is set down for two weeks.
Motorcyclist injured
A motorcyclist sustained serious injuries when crashing near Gore on Saturday, a police spokeswoman said. The crash, which did not involve any other vehicles, was on Waimumu Rd soon after 11am. The motorcyclist was taken to Dunedin Hospital by helicopter, the police spokeswoman said.
Missing hunter found
A 74-year-old hunter who was missing on Stewart Island was found about 6pm yesterday. The man was found by Stewart Island LandSAR staff on the coast of the Port Adventure area. Sergeant Ian Martin said the man was being medically assessed, but was ‘‘alive and well.’’ The man was last seen around 6pm on Saturday when he went out for a hunt, but failed to return. A Dunedin rescue helicopter was sent to the island soon after 9am yesterday after his hunting party set off a locator beacon. Rescue Coordination Centre of New Zealand spokeswoman Sandra Ford said the helicopter reached the personal locator beacon site and found three of the four hunters. Port Adventure is about 20km southeast of Halfmoon Bay.