Old Greymouth History – Rev. G. T. N. Watkins – Werita Tainui, Maori Chief

Grey River Argus, 14 January 1928, Page 1 (Supplement)

Old Greymouth History - Rev. G. T. N. Watkins - Werita Tainui, Maori Chief

In 1869 there came to Greymouth George Thomas Nowel] Watkins, an Anglican clergyman who at once endeared himself to the whole of the community. He came here at the behest of Bishop Sutor of Nelson, to replace Greymouth’s first Anglican clergnman, the Rev. G. Beaumont, who was attached to the London Missionary Society, and who had been transferred to Lawrence, Otago. The Rev. Beaumont had done yeoman service and had collected sufficient funds to build the first Anglican Church on the ground given by the Maori Chief Tainui —(the ' site of the present church). Mr Watkins on his arrival, by his quiet and earnest way of dealing with the poor and lowly, soon gained the confidence of the whole of the people. He was generous to a fault, and on many occasions gave away that which he needed himself. Old residents will remember how on one occasion he gave away his overcoat and attempted to go through the winter writhout one, until it being noticed, another one was left at the Parsonage by an anonymous admirer. For ten years he toiled among his flock ; sharing their joys and sorrows; then when just on the eve of his departure on a holiday trip to his home town, Deptford, England, he was taken ill and despite all that could be done for him, he passed away on June 18, 1879. The following extract from the "Grey River Argus” in tho issue following his death speaks for itself: "There are times when a single death brings grief and sadness to a whole community. Yestedray mqrtiing young and old—all classes of denominations alike — felt this sorrow; felt that in the somewhat sudden death of the Rev. George Thom as Nowell Watkins, they lost a wise and sage councillor, a valuable and sincere friend, and great and good man —one who made it his life long study to alleviate the sufferings of the distressed, to cheer and comfort tho downeast, to gladden the hearts of all who came near him. Many when dissension j arises, will sadly miss him, for he was • ever tho first to come forward as a I peacemaker, pouring oil on the troubled I waters, and, by his kindly intervention J averting much ill feeling and enmity from ensuing. " The late gentleman received his education at Greenwich, and King’s College, London. He subsequently undertook the training of the pupils, was Chaplain of the Greenwich Union, and Curate of St. Paul’s, Deptford. In this capacity he commenced his labours as a minister of the Gospel. About ten years ago he was appointed to the Trinity .Church, Greymouth, having succeeded the Rev. G. Beaumont, and here he continued to the day of his death, labouring daily for the spiritual and temporal welfare of the whole community, irrespective of creed, for Mr Watkins was no bigot, but a kind, noble and liberal Christian, who not only studied, but practised, the teachings of his Great Master. In this communityj he was not only a Christian teacher, ■ but a philantrophist daily denying himself pleasure and comforts that others! might enjoy them. To the poor and afflicted his purse strings were never tightened, and, although on many oc- j casions he was taken advantage of by the undeserving, this did not trouble him half as much as when his resources becoming exhausted, someone osked for aid and assistance, and he, for the time, was unable to grant it. 'For his charity, There was no winter in’t; an autumn ’twas, That grew the mor’j by reaping.’ Doing good seemed to bo tho only happy action of his life. Right well had he realised that—'Love and meekness become a churchman better than ambition, Win straying souls with modesty again; cast none away.’ Tn the death of Mr Watkins we have all lost a friend —a councillor—a brother.” The description of his funeral reads:— "Trc remains of the late Rev. G. T. N. Watkins, Incumbent of Trinity Church, Greymduth, weae .conveyed to their last resting place, the Greymouth Cemetery, on Saturday. Long before tho hour appointed for the funeral (two o’clock), the storekeepers closed their shops, and with all the vessels at the wharf flying their colours half-mast high, the number of persons dressed in sombre black, and the general depression that prevailed, it seemed as if some great calamity had befallen the town. Shortly after tw< o’clock the remains of the dcceasec were borne from the Parsonage to the Church, which was dressed in black, Hospital Street (Guinness) being crowded with people anxious to pay the last token of respect to the decease* gentleman. On arrival at the Churcl the coffin —upon which was placed the. insignia of a Master Mason—was borne

