Nelson in the Beginning

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 30 March 1938, Page 6

Nelson in the Beginning

"My home, the city and the image of well known places pass before m> eyes, and each event follows in its turn.”—-Tristia. Tuesday, 29th March, 1842. This morning, we saw a couple of boats going up the Weimai, which must have been those of Mr Cotterell and his party on their way to commence the survey West of the Weimai (Waimea). Our men went to the beach for the purpose of bringing up what remained of our timber after much of it had floated away. In about two hours, three of them returned saying neither the boat nor the timber could be found. Later the fourth man returned up saying he had recovered both together as well as some additional planks. In the evening we all went to the beach and brought all up safely .having recovered about three-fifths of our loss. The pecuniary loss (of the timber) would have been trifling but the inconvenience would have been very great. The house is proceeding with satisfactorily. A great deal of rain fell in the night. —Barnicoat Diary. Wednesday, 30th March, 1842. This morning the mountains were covered with snow which lasted all day. It was rainy but the afternoon was fine. We began cutting toi-toi and thatching. Our married man has lived in New Zealand seven years and is well acquainted with the different modes of house building and is therefore, very useful to us.