HISTORIC HOKITIKA

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22769, 22 July 1939, Page 19

HISTORIC HOKITIKA

CAREFREE LIFE v The gayer side of life in early Hokitika is described by Mr Ralfe in this article, the third of a series on the history of the town. Gold attracted many kinds of people, and while prosperity lasted life went on in a carefree and easy-going manner. The photograph shows the “Casino de Venise,” one of the notorious places of amusement. HOKITIKA in these premature days offered the ordinary townsman but few of the common amenities beyond a stroll along the ocean beach, and even the invigorating charm of the sea breeze was threatened. . . . “The back-slums of Revell street are in a frightful state of filth, shanties and tents are. crowded together, and in close proximity are pigsties, slaughter-houses, and stables, the stench from which is indescribable and wafted over the whole iown.” The Improvement Committee was not yet in being, and it was not until June, 1865, that one was formed. Even when such a body did exist, it was without authority or power. Its funds were voluntary contributions, and action could only be taken with the goodwill and consent of the community. Every butcher had his own slaughter-house at his back door, and only with the passing of the Slaughter-house Ordinance of February, 1866, did the evil of such a primitive state of things end. The sole amusements to be had were those connected with so-called “hotels”—billiards, skittles, gambling, and dancing; the latter for lack of women, often with your fellowman as a partner, colloquially known as “buck” dancing. The only entertainment—Thatcher’s nightly show at the Corinthian Hall .... “Thatcher, who nightly chants vulgar and not over-decent personalities for the edification of a noisy, dirty, drinking, smoking, cursing crowd, with the ground for a floor and no seats.” Thatcher .... “deploring the want of seats and boards to do the flooring.” Night Life The notorious “Casino de Venise” was a combined dance hall and “saloon” of the type then catering for those in search of a “gay” life. This sinister-looking place, with its pretentious facade, was the Mecca which held an irresistible attraction for many among the thousands thronging in and out of the capital of the goldfields. In this class of casino dwelt many fair Hebes, ready to shower their favours on patrons, the recognised fee being a “shout” at the favoured one’s expense, his dancing partner receiving a percentage of his spendings. Many of these girls had been enticed from their Melbourne or Sydney homes with fairy promises, only to find on reaching Hokitika the true purpose for which they were wanted. At that period women were in a minority, and the arrival of a fresh consignment of “dance girls” was an event of interest and importance, • their landing always drawing a large crowd of men. Not a few of the new arrivals, shortly after landing, were sought in marriage, honestly and sincerely, by lonely, well-to-do digger and townsman, and many, in fear of what the future held, gave a glad response. Some, flouting their contract, sought and found barmaid or domestic service. The less fortunate were trapped and forced to' lead a night life until a chance to free themselves came. The weaker went to the wall. Hotels, most of them merely grog-shops, vied with each other in offering inducements to encourage patronage, an amusing example appearing in the “West Coast Times.” Among other temptations, we are informed: “Sporting events can be referred to; all the topics of the day may be alluded to; the style—British, American, and European.” Preshaw (an undoubted authority) states that at one time 200 public houses stood in Revel] street alohe, and that, the money being needed, anyone could obtain a licence. Up to July, 1866, the legal closing hour was midnight, a law

(SPECIALLY 'WHITTEN' FOB THE PRESS.) • IBy T. Li. RALFE.]

utterly ignored. With “nobblers” of “mint-julep,” “stone-fence,” “thunder and lightning,” “eye-closer,” and “leg-puller,” at one shilling each, trade was profitable; how profitable is shown by the customs return for April, 1866/ when the amount of duty collected on brandy (a popular drink) amounted to £2669 out of a total revenue of £BIBS. In addition to licensed houses, publicans complained bitterly of the number of sly-grog shops which existed in both the port and district. In February of the year quoted the price of drinks was reduced 100 per cent., and this fact, coupled with the closing hour being altered to 11 p.m.. resulted in a reduction of the cruder class of houses. It is on record that in most of the hotels change was not given, the balance due generally being “cut out”; and yet, with a liquor consumption so large, very little drunkenness was apparent, a fact which whs noted by Sir Charles Dilke, author of “Greater Britain,” who paid a visit to Hokitika in 1866, the year the highest gold returns were recorded. The “West Coast Goldfields Directory, 1866-67,” printed in Hokitika, gives the number of hotels in Hokitika at that date as 102, 84 of which were in Revell street, 12 on Gibson’s quay, two in Beach street, two in Weld street, and one at the corner of Camp and Tancred streets.

