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1,300 pounds found in deceased Miner`s bach, Dobson.1949.
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Description1,300 pounds found in dead Miner`s bach, Dobson.1949.Date of Photo1949Map[1] ContributorHeather Newby
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Location (city or town)DobsonPersonWilliam SmithWilliam MuttonEvent1,300 pounds found in dead Miner`s bach, Dobson.1949.
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Category TagCoal Mining
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Date Created1st June 2020CommentsPhyllis Aberhart Sad I wonder if they found any relatives?
Heather Newby they didnt..
Theresa Gibson I hope he was given a decent box and a headstone.
Robert Fay Lemon Griffin A lot of money in those days
Heather Newby yes.. sure was.. I remember that 10 pounds was a lot of money in the 1950`s
Heather Newby Dad would have known him but i can`t ask him because he`s gone too.
John Stuart Yes a similar thing happened in my hometown, an old chap passed away,no relatives.Local Fire Brigade given his old bach to use as practice. They went in to make sure nothing in there,found some frying pans and pots hung on nails.pulled them out and money fell out.This too was a very substantial sum.
Sandra Sands Is that the old guy that lived by Macintoshes in the batch over the back of Ohou Street. I used to drop him in the odd rabbit
Sandra Sands No Heather I was talking around 68
Vern Pattinson Sandra Sands was that jimmy the owl
Heather Newby those were the days when the miners got paid cash in a small brown envelope.. sometimes Dad used to take us to the Dobson mine office in the car on Fridays to pick up his pay.
Peter Armstrong According to a Reserve bank calculator I found it equates to about$100,000 in today's money !!!
Brent Duggan In those days in Dobson we never locked our doors. We trusted each other. I hope it is still the same today.
Philip Sim Must have not trusted banks or interest rates were negative...
Anne Bruce Banks were not used by many people, 1950-1960's were no better. Wages were paid in cash. The most common 'bank' was something like a baking powder tin. Even in the 1990's I remember being paid in cash.
Less Hibbard In the 1950's my wage of 30 shillings in (bank notes) were put into Japanese made cigarette box, made of very light wood. Mum would not take any board for quite awhile, lol.
Arthur Dehn This reminds me what happened in my family, my Aunt how was found in the bush at Rimu by my Grandfather as a very young child who was never claimed , grew up as dad's 1/2 sister, worked with Dad m his cow shed , never married , when she died she never had a will , my Sister found in her little home under her bed , a hamper with £ 46. 000 in 1962 , none of us got a penny of it !!!!!!!!!
Cheryll Edmonds
Govt should never be allowed to do this
Unless its put back into community not their greedy mitts
Susan Grant-Mackie
Like my dad. William just didn’t feel the need to spend money. My dad lived a humble life, but was pretty much a millionaire when he died. He refused to spend money on electricity, to the point he convinced the neighbours to wash his clothes in their washing machine, had really old cars that he fixed himself when it was required, he was spendthrift around food, and clothing. The only thing he spent money on was his amazing antique firearms collection - including a book that had been cut into the shape of a small firearm complete with firearm.
Colin Harman
Adrienne Adcock can remember Dan telling me about your Dad and Wayne cleaning up his Brothers place and finding pension payments stuffed in old coats
Simone Thomson
50k in todays $ give or take. Crazy
y
Tina Wilson
Wonder what he was saving for?
Robert Martin
Interesting story Are old pound notes worth anything today I wonder
Clare Pierson
Many single men suffering from complies PTSD after each of the World Wars lived alone with so little in huts made from corrugated iron, a big open fire with fires burning driftwood or whatever was to be found and a big, black caste iron camp oven hanging from a chain up the chimney for cooking whatever food they had.
Tony Kirwan
wait a minute!!....that was my great grandfather...please forward all monies to "gotchafuka" and did you check mattress and the back of the radio?...didja?......mum always used to talk about him when she was pissed!....
Colin Skates
there will be lots of stashes buried in back yards etc. right around the coast, gold as well
Marie Ewens
Lovely story
Phil Wright
That would probably buy a house then...64 was an old man in those days and still battling away,I wonder what he would think all the flash bloody stuff people have now!