into the Church, which was filled in ■ff every part. The procession was met at the door by the Bishop of Nelson and the Rev. Mr Kempthorne, of Reefton, the organ playing the ‘Dead March in Saul.’ As soon as the coffin was deposited upon tthe trestles, a chaplet of flowers was placed upon it by the Bishop. The choir then sang the appropriate hymn commencing: "Thou are gone to the grave;we will not deplore thee," after which the Bishop commenced the service for the dead. This being over the coffin was conveyed to the hearse by six Past Master Masons —three of the English Lodge and three of the Scotch, the deceased having been a member of both Lodges. The funeral procession was then formed in the following order: Drum and Fife Band (playing ‘The Dead March’), Foresters, Oddfellows’ Freemasons, the Pall, the hearse, mourning coach containing the Bishop of Nelson, the Rpv. Me Kempthorne, Rev. Mr Root (Presbyterian), and Rev. Mr Standage (Wesleyan), the chief mourners, school children, Mayor

and members of the Borough Council, general public on foot, carriages and horsemen.

"No funeral on the West Coast ever drew together so large an attendance, there being fully 1000 persons in tho procession from all parts of the district. The day was beautiful and by the time the procession reached the cemetery there were fully 2000 people assembled. At the foot of the cemetery hill the members of the various Orders formed a lane, through which the coffin was borne as before, headed by the Bishop, who repeated portion of the burial service. The Bishop havin read the service appointed,, the coffin was lowered into the grave by the Masons, the scene being a grandly impressive one, as the setting sun shone beautifully at the time. The Deputy Grand Master of tho Grand Lodge of Freemasons (Wor. Bro. John Bevan) then came forward and solemnly and distinctly read the Masonic service, the vast assemblage remaining uncovered until the conclusion of the ceremony. The Rev. gentleman is buried beside two of his old friends—Mr A'. F. 'Stark and Mr E. B. Fox. After remaining for some time the crowd slowly dispersed.” The morning following (Sunday) the Bishop of Nelson preached a funeral sermon on the deceased gentleman, taking his text from Rev. XIV., 13. In the evening Rev. Mr Root preached a funeral sermon at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, and the Rev. Mr Standage delivered an address in tho Wesleyan Church.

The Bishop, in his sermon, summed up perhaps best of all, the respect and love in which Mr Watkins was held by early Greymouth residents when he said, among other things: "The Lodge of Masons. I am told by one present, was a Bochim or place of weeping, and I can well believe it. Never have I seen a crowd so intensely clouded by sorrow. Many Roman Catholics not only being present, but following their own natural and Christian feeling, in bearing a badge of mourning for the Protestant Pastor, for whom, though as staunch a Protestant as existed on the Coast, they had by scores of them a good word of testimony as to his worth and excellence. Had you seen the numbers who poured into the Parsonage to look at his remains, and witnessed the strong men, miners, diggers, storekeepers, their wives, their children, many widows, the dear and loving Maoris, the bright and glowing eye of the Negro, all impelled by their spontaneous affection to have a last look at his remains, you would have felt that •t was a sight not to be missed —a lesson worth learning, a very glorious ending, even from, an earthly point of view.”

THEWATKINS MEDAL

It has been shown that the death of the Rev. Mr Watkins took place on the rve of his departure on a trip to his home town, Deptford. Kent, England. For tho purposes of showing their appreciation of his work and to assist him on his way his friends had collected over £lOO, which they had intended to give him on the day of his departure. (It was not safe to give it to him before, for he would have surely given most of it away). But ‘man proposes and God disposes,” and so there was called a meeting of subscribers to de cide what to do with the money. This meeting, which was presided over by the then Mayor, Mr Ri shard Nancarr >w (founder of the firm of Nancarrow a-.d Co.), was held at th 3 Albion Hotel and was largely attended, every seetit r. of the community being represented After many touching references a.*d been made to the deceased gentlc-.-J3E, it was decided th 3 amount be funded for all time tc prov de annually a gold medal, to be called the "Watkins Medal.” In this connection a beautiful scroll and roll of honour, hndsomely framed, together with an enlargement of the reverend gentleman is hung in the State school and is one of its proudest possessions. The scroll reads as follows:—

