FIFTY YEARS AGO.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XVIII, Issue XVIII, 4 September 1912, Page 3

FIFTY YEARS AGO.

Mr J. W. Paterson, of Kapuni, recently mention to a Star representative that on September 1 fifty years ago he first sighted New Zealand'from the good ship Robert Henderson. Half the passengers on the vessel were for lnvereargill, the Bluff being the ship's first port, if port it could be called, as it was then an open roadstead. On rounding the Bluff Captain Logan signalled for a pilot, but as none came out, he decided to sail right in, and did so, without mishap. The Bluff at that time consisted of two shanties called hotels and a few straggling houses. After a stay of three weeks, with the wind always contrary, and no steamer to tug the vessel out, the captain at last decided to float out with the tide, which he did, but after the tide failed the ship began to drift ashore. The anchor was let go, and with a kedge anchor the crew managed to haul the ship out, till she caught the breeze, and bade goodbye to the Bluff. Next morning the vessel was off Port Chalmers, where the pilot came aboard, and, finding all well, took the ship into port. Then all was confusion. The passengers were hurried aboard a little steamer called the Pride of the Yarrow and brought to Dunedin. After staying in Dunedin for two days, Mr Paterson boarded a steamer called the Guiding Star for Oamam, and on the way down from Dunedin the steamer got stuck on a mudbank, but managed "to get under way again when the tide rose. Next day the steamer arrived at Oama.ru, now known as the White Stone City. In the Oamaru district Mr Paterson spent the greater part of his life, sharing in the ups-and-downs of a pioneer's life.