Guy Fitzgerald
Very common thing in the Goldfields, old timers hiding there gold and something happening
Brian Feary
May be an image of text that says '3:08 5G rbnz.govt.nz Reserve Bank New Zealand Te Pütea Matua What would General (CPI) that cost £ 1300 in 1949 Q2 cost in 2024 Q4 Calculate Reset General (CPI) that cost £1, 1,300.00 in 1949 Q2 would cost... $121,843.94 in 2024 4 4,586.3% Total percentage change 75.5 75.5years years Difference'
Barry Ward
He could have brought a brown new mk3 Zephyr , and would they payout, as pretty old notes
Trish Rennie
One never knows what went on in the early lives of these folks to make them like they were….sad really.Marie Ewens
Lovely story ❤️
Vern Pattinson
I wonder in Dobson that batch was
Tina Wilson
Wonder what he was saving for?
Colin Harman
Adrienne Adcock can remember Dan telling me about your Dad and Wayne cleaning up his Brothers place and finding pension payments stuffed in old coats
Simone Thomson
50k in todays $ give or take. Crazy
Sandra Mike Moore
Fascinating story.
Trish Rennie
One never knows what went on in the early lives of these folks to make them like they were….sad really.
Hazel Oldham
Sounds like he got life spot on had enough a home and food and a job .today there is so much stuff were sinking in it .I myself live in a tiny house but alas no money in the walks .I wish and I have a will.
Vern Pattinson
I wonder in Dobson that batch was
Marcus Balzer
Saving up for a rainy day ,that never came
Geoff Sutton
Does anyone know where in dobson his bach was
Rebecca Gannaway
I know a family with the surname Mutton. One lady died over a hundred years old. Lived in Christchurch. She was one of the women who helped out during the war. Often talked about the war days.
Nicholas Ivankovich-Bain
May be an image of text that says '.. lves.gov.uk ιOι Idlai £46,216.95 In 1945, you could buy one of of the following with £1 £1,300: Horses: 5 Cows: 19 19 Wool: 292 stones Wheat: 217 quarters Wages: 915 days (skilled tradesman)'
Barry Ward
He could have brought a brown new mk3 Zephyr , and would they payout, as pretty old notes
Heather Newby they didnt..
Theresa Gibson I hope he was given a decent box and a headstone.
Robert Fay Lemon Griffin A lot of money in those days
Heather Newby yes.. sure was.. I remember that 10 pounds was a lot of money in the 1950`s
Heather Newby Dad would have known him but i can`t ask him because he`s gone too.
John Stuart Yes a similar thing happened in my hometown, an old chap passed away,no relatives.Local Fire Brigade given his old bach to use as practice. They went in to make sure nothing in there,found some frying pans and pots hung on nails.pulled them out and money fell out.This too was a very substantial sum.
Sandra Sands Is that the old guy that lived by Macintoshes in the batch over the back of Ohou Street. I used to drop him in the odd rabbit
Sandra Sands No Heather I was talking around 68
Vern Pattinson Sandra Sands was that jimmy the owl
Heather Newby those were the days when the miners got paid cash in a small brown envelope.. sometimes Dad used to take us to the Dobson mine office in the car on Fridays to pick up his pay.
Peter Armstrong According to a Reserve bank calculator I found it equates to about$100,000 in today's money !!!
Brent Duggan In those days in Dobson we never locked our doors. We trusted each other. I hope it is still the same today.
Philip Sim Must have not trusted banks or interest rates were negative...
Anne Bruce Banks were not used by many people, 1950-1960's were no better. Wages were paid in cash. The most common 'bank' was something like a baking powder tin. Even in the 1990's I remember being paid in cash.
Less Hibbard In the 1950's my wage of 30 shillings in (bank notes) were put into Japanese made cigarette box, made of very light wood. Mum would not take any board for quite awhile, lol.
Arthur Dehn This reminds me what happened in my family, my Aunt how was found in the bush at Rimu by my Grandfather as a very young child who was never claimed , grew up as dad's 1/2 sister, worked with Dad m his cow shed , never married , when she died she never had a will , my Sister found in her little home under her bed , a hamper with £ 46. 000 in 1962 , none of us got a penny of it !!!!!!!!!