"The Watkins Medal.— Founded A.D. -879. In memory of the Rev. George Thomas Noel Watkins, Incumbent of Trinity Church, Greymouth, beloved of all denominations, who passed away on the 18th day of June, 1879. Aged 48 years. For the purpose of perpetuating his memory, the citizens of Greymouth subscribed the sum of £125, and in public meeting assembled at the Albion Hotel, Greymouth, on the 24th day of •June, 1879, resolved as follows, viz:— "That a gold medal to the value of five pounds sterling, to be called the "Watkins Medal,” and embossed on tho obverse side with the profile of Mr Watkins, and on the reverse side with a laurel wreath and the inscription of the winner, be awarded year by year to the best scholar of school ago in the Grey District High School, and that Captain Allardyce, G. C. Bowman. Frank Hamilton, James Kerr, Edward Iveagh Lori, Dr. C. L. Morice, and Richard Nancarrow be appointed trustees, with full power to administer the said fund and carry out the intention of this resolution. On January 1, 1905, when this scroll was written, the trustees were E. I. Lord (chairman), Messrs Allardyce (absent), E. P. Heaphy, G. 8. Smith, J. G. Thomas, Hanwell Williams, and tho Ven. Archdeacon York ex-officio member. Apart from this medal the Rev. Watkins’s memory is perpetuated by the beautiful stained glass memorial window in the chancel of Trinity Church, which his executors, the late Mr J. G. Thomas and G. 8. Smith, had placed there. In the vestry of the same church hangs his portrait and hia diploma as an! Associate of the King’s College, London. The stone whieh 1

marks his last resting place was erected by sorrowing friends, even as he was loved so was he mourned. Mr J. 11. Hindmarsh (Warata), who was a personal friend of the reverend gentleman, in his "Talcs of the Golden West,” says:— "The Rev. Mr Watkins was of a cheery and happy disposition, very magnetic in temperament, • and dearly loved a joke. Nothing was| more enjoyable than to hear hiiA in . conjunction with Charles Broad, the genial Warden of Reefton, and a past I master in the art of punning, pouring forth sallies of wit and humour, and firing off jokes at one another that | would have frightened even the proverbial Scotchman, who requires to undergo a surgical operation to see a joke. One day Mr Watkins called at my office, and confidentially informed me that he had a lovely bit of mutton for dinner, At 1 o’clock I turned up at the Parsonage and found E. B. Fox in attendenee. We thoroughly enjoyed the juicy leg of mutton, which was done to a turn. When the ancient housekeeper removed the remains, His Reverence told her to keep it warm, and after her dinner was cut off it, to carry what was left to a poor widow for herself and children, who were often the recipients of his bounty. I ventured | to ask Sarah (the housekeeper) how she ! was keeping. Shrugging up one shoul- 1 der and then the other, her face full of wrinkles, replied that he rheumatics wore had, and the "Gorge” wind was so keen, that she felt no better, and was recommended to try quinine,, when His Reverence quickly retorted, "We don’t want Quinn-in just yet.” (Quinn was the name of the then local undertaker). We laughed at the joke to Sarah’s surprise, who had not fathomed tho depth of its meaning.” Truly a man of parts was the Rev. G. T. N. Watkins—a truly tolerant man who never let class or creed inter- 1

fere with his charity, or what he considered his duty. "By thy works they shall know thee,” could be well applied to him who even though dead 47 years still lives in the hearts of old residents, of Greymouth, who realised his leading principle was Christian duty, and that to him might well be applied Browning’s beautiful lines. "And so to live, that when the sun Of our existence s.inks in night, Memorials sweet of mercies done Mav shine our names in Memory’s light; Then the blest seeds scatter’d bloom A hundredfold in doys to come!” WERITA TAINUI. MAORI CHIEF. "Old Resident” (Auckland) writes: —"Mr Editor, could you kindly supply any information dealing with the Maori Chief, Tainui, so well-known to Greyites of 60 years ago?” (In this connection the following article taken from W. H. S. Hindmarsh’s "Tales of the Golden West” deals with Werita Tainui in a masterly manner being written by a personal friend of this fine old Rangitira.—The Editor.)

