“KING” SALE RULER OF EARLY HOKITIKA

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 December 1934, Page 19

“KING” SALE RULER OF EARLY HOKITIKA

A name indelibly associated with early Hokitika is that of George Samuel Sale. He, Mr. Revell, and Sergt. Broham were the first three Canterbury officials appointed to control gold-rush conditions at Hokitika. Mr. Sale was the Resident Commissioner, Mr. Revell the Magistrate and Warden, and Sergt. Broham was in charge of thirty police. Mr. Sale became known as “King” Sale, which indicated the scope of his power and authority. He was responsible for public buildings and streets and the general administration of the growing township early in 1865, just after the gold rushes had become the chief magnets on the Coast to draw thousands of people to the district. Mr. Sale had to be his own architect. One of the notable structures to his credit was the Supreme Court building, which served many public purposes for the town, and when about to be demolished to make way for a brick structure, was purchased privately and moved to become an assembly hall. Later, it was acquired on behalf of the returned soldiers, and is now the main part of the large hall used so much for various kinds of public gatherings.

The leadership and direction of Mr. Sale in the town’s affairs was of the greatest importance, and one of the principal residential streets is named after him. Mr. Sale was a native of Rugby, England, and before being sent to Hokitika on his important official duties, he was in the Treasury of the Canterbury Provincial Council. He was a busy man, and cared for the sick as well as advising the people on their own problems. When local government began to shape itself on democratic lines, this benevolent dictator of the early days was elected to the first County Council, which in those days had legislative powers. But. shortly, business called him back to England, and he was lost‘to Westland. In later years he was professor of classics at the Otago University, and was an occasional visitor to Hokitika,’ where he had a cordial welcome always.

There were many mushroom newspapers on the Coast in the early days. One, the “Tomahawk,” a critical journal of men and their deeds, said of Mr. Sale: “As a man of principle he was firm and unyielding, whilst his integrity and honesty of purpose was unquestioned even by his bitterest foes. Ever ready to listen to the calls of humanity, every case of sickness caused by accident or temporary destitution was cared for and medical attendance given, until a temporary hospital was provided.” PUBLIC OFFICIALS Official life grew rapidly with the peopling of the district. Within two years, Hokitika had a Crown Prosecutor. The districts of Hokitika, Ranieri, Waimea, Ross and Okarito each had separate Magistrates and Wardens. G. G. Fitzgerald (Hokitika). C. 0. Shaw (Ranieri), .M. Reogh (Waimea), Justice Aylmer (Ross) and Matthew Price (Okarito) were notable dispensers of the law in their day, and many stories are to be told of diversions caused by the Bench in the conduct of cases.

As indicating how shipping . had grown in the few months, Hokitika had a. large Customs staff in 1866, including E. Patten (collector), three clerks (Chamberlain, Atkinson and Carter), four landing waiters (Lenning, Howe, Moss, Grey) and six other officials. Okarito had a sub-collec-tor (E. F. Tizard). The Post and Telegraph had five officers, soon to increase to a more numerous staff as the telegraph office became the centre to despatch world’s news to the young colony, culled from overseas newspapers arriving by Melbourne steamers in the pre-cable days. The Survey staff at that time is interesting, for it had John S. Browning (the discoverer of Browning’s Pass) at its head. Mr. G. Mueller, who did notable survey work in Westland, was in charge of Okarito district. The Gaol Department had officers whose names are familiar, even to-day, in charge, namely, George Dale, gaoler; Mrs Dale, matron; and John Ridd, chief warder, with seven subordinates. By 1866, Sergt. Broham had been made Inspector at Hokitika, and W. H. James was Inspector at Greymouth. T. Treloar, to become editor* of the “West Coast Times,” and latereditor of the “Hokitika Guardian,” was a clerk in the Police Department. There was a staff of 15 sergeants, seven mounted, 32 foot constables and three detectives at Hokitika, where ample quarters for man and horse were provided in Weld Street. The first police camp had been at the rear of the Town Hall site, hence the name of Camp Street, linking Revell Street and Tancred Street towards the riverend of the town. SOCIETIES AND LODGES Of societies, the Hokitika Savings Bank was already in existence, ■ with G. S. Sale as President; also the Fire Brigade, with Duncan Macfarlane as Captain, and the station-house situated in Revell Street South. Likewise the Literary Society (continued in the Public Library of to-day), was in existence. C. E. Button afterwards an acting-Judge of the Supreme Court, was president. There was also a German Association, flourishing and holding weekly meetings. C. D. A. Freidlim was president. Hokitika early had a crop of lodges, including the Pacific Masonic Lodge, with J. M. Rice, W.M. and John Bevan secretary; the Rilwinning Lodge, J. E. Cuddeford P.W.M. and A. E. Devbree secretary. Both lodges met in the same hotel —Fitzsimmons’s Commercial —which was equipped with a lodge-room. The Oddfellows’ Lodge was 150 strong, W. F. Ross being G.M. and W. H. Pennington N.G. Dr. Rosetti was lodge surgeon, There was also an Oddfellows’ Lodge' at Ross, with Dr. Hoskins as surgeon. The Foresters’ Lodge was also there, E. N. Marks being C.R. Two notable companies in those busy days of the ’sixties, were the

