George Guilford
 
George Guilford arrived April 24 1862 in Port Chalmers, Dunedin - Mary E. Ray, 459 tons, Capt Green, leaving from Melbourne 30 March , with general cargo and 184 1/2 steerage passengers. Dalgety, Rattray and Co., agents on board the 'Mary E. Ray'

 Wellington Independent, 1862: On the arrival at Port Chalmers of the ship Mary E Ray, from Melbourne, a namber of the passengers made a formal complaint of short supply of food and water. It appears that the vessel left Melbourne with 14 passengers in excess of her proper complement; and that she had no extra stock of provisions and that, as she was three weeks at sea, the passengers were for the last eight or ten days put upon short allowance. It is alleged that the fourteen extra men paid 5 Pound each for their passage to the shipping agents in Melbourne, but got no receipts. The Captain, when this complaint was made, gave the unlucky fourteen in charge of the police as "stowaways" and they were taken ashore in custody.

The ship, "Mary E Ray" arrived from Melbourne, bringing more than the proper number of passengers. Some of those passengers had no tickets, although they had paid the agents in Melbourne 5 Pound each. The captain of the ship had these men goaled as "stowaways" - he was fined 33.4 Pound.

1866 - Pandora's Box Name GILFORD George; Reference NZ Gazette 1866; Source NZ Government Gazette 1866; Additional Info GOLDMC; Date 1866; Page 474

THE MURDER AT KAWARAU GORGE.Otago Witness,  29 Nov 1867; Witness: "My attention was first drawn to the spot, by noticing a piece of blue blanket sticking out of the' ground. About a fortnight after I first noticed it, to satisfy a curiosity that had a hold of me, in company with my mate Thomas Tait, I went to the spot, and drove my pick into the ground close to it, and in drawing it out, drew with it a human head. I called upon Mr Guilford to witness what I had discovered, and in the presence of Guilford and Tait uncovered the body, but did not disturb it; it was wrapped in clothing, the whole being bound together with a cord.

1867 - 68 Otago Nominal Index; Place Manuherikia Electorate; Name GILFORD George; Address Kawarau Gorge; Description OPC Electoral Roll; Place Dunstan Electorate; Age : Over 20: Title OPC ER Dunstan District; Page 175 Publication 1868

1868 Cromwell Argus: 23 Feb 1886 WARDEN'S COURT. (Before J, S. Hickson, Esq., Warden.) APPLICATIONS. Protection. G.Guilford and another, Menzies' Terrace - granted. Quartz Claim. -G.Guilford and others, Carrick Range granted

1870: Otago Nominal Index; Name GILFORD George; Address Kawarau Gorge; Description OPC Electoral Roll; Place Dunstan District; Age : Sex Over 20 : M; Title OPC ER Dunstan District; Page 139; Publication 1870

1871 - Otago Nominal Index : Name GILFORD George; Address Kawarau Gorge; Date 1871; Description OPC Electoral Roll; Place Kawarau District; Age : Sex Over 20 : M; Title OPC ER The Kawarau District; Page 134; Publication 1871

1875 - Victoria (Aus) to NZ - Name GILFORD Geo.; Date of Arrival 1875; Number 2307, Age 28; Sex M; Status S; Occ; Miner; Country ENG; Accomodation Stg; Ship ALHAMBRA; Port of Departure Melbourne; Date of Departure 10 Jul 1875;  Port of Arrival Otago; Src: LDS Film 0352108

1881 Electorate - Wakatipu; Number 595; Surname GUILFORD Given Names George; Nature Of Qualification - Residential; Place Of Residence Quartzville; Occ: Miner

Otago Witness , 1 July 1882, Mining on the Carrick. (Cromwell Argus.)
Signs of revival in quartz-mining on Carrick Range continue, quite a number of claims being worked. Guilford and party are tunnelling on a reef at the head of Smith's Gully, formerly known as the Golden Phcenix. Some years ago a few tons of stone were taken from this, which returned about 15dwts per ton, but the cost of carting and crushing being then very high it was abandoned, and nothing has been done at it since. The present party seem determined to give it a good trial, and we wish them all success.

 Otago Witness, 14 April 1883, Mining at Carrick. Notwithstanding the depressing influence of recent failures on the Carrick Kange, it is satisfactory to know that there are still two or three parties of quartz-miners who work with steady faith and are realising fair returns for their labour Among these may be mentioned W. Radford, Guilford and party, and Hubert and party. The first-named are now in very hard and expensive country, but slowly overcoming it with a certainty of striking a payable reef soon. Guilford and party have completed a small crushing of 46 tons from their claim, wnich is a new one at the head of Smith's Gully. The return gave 24 g wt??? per ton, which must be satisfactory to the shareholders, who are all working miners. The same in the case with Hubert and Co., whose reef is on tho hill above Radford's battery, where they put through 46 tons, which gave 68oz. The same party had a crushing some months since which yielded over an ounce to the ton The reef is about a foot thick, and ttie outcome of the two millings goes to show it is payable throughout. Of course the small bulk of stone put through at one time is accounted for when it is borne in mind that its being brought to grass is a work of time when only a few men are engaged, but the results are none the less promising and satisfactory.

1893 Whakatipu electorate; George Guildford; No 1243; Residing at Quartzville; miner
THE SOUTHERN TRAGEDY.  Dunedin, 22nd Ootober. At the inquest on the remains of M'Kersie, killed at Bannockburn, the following verdict was returned " That John M'Kersie met his death by a gunshot wound wilfully inflicted by Archibald Blue." The inquest on Blue's body will be held to-night. Blue was a lunatic, and had only been discharged from the hospital a couple of days, suffering from insomnia.

