OLD IDENTIANA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2300, 31 March 1898, Page 19

OLD IDENTIANA.

BEING A COMPILATION OF INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES OF THE PIONEER DAYS.

Th" Venerable Archdeacon Fenton and Mr Strode were walking down Princes street one afternoon when they passed a woman crying bitterly. They stopped and inquired the cause of her grief. She replied that sV had lost her shoes in the mud when crossing the street. They called a policeman to their assistance, but the whole three of them could only find one shoe.

Mr Monson was very lenient to the prisoners incarcerated in the old gaol, and there is more truth in the story of his giving them an occasional holiday than at first appears likely. The true account of one holiday is given as follows by one who had it from Mr Strode : On the afternoon before a holiday the magistrate being busy in his office, Mr Monson called on him and asked : " Are the prisoners to have a 'holiday to-morrD-v?" Mr Strode, thinking he meant to ask whether they might have a holiday from their usual occupations, replied, " Yes," and thought no more about the matter till it was reported to him that the prisoners had been to the races and some had got drunk.

The parsonage of Archdeacon Fenton was on part of the site now occupied by the High School boarding house. It was built by MiEdward Atkinson, and. should have a particular interest for churchmen, for in it were entertained on various occasions Bishop Selwyn (the elder), Bishop Harper, and Bishop Patteson. There were 10 acres of land connected with the house, on which Mr Fenton was able to keep his high-stepping horse.

During the first few years passengers who were impatient to reach Dunedin sometimes walked up from Port. There was then no road, and the bush track was extremely fatiguing. Often a party starting late in the afternoon, intending to do the distance before nightfall, were compelled to camp on the way. This was not a great hardship if the weather was fine, as the early morning hours were heralded by the songs of innumerable birds, and the beauties of the scene were quite suflir : ent recompense for any trifling inconveni j ;but if the weather was wet the first experience was discouraging.

The following story shows the high sense of justice among the Maoris : One of the early settlers had a number of sheep worried by dogs belonging to the natives. Tnis settler had formed a high opinion of his Maori neighbours, who had helped him to clean a flock of scabby sheep. He therefore followed an offending dog to the kaik, and asked that it should be shot. The women of the tribe had seen him coming, and sat round the dog to protect it. The chief, a magnificent specimen of his race, stepped forward and wanted to know the reason for this demand. The settler explained, when the chief said he would go and look at the sheep. The injured animals could not be found that night, but next day the chief came back by appointment, and after some time the sheep were discovered. As soon as the Maori saw their mangled condition he said, " You shoot him " (meaning the dog), which the settler did, and never had any more trouble with Maori dogs. The settler relates this story to show that the native sense of justice must have been very high, or he, single handed, would have had no chance of getting the dog away or of having him killed, as the chief himself would have been a match for any man. This same Maori became a great friend of the narrator of the above story, who scaled over 14st. On one occasion, to show his great physical strength, the chief lifted his friend without difficulty and carried him some distance across a water course.

In landing at Anderson's Bay in the early days it was necessary to leave a heavily-laden boat some distance from the shore and "Maori" it, as the phrase ran — i.e., tuck up the trousers and wade. One of a party that landed with Mr W. Somerville was not so strong as the Maori chief above referred to. He was carrying his father ashore, and when half way went down, soucing both himself and burden in the water and mud, much to the amusement of onlookers.

The first worsted spun in the province was spun on a wheel made by Mr J. Elder Brown, now of Milton, then a carpenter in Dunedin. Mrs Somerville, sen., of Anderson's Bay, had brought out cards for carding the wool and preparing it for spinning, and as soon as her wheel was made commenced spinning wool for stockings and cloth. The chief difficulty was to obtain dye stuffs. They tried various plants, the best being a berry which grew on the beach, the name of which Mr Somerville, who related these facts, has forgotten. Mr J. E. Brown also made a reel for winding the wool.

Farming implements were very rude in the early days. The old-fashioned English axe was in common use, and was of a peculiar shape and of great weight ; but as soon as the lighter American goods came into the market they quickly supplanted the English.

The flail was the only means of threshing out grain, which was then winnowed between the open doors of the barn. Mr J. E. Brown built the first threshing mill, which was driven by bullock power. He also constructed frames for winnowing the grain.

In 1849, when the settlers were short of flour, the Somervilles bought a flour mill from Mr Lloyd, of Green Island. This mill had a history : It appears that Mr Tuckett one of the first surveyors sent down to these parts, took a great interest in the Rev. Mr Wohlers's mission at Ruapuke When Mr Tuckett went Home he had a number of what he hoped would prove useful things

bent to the rev. gentleman. These were landed at Dunedin, and when ~Mr Wohlers came to look over them he found this mill. It was> complete in itself. You poured the wheat in at the top and it came out flour at the bottom. Of course it was not silk-dressed ilrur, but probably quite as wholesome. Mi Wohlers, having no use for the mill, sold it for £49 to a Dunedin gentleman, who aftei wards re-sold it to Mr Lloyd, of Green Island, who also found that he could make no use of it. So it fell into the hands of the Somervilles. The wheat was very bad in those times ; it was smutty and full of what people called darnel or cheet. Of course none of these " foreign substances " improved the Hour, and it was a terrible job to get it clean enough to grind by washing and other processes. When the Somervilles had the mill on their property at Anderson's Bay, where it had to be taken by manual labour — no light task in those days when the country was without roads and full of swamps — it had to be driven by two men in turns. It was as much as the two men could do to drive il. for five minutes at a stretch. When the flour had been made it was taken across the bay and sold, the boat being sometimes very a i xiously looked for.

There was a great scarcity of flour in 1949. Mr J. Gebbie relates that he was then working for Mr Kettle at Littlebourne, and on one occasion when returning to his home in the North East Valley he called at the baker's for bread. It was a Saturday night, and he had been requested to take home the next day's supply. The baker had not a loaf, and, what was worse, no flour to make any. When Mr Gebbie got home the tea was ready but there was no bread. This was a very serious matter, and after consultation with his wife he went to his neighbour, Mr Robert Chapman (who lived where Mr Glendining's house now stands), and was fortunate enough to obtain a small supply of potatoes. On the Monday they made another effort to obtain flour, but had to put up with rice.

People made all sorts of shifts when cooking rice, which was often the only substitute for floilr obtainable. They baked it, boiled it, fried it ,and tried to make bread of it ; but it could not be made to fill the place of flour.

This dearth of flour proved a blessing in disguise, for after the scarcity everyone grew wheat. Mr Gebbie grew a little plot, which he harvested in due time, threshed with a flail, and ground in a large-sized coffee mill which he and a neighbour bought between them. This neighbour had in his kitchen the stump of a tree, which had been left when the house was being built (a frequent practice at that time, when chairs and tables were few), and to this stump the mill was fixed.

No sooner had the scarcity of flour come to an end than the community ran out of salt. All sorts of devices were resorted to to obtain this necessary article. The barrels .n which the salted goods had been imported were washed out. Some people went out to the ocean and scraped the salt from the beach, while others took the salt water home <xnd boiled it till the water evaporated and left the salt at the bottom of the camp oven, which very frequently was the only boiler. One lady says that she obtained enough salt in this way to preserve a pig. She boiled the water in her camp oven, but the process took a very long time and a great deal of fuel, and many trips to and from the wharf for the water. It was at this time that it was found that the water of the open ocean was much salter than that of the harbour.

As showing the state of the roads in the early fifties, Mr Donald Reid relates that he has seen it take as many as three teams of bullocks to draw a dray containing eight bags of wheat from a position where the Bank of New South Wales now stands to M'Glashan's mill at Woodhaugh; for which job he and his mates received payment at the rate of Is per bushel.

Everyone bears testimony to the honesty, gratitude, and other virtues of the Maoris. Mrs W. Carey, mother of Mrs Tayler, the first child born at Waikouaiti, once made a sunbonnet for a Maori woman, and shortly afterwards left her house for a few moments. On her return, she found that the Maori had so filled the hut with potatoes that the door could hardly be opened.

The shoes and sandals that the children wore were made by the natives out of flax, but Mr Carey also made some out of goatskin, with strings drawn over the foot.

Mrs Tayler was seven years old when the immigrants arrived at the Heads, and she well remembers climbing a hill to see the ships. She says that one of the ships arrived on a misty day, and the settlers remarked that the Scotch passengers had appropriately brought a Scotch mist with them.

In 1849 Waikouaiti was a most desolate spot. It had been for many years a whaling station, but at that time the trade had been abandoned. There was not a single house except the one occupied by Mr Jones at Matanaka, and a few huts of old whalers in the native village. The country was bare and desolate, nothing but long grass, toi-tois, flax, tutu, and fern, with native tracks winding; up cullies and ove* 1 rid?es, more like sheep-walks than anything else. Boats could not get close in shore, the water not being deep enough, and the Maoris carried passengers on shore pick-a-back. Foremost among these camera was a half-caste girl known as Mary, and it was from her back that Mr Macleod Orbell and others first set

As Told by the Early Settlers.

foot on Waikouaiti soil On one occasion a well-known Dunedin doctor visited Waikouaiti en route to a distant patient who resided up-country, and as he would have to ride a long distance, the medico duly provided himself with spurs. While being carried on shore by Mary he gave her a gentle dig with them ; the next moment he found himself on the broad of his back in 3ft of water.

It was a common thing to see the natives eat fern root roasted in the embers of a wood fire. Its flavour is not unpleasant and it is not to be despised by a hungry man, and is very nourishing. A native drink obtained from the juice of the tutu berry, from which the poisonous seeds had been extracted, was really excellent and most refreshing.

No beef or mutton was to be bought in Waikouaiti in 1850. There were only a few sheep between Dunedin and the Waitaki River, and these were ail breeding ewes imported from New South Wales, and much too valuable to eat, so Mr Orbell and his family lived on wild pigs, pigeons, ducks, - pukaki,-' and other native game which abounded, and of which they never seemed to tire. The pigs were caught with half-bred mastiff dogs. It was not the pleasure that many people think, because they had to carry the pigs home upon their backs, slung across their shoulders with flax. If the pig was very heavy, it was cut in two, and each individual carried half. Sometimes the meat had to be carried thus several miles, Usually, a collie dog was taken with the party to find the pigs, which were always in some deep, ferny gully. This dog ran loose and would scent them from a long distance, and guide the hunters to where they were. The mastiffs were led till within a short distance of the game and then slipped. In a moment or two a tremendous scuffle and grunting was heard. The dogs flew savagely at the pigs, catching them by the ears, one on either side, never relinquishing their hold until the pig had been killed. A boar when thus attacked would often drag the dogs into some spot almost inaccessible to man. There was always an element of danger about it, and a dog was often* killed. . ,]. ,- . r

"Pit-sawing" is thus described by a settler : — The bush was first inspected, and wherever the greatest number of trees suitable for cutting into timber was found, there a pit was built. This was done by cutting a scarf into two trees about 20ft apart, and about 6ft from the ground ; then placing the end of a good-sized sapling in the scarf at either end, supported by two or three forked ones let into the ground, being careful that the forks were wider than the plates (side saplings), so that they could not split them. This formed one side of the pit. The other side was made in the same manner. Two pieces of wood were then placed across the top to hold the log. Two " skids," or fair-sized trees were put in position to enable the tree to be sawn to be rolled to the top of the pit, and stays were put between the sides of the pit to x^revent its collapse. Next a suitable tree was felled, cut into lengths, the bark knocked off to make it slide on roots of trees or other obstacles, and by the aid of ship's double blocks and tackle it was dragged to the pit. In later years this was done by bullocks; in the early days they were not always procurable. After the log had by much hard work reached the pit, it was rolled up the " skids " on to the top, leaving about 6ft underneath for the pit-man to work the saw. After marking the log with a worsted cord soaked in charcoal, and getting the top and bottom line perfectly plumb, a saw 7ft long was used. One man standing on the top of the log and the other in the pit. The man on the top had the hardest and most difficult part to perform, he not only had to lift the saw for each stroke, and regulate the cut by allowing it to descend as lightly as possible from a light hand — otherwise the hooked teeth of the saw would catch and no progress be made — but he had to balance himself on the top of the log — no easy matter, and, without practice, a most difficult feat to perform, especially when cutting through the side lines on the log. When it had been cut into " flitches," or squares, it was comparatively easy to cut these into boards and scantling.

There was no regular mail between Dunedin and Waikouaiti until about 1855. Before that time the settlers were dependent upon each other to carry letters to and from Dunedin, and the road was so dangerous, especially over the " old mountain track," that few ventured to travel lit alone, and when the first fortnightly mail service was established it was carried on horseback, a three days' journey between the two places, settlers deferring their journey until they could have the postman >as a guide. At that time it generally occupied four months to get a reply from Wellington to a letter posted in .Waikouaiti, and twelve months to get an answer from England.

There are some, no doubt, still living in Dunedin who can remember the excitement caused by the arrival of an English mail. How the old Town Board bellman, " Sandy Low," rang his bell up and down Princes street notifying the fact by shouting " Arrival of the English mail. Fall of the Ministry. Declaration of war between England and France and Russia, and other items of interest that had happened at Home two or three months before, the news and mails reaching us through one of the immigrant vessels.

Many early settlers, before their houses were built, lived in grass whares, which were made thus : A few saplings were stuck in the

giound, tied together with other small saplings, to which were tied with flax lumps of grass pulled up by the roots and fastened in such a manner that they could not slip down. These huts were generally about 6ft by 6ft, and had no chimney, so all the cooking had to be done in the open. In rough weather they were not enjoyable, being neither wind nor waterproof, yet many now living in comfortable houses look back to life in a " grass whare " with fond recollection.

In 1861, when Gabriel's Gully and other gold mines were discovered, the price of cattle went up with a bound, ordinary fat cattle were worth £3 per 100K> in Dunedin, fat merino wethers £2 each. Teams of six draught horses, with waggon and harness, were sold for £800. Everything else rose proportionately.