"It was in ’67 that 1 first had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with Werita Tainui, more popularly known as "Old Tainui.” Later on, having with another fellow camped with our families well up the south limestone hill to avoid floods on the one hand and tidal waves on the other, I became in a manner next door neighbour, and from the hill above was able to take a "bird’s eye view” of tho Maori pa below. Of course I was on speaking terms with the old chief as far as it was possible for us to understand each other, and on my part it was limited to the equivalent, attempted in Maori of "good day” with a nod, which was returned by the old warrior with a smile, adding with much force of language, "too hot,” which words were about all he knew or understood of English. Tainui was a Maori chief of the highest aristocratic caste, a good-natured fellow, of medium height and weight, with a bright face showing the high caste Maori. His cheeks and chin were 1 scored with the orthodox tattoo curve markings, he had an abundance of hair on his head and his half-closed eyes had a merry twinkle in them. Anyone looking at him calmly could not have

associated him with any of the atrocities or orgies of a Maori warrior in the "bad old days.” He resided in the bosom of his family under the hill at the top of the town of Greymouth, in whares writh a central verandah cottage, provided by the Native Department. Of his numerous children my recollection centres round but one of the many wahines scattered about by name "Emma,” a cheerful dark-haired maiden, who with Albert (doubtless called after Prince Albert, of pious memory) passed through the ordeal of Christian baptism, and received Christian names. To Greymouth residents as they pass along their pleasant streets, the names of Tainui and his family become for all time "familiar in their mouths as household w r ords. ” The same Werita Tainui, it will per- ' haps be remembered, was one of the signatories to that memorable deed, parting writh his birth-right in 1860, for the mess of pottage, three hundred golden sovereigns, engineered by James Mackay, when old Tainui’s signature was distinguished by a bold X, and witnessed as his "mark”—more particularly described in the tale of "The Land of tho Greenstone.” It might be noted here that when the Native title was being enquired into, Tainui said, in his own funny way, that his title was incontestable, as he had eaten the former owners of the land. His was a noble and warlike ancentry dating far back into the dark ages, and from father to son by means of the tohunga or priest the mystic ceremonies and poetical traditions of the Maori race have been religiously handed down for over five centuries. The name of Tainui is associated with the flotilla of six war canoes from Samoa, in 1350, carrying goods and passengers; for one of them bore the famlily name of "Tainui,” and this par-

ticular canoe, when the flotilla separated and landed at various places in Aotcaroa, their name for New Zealand (meaning beautiful island), the Tainui reached Kawhia harbour (tradition says it was Hokitika). Its passengers built an altar for offerings to the gods, and this altar, it is said, may still be seen in the limestone rocks where they landed. The Maori tradition has it that a century or so before the arrival of their first fleet, there was a forerunner from Samoa accompanied by a small contingent, commanded by a Chief named "Ngahua, ” a sort of. Captain Cook who travelled round, and was the first to discover greenstone, and settled down at Arahura, opening up a greenstone quarry. Returning to his native country he took with him a cargo of greenstone, and the jewellers there fashioned the stone into marvellous axes, meres, car pendants and charms known as "tiki” the Maori first man, equivalent to our Adam—hence tho following of the "First Fleet” on their voyage of discovery.

Talking of "tiki,” it is curious to read this extract from a late Home paper: "Little greenstone gods, modelled on the Maori tiki arc commanding an extensive sale in London at present, amongst those who believe that Dame Fortune can be wooed. The statement by the winner of the last Derby that he carried one of these charms in his pocket during tl/e race, at the recommendation of a friend, has caused many people to value the ugly little greenstone god.” Doubtless, in connection writh this charm may be quoted a late Wellington Post in February, 1905: A Maori woman named Maud, cross-examined in the Supreme Court, was pressed as to her means of existence. "I am the luckiest woman who ever went round the races” she declared. The Maori character may be summed up as very superstitious, religious, but priest-ridden; wonderfully clever at artistic carving and tattooing; possess- ( I ing unlimited courage as warriors, lovers of hospitality, very poetical, born actors; but excessively lazy. From an ancient manuscript work, profusely illustrated, and published under the auspices of the "Greymouth Literary Association,” established on the 15th August, 186$. and now in my possession, I am able to give the following interesting family history of the "Tainui Clan” as furnished by Mr