Ranieri Tramway Coy., Evan Prosser chairman, and an ambitious Hokitika; Greymouth Tramway Coy. of £20,000 (£5 shares), James Mcßeth being chairman. The starting point of the tramway for the first stage to Arahura, was from Upper Revell Street, where a commodious covered station building existed. COMING OF THE CHURCHES Hokitika was well supplied with churches from its early rush days. In 18G5, the Roman Catholic missionary was at work, and St. Mary’s in Stafford Street was the first church on. the West Coast. The wooden building stood at the rear of the present concrete edifice. Father Larkin was in charge in 1866, with Father McDonough at Greymouth. Rev. Father Royer was at Ross and Waimea. The Wesleyan Church was the next, being built facing Tancred Street, and ReV; W. Channel was the first pastor. An earlier preacher of the same faith on July 30, 1865, preached in Corinthian Hall, Revell Street, where Armstrong’s store now stands. An influ-

ential Church Committee was formed, and before the end of the year the Tancred Street building was under way. The Anglican Church followed a visit of Bishop Harper in 1865, and Archdeacon Harper was established in .October, 1866, when the present All Saints’ Church (afterwards enlarged) was opened. Rev. Mr. Beaumont was the assistant-curate. Ranieri and Ross had Anglican churches, but at Greymouth three of the faith met on alternate Sundays at the Court House, and the Hokitika curate held service. The Presbyterian Church was founded in 1866, and the present building was opened early in 1867, at a cost, with spire, of £822. Rev. J. Hall was the first minister, followed by Rev. John Gow.

The Hebrew Synagogue was in Tancred Street, the minister being Rev. J. Zactroriah. The bupding was destroyed by lire a few years ago. OVER NINETY HOTELS An almanac of 1867 gives a trade and professional directory for Hokitika, which affords an idea of the town’s rapid growth in a little over, twd years: Cordial manufacturers 3, agents (shipping and Customs) 14; auctioneers 4; bakers and confectioners 13; banks 4; solicitors 6; blacksmiths 5; dining-rooms 6; booksellers 4; bootshops 20; brewers 4; builders 4; butchers 10; chemists 6; china depots 3; dentist 1; drapers 13; dressmakers 4; dyers 2; engineers 2; fancy goods 5; fruiterers 10; furniture warehouses 7; grocers 22; hairdressers 9; hotel and taverns 93; merchants 19; ironmongers 11; timplate workers 5; leather warehouses 2; loan office 1; newspapers 2; painters 6; photographers 2; physicians 6; produce dealers 5; saddlers 2; registry office 3; timber merchants 4; stock auctioneers 2; tentmakers 3; tailors 4; tobacconists 8; undertakers 2; watchmakers 10; wine and spirit merchants 21. The names of persons in the above list include many men who became notable in the history of the West Coast and further afield. Several who prospered in Hokitika in the flush days of the rush, left early with their wealth, and established themselves in more populous centres. Many still stayed on, and played an important part in local history and developments. John R. Hudson, one of the founders, ended his days in the old town, after a life of wide activity, serving on local bodies, conducting contracts, and playing a leading part in friendly societies. His service to the community was typical of many others who gave of their talents freely to assist where they could to help the district ahead.