Mr Traill, the first Oamaru storekeeper, once went to Timaru for a boat, and not being able to get anyone to face the task with him, brought the boat to Oamaru by himself, with only a blue blanket for a sail.

The first shipment of stock direct to Oamaru was 708 sheep for Messrs Filleul Bros., which arrived in April, 1859, and were all safely landed in boats, in the absence of harbour facilities, notwithstanding the surf on the beach, through which they rushed in true follow-the-leader style as soon as the boats grounded. oas> t *4Viu~fi.l f l*

In the good old days a blue shirt and moleskins or Bedford-cord trousers was the universal dress for Sundays and week days, the collar of the blue shirt for the former day, amongst would-be swells, being covered with black silk and quilted. It did not follow that the silk was new, but ofttimes was cut out of a good old mother's Home dress, found not to be of much use in the young colony.

" In the matter of food," says a settler, " with the exception of tea, sugar, and a few other groceries, all the main staples were raised on the premises. We were our own Stil roads, or rather bridges, were required to enable us to receive our supplies from, and send our produce to, Dunedin by the little coasting vessels which came by the Taieri River to the head of Waihola Lake. And these bridges were provided for and constructed in the following way : The names of the different creeks to be bridged or culverts to be constructed were put into one hat and the names of the settlers in another, and a drawing then took place on the understanding that those settlers whose names were not drawn were to give their help and assistance to those who drew the heaviest bridges or culverts. An arrangement which was most honourably carried out."

There was a common and almost universal feeling of brotherhood among the early settlers, as well as between master and servant and servant and master, and if there is one thing more than another which makes the old settlers look back on those old days of heavy toil with profound pleasure it was this practical brotherhood and absence of selfishness exhibited towards one another. In this respect, at all events, those were " good old times."

" The first church in Toko," says a settler, " was built on the co-operative principle ichiefly, the fact being that we had then more capital in warm hearts and willing labour than in cash or money, indeed a very small amount of the latter was in actual circulation amongst us. The bush sawyers supplied a large share of the timber ; one settler drew the timber to the site, carpenters who are now well-to-do farmers gave their labour, and so the first church was erected. Not a very pretentious building, but one which was exceedingly useful not only for religious services, but was also used as a school and meeting room."

It was a standing joke among the early stttlers " that a newcomer got a twelvemonth to grumble in. If he did not stop grumbling then it was time he cleared out."

Otago was fortunate in the time and manner of its settlement. There was no Native difficulty. The Maoris were few in number and 1 ved apart from the immigrants, only occasionally coming up from the Kaik at the Heads to sell barracouta and kits of potatoes, running their fine large whaleboats on to the shingly beach at the mouth of the little creek that came down Rattray street and forming a gipsy encampment there while they stayed. The settlement was steadily prosperous from the first. The outbreak of the Australian gold diggings in 1851 opened a ready market for the surplus products of the settlers, and the reduction in the price of land from £2 per acre to 10s caused a rapid settlement in the country districts, and an influx of pastoralists taking up land in the interior. The discovery of a payable goldfield in Otago itse\ in 1861 just came at the right time to develop the further resources of the colony.

In speaking of the old times the late Mr J. L. Gillies warmly asserted that instead of looking back on those early days as being a time of worry and hardship, he looked upon that period as being Otago's happiest days, and certainly the happiest part of his own life, contrasting the happy, natural life then lived with the life of worry and strain of competition and crowding of professions, and the requirements of modern society.

Sir John Richardson, after a lecture delivered in Toko some years before his death, also spoke warmly of the happy life of the parly days, and added that he was often in the habit of retiring to a place on the banks of the Puerua River, where he could shut him-

•-'elf off among the flax and scrub from all sights and sounds beyond his immediate surroundings, that he might give himself up to the recollection of the early days that had been so full of enjoyment to Inm.

The exaggerated ideas of the early immigrants concerning the climate and productions of Otago are amusingly portrayed by one of the passengers of the Mooltan : "It was proved that the climate was so exceptionally genial that, except on rare occasions tno. for private purposes, houses were not required at all. The natives had lived without them from time immemorial. Gentlemen of position had slept with their families in the open with impunity and pleasure. The fertility of the soil was simply astounding. It \*as scarcely necessary to touch it — you had only to tickle it with a stick. The idea of tilling in the ordinary sense was totally out of the question, for in no respect did it resemble the rebellious clays of their native country. Only scratch it with a rake, and so gracious and bounteous was the responsive soil that farinaceous stalks would spring up with heads bigger than those of the hearer.

Native fruits, the most delicious in the world, were scattered in rich luxuriance through the islands. Loaves of bread actually grew upon the trees. There was no necessity for work, the difficulty would be to wile away the time. Talk of honey ! — it was in countless tons in the hollows of the trees. The forests were overrun with every species of game, and the deer and the antelope might be counted by millions on the plains. Eggs were superabundant on the plains, which were alive with native hens, you only had the trouble of gathering them together, and barrels might be filled with them as fast as you pleased. The vocalisation of these plains and forests was a never-ending source of delight and enchantment ; tne birds were as numerous as the sands of the sea, and gorgeous as the dreams of Oriental splendour.

" There were some misgivings as to the reality of the growing loaves, more especially as it was asserted that they did not require even to be baked ; but a horticulturist on board explained that this bread was a species of fruit, only slightly sweeter, but more nourishing and grateful than that to which we were accustomed. It would be quite ridiculous, he said, to suppose that these loaves were exactly square, his own opinion being that they were neither square nor round, but somewhat of the configuration of an egg. The same authority argued from the size of the mo'a and of some pumpkins grown in Taranaki that these problematical loaves could not be expected to weigh less than from 60ft» to 701b ! And as to their being already cooked and fit for the table, that piocess s effected by the heat of the sun."

When the ricketty wooden building which did duty as the first gaol in Dunedin, and ■which was appropriately called "the sailor's home," was on fire, its sole inmate was one of their number, and he, of all people in the world, frantically exerted himself in the preservation of a refuge in which he had spent the most delightful passage of his life. The people of Dunedin, highly diverted at this incident, petitioned for his unconditional release, and a subscription was raised to give him a start in life. He afterwards became a very important person, married, and brought up a large family, who were noted for their piety, for which they were mainly indebted to their father's teaching.

The honesty of the old identities of Otago is proverbial. If any article were dropped it never tempted the cupidity of the finder. The usual practice was to hang the recovered article on a tree by the roadside in some conspicuous place. Hundreds would pass without dreaming of appropriating what did not belong to them. A young woman residing in the North East Valley picked up a parcel on her way from Dunedin. She had the curiosity to open it. It contained £28 in notes. She replaced the notes and hung the little bag containing them on a tree by the side o* the road. She mentioned the circumstance to her father, who sent his son and daughter to the tree, which was by the side of the Water of Leith. The roads were in a terrible state, for it had been raining heavily. George however pushed bravely on and reached the Witness office, where he delivered the notes to the editor (Mr Cutten). They proved to be the property of a working man, who in a passion of gratitude rewarded the young woman with the present of a penny.

The wharf was a small affair, and had the appearance of not being strong enough to sustain half a dozen people. One good-sized vessel of the present type would certainly have torn it to pieces.

On one occasion Bishop Harper chanced to be in Dunedin while the Provincial Council was in session, and, accompanied by the Rev. now Archdeacon) Fenton, went into the chamber before the sitting began. The speaker noticed their entrance, and said, " Oh, there is the Bishop of Christchurch. Let us ask him to open with prayer," which ■?-as accordingly done, the bishop acceding to the request.

On the arrival of the Bernicia at Port Chalmers Captain Cargill and the Rev. Mr Burns went on board, and gave the passengers a hearty welcome, the captain wearing his historic blue Kilmarnock bonnet with, the red tassel, which afterwards figured in so many of the early jokes and caricature* The Bernicia was captured by pirates in the China seas on a subsequent voyage, the crevr murdered, and the ship herself burned.

Two houses were brought to Otago by Major Croker in the Regina. One was erected in Stafford Street, and the other ai Pelichet Bay. The materials being brought by lighter to about the foot of Stafford Street, then thrown overboard in a rising tide, hauled on to the beach, made into a raft, and towed by boat to the site at Pelichet Bay. This house is still standing, and is said to be dry and sound in every part. All the joints, &c, were numbered, so that it did not require a carpenter to build it. It is now far above high water mark, and streets and houses have been built between it and the Bay, but at that time high water came up to the edge of the section, and the rafts were tied to an old manuka, the stump of which was standing a short time ago, and may be there still.

The Rajah, which arrived in Port in 1853, had an eventful voyage, having been brought into contact with a real live pirate, or what ,was supposed to be one. " I can never forget the occasion," says Mr John Mackay. "It was on a very fine Sunday. The pirate sailed round and round us, her yards almost touching ours, we were twice her size, yet she played round us as if we were at anchor. The captain, crew, and heads of families were in .• ere it state of alarm. r > he captain oi--dcied all hands on deck, men, women, and children, numbering about 96 souls. All who were able to use a cutlass or musket were supplied with those weapons, and, although I was only a boy at the time, I could see by the faces of the elders that they were preparing to meet death with the fury of tigers. Still, lam of opinion that the good sense of our Captain in ordering the women and children on deck had more to do with otu escape than the determined appearance oi our fighting force. I think the pirate took compassion on so many women and children, or perhaps thought that an emigrant ship would prove a very poor prize after all, and be more plague than profit. At any rate she lay alongside of us for about 20 minutes, and then sailed away as if we were not moving."

The Rajah was almost wrecked off Tasmania. Here she met with a terrific hurricane during one night. The poop was stove in the bulwarks swept from end to end, and not a boat left. The water poured down the hatchways until it was up to the lower bunks in the second cabin and steerage compartments ; but fortunately no lives were lost.

Coal was discovered in Otago at Saddle Hill by Mr J. Hair, a passenger by the. Philip Laing.

A child was born on board the Philip Laing on the very day that she anchored in Otago harbour. The parents, after some necessary delay, located themselves in a Maori whare, built for them by the natives.

The barque Thetis arrived in the harbour in August, 1854, after a passage of 157 days. She was in such a leaky condition that all hands refused to put to sea in her again. She was duly surveyed and received a certificate of seaworthiness, but after leaving this port

she never reached land. All hands suffered that old British black" law, says Mr Churchill — three months' imprisonment — tor refusing to go to sea in a coffin ship.

When the men had served eight weeks Mr Monsun told them that a crowd was outside waiting to force them on board, and advised them not to go,but to barricade the prison gates, and not suffer the crowd to get in. This they did, -the experience of defending a prison against would-be'liberators being probably unique.

When the first races were held Mr Monson took all hands, including the Thetis men, to the course, and treated them very liberally, telling them, however, that they must get home at 10 o'clock, and sober, or lie would lock them out. On that occasion they got home all right. It was at a later time that immunity made the prisoners reckless.

For want ot accommodation, most of the goods brought out in the first ships lay near the jetty covered by tarpaulins for months, people going to their boxes as they wanted things. One never heard of anything being stolen.

In 1858, when the ship Robert Henderson reached port, and her passengers got up to Dunedin, they found the immigration barracks — then in Princes street south — supplied with bunks, but no blankets — nothing but the bare boards. The children and weaker women cried bitterly at the sight.

As an instance of the trouble and anxiety attending the life of a pilot, Aye give a few extracts from the diary of the late Mr Richard Driver: — "February 28, 1852. — Boarded ship, which proved to be the Maori. Wind died away, had to anchor about a quarter of a mile rom shore. Remained at anchor until half -past 2 in the morning. Breeze came from the north, called all hands to get under way. Loosed sails, when the ship commenced driving, and before the sails could be set we were within a few fathoms of the shore. Owing to the chain riding it could not be let go, which added considerably to the danger. When the chain was slipped the schooner went ahead and off. Thank God."

"' August 13, 1852. — Barque hove in sight. Made signals to stand to sea, bar not fit to take her. She stood across the mouth of the harbour, then ware ship and stood in. Sent Maoris for boat, being too rough to haul up and launch on our beach in consequence of large stones having been washed up. The barque stood on and ran ashore above the first white buoy. Boarded her, and ran out a kedge and line ready for whatever might happen. Tried her at high water, but could not get her off.

" September 1. — Boat coming from Waikouaiti in the inside passage reported a boat capsized on the bar. From the flagstaff cculd see four men on the boat and one in the water. Launched boat, and pulled in the direction of the men. When nearing the beach saw the boat in the surf, and three men crawling away from her. My own boat

nearly unmanageable in the rough sea. Landed, found three men all in a very weak state. They told me that two Maoris and a ■white man and woman were drowned. By tins time the beach was strewn with boxes and goods of all descriptions. Started for the boat, for I thought I siw a foot, and found a white man lying at the bottom almost lifeless; hauled him out of the boat, and got a native boy to assist me in carrying hiir> to some sheltered spot. As this was in the roughest part of the beach, got him to some sandhills, stripped him, and put on my own shirt and drawers. Put him in the boat and took him to Farrel's, and got a good fire and g'.ass of hot grog and soon

brought him to his senses. Most of the property was afterwards recovered, and returned to the owners, but no bodies were found.

" September 11. — Received a summons for giving a native a glass of wine. Quite laughable.

" September 14. — Attended court, and got fined £5 for giving the Maori the glass of wine." By this entry it would seem that (he prohibition craze is older than is generally believed.