The distinguishing note, in a community so open-hearted and hospitable, was the free and easy manner of life led by all classes. A wise restraint and toleration guided the supervision (if such existed) of the prosperous, joyous, carefree digger, come to town to have a good time. Often, as a telegraph messenger boy, I have paused on my round, fascinated by the game of “pitch and toss” which parties of (diggers frequently played on the pathway fronting their hotel quarters. Crownpieces, then as common as are halfcrowns to-day, were used as “pitchers.” Among the interested onlookers would be seen, as often as notfthe smiling face of the guardian of the peace, who, as the winner nonchalantly picked up his cumbersome coins, did not always turn a blind eye to the beckoning nod inviting him to join in the “shout” which always celebrated a good win. To-day social divisions are well defined, although all classes are still good “mixers.” Then bank managers had to be “hail, fellow; well met.” Clerks and officials, pipe in mouth, worked with their coats off. Business was done with little]or no formality. Bankers were trusted implicitly by all, and it was not uncommon, relates Preshaw (himself a bank manager) for bank officials

111. Early Amusements

taking a constitutional to be stopped with the query, “Are you Mr So and So?”, and be handed there and then a roll of notes and loose coins, with the intimation that the bank had a new client. A note would be taken and the transaction completed. Cosmopolitan Scene From 1865 to 1870 gold to the value of nearly 9,500,000 ounces was won. Thousands were washing out thousands of ounces each month—• 21b weight a day among three men was not uncommon—which, in most cases, were scattered across the bars of saloons and stores. Hokitika, the centre of this abnormal prosperity, was a rich town, hilarious; —bubbling with excitement and high spirits. There was nowhere in the world a mining town to equal it. All nations were represented; all languages spoken; all degrees of society met on common ground. Gathered in this corner of the earth was _ the cream of the manhood of Britain and Europe, all in the very prime of life and whose ultimate value to New Zealand as a whole cannot be estimated. Probably there were more kinds of people, more character types, than in all but few towns of the same size in the universe. On the whole, it was an orderly town. If there were dance halls, casinos, drinking shanties, gamblinghells, mysterious green-shuttered

houses, and other features of a rich t mining community, there were, as r the months went by, also churches, u schools, family life, and jobs for all willing tq work. 1 “As I walked up from the quay, t looking for the Empire Hotel,” t writes Sir Charles Dilke, when he t visited Hokitika in 1866, “I spied a t boy carrying a bundle of newspapers. I asked for a copy. He put i one into my hand. ‘How much,’ I| asked. ‘A snapper!’ ‘A snapper?’ r ‘Ay, a tizzy!’ I gave him a shilling, t Instead of change, he cocked up his ;i knee, slapped the shilling down -on > it, and said ‘Cry!’ I cried ‘Woman’ I and won. He loyally returned the A' shilling and walked off minus a > paper.” That incident is typical of i the spirit of that day. A spirit - governing the community as a whole 1 and which, even to-day, in lesser measure, still exists. Life was a A gamble—for some, sudden prosper- ; ity; for others, disappointment, tragedy, and failure. But always stirring action. It was a day of which pioneers of the town, some still > alive, others scattered in all parts of =, New Zealand, love to tell. Talking f with soma of them 80 or 90 years . old is a revelation. Days of sweat ? and struggle; high and low living;, r great accomplishment, and a keen ; sense of humour.