Cheryll Edmonds
Govt should never be allowed to do this
Unless its put back into community not their greedy mitts
Susan Grant-Mackie
Like my dad. William just didn’t feel the need to spend money. My dad lived a humble life, but was pretty much a millionaire when he died. He refused to spend money on electricity, to the point he convinced the neighbours to wash his clothes in their washing machine, had really old cars that he fixed himself when it was required, he was spendthrift around food, and clothing. The only thing he spent money on was his amazing antique firearms collection - including a book that had been cut into the shape of a small firearm complete with firearm.
Colin Harman
Adrienne Adcock can remember Dan telling me about your Dad and Wayne cleaning up his Brothers place and finding pension payments stuffed in old coats
Simone Thomson
50k in todays $ give or take. Crazy
y
Tina Wilson
Wonder what he was saving for?
Robert Martin
Interesting story Are old pound notes worth anything today I wonder
Clare Pierson
Many single men suffering from complies PTSD after each of the World Wars lived alone with so little in huts made from corrugated iron, a big open fire with fires burning driftwood or whatever was to be found and a big, black caste iron camp oven hanging from a chain up the chimney for cooking whatever food they had.
Tony Kirwan
wait a minute!!....that was my great grandfather...please forward all monies to "gotchafuka" and did you check mattress and the back of the radio?...didja?......mum always used to talk about him when she was pissed!....
Colin Skates
there will be lots of stashes buried in back yards etc. right around the coast, gold as well
Marie Ewens
Lovely story
Phil Wright
That would probably buy a house then...64 was an old man in those days and still battling away,I wonder what he would think all the flash bloody stuff people have now!
Guy Fitzgerald
Very common thing in the Goldfields, old timers hiding there gold and something happening
Brian Feary
May be an image of text that says '3:08 5G rbnz.govt.nz Reserve Bank New Zealand Te Pütea Matua What would General (CPI) that cost £ 1300 in 1949 Q2 cost in 2024 Q4 Calculate Reset General (CPI) that cost £1, 1,300.00 in 1949 Q2 would cost... $121,843.94 in 2024 4 4,586.3% Total percentage change 75.5 75.5years years Difference'
Barry Ward
He could have brought a brown new mk3 Zephyr , and would they payout, as pretty old notes
Trish Rennie
One never knows what went on in the early lives of these folks to make them like they were….sad really.Marie Ewens
Lovely story ❤️
Vern Pattinson
I wonder in Dobson that batch was
Tina Wilson
Wonder what he was saving for?
Colin Harman
Adrienne Adcock can remember Dan telling me about your Dad and Wayne cleaning up his Brothers place and finding pension payments stuffed in old coats
Simone Thomson
50k in todays $ give or take. Crazy
Sandra Mike Moore
Fascinating story.
Trish Rennie
One never knows what went on in the early lives of these folks to make them like they were….sad really.
Hazel Oldham
Sounds like he got life spot on had enough a home and food and a job .today there is so much stuff were sinking in it .I myself live in a tiny house but alas no money in the walks .I wish and I have a will.
Vern Pattinson
I wonder in Dobson that batch was
Marcus Balzer
Saving up for a rainy day ,that never came
Geoff Sutton
Does anyone know where in dobson his bach was
Rebecca Gannaway
I know a family with the surname Mutton. One lady died over a hundred years old. Lived in Christchurch. She was one of the women who helped out during the war. Often talked about the war days.
Nicholas Ivankovich-Bain
May be an image of text that says '.. lves.gov.uk ιOι Idlai £46,216.95 In 1945, you could buy one of of the following with £1 £1,300: Horses: 5 Cows: 19 19 Wool: 292 stones Wheat: 217 quarters Wages: 915 days (skilled tradesman)'
Barry Ward
He could have brought a brown new mk3 Zephyr , and would they payout, as pretty old notes
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West Coast New Zealand History (19th Apr 2025). 1,300 pounds found in deceased Miner`s bach, Dobson.1949.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 19th Apr 2026 04:24, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/27972