" March 5, 1853. — Ship bearing up for the bar. Saw she was in great danger. Got o<i the lighthouse, and waved her off, and ran down to the boat but could not get near her. She anchored close to the bar and

Head. Ship firing guns all night. Kept light on the Head all night. On the following day this ship was boarded, and brought safely to land. She proved to be the Prince Alfred from London. Her captain said he did not understand the pilot's signals. "M'irch 29, 1854. — A brig standing in shore, hauled up her foresail for pilot. Launched and boarded her. The Thomas nd Henry from Sydney, for Mr Jones, 20 days from Sydney; 900 sheep on board. Mr Driver received £183 per annum, onefifth of the pilotage, and some other small perquisites. His first house was a wretched place, exposed to every wind, but he ultimately built a pretty cottage on his own pioperty. Everyone writes in the highest teims of his skill as a pilot, and his many good qualities as a man. Bishop Sehvyn preached his first sermon at the Hogburn in the b Uiard room of the " Old Victorian." The room was crowded to 'excess, while many stood outside at the doors and windows. On the Bernicia was a cockney tailor, whe was in the habit of ill-treating his wife. One night, just after all had settled down in their bunks, this brute b gan abusing her as usual. The snigle men in a body, headed by one who was p irticularly strong, and over 6ft m height, rushed into the tailor's quarters, dragged him out of his bunk, lug ged him on deck, plunged him into a tub of dirty water and turned the hose upon him urtil he was nearly drowned. He did not appear on deck for nearly a week, and from that time to the end of the voyage his wife had a little pc ice. When crossing the line a very sad occurence took place on b iard the Bernicii. The sailors and single men were going to have the usual festival in honour of Neptune, li aking the green hands pay tribute to his Majesty. It was a lovely clear night, aid the. rough play had just begun, and buckets of water were being thrown in all directions, when the thrilling cry ox " Mai overboard!" "« as heard, and a commanding voice shouted, "'Bout ship!" Ail hands ran to launch a boat, but the captain sternly refused to let

the ship be stopped, declaring that it was only some foolish practical joke.

What confusion prevailed! Mothers and wives rushed hither and thither, trying to fissure themselves of the safety of sons and husbands. At last the ship's roll was called, and it was found that one of the apprentices was missing. The cry of "Man overboard !" had been shouted by Colonel Wakefield, one of the passengers, who, while leaning over the stern of the vessel, had heard the cry for help. The" saddest part of it was that the, boy was the son of an intimate friend of the captain of the Bernicia.

The Bernicia had two cannon on board, and when she sighted Mount Egmont these were fired to inform the people of New Plymouth of her arrival. Wien the cannon were fired everybody got a fright, and thought they were going to the bottom of the sea, and a German on board came out of the saloon blustering and swearing in his native language, declaring that his wife, who had fainted with terror, was in a fit. He looked as if he were going into a fit himself. He ordered all his luggage to be hauled on deck, and declared that he would not stay on board another minute. The captain fell in with his humour, sent him on shore with the mails, and peace was restored.

New Plymouth, so far as the passengers of the Bernicia could see, was a level plain, with no houses in sight. They saw two riders galloping along the beach, with scarlet blankets flying from their shoulders. In tin distance were about 50 canoes, full of Maoris, who were said to be on the warpath. At Nelson the Bernicia was received with joy, as the first large ship that had entered the harbour for seven years, the Fifeshire, which was the last to call, having been wrecked on a rock in the bay, since called by her name.

When the Bernicia reached Wellington, the passengers noticed something very peculiar nbnut the houses, and at last saw th.it ihev were all without chimneys, a great earthquake having just passed over that town and shaken them all down.

The old gun (or guns — some of our correspondents say one,others two) on Bell Hill was only used lor firing a salute on the

(Queen's Birthday, and even that was soon discontinued; but invaders would hare fared as badly as the robbers who set upon ,i Scot and met a determined resistance, •which was only overcome with the greatest d fficulty. On being searched he was found to be possessed of saxpence. " Great S^ott !" cried the leader of the gang, "If he had had eighteenpence he would have killed the lot of us." Whe l remonstrated with on his extreme leniency io the prisoners, Mr Monson wai apt to 'say, " If I did not treat them kindly tl/ev would not stay." Mr Macandrew got hold of this, and, on the estimates being c ns'dered in the Provincial Council, propi.eed an increr.se in the gaoler's salary, on the ground that a gaoler \rho could keep his pi isoiiers by niaral force was worth a subst ntial sum. " The passengers of the Victory," says a pas-sender, " had the unusual experience of a mutiny on board, but it was of a mild type. Btiore the ship Ind cleared the channel it became apparent that the captain was a nervous, over-anxious, incompetent man, utterly unfit for his post. He also succeeded in annoying the crew by many acts of petty Uranny, such as depriving them of their shep by calling all hands on deck when it was not necessary. The discontent grew, and the grumbling, loud and deep, reached Ilit capt an's eais, as it was intended to do. To panifh them, when they were up reefing on cold 'Wk nights he would stand beside the stecrainiii and make him keep her full, thus keeping the men longer on the yarda th m there was any occasion for. '' Conspicuous among the crew was a man n mcd Robinson, who was a strikingly handMime voun^ lcllow, with dark complexion and curly b ack luir, with a ' love of a mouslachi* i,s the girls siid — a very unusual appendage in those diyt — and who looked, to i vote another young lady, ' like a dear, delightful brigand.' This young man, who had been well educated and evidently belonged to a higher rank, proved himself to be a thorough seaman, and as the captain lost the confidence of the crew and passenger* he gained it. The first mate was a very young ni'ui, who had no qualities or appearance to inspire respect, and the second mate

was so worthless that lie was disrated and his place taken by the bosun. Thus Robinson appeared to be the natural and only leader.

" In the Bay of Biscay, things came to a crisis. The old cry rose ' All hands shorten sail ! ' Robinson was in the mate's watch, then beloAv. The men had only turned in about an hour. When they had left the deck there was a stiff breeze, but nothing particularly threatening, and from the motion of the ship it did not appear to be any worse. There were a few curses, a^d then Robinson said, "Look here, boys; I'll go up and see what it is like, and if there is no need, we will not do it." 'Right you are,' said one and all ; 'we are at your back.' Robinson went on deck, and asked the first man he met, ' Has it been any worse? ' ' Not a bit ; ju&t as you see.' And Robinson decided that they would not do it; all the men of both watches backing him up. He told the captain their decision, and that gentleman got into a great rage. ""

" At first the captain wanted to put Robinsoil in irons, and- tried to get the passengers to help him,- But they refused to a man, for they saw plainly that the sailor was in the right, and*~th,at if any real danger should tl i eaten the -ship their only hope was in him. Thus it came to pass that the A.B. WB' virtual 'captain of the Victory. When everything went on well Robinson did hia work like another man. When there was re ugh weather, or any danger threatened, he quietly took command. All the men obeyed him and trusted him, and before the voyage was over the mate repeated his orders as if they had been those of the captain. It seems strange that this man, who practically saved the ship, crew, and passengers, and really deserved the gratitude of the owners, should have been put in prison on the ship's arrival in port.

" ' Crossing the line ' was celebrated with great spirit on board the Victory. Neptvne's get up had been in hand for some time, and was a great success. Crown, beard, and trident were all perfect, and the representative of the sea-god carried himself with great dignity. The captain ordered grog to be served round, and the fun commenced. The poop was reserved, and every person on it was safe; but the main deck was given up to the crew, and woe betide

any person thoughtlessly trespassing on it. The whole paraphernalia was there, bath, lather, razors, &c. All belonging to the ship who had not previously crossed the line had to undergo the ordeal ; some, also, who were working their passage, and a few passengers who innocently came down to get a nearer view.

"I had previously given the sailors half a sovereign to thoroughly shave and dip my chum," says the narrator of these incidents, " and, secure in my supposed immunity, was on the main de k watching the"" fun, when suddenly I was pounced upon. ' No, no ; ' I protested, ' it's a mistake. I gave you half a sovereign to dip D .' ' Right,' was the answer, 'but then he has given us a sovereign to dip you ! ' — which just shows how easily people may be deceived. I would never have thought D could have been so mean. However, we were both let off very lightly, and not made to swallow any of the horrid compound that did duty as lather, neither were we dipped, and were shaved with the smooth instead of the rough side of the hoop and after it was over we indulged in a bath and a good laugh at each other's expense."

The appearance of the old Dunedin Gaol seems to have struck all i ew comers, probably in contradistinction to those " on tin other side." But the descriptions of this erection vary considerably, and are a fair example of much " ]eg:l evidence." Here is another picture. " The gaol was close to the Police Camp, and on a terrace above the beach, and some distance in front of the building known as the First Church. It was built of manuka saplings, pointed and driven a few inches into the ground, and tied together with fl >x, the roof being thatched with long grass. It consisted of two apartments, the inner, or sleeping room, vas lined with bark; the outer was daubed "with clay. For com en ence when the outer door was locked, the prisoners had hollowed the floor opposite four of the saplings, then, by slipping the sheet of bark on one side, loosening the ties, and drawing the points of the saplings inwards, an opening was made by which one cou'd go in or out, and ■was useful when the prisoners felt inclined •to take a w Ik down town t > inset a friend or spend a tip."

At Port Chalmers for many years a flagfctaJ on the beach d d du u j as n " lock-up."

And two hours walking round it on a cold frcsty night would make the most obstreperous drunk " glad to get on board his ship again, a colder and a soberer man.

" In those days," says an old resident, " we had more to do than qualify for a gaol. We found a fair land, but rough, and every one great and small put his shoulder to the wheel to lick it into shape, and I think I may say that we succeeded".

The first custom-house officers had a considerable number of duties to perform, and one man "filled many parts." There was a fixed duty on spirits and tobacco ; but drapery goods, &c. , were ad valorem. Among other duties, the officer had a boat and crew, and had to board vessels outside the bar if there was not a fair wind to bring them in. He had to receive the mail, inspect the passengers' accommodation to see that they had the allotted space, and, if necessary, to put the vessel into quarantine until the health officer could be communicated with. He ■was thus generally the second white man the immigrants saw, the pilot being the first ; and many and various were the questions put to him.

The custom-house gave as little trouble as possible, passengers being allowed to take their luggage with little or no inspection; except when the captain or mate would give the names of some single girls whose boxes they wished inspected. On such occasions the owners would never give up the keys and the boxes had to be broken open ; then, after turning over a few of the mysterious things that women wear, the officer would suddenly come upon a pair of blue cloth trousers, a sailor's jacket, vest, &c. On holding np the trousers to ask if that was the latest fashion at Home, he would find that the fair owner had fled. The fact being that the captain had noticed an intimacy and suspected a "bolt," the sailor taking the precaution to send his clothes on shore in his sweetheart's box.

The pilot, Richard Driver, was a most plucky and daring man, unsurpassed in skillful seamanship, who, with a bar-harbour and no tug handled every vessel successfully, without a single accident, thus keeping a good name for the harbour,' and greatly Piping the prosperity of the place.

On the voyage of the Ajax the doctor sent to ask it the Scotch passengers would go and hear the service read after the Church of England form. They objected, and the consequence was that the topgallant forecastle was assigned to the Presbyterians for a church, and the quarter deck to the Anglicans.

A burial at sea is a sad and solemn function. Mr Robert Campbell, of St. Clair, thus describes a burial from the Ajax : — '' A little child died last night and was buried to-day— October 9th, 1848. The little body was sewn up in a bag, and laid on the grating of the main hatch, covered with a Union Jack. At 10 a.m. all hands were called up to attend the funeral. A few boards were laid fi'om the ship's side to the long boat. The boatswain stood on the boards, the little body before him stretched on a piece of plank, still covered by the Union Jack. The boatswain had hold of the plank in one hand and the flag in the other. The doctor read the service over the body, and at the word of command the sailor pulled off the flag and tipped up the plank, and, amidst the tears of some and the sighb of many, the little thing was launched into the deep, and in a moment was lost to sight, and in ten minutes ail things going on as before.

The adult steerage passengers of the Ajax received iresh meat only five or six times during the whole voyage, and then only nali a pound each. They were often docked of their provisions, and on examination on one ocasion the beam and scales proved to be three and a-half ounces on the wrong side, and on further examination a piece of lead, two ounces in weight, was found run into the scale. The passengers then appointed two men to go to the storeroom every day and see the provisions properly weighed.

A general disruption took place among the boys and girls attending school on board the Ajax. A German had been appointed to teach the children, and was in every way unqualified for the job, besides the fact that he a d his better-half disagreed and frequently came to fisticuffs. Mr Brown started an opposition school with' a few Scotch boys, and in the afternoon an the English boys and girls left the German gentleman, and he, in high dudgeon at being so put upon, gave up his task and retired, to the satisfaction of all concerned.

On board the Mooltan were a number of young Highlanders. Their notions of the English language were of the haziest kind, but their physique was grand. They were, so to speak, " the pick of the pen." All were young, powerful as lions, and bold as those mighty monarchs of the west. As they stood upon the decks, when the vessel sailed from Greenock, sparkling with animation and bright as the morning star, they were pronounced on all hands fitting soldiers for colonising chivalry. It can truly be affirmed that the progress of Otago was materially advanced by these sons of the mountain, the heather, and the heath.

Mr R. M. M'Dowall, the third gentleman who conducted school in Otago, supplies us with a number of interesting reminiscences from which we cull the following particulars of the voyage of the Mooltan :— " After the outbreak of cholera on board the Mooltan, the passengers — as was natural — became terribly alarmed, and it was evident that something must be done to divert and calm their minds, or a general panic would ensue. Prompt measures were determined on and adopted. The ship was fumigated in every part, and the ablest speakers — previously instructed — addressed the assembled and panic stricken passengers. The orators assured the emigrants that all possible danger was at an end. Solemn as the occasion was, these wise and politic assurances — boldly asserted and insisted upon, but in the truth, of which the speakers did not in the least believe — had the desired effect. The addresses were received with cheers by the emigrants. While in this mood all available musicians were posted near the cabins, the decks cleared, and a gay throng was speedily joining in the merry mazes of the dance.

" In these and other pastimes devised from .time to time to keep up the spirits of the passengers the sailors were the leading actors, and their comical costumes and antics did much to divert anxious and troubled hearts from dwelling on possible danger. Naturally, however, nothing could stir the hearts of that formidable array of mourners who had lost their nearest and dearest. Never, perhaps, was so much misery assembled in a space so limited, for the number of mourners was at least treble that of the dead. But the active measures taken had the desired effect, and from that time onward there was

but one more death, and that was from sunstroke. Sports 1 of all kinds were organised and continued, music floated on the air, and the decks resounded nightly to the measured jmotion of the dancers' feet.

