“WILD WAVE”

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 November 1931, Page 5

“WILD WAVE”

FIRST TO CROSS GREY BAR. The first ship to cross the Grey bar was the “Wild Wave,” Captain Buxton, and the was . June 8, 1863; This 'was at ’etbMng’s meeting of the Greyffibuth Borough Council, when Mr. ; F. W. B. Dddte'r, of Blackball, acting on behalf of Mrs A. Webster, Prfft't Street, Redcliffs, 'Christchurch, a daughter of Captain Buxton, presented to the Cbuiicil -a 'framed.* photograph of the vessel Which made the first crossing.

The following self-explanatory letter, addressed to the Mayor (Mr. J. W. Greenslade), accompanied the gift:—“l think it might interest yourself and the people of Greymouth to have a souvenir of the first crossing' of the bar at the mouth of your river, so I am sending you a photograph of an oil painting of two of Captain Buxton’s schooners moored to the bank. One is the ’Wild Wave,’ in which he did the crossing, and the other is the

‘Dancing Wave.’ I don’t know who did the painting, only that an artist, who was very hard up, approached my father, Captain Buxton, and asked if he would give him a helping hand, by allowing him to paint the two vessels. He did so, and I am just wondering if that painting is the only record of that crossing. Accompanying the picture is a photograph of theCaptain, just as he came off his vessel —no uniforms in those days. Hoping you will accept this from his two daughters, Mrs A. Webster and Mrs F. L. Davis.”

Mr. Foster said he felt the honour of being deputed to ask the Council to accept, for the people of Greymouth, a memento of what ’was almost the dawn of civilisation on the West Coast. Captain Buxton’s ship brought Townsend and party, and the material which enabled the commencement of what was to be a golden future;. Captain Buxton was the owner of three ships, and commanded the “Wild Wave.” Another 'was the “Dancing Wave,” but Mr. Foster said he did not know the name of the third ship—it might have been the' “Short Wave”! It had been written that Captain Buxton landed at Hokitika and walked to Greymouth, but Mrs Webster said that was not correct. The mate landed at Hokitika, but Captain Buxton brought his ship over the Grey bar. Mrs Webster regretted that she was unable to be present at the Jubilee of GTeymouth three years ago. She had kept herself cMseTy informed of West Coast history, and tvas something of a student of it. A study of West Coast history'was well worth while, said Mr. Foster, and it clearly showed the indomitable spirit of the people who first opened un the very wild and rugged country, which was to prove so very golden.

The Mayor stated that they appreciated the gift, and the way in which Mr. Foster had expressed himself oh behalf of Mrs Webster. They could rather deplore the fact that not many gifts had been made to the town. They appreciated Mrs Webster’s sentiments very much indeed, and also the fact that she was still interested in the welfare of the West Coast. There Was no doubt that the picture would be greatly valued. He moved that the, Town Clerk forward a letter of appreciation to Mrs Webster, oh. behalf of the citizens. ’

The resolution was seconded by Cr. J. B. Kent, and approved.

On the motion of Cr. R. J t Williams, seconded by Cr. A. M." Carroll, it was decided tljat the Town-Plan-ning Committee should take into consideration the naming of a new Street after Captain Buxton, and that Mrs Webster be adviSfed to that effect. A vote, of thanks was accorded to Mr. Foster, on the ’motion of Cr. Kefi't, seconded by Cr. J. S. Robertson.