OLD IDENTIANA. R, Oamaru, writes:- W.H.S.Roberts

Otago Witness, Issue 1906, 21 August 1890, Page 12

OLD IDENTIANA. R, Oamaru, writes :- W.H.S.Roberts

H&O. In your issue of May 15, nnder the heading " Old Identiana," you mention a gentleman known as Mao, whose real name was Sinolair. His adopted cognomen was M'Donald, not M'Gregor, His son, who waß a prosperous farmer on the Mataura, preferred being called by the family name of Sinclair. In 1860 Mao kept an hotel at the Bluff, where I bad the pleasure of staying for Beveral nights. He was a very pleasant, jovial man of ■ome 18 atone we'ght, but a splendid reel dancer notwithstanding. In those early days tea was usually drunk at all meals, but Mac, considering a change ! necessary for dinner, frequently placed a bucket filled with rum on the table, from which eaob guest filled his pannikin as he | desired. The rum was sometimes made from the native cabbage tree (Oordyline Australia), and this, though very coarse aud disagreeable to my palate, was evidently relished by the old whalers and tha sailors frequenting the port. Where Mao was, conversation never flagged, aa he had an inexhaustible fund of anecdote, and told hia yarns in a very entertaining manner. He was fond or dressing in kilts, and looked well in them. One peculiarity^ of his waß a strong aversion to anyone whistling on the Sabbath day. Hi« hotel was not in the township of Oampbelltown, but about a mile lower down the harbour. In June 1860, the town of Oampbolltown consisted of one hotel, kept by Mr Watson ; a look-np, guarded by S? c °P° Btal) le ; » ouafcom-houae, in oharge of Mr O Toole, who aoted as collector., tidew&iter, clerk, &c. ; one store, owned by Mr Louie LongUPt. who resided with his fwuily in a good-sized and wall- built bou3o, r?hioh had been erected for Captain EUib ; and a cottage or two completed tbe list of dwellif tgs. The traok to Invercnrgill bad not been fot TOed, and? it was very difficult to take a horsru through the swampa, so persons ffonerally wa' Iked from one place to the other, taking advent* tgo of low tide, an tbe crcoka and swamps coil Id no'; b<2 orossed when tho tide w.v j up. • THE LATH 518 M'NAB. I observe in your obituary notice of the '/**© Mr Alexander M'Nab, of KnaTj(j a i Q| ou mention that k& married in 1803 and ;tb.st

his fwife survives him. I regret to say that he had the misfortune to lose ma very excellent wife in 1876. She waa a lady of rare parts, and waa very highly esteemed by all who had the honour of her acquaintance. M'Nab was an excellent colonist. He resided at firßt at Oroydon station, which was then known as Hokonui. The Maoris always oalled him Hokonui. He used to say that a sheep station waß perfectly ruined as soon as pettiooats and crockery oame onto it, and as to pianos 1 they were something terrible— a bagpipe could be welcomed— but a piano, keep rt away by all means! We used to tease him and wy he would ohange his mind Borne day, as so he did when he met Miss M'Queen, and frankly admitted that he never knew what oomfort was till he married. JOHNNT JONBS. Another hero of "Old Identiana" was a qneer mixture of kindness, roughness, and honour. Tales innumerable are told of him. Once he had a row with his storeman, and paying him his wages ordered him off the premises. Shortly afterwards he started on horseback for Oherry farm, and had nearly reached the top of Flagstaff Hill when he thought he had hwdly aoted l justly to his storeman in dismissing him so abruptly. He turned his horse round, rode to the man's dwelling, and told him to go back to the store. At th« time cf the Crimean war a public meeting waa called to oonaider what atepß ebpuld be taken to preserve the village of Dacedin should the Banians attack it. A number of wa^onta had their say, when Johnny M *»2. for I ,S opinion. «I think" he replied, "the best plan would be to have a 40 gun "cravat stationed at the heads » meaning, of course, a « corvette." Johnny believed in early boure. and dined in the middle of the day, but when asked to a dinner party he would of course attend. One day he wan invited to a very swell private dinner party, and on taking his seat was favoured with tho post of honour at his hostess' right hand. The table was loaded with ohoice viands, but the hour was too late for our hero. Hh kind hostess in vain aßked him to partake of the different dishes, out be politely refiwed them all. At last, a little puffed at his not even tasting her well- prepared d/ehes, she remarked, "Perhaps you have aheady dined, Mr Jones?" " I have, ijMrs — — .— ," he ropliefl, and turning to bis righthand .neighbour he remarked, "and had my tea too. " On anothor occasion ho was on tha ReceofcioKt Com:mttee when the Governor was expected to arrive in Dunedin, and it was pro-

poaed to entertain him at a lunch. Tbe question arose, What kind of a lunoh? Johnny said. " Oh, we will give him a hot * collection as we did the last Governor." Some one replied, " No, Mr Jones, it was a cold oollation we had that day." " Gold 1 how do you make that out j I'm sure the vegetables were hot.