‘It is more than 60 years since gifted Ross-born scholar and historian Philip Ross May’s iconic history of the West Coast goldrushes was published. Now, with comparable scholarship, Westport-born Phil Walsh has written another significant chapter of our mining history, an epic saga of coal from the Cascade Mine near Denniston.
From his in-depth researching, Phil skilfully weaves a compelling story of the many challenges faced to ‘Conquer the Cascade’. It spans from the geological forces that resulted in an ultra-high-quality seam of coal, to the early explorers and then to the visionaries, investors, engineers, builders and maintenance men and their families, responsible for constructing and then maintaining the unique, impressive wooden flume used to hydraulically move the coal down the unforgiving Cascade Valley to a railhead in the Buller Gorge.
I strongly believe that like Philip Ross May’s iconic history, ‘Conquering Cascade’ will also have enduring future value as a significant chapter in New Zealand’s mining history. I highly recommend this outstanding book.’