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CHARLESTON
The first store was started by Mr. Parker, of Nelson, who, with Mr. Hillyar, of Charleston, financed the first large sluicing claim, or so it is said. Little can be told of Croninville, it was not sufficiently long-lived to make more than local history. The Warden’s report of 1884 stated that 20 sluicing claims were working.
The census of 1901 showed a population of 12. The Warden’s report of 1906 stated that “an Auckland Company has two claims at Croninville, managed by Thomas Radford, and employing eight men.” To-day the field is deserted but for a family of original settlers, the Shines of Shine Hill, who still occupy their land.
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