Werita Tainui and translated by the then resident Native agent, Mr John Greenwood, an accomplished Maori scholar. It runs as follows:— "In old times long ago, the West Coast was thickly peopled from the Buller to Okarito, by the powerful tribe of Nga-tiwairanga. Now, it came to pass that being inspired with a thirst for glory, certain war parties crossed the mountains, and made descents on the settlements of the Ngaitahu, who dwelt about Port Cooper (Lyttelton) and thp Canterbury Plains. "When victorious, they enjoyed the fruits of conquest, after preparing the same in Maori ovens. "The Ngaitahu were not slow in returning the compliment, and thus an interchange of visits across the mountains -was kept up at the cost of much Consumption of warriors, and many fights and great devastation ensued. "In the long run, the Port Cooper Natives had the best of it, and the Ngatiwairanga were abolished, the land being occupied by five divisions of the Ngaitahu tribe. The original possessors of the Grey district were all wiped out by a war party under the leadership of my father 'Tuhuru. ’ I was only a little boy then. "There was a great pa at the Ahaura. We attacked it and was’nt there a slaughter. Those who got away fled to that high mountain you see at tho back, but bless you, they were soon hunted down and knocked on the head.

"My father was something like a man. If we had been able to draw likenesses as you are, there would have been something for the pakehas to look at. He was square built and at least eight feet high—talk of Mr Revell! Pooh! he’s a baby to him. However, he died and his bones are in that cave just above my. house. My elder brother, Tarapuhi, is buried there also, and I live in my corner under the hill keep-

ing watch over the bones of those | great men, my ancestors, who are buried in the cave close by.” In answer to a question how the war parties got across the mountains, Tainui said, "As for tracks for the war parties, they did without them, but simply followed up tho Mawhera or some other river to its source, and then popping over the saddle, followed a stream flowing the other way.” With reference to Tarapuhi, Mr Revell, in his diary of events, makes the following obituary notice. "Bth of April, 1864. An old Maori chief died, by name 'Tarapuhi.’ He was a good friend of the Pakeha (white man), he would share his last morsel with him without payment, while the others would refuse. On the 11th Taraphui was buried in an old cave, a short distance from the encampment, together with his clothes, blankets, stick —in short everything he had in his possession. ’ ’

Missionary influence in 1834 and 1835 in the North Island found its way to the West Coast, with the result that the fierce and warlike man-eating Maoris settled down to peaceful pursuits. A surveyor in 1842 describes the Natives in Blind Bay thus: "They are very attentive to the observance of religion in which they have been initiated by the Missionaries.” In the Nelson Examiner for Septem-

ber 26, 1846, Mr Hcaphy, after his trip with Brunner to the Coast, tells of a native named Aperahama coming to his ( camp (near what is now Westport) with his son and daughter. They were! travelling from Ahaura to Nelson to be baptized, having heard that there was a Church of England minister there. They had never before seen a white man. They reported all the Natives at Ahaura professed Christianity, but their knowledge was very imperfect, having gained it solely from natives who had come over the ranges from Port Cooper (Lyttelton). A few days after, Mr Heaphy met two more men and four boys who camped close by him and kept him awake during the night by their chatter and devotional exercises. He says: “It is worthy of remark that these natives could read and write correctly, although the instructions they have received are such only as could be abtained from their occasional visitors from Massacre Bay and Port Cooper.’ 1 I am not aware if Tainui or any of his family ever went to Church. It is certain that they were baptized, and

adopted European garments, but I fancy Old Tainui at heart was half a tohunga. His father, when laid to rest in the old cave, was said to have died in tho "odour of sanctity”; but his enemies asserted that he died from an overdose of dead sailor, saturated with tho juice and odour of tobacco. Whichever way it was, Tainui, to show his gratitude to the Missionary, allotted a valuable block of land, in the centre of Greymouth for "Anglican Church purposes” on which Church, parsonage and school buildings were erected, and it is somewhat curious that on the same block there is now rising a "Town Hall” writh a Carnegie Public Library attached, perhaps after all a fitting homo for the Greymouth Literary Association established on the 15th of August, 1868, whereby hangs another "tale”. Old Tainui was a splendid mimic, and it was very laughable to see him taking off the Government survey party, laying off the railway line in front of his pa. He would stick up two posts some distance apart, and taking sight from one to the other, his hand motioning to change to right or left after the manner of surveyors, always ending up the burlesque writh the formula "Too hot! Too hot!” It was also very amusing to see our old friend and his family squatting round on the public highway in front of their habitations, and setting up the most unearthly wailing and lamentation which was their way of welcoming visitors from a distance. While the music proceeded, the Arahura chiefs with their families in European costume would put in an appearance in all kinds of traps and conveyances, and on all sorts of horses and reaching terra firma would, according to ancient custom, instead of kissing and shaking hands in the good old-fashioned style of

Europeans, embrace one another and "rub noses.”