" Later on, when the cholera scare had entirely subsided, and when the Mooltan was going full speed with a favouring gale, a new horror came. An ominous cry rose from the watch, " Breakers ahead !" We were all aware that we were nearing the island of Tristan d'x\cunha, but by some miscalculation the captain was not aware that we were so close upon it, although one of the passengers (himself an ex-captain) had warned him of the dangerous proximity, and the watch had been enjoined to double vigilance.

" When first sighted Tristan d'Acunha looked merely an tmdefined mist, of which one could make nothing. As the ship drifted closer in, drawn by a current from which she could not escape, the explosions from the impact of waters on the island announced its presence in thundering proclamations. Gradually the mist cleared off, the nebular appearance became more defined, and presently Tristan d'Acunha glittered in the rays of the setting sun, when even the most light-hearted were finally convinced of the impending peril. The day was drawing to a close, with scarcely a breath of wind with which to manoeuvre or work the vessel, which was gradually but surely drifting upon the breakers.

" Every moment the danger became greater, the sails were trimmed in all possible directions in a vain attempt to extricate the vessel from her dangerous position. After

labouring all night we did not appear to be any better or worse than before. Having floated to a certain point we had remained stationary. We were fortunate in having a still, calm sea, and no adverse wind — in fact, no wind at all. Though soundings told us that we were on a sea were anchors would be of no use, they, with chains and cables, were ordered from below. Plan after plan was tried and abandoned, and there seemed nothing left but to await our doom with fortitude and composure. At this juncture a happy inspiration suddenly illumined the hitherto gloomy face ol the captain."' All the 'boats, with one exception, were oidered to be launched and immediately manned by a mixed company of seamen and Highlanders, conspicuous among the latter being the late Mr Allan M'Masters, of Saddle Hill. To these boats lines were attached, and the experiment was tried of towing the ship lrom her perilous position.

" During seven or eight hours these young Titans plied the oars with unceasing resolution. But the Mooltan remained as immovable as if she had been anchored. Yet the efforts of the rowers were not useless, for tne strain upon the tow lines at least kept the ship from being drawn nearer to the island. With the one boat remaining relays ot men were sent out to the indefatigable rowers, stimulants were supplied, and everything was done to keep up their strength and courage.

" When hope of saving the ship had almost gone a puff of wind from the island filled the sails, and for the first time the ship moved a few yards from the land, but with provoking persistency the wind chopped round, and the Mooltan returned to her former dangerous position, and again the wind dropped altogether. This happened two or three times, and then, being convinced that the ship was doomed, hte captain prepared to do his best to save the passengers, and ordered up stores of provisions, spirits, &c, and set the men to work to make rafts. Again the slight wind from the land filled the sails, and drove the ship some distance from land. The wind fell, but this time the ship did not lose ground, and the captain's trumpet rang out to the rowers to pull for their lives. This they did, fearing some new disaster. Then came another puff from the land to their aid, and this gradually increased in strength and steadiness, until at last the tow lines began to slacken, and it became evident that the ship's progress was greater than that of the boats, and the Mooltan, apparently ashamed of her former apathy, dashed aside the blue waters of the ocean and bounded ahead. In a few hours the dreaded Tristan d'Acunha was a mere speck on the horizon."

One more marvellous escape marked this .eventful voyage. When about an hour's sailing from the heads, ' we were all but on a small rock unseen by the look-out. The captain had barely time to leap to the helm, and so manipulate the ship as to escape the rock and nothing more. For a couple of minutes after he was speechless and pale, for the Mooltan had really grazed the rock ' That was a clean shave ! ' he muttered, looking back upon the obstacle that he had contrived to elude as by a miracle."

Pilot Driver was, of course, the first white man seen by the immigrants when arriving in Otagan waters, and naturally they besieged him with questions, and he, being rather of a facitious disposition, delighted in, what boys call, " stuffing " them. Thus on one occasion he told them that an omnibus ran straight to Dunedin from the Flagstaff on the hill, and it was no uncommon sight to sej stout ladies and gentlemen struggling np the cliff and then waiting patiently for the expected conveyance. At another time he told them that colonists did not need horses, as convevanc'es of all kinds were driven by the wind. He also told surprising stories of the cannibalism of the quiet Maori residents^ — a crew of whom manned his own boat — assuring trembling mothers that their children would form a delicious tit-bit, &c.

Old-time balls were simple affairs, and ti ok pla':e in barns, shearing sheds, and. of course, in a hotel if there was one hauls. Sometimes, the boards, if laid upon the bare soil, would exude' moisture, end emit, at the most vigorous portions of the dance, ; ]ie snuelchhig sound which is so suggestive of rheumatism. On other occasions, the supports becoming loose, the boards bounded np and down with every movement, like the keys of a piano. At regular intervals the floor was swept, during which operation the gentlemen retired to the bar or its substitute, arid the ladies arranged their toilets. When supper was ready the guests ate with enjoyment, and drank all the toasts right loyally. After supper came a drink and a whiff of the pipe, and the male guests would composedly saunter back to the ballroom — noc attired in the orthodox claw-hammer coat, but in the picturesque garb of the golddigger. A hornpipe or jig was generally dtmced during the evening with unqualified success.

On one such occasion, in Central Otago, a voting lady, clad as a jockey, danced a sailor's hornpipe as an extra, which, though much admired, was not repeated. When the dancing nagged, some gentleman would oblige with a comic song, the chorus of which would be powerfully rendered by the company. Altogether these social gatherings were conducted with an abandon and vigour wanting in present society.

" After supper Aye were interviewed," says a narrator, " by all and sundry in the hotel, somewhat after the manner in which our enterprising reporters at the present time ' bail ' up and interview distinguished travellers. In our case, however, it was not on account of our distinction, nor were the interviews intended for publication; but our visitors were simply old hands seeking to get news of the old country from new chums. At that time a newspaper six months old was prized as a treasure. A letter and its reply occupied about 12 months travelling to and from the Home country.

A few young men who left the Philip Laing and hastened up to Dunedin on foot, finding no other place to sleep in, entered a thatched shed in which some provisions were stored, and endeavoured to pass the night on the top of some bags of flour ; but the night getting too cold, they eventually retired to the bush and lighted a fire, round which they sat till morning.

Up to 1853 Oamaru was in a state of primeval wilderness. Blown tussock, flax, speargrass, and tumatakaurai reigned supreme ; the Maoris had deserted it ; Cook sailed past it in Feb., 1770, but does not even mention it ; Bishop Selwyn, in 1844, " camped one night on the beach at Oamaru." In 1853 the Europeans began to see that the vast extent of grass country was admirably suited for sheep, and Mr Hugh Robinson applied for and obtained the first grazing license. Surveyors laid off the first three blocks of the township in 1859, and the -first sale of town sections was held, when 17 sections were sold at an average price of £17 2s 4d per quarter acre ; the highest price realised for one section being £27 10s. The first store was opened by Mr Charles Traill, near the present site of Mr Eraser's book shop.

The difficulty of teaching the original Scotch settlers the mysteries of the English language is amusingly shown in the following story related by one of the first Dunedin schoolmasters, Mr R. M. M'Dowall: Take the word ' ear ' for instance. A little maiden was being taught to spell it. ' E-A-R,' the letters were made out. ' Well, what is that?' I asked. ' I dinna ken,' was the answer, with a toss of the head. ' E-A-R is ear. You'll remember that, won't you?' ' 0 aye,' with another shake of the curly head. ' Try it again, then,' I said encouragingly. 'E-A-Jti. Well. lam waiting. What is it?' 'I dinna ken.' Wishing to impress it on hermemory I laid my hand on her ear, at the same time asking her what she called it. 'De ye na ken?' she asked in surprise. 'Well, yes, of course I know ; but I want you to tell me,' I said, gravely. ' Come, now, what is it ?' ' Why, mon, that's my lug.' "

Korako, an old chief of patriarchial appearance, heavily tatooed, and with a long white beard, told the Rev. Mr Watkin that he remembered seeing a live moa on the hills at the back of Waikouaiti Avhen he was a little boy. Korako must have been fully 70 or 80 years of age, and Avhen he told the story there Avere no scientific men in New Zealand to discuss the problem of how long the moa had been extinct ; but his statement, if true, would bring them to within about a hundred years.

When the immigrants landed during the first few years there was often a difficulty in obtaining acommodation. The Immigration Barracks were, of course, available ; but the building Avas a mere shell and not A r ery desirable. A gully ran doAvn beside the hotel premises in High street. The stream in the gully when in flood was strong enough to wash a man away. This stream Avas crossed by a plank, and it Avas a favourite practical joke to remoA r e the plank at the most inopportune moments.

There Avas at that time an auctioneer's saleroom adjoining the Mechanic's Institute which served as the Provincial Council chamber. One day when the council Avas in session a sale was proceeding next door. One of the legislators, forgetting his onerous duties, suffered his attention to Avander through the open AvindoAv to the auctioneer's desk, and suddenly popping his head out of the AvindoAv he shouted a bid, which the auctioneer immediately took, and knocked article down, amid much laughter.

When the Caroline Agnes reached Port Lyttelton in 1855 all the sailors struck work, as was a common thing at that time when runaway sailors seem to have been met Avith all over the country. The day after the ship's arrival they tidied her up, and then went to the captain and told him they Avould do no more work. Finding they were deaf to all remonstrances, he put them in prison. The sailors seemed to enjoy the change, for they were all well treated in there. The ship lay in Lyttelton harbour for three months, hands not being procurable to bring her to Otago. At the end of three months the captain took three of his old hands on board in irons. Then folloAved a rather smart bit of pi actice.

" On the same night," says a passenger, '" a vessel came into port, and our captain and first mate went alongside of her and stole the crew bodily. Next morning, when Aye AAcre preparing to set sail, two policemen came on board in search of the stolen crew, but Avere outAvitted. We Avere detained that day and following night. Next morning three policemen came in search of the missing creAV ; but our captain was too many for them. His Avife (Mrs Ferguson), Avas on board, so he got her to sham sick, and retire t~> bed. The sailors Avere then stoAved in her cabin, and the doctor put sentry at the door. When the police had searched nearly the Avhole of the ship they came to Mrs Ferguson's cabin ; but the doctor told them she was sick and opened the door a little so that they could see the invalid. They then passed on and shortly aftenvards quitted tlie ship."

The x^assengers then lifted the anchor and set sail, and having a nice little breeze moA^ed steadily aAvay. When a safe distance Avas reached the stolen creAV made their appearance on deck, and gave three hearty cheers for the good ship they had left behind. The voyage from Lyttelton to Otago occupied three weeks owing to contrary winds.

When the passengers who had had such a long and eventful trip reached the heads they naturally wished to at once get \ip to Port Chalmers ; but seeing no prospect of this they got one of the ship's boats to land them at the Maori Kaik Avith the intention of Avalking up to Dunedin. They had a lather rough journey from the Kaik to ii J ort Chalmers, having miscalculated the state of the tide, which Avas full. TheA r got along for a short distance all right until they came i n a projecting rock Avhioh had to be rounded hy swimming. Mr T. A. DaAvson Avas in the rear carrying a heavy bag belonging to a weaker member of the party. The extra m eight of this bag (partly filled Avith gold; proved too much for Dawson, Avho, like the others, was holding on to a twig.

The twig gave way, and man and baggage fcl. into deep water. The man struggled up, 'nit had to dive again for the precious bag. He was finally rescued by his mates, who loined hands and went to his assistance. The party reached Port soaking wet, but in high <$<- ort humour, enjoyed an excellent dinner.

not then so usual on board ship as it is now, and proceeded on their way to Dunedin.

' Tutu " (generally contracted to " toot ") i* one of the few deciduous plants of New Zealand, and the young spring shoots aie exceedingly poisonous, though both shea i and cattle are very fond of them. It is especially dangerous to stock that have been long driven, or Avho come to it from another pasture ; but animals that are accustomed to it are said to eat it with impunity. The natives made a delicious drink from the berries, removing, however, the poisonous seeds.

The whitish-blue opaque colour of the Waitaki (" waters diverted ") is said to be caused by the friction of the glaciers on Mount Cook o-* er a bed of pipe clay. Mr Mantell tried to change the name of this river to the Snakespeare, but without success. U/'.HM.JI

" Kakanui " means large parrot ; " Waitangi," Aveeping Avaters ; " KuroAV " should be " Kohu-rau," hill of a hundred mists ; or " Kc]fou," energy or desire. No true Maori Avorcl ends Avith a consonant. " Kartigi " should be " Kartiki," meaning vanquished ;

" Waihola " should be " Waihora," spreading waters. There has been dispute about the tre spelling of " Manuherikia." It should cither be " Manu-here-kia," until the bird is tied, or " Manu-hiri-kia," the future guest. 7tttlJ.fl. fafj-

On the beach at Moeraki (" sleep-in-the-north," originally Moerangi, " sleep-in-the-daytime") are a number of curious round blinders, varying much from the fine sand in which they are embedded, and of all sizes from that of an orange to a huge stone Zfr or more in diameter. These curious txcaks of nature haA r e giA'en rise to much speculation among travellers and geologists. TheA' Avould appear to have puzzled the Maoris also, Avho have the folloAving quaint It gend concerning them : When the canoe Atai-te-uru arm-ed with emigrants from HaAvaiki she Avas Avrecked here, and her cargo, consisting of kumara and birds preserved in fat, Avas Avashed on shore and turned into stone. StuMle^-d. i~\&xkfr 2a kf.HA&'

In 1856 Mr Suisted had a station at Goodwood, and the largest house in the district, which was appropriate, as he was the largest man (weighing about 22st) anr the largest runholder. His wife's mother, Mrs Richmond, resided with him at Goodwood, and from her happy, genial disposition was a oreat favourite Avith all who knew her. They Avere very hospitable people. Mr Suisted, although he weighed 22st, used to ride from Goodwood to Dunedin in a day over the Snowy Mountain; but he always took two horses, riding them alternately. He used to carry lunch enough for two or three persons, in case he met a hungry traveller. The lunch was always something toothsome — fowl and ham being a favourite sandwich.«S© Uk ta^et m* i ßSb p 2.0 Wh $,<H

Mr Jones was instrumental in establishing tin-, first missionary station at Waikouaiti, -"•hieh was placed under the charge of the ReA T . T. Creed, who belonged to the WesleA'an denomination. His name was long remembered with affection both by Maoris and Avhites.

