Lost and Gone Forever!

In the hinterland of the province of Otago in New Zealand's South Island there is a region known as Central Otago. It's a barren, but dramatic and beautiful landscape, lofty hills topped by tors and weather-worn "other-worldly" rocky outcrops. In winter it's brutally cold; in summer, blisteringly hot. Many scenes in J. R. R Tolkein's classic work as envisioned in Peter Jackson's Lord of The Rings were filmed in this region. 

Eons ago massive glaciers, protruding from the central alpine spine of the South Island, The Southern Alps, scoured most of the top soil from the land, leaving behind a scattering of lakes, flattened plateau, massive shingle deposits, deep and dangerous river gorges. The whole area lies in the "rain shadow" of The Southern Alps and consequentially has the lowest rainfall of New Zealand. Less than 50 kilometers away, on the western slopes of The Southern Alps, the second highest annual rainfall in the world is recorded. The glaciers did leave a valuable deposit behind as they ground the quartz rock of the region into boulders and smaller, finer layers. 

Gold was discovered in the region in 1861, and in the manner of all gold discoveries, the subsequent boom brought short-lived prosperity to the area. Thanks to actions of glaciers the first miners literally picked up gold nuggets where they lay. Today's prosperity has a more substantial base: farming, viticulture, tourism, heritage aviation, however at least one large open cast gold mine is a reminder of the pioneering days. A few hobbyist mines scratch a living from small claims.   

Tens of thousands of miners flooded into the area, canvas shanty towns appeared overnight, and when the gold was worked-out, disappeared just as quickly. The Otago goldfields were generally very productive and its been estimated that some $2 billion worth of gold (in today's money) was recovered, not too bad, considering gold was worth about $20.00 an ounce in1861. 

Many miners never returned home, lost forever in winter blizzards, mine cave-ins, drowned in hazardous river crossings, murdered for their meager gold takings by thieves and brigands (the gold claims were mostly lawless). Over just one winter month in1863, 62 miners were killed in two separate events, an avalanche overwhelmed a miners camp, killing 49, and a debris dam burst after torrential rain sweeping away the other 13. Most of those miners lost are not commemorated by grave or official record, simply vanished and forgotten. Sons lost to their mothers, fathers absent forevermore. 

Whenever I can I wander the hills and valleys of the region (my father instilled a deep love of the area in my brothers and I) and I draw solace and inspiration from the ever-changing vistas.

I especially enjoy finding a "new" ghost town that I have not explored before, and as most of the dwellings were made from the local schist stone, their ruins stand till this day.

If it's possible to have an earthly "spiritual home" then for me, this area is it.  

Occasionally a wanderer will come across a lonely gave or two, and the epitaphs tell of hardship and sorrow. Many graves are unmarked, simply mounds in the ground near old churchyards or other community sites. A surprising number of graves contain the mortal remains of infants and small children. Life on the goldfields was harsh for all. 

Perhaps the saddest grave in the region is the final resting spot of  Somebody's Darling, a young man known only to his Creator. The sad story is told well here by author Don Donovan.

Are you known to your creator, or will you rest forever in a lonely grave?

For in death there is no memory of You; in the grave who shall give You thanks?  Psalm 6:5 MKJV

Let this be your song of triumph: O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?

1 Corinthians 15:55 MKJV

From God's Word.

And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads. The name of the first is Pishon: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; And the gold of that land is good. Genesis 2:10-12  KJV