The lady, "Priscilla,” who does the society news in a Wellington paper, describing the arrival of the new Governor, Lord Plunket, noted the fear and I trembling of the Governor’s footman, | when two Maori ladies insisted on . fraternising with him, and says Priscilla, "He may be thankful they did not 'rub noses’ with him.” This manner of greeting must at times be very inconvenient, especially if any or either of the parties concerned have influenza on hand. Old Tainuj. on one occasion very neighbourly presented my eldest wahinc, in passing his residence, with a tin containing Maori grubs, obtained by some of his younger wahines from some old rotten tree, with |he strong recommendation "kapoi. ” The grubs were large, white and luscious looking, and are considered by the Maoris as much a delicacy as oysters are with Europeans. On being inspected by the home authorities up the hill, an inquest was held, and a verdict recorded, "Give ’em to the fowls,” which was accordingly done. And it was noticeable that the eggs afterwards were much improved in flavour, so that it was quite within tho limits of t r uth, when Emma was informed that we enjoyed them so much, but were not anxious to have any more, and preferred wild pigeons or whitebait.

When the Government started the free, secular and compulsory education, the young Tainui* 3 went regularly to the Greymouth State School to learn i the rudiments of the English language and it is pleasing to record that one | of the family known as the Thaia Tainui, in 1879 was returned as an Honourable Member of the House of Representatives for the Southern district, which speaks for our "brother the Maori” of the Golden West. The construction of harbour works for Greymouth having been decided upon, and the limestone hill being required, the "native burial place” in the old cave was in jeopardy. Old Tainui was savage and went round shouting "Too hot! Too hot!” as the place was "tapu” or sacred. The Native Department got over the difficulty by sending a high class Maori priest from the land of enchantment in the North Island, who for a liberal consideration offered up the necessary incantations and performed certain ceremonies required to purge the "tapu” or secredness of the burial place and

re-buried the bones of the Mawhera chiefs elsewhere. The ceremony of purification completed, the tohunga was rewarded for his valuable services according to ancient custom. Old Tainui was satisfied, and so also was the Public Works Department, for they began to storm the hill with tons of blasting powder, bringing down thousans of tons of limestone rock in blocks and rubble, which were conveyed along the quays and deposited in the river to face its banks with stone, instead of bush fascines. Old Tainui looked on and wondered and soon had to remove himself and his belongings out of range of the bombardment of rocks and the earthquake shocks they were subjected to, making their pleasant homes, as Tainui went round expressing it in English, "To hot! Too hot!” The fellows perched up on the hill found it "too hot” also, and had to shift their camp elsewhere, for a Government consideration.

By my compulsory removal from the hill and subsequent wanderings here and there on the Coast, I lost sight of my old friend and one time next door neighbour, and have to thank a Greymouth lady for furnishing me with tne latest information of the Tainui fam ily. Werita Tainui, the subject of this character sketch, died more than twenty years ago, and was buried in the quarry under the limestone hill. His grave is fenced in and marked by an iron cross. The Maoris, after his death, removed from Greymouth to the Arahura settlement. OLD GREYMOUTH HISTORY. MEETING GREY BOROUGH COUNCIL, 19/12/68. The annual meeting of the Borough Council was held yesterday at noon, at the Fire Brigade Hall. Present— E. Masters, Esq., Mayor; Councillors Wickes, Strike, Parkinson, Rae, Moore, Kilgour, Ashton and Coates. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. ACCOUNTS. The Mayor explained this meeting lad been called for the purpose of passing the accounts, and electing a Chairman for the current year. The Town Clerk laid before the Coun•’l the annual balance sheet, made up from the statement of accounts which had been printed. The accounts Lad been duly audited. M r Strike moved: "That the statement of accounts be finally passed.” Mr Kilgour seconded the motion, which was carried. The next business being the election of Mayor, Mr Masters left the chair, which, on the motion of Mr Rae, was taken by Mr Parkinson. Mr Parkinson moved: "That Mr Masters be elected Mayor for the current year.” They could not do better than re-elect Mr Masters, as he had, in a very satisfactory manner initiated the proceedings of the Council under the Act. He hoped the vote would be unanimous. Mr Coates seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously, with applause. The Mayor resumed the chair, and, in thanking the Councillors for the honour they had conferred upon him, said he was somewhat prepared for the motion, from the communication he had received, somewhat flattering in its terms. It was as follows:— "Greymouth, Dec. 16, 1868. "To Edwarj Masters, Esq., "Mayor of Greymouth.