Waiputi Bay, now generally called Waitati, or Blueskin, was so named after a much tatooed chief, Avhose appearance struck terror into the minds of the early settlers. From this point, the track in early days was very dangerous, passing over the Snowy Mountain, where the road was marked by conical heaps of sods, and, gaining an altitude of 2462 ft, it skirted tAvo dangerous stony swamps. StrTyMUcKV-cL i^tsfb UHSQ.

The Snowy Mount was well named, for in Avinter it was generally covered more or less deeply Avith snow. Here there was a slab hut, called " the clump of trees," where there Avas a bunk and fireplace, which afforded a Avelcome shelter to many a storm-staved traveller, Avho when enjoying a good supper of toasted bacon and tea, felt as jolly as Mark Tapley. But the poor horses did not fare so well, as theA r were exposed to the Avind and Aveather, standing in snow, with nothing but the tops of snow-grass to munch ft. These strong tussocks of snow-grass formed splendid tether pegs Avhen tied with a proper hitch, for nn horse could possibly pull one up or break the stringy leaves.WJ|J&

The original Maori nami of Half-wav Bush was " Tapiytakinoe. " From this spot there was in 1856 a very bad road into the Kaikorai Valley. " I left my horse here to rest," says a traveller, " and Avhen I returned for her I met a gentleman who asked me where I came from. I told him from Nelson. He said 'How did you cross Cook Strait?' I replied that Nelson Avas in this island, and that I had ridden all the way. ' I always thought it Avas in the North Island,' he anSAvered. Which shows how much was known about our geography at that time."

On the historical " Black Thursday," Avhen the sky became so mysteriously overcast, and many persons thought that the end of the Avorld had come, a shepherd, passing with his sheep through the spot now occupied by the town of Outram. became so alarmed that he left his sheep and made his Ara.v home alone. leaA'ing his flock on the ridges until next daA'.

On one occasion at t.p Lindis diggings the p^old receiVer (Mr Parkor^ passed through his hands no less than 33.0000z of trnld It Avas the publication of this return AvhHi led to the immense influx of diggers from the adjacent colonies.

The pioneers nf the education system instituted by the Provincial Council in Otago were Mr Alex. Livingston, first regular Government teacher in Dunedin, and afterwards provincial auditor ; Mr (now Dr) John Hislnp, who was located teacher in the Fast Taieri ; Mr Colin Allan, who opened the Port Chalmers school and was afterwards emigration asrent : and Mr Wrieht, who was located in Green Island. Th©«e four gentlemen arived by the Strnthmore in 1 856. Mp*sr«i Blarkir. J. TClder Brown, M'Dowall,

Somerville, and others had, however, done good work before the Provincial Council system was instituted.

The voyage of the Strathmore was a very pleasant one, but it nearly came to a tragic termination. One morning the cook, who was a man-of-war's man, on getting up before daylight to attend to his important duties, said that he &melt land. The sailors laughed at him, but he persisted in his opinion, and before long some of the sailors thought they heard the sound of breakers. The captain, who was below, was duly informed ; but he ordered his informants to go about their business, assuring them they were more than 50 miles from land. But, lo and behold, when morning broke the Strathmore was seen to be sailing into a beautiful bay with land all round her.

The scene which followed is better imagined than described. The vessel was being quietly oarred by the tide on to a beaiitiful gr;i\elled beach, on what afterwards proved to be th=! coast of Brazil. There was not a brrath of wind, and the vessel seemed to be moving steadily on to her doom when a light wind sprang up from the land. The Strathmore was quickly put about, and stood out to sen. having to pass between two high headland*; to reach the open ocean. It was simply a marvel how she got in. Long before most of the passengers knew anything about it, the danger was passed, and the land far behind. " Someone had blundered," but in this case no harm was done.

Before the Oamaru breakwater was built, and when all stores and passengers had to lie carried on shore through the surf, the female passengers occasionally objected to this means of transit. When they made too much fuss over it the Maoris accidently let them get the salt water over their ankles, ■n Inch generally brought them to the ; r senses.

In 1850 it took three days to drag a plough from Dutiedin to Waihola, and nearly as long to take the first dray over the survey track.

The first woman who crossed from Horseshoe Bush to Inch-Clutha was a Mrs Dawson It took her and her husband 14 hours over some of the most tiring country imaginable, and she had to carry with her a little son tAvo years old. The guide, losing the track, brought them to the river five miles aboA^e their destination, and they had then to folloAv the course of the stream over gullies and ridges until they reached it.

The remoA-al of Bell Hill, part of which foims tli3 site of First Church, occupied more than 15 years, and though the task Avas of a dangerous nature, necessitating much blasting of solid stone, there was not one serious accident, owing to the care and foresight of the chief overseer, Mr John Outram.

In 1858 the land on either s'de of the harbour Avnp clothed Avith bush to the water's edge, and Mrs Outram, then the young Avife of a recently-arrived immigrant, looking around her from side to side and beholding nothing but beautiful virgin bush — trees capping the tops of the hills, trees fringing the edge of the water, no tall chimneystacks, no large buildings, no church spires, nothing Avhatever to indicate that civilisation had taken any root in this neAV portion of <he British Empire — asked her husband, " Where is Dunedin?" Receiving as an answer, that as he neA r er was there before he could not enlighten her, but looking in the direction of a gully whence a faint smoke appeared to proceed, he said, " He thought that Avas the place."

This coiiple took their first meal in the Immigration Barrack^ on bread and water — tiue prison diet. This was obtained without much difficulty. Not so, however, sleeping accommodation, as it was not until Mr Outram had been threatened with the " lock-up " that provision was made in this respect for himself and family.

When crting the first wool from the Taieri to Dunedin in 1851, one of the drays got stuck in a creek at Green Island and the Avaggoners had to get tAvo leading bullocks from Dunedin to drag the other teams out. Nor Avas this the only misadventure. One of the drays got capsized in Caversham. and A^hen crossing a bridge over a creek in Princes street, at the corner of Rattray street, one of the bullocks got over the bridge, Avhich Avns torn up. The wool was, however, safely delivered at M'Glashan's store in Princes street. A fresh series of adventures aAvaited them on their return journey, for all the creeks were in flood, and they narrowly escaped being washed away by the Taieri RiA r er.

The late Mr Roebuck is said to have built the first boat at Port Chalmers. He had been a bodymaker at a coach factory at Home.

One of the first funerals at Port Chalmers was that of a pissenger of the Larkins in 1849. Walker by name. He was a Maori, a member of the Church of England and catechumen of Bishop Selwyn. He had been sent to England to pursue his studies, and Avas returning to h's home in the North Island. Avh°n one moaning he Avas found dead in his bunk. A coffin was made, and the burial deferred until the ship reached Port Chalmers. The coffin Avas taken to the cemeti'A r covered Avith the Union Jack, and Captain Walmsley, late of the 56th Regiment officiated.

Mr Jones's schooner Scotia, on which the missionaries: and s-ettfers of the very early d^s depended for their supplies and means o f fommunication wi^h other parts of the colony, was in use up to quite a recent date as a coasting A T essel in New South Wales. ?he Avas Avrecked near Sydney Heads.

In the very early days many of the settlers lived in' "wattle and daub" huts, with ( arrpd canvas for a roof. " I can remember one of these," says a pioneer, "which we considered a swell affair, because the car-

pet which had been brought from Home to decorate the floor was hung round the Avails to keep out the draughts. An indication of early simplicity miv be gathered from the fact that in order to indicate that no one was at home a log of firewood was placed at the bottom af the sack that did duty as a door. If the sack were blowing fco and fro, the visitor might be sure of finding someone about the house.

One of many examples of Maori gratitude for small favours is thus related by the late Mr France of Oamaru: A Maori named Sam lost h ; s horse and night came upon him while looking for it, so he had to sleep in a flax bush. In the morning he called at Mr France's house to inquire whether anything had be^n seen of the horse. On hearing his story, Mr France naturally brought him in and gave him some breakfast. Seeing no potatoes on the table the native said : "^You poor man ; you no potatoes." Shortly afterwards a cart came from the Waitaki ferry with two sacks of potatoes from the Maori. When some time afterwards he came to the store. Mr France wished to pay him for them. Sam said. "No. Me hungry, you give me food. Me plenv. give you some." He was trying on a coat, and Mr France wanted to make it. cheaper for him; but the Maori was too ouick to be taken in that way. He saw through the ruse at once, and said, " You think Maori fool. That all the same as pay for potatoes."

On one occasion a little croAvd of residents gathered round the survey office on the beach to Avitness a settler from the NorthEast ValleA r haul proudly aAvaA r a dr iv which he managed to obtain at a time Avhen all such m^ans of locomotion were scarce. He had a fine, quiet bullock broken to harness (or so he thought), red and Avhite spotted, without horns, and he was harnessing up this animal to the dray amid the admiring congratulations of a circle of friends gradually increasing in number. At last all Avas ready, and the neighbours waited to see the carriage move off triumphantly. But there is an old proverb about the difficulty of getting a horse to drink against his will. The truth of it Avas proA^ed in this instance.

The bullock Avould not budge, but lay well back in his breeching, and threatened to submerge the new dray in the rising tide. Threats and other arts such as are understood and practised by bullock-drivers proved of no avail. The animal refused to move. There was nothing to be done but to compel the brute. So, accordingly, two of the bystanders seized him by the head, tAvo more on each side Avere to turn the spokes, and as many as could find room pushed at the b^ck. The rest folloAved to relicA r e the Avheelers, and Av'th shouts and laughter, the first dray Avas propelled to the top of Bell Hill. Tiie bullock theu realising that he Avas conquered, or that his face was turned towards home, set off at a respectable pace drawing the dray and its triumphant OAAmer safely home, stimulated, no doubt, by the encoura.ging cheers of the friends he left behind him.

Mr Fred ICA r evy arriA r ed in Oamaru in the fifties, and Avhen his first box arrived from Home he Avas livincr at Papakaio, and there being no Avaggon, dray, or sledge available, he walked into Oamaru Avith a wheel-barrow and wheeled his box horne — a distance of ci r ht miles each way, over an illdefined track, Avithout roads or bridges.

In 1861 AA^h-^n the diggings broke out Messrs. John and Fred. Every took tAvo dray loads of flour (about three tons) from Oamaru to the Wauaka on spec ; but after being out three weeks had only Fold one bag, when suddenly theA T heard of the celebrated Fox's rush. TheA r folloAved up. and after sundry delays from lost bullocks, kc. . got into the Cardrona V-illev, Avhere they sold some at Is 6d per ft), and retailed what Avas left at 2s. per pannikin. Ten miles up the valley, Arlnre 50 men Avere Avaiting, there was nothing left in the store but a bag of salt.

The tAvo enterprising A-oung men then went back to the river for two loads of mixed stores that had just arm^ed from Oamaru, and delivered these at the store tent, receiving £20 for two day's work with two teams. They then load°d five bales of avool from the Wanaka station, getting lid. per In. for freight to Oamaru. As five bales Avas then considered a full load, an idea may be formed as to the state of the roads.

Shortly after this, the diggers began to com? over the country in numbers, and naUirallv Avanted meat of some sort. One of the largest runholders thought he could starve the diggers out of the country. They, however, having offered to pay for meat, and being refused helped themselves. One well-known character was credited with having a very generous disposition at the expense of others, for having a very fine pair of English terriers, he supplied not only his own mates Avith the best mutton, but all and sundry avlio were hungry, and afterwards rolled up the skins with the Avaste fat and left them by the roadside addressed to the owner of the station.

The pioneer settlers were not afraid to put their hands to am r thmg. their motto being "What mm has done, man mxv do." Acting on this principle, they attempted all kinds of extraordinary things, and generally with some measure of success. They made implements', such as hu'rows, clod-crushers:, flaUs, &c. , out of Avood; they made harness from untanned leather and flax ; and so m'inv and wonderful vrev* thsir contrh^ances both indoors and out that it Avould be a good plan if a room at the exhibition could bf> d«A r oted to a museum of curiosities of this nature.

Mr T. Ferens was one of the first to introduce draught stock into the North Otago district. He bought from Mr Duff, of Waihola, a black draught entire, called Monarch, in or about 1862, and secured the second prize at the first show held in Oamaru in 1864, a son of Monarch, called Hero, out of Golden Drop, securing first

honour. Mr Ferens also gained first prize for draught mires. He also was the first person to introduce blood horses into North Otago. with his chestnut entire Fergus, with which he took first prize in the 1864 show.

Another runholder, however, " made hay while the sun shone," and sold all he could at Is per Ib. After getting a very considerable sum in hand he started for Oamaru to bank it, and took advantage of the company of two young men who were returning thither. But Mr Runholder was carrying more than money, and would not keep up the pace required, so in the Lindis Gorge the young men rode ahead out of sight. One of them then turned his coat and cap inside out. and galloping back presented his pipecase at the runholder' s head and demanded his money. The poor man tumbled off his hor-e utterly upset, whereupon the sham assailant rode away, put his coat and hat right, and. with his mate, rode back to see what was keeping Mr R. They found him in a state of great excitement. He had just been having a stand-up fight with two highwaymen who had tried to "stick him up." but who had ridden off on hearing his friends returning. After that Mr R. no longer lagged behind, but was always " up to time."