24 Oct 1894; THE BANNOCKBURN TRAGEDY. DUNEDIN, Oct 23. At the inquest on McKersie, the jury found that he had been murdered by Blue. Wright, doceased's partner went out of his way, occupying four hours in reaching the township, fearing he might be overtaken by Blue. Wright states that McKersie on Saturday morning said he would go down and see how Blue was getting on. Wright told him to be back by twelve for dinner. He was not back so Wright went down to see what was keeping him, and saw him lying on the floor. McKersie, Wright, Robeitson and Blue had all had tea together, but thought there was something the matter with, it, and having thrown out one lot they tried another, which was good until sugar was put into it, and then it tasted bitter. A man named Guilford on Saturday had a drink of tea up there, and he was affected by cramps. Blue had been bad for some time, and for the past fortnight had had very little sleep. He had been in tho hospital and came back last Wednesday, but it was the general opinion that he should not have been allowed to be by himself, aa he was not capable of looking after himself. He cut off his dog's head before he went to the hospital. McKersie and Wright had been looking after him, sowing his seeds, cleaning his race, and attending to him ia hie house, besides giving him his medicine, etc. It is evident that Blue had a grudge against the two men for going to work near him, as he thought it was his property, they having to out through one of his drains to construct a tail race. Blue himself was found on Sunday in the Old Elizabeth tunnel in water between two and three feet deep.

Cromwell Argus,  29 Sep 1896 The annual meeting of the Bannockburn Cricket Club was held on Saturday night, Mr J, Fleming in the chair. The Report and Balance Sheet were read and adopted. After au unanimous vote of thanks to the returning officers was passed, the election of officers for the ensuing year was proceeded with, the following being elected. President, Mr G. Guilford Vice Presidents, Messrs D. U. M'Gregor, W. Parcell, J. Flynn, J. H. Robertson, Parsons, R. S. Thomason and W. Sutherland

Cromwell Argus,  23 May 1899: UNDER THE MINING ACT, 1898. Application for a mining privilege IN RESPECT OF LAND. To the Warden of the Otago Mining District at Cromwell : TAKE NOTICE that, pursuant to The Mining Act, 1898,, and regulations thereunder, I, Josiah McGEORGE, of Cromwell, haye duly. marked out the piece of land described in the Schedule" hereto (rough sketch-plan lodged herewith), and intend to make application for the issue to me of a License in respect thereof for a Special Dredging Claim, particulars whereof are set forth in the said Schedulde. Dated this 8th day of May, 1899. Signature of Applicant; JOSEPH McGEORGE. By his Solicitor : Wesley Turton. Date and No. of Miners Right ; 4945/6-5-99. THE SCHEDULE ABOVE REFERRED TO All that parcel of land, containing by estimation 100 acres, more or less, situate at Bannockburn Creek and Flat, extending down to top pegs of Karl Pretschs claim , Bounded on the north by the Kawarau River; on the east by Pretschs claim ; on the west, partly by Crown Lands and partly by Bannockburn Flat; on the south by Crown Lands. This ground includes part of the ground lately held by George Guilford under Special License Claim No. 77887/10-3-98. Particulars of mining privilege; Bannockburn Creek Gold Dredging Co. Mode of working. By Dredging and Sluicing. Pegs marked X SC The foregoing application was filed in the office of the Mining Registrar at Cromwell on MONDAY, the Bth day of May, 1899, at 3.7 oclock in the afternoon. Dated at Cromwell this 8th day of May, 1899. James Fleming, Mining Registrar. The foregoing application, and all objections thereto, will be heard by the Warden at the Courthouse, Cromwell, on THURSDAY, the Bfch day of June, 1899, at 11 oclock in the forenoon. Any person desirous of objecting must, at least two days before the day so appointed for hearing, enter his objection, and give notice in the prescribed manner. Dated at Cromwell this 8th day of May, 1899. JAMES FLEMING, Mining Registrar,

Otago Witness , 11 Feb 1903: THE WEEK'S MINING NEWS The Ranfurly dredge was in the toils on Sunday week last (says the Cromwell Argus). A few days previously the crew had been encased hauling her up the stream, and this was accomplished without anything apparently of an adverse nature having occurred. It is now supposed, however, that the pontoons had bumped upon a stone, as on Sunday the caretaker, Mr Guilford, was alarmed to find that she was leaking dangerously. He blew the whistle, and although it was faintly heard at Bannockburn, no apprehension was felt there that anything was wrong. Mr John Mason heard it in Cromwell, and luckily grasping the situation, hastened to ths scene without delay. At once acquainting Mr Troy, the dredgemaster, that gentleman called to his services Mr D. M'Lennan, the engineer, and two other willing hands. After two hours' hard and continuous pumping, the faulty place was discovered and plugged preparatory to its being satisfactorily repaired.  The dredge in the meantime is entirely safe.

1911 - Whakatipu Electoral roll; Living at Bannockburn; Miner; Miner Kawerau 1871; Filed Wellington 1915 Probate No 17802 Location Bannockburn Occupation miner Filed 9 Aug Type I Book PWND1

DEATH: GUILFORD - At Cromwell Hospital, on 21st February, 1913, George  Guilford, native of Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, England, aged 81 years. At rest. (Born 1832 at Melton Mowbray, a town in Leicestershire, England, 19 miles (31 km) northeast of Leicester, and 20 miles (32 km) southeast of Nottingham. George was bur: 24 Fb at Cromwell Cemetery.


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