"Dear Sir, —On the eve of another election of Mayor for Greymouth, we beg most respectfully that you will allow yourself to be again elected to that important office. "We would at this time express the pleasure w r e have felt when attending the meetings of the Council when presided over by you. —We are, etc., "W. Rae, Joseph Kilgour, W. J. Coates, Edmund Wickes, Edwin Ashton, J. W. Parkinson, J. C. Moore.” lie also received an intimation a few days ago that it was the intention of tho Councillors to elect him for the coming year. Previously he had no intention of again occupying the position; it being his desire to simply hold the office until the end of the year, when he would make way for his successor. However, as the wish was expressed by several of his fellow councillors that he should reconsider his decision, he did so, and that morning he had come to the conclusion that he would not throw any obstacles in the way of the Councillors using their discretion in the matter. While he would rather that another had been elected, he was willing to accept the office, which he considered a most honourable and responsible trust and while he filled it, he should endeavour, to the best of his ability, to do his utmost to uphold the dignity of the Council. He thanked them for the [hercur now conferred upon him, and als<; for the amount of support which Ir.d been given him hitherto, which had made his position an easy and pleasant one. One other matter he wished to refer to. Three months ago that very day, they took office for the purpof of bringing into ope ation a sc mewbat complicated Act, whieh they had interpret for themselves, as there were no persons outsidcof the

Coducij who knew more about it than th‘y did themselves. They had, without doubt, many important masters co d'.<’6c as well as great difficulties to overcome, from the magnitude of the wwks to be undertaken and the inadequacy and almost total want of fi m s tc carry them out. They had also, unfortunately, to contend with a c. ipjig spirit of opposition outside of *he Council anything but creditable, which attempted to cast ridicule on the Council and its officers, and also to insult the whole Council—(hear, hear)

a spbit which had taken advantage of e\ery possible opportunity of raising a technical or legal quibble to their proceedings. —(Hear, hear). This spirit had only been displayed by a very small section of the community, but he believed the majority were fully prepared to treat it with that amount of contempt which it deserved. —(Hear, hear). In conclusion, he expressed a hope that the same unanimity of feeling which had hitherto characterised their proceedings would still be shown, and also to receive outside of the Council that amount of support which, is a body elected to conduct the affairs of the town, they were entitled to expect. — (Applause). The Council adjourned until this evening at seven o’clock.

No better example could be given of the manner in which the interests of this port are neglected by some of the servants of the Panama Company than that afforded by the s.s. Otago this week. She passed the port without stopping, as she always does, on Monday, although she could have been tendered that evening, and passed on to Hokitika, where she was not tendered. She was expected back here on Tuesday morning to ship the passengers who were in waiting, and the p.s. Dispatch was lying with steam up ready to cross the bar on the Otago being signalled, but she did not put in an appearance. It afterwards transpired that the Hokitika bar was unworkable that morning, and it was imagined by those in Hokitika who had an interest in believing it, that the Grey bar would be in the same condition. They were mistaken, however, for here the signal to “take the bar” was displayed at the station for over four hours, and the Otago could have been tendered easily, and been dispatched back to Hokitika to wait unitl that bar was workable. On Tuesday night the Otago did not put in an appearance, but on Wednesday morning, after the tide was spent, she arrived in the roadstead, and had to wait until the following day. Had she been dispatched on any of the three previous tides or even two hours earlier from Hokitika on Wednesday morning, she would have been saved a delay of twenty-four hours off this port for before she was signalled the three-masted schooner Lady Darling was towed in by the Dispatch. As it was she had to remain in the roadstead until yesterday morning, when she was tendered by the Dispatch, which put on board of her 17 passengers, and 3250 ounces of gold shipped by the Banks of Australasia and New South Wales. —Grey River Argus, Jan. 6, 1868.