Some time before 1840 a whaling station av?s established at the mouth of the Aparima, or Jacob's River. The natives, now all but extinct in the south, were then more numerous, and some trade with Sydney was carried on. But nothing was known of the interior of the country until some of the more adventurous of the Otago settlers began to penetrate further south in search of sheep runs, its splendid pastoral capabilities having attracted the attention of occasional travellers and explorers.

In 1857 the site of Invercargill was laid off, and a feAv houses began to spring up. Hundreds Avere proclaimed, land sold at 10s per acre, and agricultural settlement commenced. Soon the settlers began to complain that the Otago Government diverted the Southland revenues to the improvement of Dunedin and neighbourhood, and an agitation for separation set in, which might have come to nothing but for the able and determined leadership of Dr Menzies, who, Avhen separation was obtained in 1861, became Superintendent of the neAV province.

About the end of 1862 the Wakatipu gold diggings Avere discovered, and gave rise to a trading and speculative mania throughout Scuthland. but especially in Invercargill, Avhich sprang at once into a large toAvn. Building allotments were sold and resold at fabulous prices. A heaA r y expenditure for public works, &c, was forced upon the Go-A-ernment Avith the natural lesult ; ruin and Avhen, after long delay and much fighting, the province Avas re-united to Otago, things had reached such a climax that the bailiffs Avere in Government buildings. At that time men AA r ere passing votes for hundreds of thousands who did not know what a hundred pounds meant.

Tavo men named Wilsher and Russell came OA r er from Australia in the forties with cettle to Port Molyneux. The cattle, feeding on the tutu Avere all poisoned except one, and the unfortunate owners incurred the suspicion of ths Maoris. They soon found themselves tied hand and foot in momentary expectation of being roasted and eaten ; but a ; d stepped in in the person of a Maori prince~s named Makareti, who had taken a great fancy to Wilsher, and, according to the Maori custom, claimed him for her own. The prisoners were set free, and Wilsher married the Maori girl, and lived with her on the beach in a bay since called by his name. When the first white settlers came round in an open boat, this man and his wife Avife received thsm wi^h the utmost kindness. Delightful was the scene which then met the immigrants' eyes. A carpet of gieen grass lay round the hut, with geese and xsoultry running about it, and after their rough voyage, in Avhich they had been obliged to throw nearly all their property overboard, Wilsher' s Bay seemed like a haven of rest.

Mr A. D. Fuller, one of the party, proceeded, after a short rest, in search of a site, and settled at or near to where Romahapa now stands, and after building a house set t~> work to obtain provisions for future use. For this purpose he Avent out pig-hunting, and soon secured a good supply of pork. But the getting it to the house entailed more trouble than the killing, oAving to the roughness of the country and the distance to be traversed, every bit of meat having to be carried on the men's shoulders. The account of the adventures reads like a page out of Robinson Crusoe.

Pelichet Bay rece ; ved its name from a surAeyor who, with his party, formed the sole European population of the present city in 1845. at the time when the Gannet anchored off the neighbouring point, and some years before the old identities arrived on the scene.

Mr T. S. Hardy, of Waimate, writes: — "During the harvest of 1861 a man came along the road from Toko, and asked if we could -jive him a job at harvesting. My-f-ecniid a very intelligent man In conver-^ f c il her (Mr John Hardy) saw at once that hesation he said that New Zealand resembledCalifornia, and he felt sure that it contained gold. This man was Gabriel Read. My father said that after the threshing Wtis over he could go over "Mount Stuart and take a fortnight's provisions with him. So he left in May 1861, and in a fortnight he returned with lOoz of gold in a matchbox, Avhich he had taken out of a creek AA'ith a butcher's knife from a spot about a mile up Gabriel's Gully. The gold Avas taken out of a sheep crossing, and he said that it might be seen glistening in the Avater, but, strange to say, Avas never noticed by the shepherd's. Read Avrote a letter to Major Richardson in our kitchen, re the discovery. The Major Avanted to see the gold, and make sure that it Avas not a hoax. Read took it to Dunedin,/ and his first letter Avas published in the papers.

" On his return from Dunedin I drove Read and two others up to the claim in a bullock dray, with three months' provisions, tents, and tools. Of course, there was no road, and we did not see a soul on the way. The first night we camped at the foot of Mount Stuart. The next day we reached the Waitahuna River, which was then in flood. We camped there three days and then swam the bullocks over, and reached the hill between Waitahuna and Gabriel's. The following day we got to the end of our journey. No dray had ever been down the range before. We backed the dray into the creek, and unloaded on the further side, carried the things up on our backs, pitched the tents, and made ourselves comfortable for the night. I returned home with the bullocks. The other three worked out their claim in six weeks, and took out £900 worth of gold. Read also received the £1000 reward from the Government, so he did well.

" When I returned to the gully six weeks later, there were about 1000 tents on the once lonely spot. Shipload after shipload diggers were arriving every day from over the sea. New fields were afterwards discovered right and left, but, strange to say, none of them ever proved so rich as Gabriel's."

There was very little beef or mutton to be seen in Dunedin in the early fifties ; but there was game in plenty within an easy distance — pigs about Flagstaff, pigeons and quail at the Forbury, wild ducks at the mouth of the Leith, and Maori hens everywhere.

In the town there were no metalled streets, no asphalt pavements ; in the country no roads, no bridges. On the other hand there were but few customs duties, still fewer taxes, no public debt, and no mortgages. Wages were only about 2s 6d per day, but everyone was contented, and one and all worked with a will to subdue the wilderness of bush and scrub, tutu and fern, cheerfully putting up with the countless difficulties and privations attending the settlement of a new country.

In the early days the Maori language was often a means of communication between colonists of different nationalities. About 1840, when Captain Poppelwell was arranging with a French gentleman at Akaroa about some freight, the Frenchman not being able to speak English the conversation was being carried on in French. About half way through the dealing the Frenchman unconsciously lapsed into Maori. Captain Poppelwell quite as unconsciously replied in the same language. It was not until after some time that the parties, with a hearty laugh, realised the common ground on which they had met.

The first wheeled vehicle seen in the Toko district was taken thither by Mr Poppelwell in 1853, and the difficulties of the road may be somewhat realised when we are told that the journey from Dunedin occupied nine days.

Captain Poppelwell was the first European to bring a vessel into the Upper Harbour. There had long been a whaling station at Otago Heads, but the Upper Harbour was only considered fit for boats, until, in 1845, Mr Poppelwell left Wellington in a schooner called the Garnet, charged with the task of delivering her to the famous southern Maori chief, "Bloody Jack." This warrior on his way to Wellington crossed the Gannet, and she was brought up and anchored for some time off " Bloody Jack's Point " now called more euphoniously " Black Jack's Point."

The John Wickliffe was a full rigged ship of about 800 tons. Being a Chinese tea ship, she was a first rate sailer and a good sea boat. Her bows had for figure-head a gilded bust of John Wickliffe reading a Bible, which was taken off when she met with a gale in the Channel. The flowing gown worn by this figure no doubt gave rise to some of the mistaken statements that the figurehead of this ship was that of a woman.

In the early days when Dunedin had only one school here were no " passes," no cramming, and a very simple syllabus, but what was taught was taught properly, and there was no namby-pamby " sparing of the rod." The old school was situated about where the Standard Insurance building now is. The beach came up to the fence, and the pupils often got licked for setting baited fish-hooks for the unsophisticated gulls. Packing cases served for boats, and many a capsize they enjoyed where the Triangle now is. The banks were shallow, and there was no fear of being drowned.

There were some cabbage trees in one corner of the school ground, and under them a good deal of youthful love-makiug used to go on between folk who are now grandfathers and grandmothers. We wonder where the roll of scholars has got to. It would be an interesting study now.

The water supply was very limited in those days. Tanks were not numerous, and although it rained enough to fill all the cisterns in New Zealand, and far more then than now, the settlers had to go with buckets to a dropping well about where Scoullar and Chisholm's warehouse now stands.

Churches were not numerous ; nearly everybody was a Presbyterian, and worshipped in the old stone kirk where the venerable Dr Burns presided. English service was held in the old Courthouse, opposite where the gaol now is, and there (most interesting adjunct to a boy) was a barrel organ, which used sometimes to go wrong. Once it played a short metre tune to a long metre hymn. Most of the congregation smiled, but the small boy, who tells the story, laughed outright, and he declares that he alone was spanked and sent to bed on that ever-to-be-remembered Sunday.

Princes street was almost uncross ible in wet weather by ordinary pedestrians, and

quite so to the merchant with the wooden leg. It may be said to have stopped at Dowling street ; there Bell Hill went up, and among the flax bushes on that hill, and somewhere about where the top of the Coffee Palace now is, stood the old cannon which then constituted Dunedin' s defence against the foreign foe. The cannon had special attraction for boys, who used to watch their opportunity and steal the powder from the very touch hole.

In times of scarcity the early settlers were reduced to the Maori diet of fish and potatoes, and were often thankful to get that. The latter varied in price from £11 a ton to £3, according to circumstances.

When the John Wickliffe arrived the main settlement was at the Heads, and was known

Otakou. There was the pilot station, with Mr Richard Driver in charge. He thus preceeded the first settlers by some years, and passed away in 1897.

In 1855 Mr W. H. S. Roberts, in travelling overland from Nelson to Otago, says : " There were no roads, no tracks except in settled localities, no bridges, and very few accommodation houses. The route was found in hilly country by instinct, and on the plains by compass, as on the high seas. Dundin was then a small village — seven years old. The streets had not been formed, and the houses were small and few in number. Princes street rose out of a deep gully ascending to the top of Bell Hill and descending steeply to Rattray street. So steep was it that cattle and horses had made steps all the way up. Flax grew abundantly on the spurs, gullies, and flats, and was freely used to render the muddy parts of the track passable. The small population appeared happy and contented, and though progress was slow it was sure and permanent."

David Garrick, who drew the first town section in Dunedin, came to Otago in the John Wickliffe. He chose the section at the corner of Princes and Rattray streets. Time has justified his choice, as that is still one of the most valuable sites in the city.

Messrs Shennan were the first white men to explore the valley of the Molyneux and the district now known as Central Otago. In 1858 they took up land on the Manuherikia, and named their station Galloway, after the district in Scotland. The country on the Manuherikia looked very pretty then — very different from its barren appearance now. There was dense scrub on the river flats, which made good firewood, but no timber fit for building purposes, or even for sheep yards in the whole of the district, which made it a most difficult and expensive business to form a station. There were traces of Maoris having visited the district, but no white man had seen them. There was plenty of game and wild dogs, and they loimdI oimd a wild horse in Ida Valley when taking the sheep to the run in 1858.

When taking sheep to Galloway station m 1858 Messrs Shennan and their shepherds had a very rough time of it. ' The sheep were bought from a runholder near Balclutha, and the only road that they could be taken was over the Lammerlaw mountains. All the country in the vicinity of the Molyneux being too scrubby to drive them over. Heavy snow fell all over the country in that year and caught the party with sheep and sledges on the mountains. They were in deep snow for three weeks with nothing to burn — hardly enough scrub could be found to boil the billy ; provisions ran short and they had to live entirely on mutton.

At that time wild dogs were very numerous in the Manherikia Valley, and the sheep had to be watched day and night for a whole year. A pack of dogs was kept to hunt the wild ones, and many were killed, but not before much damage was done to the sheep, as many of them were worried. The loss, too, was a heavy one, as sheep were then worth 30s each.

In 1858 there were no settlers Avithin 100 miles of Galloway, so the runholders could not quarrel with their neighbours ; but in the following summer most of the runs were taken up, and stations formed, so that they saw a neighbour now and again. All the stores and requisites for the station ha dto be brought from Waikouaiti on pack horses or sledges — a distance of 130 miles over exceedingly bad tracks.

When the Dunstan diggings broke out the whole face of the country changed in the twinkling of an eye. The banks of the Molyneux, where hitherto no one was to be seen save an occasional shepherd and his dogs, were transformed in a week or two from a lonely wilderness to a scene of the greatest excitement, thousands of people looking for gold, townships springing up like mushrooms. At Clyde, within a month after the rush broke out, there were stores, banks, hotels, theatres, etc., the home of the squatter was invaded, and the peaceful repose of life in the wilderness vanished like a dream.

Messrs Shennan were the first Otago settlers to import merino sheep from Europe and longwool sheep from England — the longwools in 1859 and the merinos in 1861, £1000 being spent by them in importing merino sheep that year.

The Messrs Shennan walked from Dunedin to Balclutha on their arrival in Otago, as no horses could then be bought. When they reached the ferry on the Taicri River, a native was in charge of the boat, and remarked, "You never come dis wav before." We answered, "No." He said, "You come from England?" We answered, " Yes." He replied, "Soon be big country, dis." Two new arrivals were quite a novelty then.

Mr John Reid visited Southland in 1855. He purchased cattle from the Maoris and wl alers fit Jacob's River, New River, arid Bluff. Some of these he brought to Dunedin for sule with the help of a runaway sailor. The time was winter, and they hid one horse, one blanket, a littletea and Miyar, a small damper, and neither dog to help nor tent to cover them. The catlle v. ere satisfactorily disposed off. One bull

he delivered single-handed on foot to the late Mr John Anderson at Blueskin, driving him from Halfway Bush over Flagstaff and the Snowy Mount, and thence through dense bush to Blueskin in two days.

The first Dunedin gaol was a primitive building, about 14ft square, of maple posts set on end plastered with clay, and surrounded by a fence, also of maple posts. After it was burned down the old Immigrant Barracks were used as a substitute. They stood on the beach near the site of the present gaol. Mr G. Millar says: — "When I first saw the Dunedin gaol it had only one prisoner in it, and that was Black Peter, who afterwards was the first man to find gold in Tuapeka, while shepherding. The reason for Peter's incarceration was that he had taken French leave of his ship, the Maori, of which he was cook. It would be thought a strange sight nowadays to see a prisoner walking out of the gaol with his pick, shovel and wheelbarrow, and returning himself, without anyone to look after him. This Peter did as regular as any working man in the town."

