‘A RATTLING GOOD YARN’

Press, 9 August 1980, Page 17

‘A RATTLING GOOD YARN’

Adventures by Sea and Land. By Henry Louis ’ Moffatt. Nelson . Historical • Society, 1979. 89 pp. $7.95.

/Reviewed ;&y John Leslie)

' This is an exciting autobiography of adventure and hardship in two separate careers — one seafaring in the 1850 s and the second career goldmining in the 1860 s in the South Island. The book is short in words but long in interest. In -1911, when Harry Louis Moffatt retired from the position of wharfinger and harbourmaster at Motueka, he could look back on a vivid career. He wrote these memoirs which he planned to publish. He had, however, written'a series of articles on goldmining for the Nelson “Evening Mail” and these articles were also produced in a book ©ailed “A Digger’s Story” by “Kiwi.” Because of his death, this hardy and adventurous : Englishman did. not get round to publishing his dramatic fife story; in full, ■

•Thanks to the efforts of his descendants and others, this compact volume of his full experiences is now available. For those interested in goldmining, this section makes a

valuable record, especially for historians. The author’s hair raising experiences in the goldfields at Collingwood, Buller, Otago, the Matakitaki, Wakamarina and Anatori, match his harsh experiences in sailing vessels.

After pestering his parents in Britain,- the young Moffatt was apprenticed to a sailing vessel, the Bolton, and thus embarked- on a seafaring career. He was only 12; In a year’s time he was to witness a violent revolution in Peru while his ship was in port.. After many more vicissitudes in his chosen career, the young. sailor ultimately obtained a position as an officer. According to the biography he was at one time mate of the old Nelson-owned paddle steamer, Lyttelton. : This: hardy‘ sailor turned miner, and in spite of the harsh conditions in the gold fields made sufficient money to have a trip to England and back again as a passenger. Aboard the outward bound vessel, he met his wife and in his own words “lived happily ever afterwards.” This well illustrated autobiography makes what we used to call “a rattling good yarn.” It can be read and enjoyed by all ages..