The Postal arrangements were very unsatisfactory at first, no arrangement having been made by the authorities in Wellington for a mail service. The receiving and distribution of letters devolving on the Custom House officials, one of whom would sort the mail at Port, and carry on the remaining letters to Dunedin. Arrived there the only building he could get the use of as a temparary post office was a little sentry box oi a thing belonging to Dr Manning, and appropriately named "The 'Pill Bos." It was on a partially cleared hill between High and Maclaggan Streets, and necessitated a stiffish climb.

Occasionally, when least expected, an intercolonial mail would arrive in a rowingboat, and the officer would then open it in the nearest shop, and, dispensing with the stamp, give those present — which was generally the whole population — their letters. On o»e such occasion he opened the mail in Peter Crow's butcher's shop, and Mr E. M'Glashan coming along declared that he " came for a chop and a letter."

This went on for some time, until one Saturday Mr Graham had a scathing article in the " News " entitled " The Flying Post." He was a vigorous writer, and fairly " let himself go," and with good reason for the service was very unsatisfactory to all concerned. A change was then made, and Mr J. Brown, draper, was appointed Postmaster fo.-- Dunedin. Later, an Australian native (Black Andy) used to convey a weekly mail to Clutha and intermediate places ; and still later contracts for delivery of mails were let.

During the voyage of the Mooltan cholera broke out on board, and several people died. A terrible panic was thus caused, and it was suggested to throw the property of the victims overboard ; one of the victims of the plague was a gentleman who was bringing out six or seven hundred sovereigns, and his wife and sons had great difficulty in preserving this, their only provision, from being flung into the sea after their unfortunate owner.

Four men, John Cargill, W. H. Cutten, J. Macandrew. and W. H. Perkins, burning for freedom, started down, the country to obtain signatures to the petition for self-Gov-ernment, needless to say for the Colony, and not for themselves. The Tokomairio River was swollen by heavy rains, and the water was up to the top of the banks. Mr Cargill, who was leading, plunged in without any hesitation. Perkins saw only his head and shoulders occasionally; but, being sustained by the truly British idea that where another man or beast could go he could follow, immediately plunged into the water. His confidence in himself being well founded, he, like Horatius, found that " the good river bare bravely up his chin," and so struggled to the landing place. The third member of the quartet (Mr Cutten) declined to trust his " precious carcase " (as he termed it) to a swimming horse. So he stripped, tied his clothes to the saddle, and drove his horse before him into the stream, swimming by its side himself. Now came the trouble, Mr Macandrew was afraid to tackle it on horseback, and could not swim. After a long consultation and many suggestions, he said that if he had a rope round his waist he would risk it, so the others flung him over a tether rope, which he joined to his own, and, with the help of his horse, he also crossed safely.

Now commenced the real fun. Mr Macandrew did not fancy riding in wet clothes. The others were not so particular; but perhaps he was a prey to rheumatism. So he stripped all save his shirt, boots, and hat, and hung his garments on either side of his horse to dry. When they got in sight of Cameron's hut they saw Mrs Ca~meron and someone else at the door. Mr Cutten suggested that they should canter up to the hut. " No, no ! " cried the unfortunate Mac. But the three others, like mischievous school bc^s, hurried on, and his steed was fain to follow.

The two who stood at the doorway, and saw the visitors approaching could not make mi: who or what the fourth person might be. First they thought it was a Maori with a mot on ; but as the riders drew nearer and they beheld the various garments flying about in the wind, conjecture failed, and violent, unextinguishable laughter took its place.

After a feed of mutton and sugarless tea — they were out of salt and sugar, but that was nothing — the four adventurers started for the Clutha, and got lost half-way up Mount Stuart. Messrs Cargill and Perkins started after wild dogs, which were most destructive in those days, £5 being the price of a tail. Having no weapons the dogs escaped them, though Perkins overhauled one threetimes, and having loosened a stirrup strap and iron nearly did for it. The travellers then climbed up till they got a view of the Nuggets, but the intervening country was

enough to daunt the heart of any man. After consultation with their companions, however, they decided to attempt it, as it was obviously impossible to remain where they were, and, steering with the sun on their left, they ultimately reached the river.

Their troubles, however, were not ended. They were again wet through, and the boat on which they had depended to reach Inch Clutha — where several people had already settled — had been swamped, and no other was obtainable. They cooed loud and shrill, and at last Mr Redpath came to the opposite bank of the stream, and said that there was no chance of getting over, the next boat being several miles down the river, at the lower end of a big Maori-head swamp, and he advised the adventurers to remain where the ground was at least dry, though they themselves were soaking, and. they had neither food nor blankets.

The next morning they found that three of their horses had broken away. They held a meeting to discuss the situation, and unanimously decided that they had had enough of it. Picture to yourself three of our first legislators, stiff with cold, wet and hungry, with saddles on their backs, starting, they knew not whither, for there was the same chance of losing their way returning that there had been coining. However, the horses had not got more than six miles, when they were stopped by a creek. They were caught by the old device of driving them into a bend of the creek, and stretching a tether rope across, with one man at each end, and one in the middle, so that the animals were caught under the jaws. Once more they were mounted, but by this time Mac. was fairly exhausted, and could not go beyond a walk. So the two freshest of the party rode on, and the laggards joined them some hours later at Cameron's.

Mac. was not yet conquered, for, after a meal and a rest, he, always entefprisng and full of resources, suggested that the party shold go eeling. The idea proved irresistible. They made the necessary preparations, and started at 8 p.m., lost their way in a swamp, and came home at midnight without any fish. Home, do I say? alas ! the fire was out, no supper had been prepared for them, and there were no blankets. Once again the soaking adventurers passed a night without supper, but this time they rolled themselves in a few old wool packs and were thankful. Needless to say the famous petition did not get many southern signatures ; but Mac and his friends carried its object through for all that.

The Maoris had several pas or villages on the site of Dunedin. The one which occupied the place where the post office now is was called Otepoti (" beyond which you cannot go "). At the Water of Leith was another pa called Owaheo. Opoho was named after a celebrated chief called Poho. Anderson's Bay was originally called Puketai, and the present name is that of a shepherd who resided there, and whose widow now resides with many other members of his family at Waiwera. Otago, or more correctly Otakou, means " red ochre," and was the native name of the estuary and lower harbour. The native name .of Port Chalmers was Koputai (" blistered—-') probably from the bare sun-blistered bank on which the port now stands. StuJJitevuvc/./^ /8S&/l Zs>&tt(H-

In the early days there was no regular place of amusement in Dunedin, such as a theatre or concert hall ; but concerts were occasionally got up by amateur performers, and on very rare occasions a ball or a dance was held. One writer declares that he attended an education meeting there on June 9th, 1856, in the Scotch kirk, Mr John Hyde Harris in the chair, and came to the conclusion that there was no need for any other place of amusement while such meeting places existed. £ <ncJVi/&** ct- /5«S^/l 2S~

Waverley bridge, of three spans, was so called from its shaky condition, and the name gradually spread to the surrounding district.

Roasted wheat was often used as a substitute for coffee, and salt water boiled for salt. The latter was such a slow process that one settler declared he had worked a whole day and only obtained lib of salt, or, as he himself expressed it, " he had boiled a wnole Sunday into a pound of salt."

On Sundays it was a pleasant sight to see the settlers wending their way to church from various quarters. There being no roads but mere tracks that were always soft and muddy, they commonly took off their shoes and stockings and waded to church. On reaching Dunedin their feet were washed and shoes and stockings doned. Sometimes they would go down to the beach with a tussock to wash off the mud.

An early settler whose first crop of wheat was ripe did not know how to reap it. It was suggested that his girls should clip the heads off with their scissors, and that was done.

It is to Mr William Chambers we owe our escape from the first suggested name New Edinburgh, for when the name was being discussed in Mr John M'Glashan's office he entered, was warmly welcomed by {ill, and asked to give his opinion on the im- ] ortant point. He said,' " You have too raanv ' News about in the world. ' New Zealand ' should have been called by its native name instead of this mongrel one. Do alter New Edinburgh to Dunedin." It was an inspiration. The first name was at once struck out and the second inserted to the satisfaction of all concerned.

There were a great number of rats in the country districts, even in the most out of the way places, and two of our earliest explorers (Messrs J. Dalrymple and Chrichton) were obliged tor this reason to abandon their journey north of Lake Wakatipu in search of grazing ground, because, like the unfortunate inhabitants of Hamelin City, the rats were everywhere. Nothing was safe from them." Hung high up on trees, buried in the "Hung high up on trees, buried in the

ground, covered over with stones — no precaution withstood the attacks of these rodents." The would-be discoverers were literally " starved out,' and compelled to return to civilisation.

" Hallo, Sandy, where wis ye ? It is a long time since I seen ye." " I ha'e been in Canterbury ; but they're a' English there, sac I cam' back till Dunedin." "Hoots, mon, it's an awfu' puir Scotchman wha canna mak' money where they're a' English." " That's richt, mon ; but ye ken I couldna thole niver ta hear ma native tongue, sac I just cam' awa' back." 'S (r^JiU-d^-uL /psifa t&

Just before the price of land was raised in April, 1-860, Mr J. Elder and his brother had applied for some at Invercargill. It was necessary the payment should be made on the exact day or the higher price would be insisted on, and Mr W. H. Pearson, then in charge of the Southland Land Office, told them he was debared from taking a cheque on Dunedin. There was no bank at Invercargill, the fortnightly mail was too slow, and it was before the days of steamers, so there was no alternative but to walk to Dunedin, obtain, and carry down, the cash.

Even in 1862 cash was almost as scarce as ever in some parts of Otago. In that year the two Mr Elders, then at Oamaru, wanted cash to pay small wages. They gave Dalgety, Rattray, and Co. a cheque for £50, and then waited patiently till the fortnightly mail brought word of its having been honoured at Dunedin. The manager then opened his cash box and handed them about £20 in ordinary bank notes, £8 or £10 of Dalgety's own notes, £6 of Young and M'Glashan's, some silver, and an 1.0. U. for the balance. Very soon afterwards, however, the Bank of New Zealand was opened in Oamaru.

The Rev. Mr Johnstone, of Port Chalmers, in his earlier years used to visit every part-^ As Oamaru was included in his district, thi3-^ of his district on foot once in three months, gave him some long walks, but he always managed the trip within the fortnight, so as to be only one Sunday away from Port. On more than one occasion a friend took him over the lower ford of the Pleasant River when the tide was in, to save his having to strip.

The original name of Southland was Muruhiku, "tail end." Saddle Hill was named by Capt. Cook who sighted it on February 25, 1770. S<r*/4U«A~6 /SJti /12/, W.fZ

The Maoris built their store houses on the top of high posts, to keep them and their contents from rats. The Europeans called these storehouses futtahs (footer), but the Maori name was whata. The Maori whares were very comfortable, built and thatched with long grass, and neatly lined inside with reeds of the toi-toi grass ; but they had no chimney, the fire being lighted on the floor near the entrance, the'moke finding its way out as best it could. S'ou,fkie^.*£./t!s&fi,2s

A good story was told of a mailman in the early days. He used to take Mr John Cargill's letters to his farm on the Toko River, and was rewarded by having his dinner there. One day he was seated alone in the kitchen after a "good square feed," when his curiosity induced him to look and see what was boiling in a pot over the fire. There he discovered a plum pudding, intended for Mr Cargill's dinner when he returned home at night. This he took out of the pot, slipped it into the sack where he carried his mail bags, and departed. A few miles on the droad the smell proved so suggestive that he could no longer withstand the temptation, so, opening the sack, he attacked the pudding with his sheath-knife and eagerly devoured it. While thus engaged, who should appear on the scene but Mr Cargill himself on his way home. The mailman, noway abashed, asked him if he would .like a slice of pudding, which Mr Cargill at once accepted, and after a yarn each proceeded on his way. When dinner was served Mrs Cargill deplored the loss of her pudding, which she said was an extra good one. Mr Cargill, at once suspecting who the thief was, told her not to mind as he had already eaten his share, and laughed heartily as he related his adventure with the mail man. *$»«/& (a^U /»t6 /l Zf.W.d

Kaitangata means " the place where men were eaten " : Mataura m^ans " bright face or rosy countenance " ; Hokonui " extreme, barrier. "bcuJt*. ir/u**i**t.

The place where Balclutha now stands was called by the natives Iwi-Katae, " a bone cleaned from the flesh." The island now called Inch Clutha belonged to a celebrated Maori chief named Tiako-tai, known to the whalers as "bloody Jack."^***^^*,^ Jt-30

There was at one time a very rich flat at the mouth of the Clutha, held together by flax roots. As the settlement increased the flax was destroyed, and a great part of the flat has been washed away.

In 1856 the first ripe gooseberries were gathered in Oamaru, from the spot where Bullied's shop now stands, the bushes were planted by Messrs Robinson.

The point near Papakiao. called Carriage Point, takes its name from a four wheeled carriage which was being brought from Dunedin to Papakiao, but when in sight of Messrs Filleul's station, it broke down and had to be left, and stood there at the point until it could be taken back to Dunedin some weeks after. It never got to the station.

In the early days there was no way of carrying a coffin to the place of interment except by means of a bullock dray, even this was not always obtainable, for we hear of a brother carrying the remains of his sister 15 miles to the place of burial. This was the picturesque little cemetery at Georgetown, Oamaru district.

The hut which served as a place of shelter in Oamaru long before the township was lain out, and before a hotel or accommodation house was built, received from its in-

mates and frequenters the title of the Ram's Head, because of a ram's head which was placed over the door by a shepherd in 1857.

The chief thing about the road to Halfway Bush in the old times was the excellent lessons of humility that it taught. "My father," says an old resident, "was in the habit of carrying a reaping hook when going to and from his office morning and night, scutching away on his right hand going in, and the same on the other side coming home. Thus, through process of

time, a road was formed, the principal metal being flax leaves, crab holes and stumps making it bad walking. However, when one got down one had to make an effort and get up again. And in the end we reached our welcome resting place."

Advice of an old Scotchman to a new chum who was complaining of the hard work he would have in making a garden where there was a great growth of flax, fern, and tutu : " Heigh, laddie, just get an auld sow and tether her by the hint leg, an' she'll soon mak' the groond fit for a kailyard."

Mr Gillies once applied to a carpenter in the Toko district to help him to build a barn. The man refused, saying he could not finish before harvest was in. I replied, " What has that to do with harvest 1" " Oh," he saii, " I always lock up my tools during harvest." " How is that, when your wages as a carpenter amount to 10s a day, and you only get 6s for harvesting ? " "Yes, I ken that; but, Mr Gillies, if I didna' help the farmers to get in their harvest, they couldna' afford to keep me the rest o' the y^ar."

There was a useful but eccentric Scotchman in the district, who possessed a bellows, anvil, and a few blacksmith's tools, that enabled him to do any simple piece of work, such as setting a plough sock, &c. , but if you tried to - give him -advice it was no uncommon thing' for him" to throw down the tools with the ultimatum, " There's the anvil and here's the hammer, tak' and dae it yersel' " ; and off he would go into the bush, and one had just to turn to and do the job o" leave it until he got over his tantrum, when he would probably do it as you wished.

In the early days, the watershed of Mount Stuart was the boundary of the unknown from the known, and the best hunting ground for wild pigs.

Mr J. L. Gillies bears testimony to the unwearied, self-denying, and faithful services of the Rev. W. Bannerman, whose charge might then be described as all that portion of the island lying south of the Taieri River. His headquarters were at the Molyneux, but sections of his wardrobe might be found in at least half a dozen localities. "An able minister, powerful preacher, indefatigable worker. In his calling he universally respected, and no cheerier friend could one have."

Parlours were not a part of early accommrdation, so that visitors, master, mistress, servants, and children all used to gather round the blazing wood fire in the 6ft or 7ft wide chimney on a winter's night, and many jleasant evenings were thus spent, without the aid of any external amusement.

It required a great deal of strength to "haud hard the stilts" when the plough Tvas drawn by a team of eight bullocks, four of whom were generally young steers under process of " breaking in." As to the quality of the work, owing to the rowdiness of the team, the roots of matakauri and flax, the •stumps of cabbage trees, the crab-holes that had to be contended with, more could be said in praise of quantity than of the quality oi those first furrows.

A carrier who plied his trade to and from town was asked by one of his neighbours, " Fan are ye goin' tae th' toon?" To which he replied, " I'll be in on Monday, God willin' an' weather permittin', and I'll be in on Twiseday, wither or no."

An old lady who disliked anything like cant invited a gentleman to dinner on a particular day, and he accepted with the reservation "If lam spared." The lady quickly replied, "Weel, weel, if ye're died I'll no expect ye."

Another old lady protested against the use of steam vessels as counteracting the decree? of Providence, in going against wind and tide, vehemently asserting, " I would hae naething to say to thae impious vessels."

A Scotch servant girl having been taken to an Episcopalian church by her mistress, gave the following judgment : "0, its verra bonny ; but O, ma leddy, its an awfu' way o' spendin' the Sawbath."

Gold was discovered on Mr Walter Miller's Roxburgh station, Mount Stuart, some time before Read's discovery of Gabriel's. Two of his hands being granted permission to mine, returned to Mr Miller with more than £40 worth of gold. The men left for Gabriel's and were lost sight of, but were undoubtedly entitled to a reward, as the field was a payable one and has been worked to this day.

Writes Mr J. Stevenson, of Riverton, and formerly of the Taieri : " Much controversy has taken place concerning the name Wingatui, and many derivations, more or less fanciful, have been given. But the following is probably the correct one : — My brother, Mr William Stevenson, named his place Wingatui under the following circumstances. He, John Steel, and David Oughton went out shooting on one occasion, and while the others were fairly successful, my brother, who was but an indifferent shot, only succeeded in breaking the wing of a tui. One of his companions, chaffing him on his want of success, happened to call him Wing-a-tui. The conceit took his fancy, and he eventually named his place Wingatui."

The first work on which Mr Stevenson was employed was road-making, at the magnificent remuneration of 2s 6d per day. " The foreman of our gang was Mr Robert Donaldson, who was' a splendid piper, and he used to march at our head going to and from work, playing the pipes in gallant style."

A well-known citizen went to the bush to get firewood, and finding a good-sized log already cut, shouldered it and was well on his way home when he was met by a party who cut the stick, and who, recognising it, immediately laid claim to it. The other, having carried it a long way, demurred to giving it up, and the two had a scuffle, the wife of the second party appearing on the scene, and endeavoured to help her husband to recover the stick. While the scuffle was going on, a fourth party came up, and, as it was very amusing to him, he laughed immoderately, and seemed to enjoy the fun very much. Eventually, however, the first claimant got clear away with the stick, and the irate matron, turning to the amused spectator, cried out, "' Aye, ye stood, an' ye lauched, an' ye sneered, an' ye lauched ; but ye didna help John wi' his sticky." This incident took place at the corner of Rattray street.

On one occasion, during a heavy flood in the Taieri, Mr Stevenson had to carry his wife (who was ill at the time) on his back from his own house to that of a neighbour, who had built on higher ground, the water in some places being up to his waist.

Mr Stevenson says : " Looking back on those old pioneering days I cannot but feel

that they were the happiest of my life, for, though we had many hardships, and our social enjoyments were few, there vsas a romance and a charm about them which repaid us for the hardship and recompensed us for the toil."

The members of the old Provincial Council were not at all proud, but rather strove to emulate the robust virtues of the old Romans. One 'of them, a painter by trade, was in the habit of cooking for his mates. One of these, writing Home, said : " Painters

are looked on as no small beer in the Colonies. We have a member of the Provincial Council for our cook."

The land in the West Taieri was originally a mass of heavy flax, Maoriheads, and cabbage trees ; but of the richest description, and amply repaid in abundant yields all the labour bestowed on it.

In 1857 Mr David Curie came from Melbourne in a boat of his own, a 100-ton schooner, on the deck of which he carried the iron hull of the 25-ton screw steamer the Victoria, having the boiler and engines stowed below. At that time the 'Provincial Council were offering a bonus of £500 for the first steamer to run between Dunedin and Port Chalmers, and Captain Curie made a bid for the prize. In point of time he was, however, beaten by the late Mr James Macandrew, by a day or two ; but as Mr Macandrew's boat met with an accident to the boiler on the trial trip, and was laid up for some months, Mr Curie claimed the bonus but never received it.

Mr Curie shortly afterwards brought out another of his vessels, the schooner Governor Arthur, which he employed in the timber trade between Dunedin and Waikawa, retaining the Galliott for lightering purposes in the harbour. He afterwards built a 120-ton schooner, the Elizabeth Curie, and put it on the Invercargill-Waikawa trade, maintain steady communication between the two places until some years later, when he sold his boats. The little steamer Victoria was kept in the harbour trade until sold to go to Lake Wakatipu, where it now runs, carrying its original boiler.

At the trial of a steam plough and improved farming machinery, which took place in 1878, Farmer Kirkland very adroitly and gracefully turned a compliment intended for himself on the soil with which- his labours are identified. Mr A. M'Lean, in proposing Mr Kirkland's health complimented him on his energy and enterprise in introducing the best and most valuable machinery procurable to the Taieri district. " No, no," was the sturdy reply, " don't praise me, rather praise the country, the climate, and the soil, which give us courage to introduce such machinery." Owing, however, to the price of coal, cultivation by steam turned out a failure, and the traction engines were utilised with threshing mills.

Mr Kirkland, like every other pioneer settler, met with very varying success, sometimes selling wheat at 10s, barley at 7s, and oats in proportion, and again disposing of his produce for an old song. But the great flood in 1868 swept away two years' crop, the growing one and that of the previous season, which had been stacked in the fields, and so threw him, and many others on their " beam ends."

It was when paying a visit to his relatives in the old country that Mr Kirkland saw steam tillage in full swing on the Duke of Sutherland's estate, and, believing that it would suit wet land better than horse labour, ordered the machinery to be "sent to New Zealand by a sailing vessel, he himself going through America and meeting it at Port Chalmers ; but, as already mentioned, it did not prove so satisfactory as he had hoped.

The late Mr Charles Henry Kettle, who came to Otago in 1847 to prepare the way for the Free Kirk settlers who were afterwards brought out by Captain Cargill, had already been in New Zealand for many years, having as early as 1843 accompanied an exploring expedition into the interior of Wellington province, where he ascended the Manawatu and discovered large tracts ot most excellent land in the immediate neighbourhood of what is now the Empire city, and of which he clearly foresaw that Port N cholson must be the port of import and export. Mr Kettle described the plain of Ruamathunga at that time as resembling a vast English park on a magnificent scale.

Mr Kettle surveyed the township and settlement of Dunedin, and sent map and plans to Colonel Wakefield, at Wellington, to be forwarded to England. This was in July, 1847. He says :— " Thinking that you would like to send a map of the settlement by the Garland Grove to England, and also wish to keep a copy yourself for future reference, I have worked hard, and this evening completed a duplicate map which will be sent down the harbour the first thing in the morning, and will, I hope, be in time for the Scotia. As I have been obliged to use great haste in the execution of it, there may be some unimportant omissions, but I have requested Mr Davidson to compare it with that sent by the Levin and to fill in anything that may be wanting. We have lately had a N.E. gale which lasted a whole week and prevented the Scotia from going to sea."

" Dunedin (July 4th, 1847) is now almost deserted there being only five houses in the town inhabited, and we have for the present almost given up. hopes of the arrival of the settlers. It is really to be lamented that a country possessing such capabilities as this should remain neglected and unimproved. I hope the next vessel coming down will bring us some definite intelligence of the fate oi the Settlement. Winter has come upon us rather late this year. The ground is now white with snow, and reminds us of the Christmas at Home, though witliout its usual accompaniment of friends and gocd cheer."

In another letter dated May 14th, 1848, lifter the long-looked-for settlers had arrived, Mr Kettle writes : "I have not been able to make a step towards getting tlie last quarter's accounts made up, as ever since the arrival of Captain Cargui I have scarcely had a place where I could quietly write a letter, one part of my office being taken up as a sleeping apartment for some of the ladies of his family, and the remainder almost choked up with packages. &i y own house, too, has been filled with Mr CargiU's family till very lately. In met, the John Wickliffe coming

in so suddenly upon us has put everything in such a state of confusion that I do not know where to find my papers. Of all the weather I ever witnessed in New Zealand. I do not remember any more wretched than that we have experienced during the past fortnight. There has been a constant downpour of rain, and the poor people, who have their houses only half covered in, are perleet pictures of misery. Even our best hoi^'js have been almost deluged. I hope to get things square by the time the Philip Laing sails for Wellington. You cannot imagine the confusion we are in at present. I hop., the Governor will send a postmaster down here soon, as we are all wishing totjjet our letters by the only safe channel — a post office. '

In July ot the same year Mr Kettle writeson his return home from Wellington :— " We •were just a fortnight on the passage, having: nc thing but light southerly winds the "whole time, and you can judge how disagreeable it was when I tell you that there were seven of us in a cabin Bft square. We called at Akaroa to wait for a favourable wind, and after waiting there two days came away without one. But the weather is now fine, and in. eisht weeks we have only had two wet days. Most of the people have chosen their allotments, and some are going at once into fchecountry. All are cheerful and happy, and> delighted with their new home. After all, I believe the immigrants are the best ever brought out to this country — very useful and hard-working, and the respectable appearance they make at church on a Sunday is really quite surprising. lam obliged tosend this by private band as we know nothing about the post office. We did not get our letters by the Harlequin's mail until four days after her arrival." On September 5, 1848, he wrote: — "We ctuld not send anything by the Scotia, as there was no communication with her when she came into harbour after she returned' from the south, the wind blowing hard from. the north-east. I have as much as ever £ can attend to in my office, particularly ai I am obliged to do all the mapping myself, answer inquiries, keep the register, and giv& out, the certificates,as well as attending to the surveys, and having my office blocked^ up with various things; and Captain Cargill's business transacted there. Everything is so disarranged that I cannot get anything done systematically. I hope, however, that we shall soon have funds at our disposal for building a suitable place of business. Everything is progressing rapidly ; the people are getting on their land, and. turning up the soil to put their crops in in the ensuing spring.

May 16, 1849.— Mr Kettle writes: — "We are going on, as usual, very quietly and comfortably. Few grumblers, and the state of society decidedly improving. The Valpys are a decided acquisition to our society. All the daughters play either on the piano or the harp, and bo, with the assistance of the Cargills, we are able to get up very pleasant musical evenings. I have been building a house (the old Littlebourne house, ■which stood on the site which Mr John Roberts's mansion now occupies) on a suburban section, a little way out of town, where I hope to have a good garden."

Mr James Crane, of Waihola, writes as follows: — ' p I see from your Jubilee is-ue you state that ihomas Archibald was the first to go up the Molyneux to look foe gold. This is quite incorrect The true stateof the case is the following : — In the year 1851, while I was at Henley, some natives came there from the Molyneux. All the talk at that time was about the finding of gold in Australia. As we were talking about it, one of the natives, by name Rakiraki, told us that when towing his canoe up the Matau, near le Houka Beach, he picked up a stone the colour of a Pak^ha sovereign. He carried it in his hand for a while, and then threw it in the canoe to the children. That story roused us somewhat, so we made up our minds to go and look for ourselves. William Palmer, James Whybrow, John Bennett, Teraki and Tuera (two natives), and myself, vent to the Molyneux, and got Mr Redpath's boat, and went as far as the Pomahaka Falls, where the natives were ■eeling, but came back without doing anything. At the beginning of the following year (1852) John Bennet and myself were shearing Mr Fuller's sheep, and while theie an American whalei put into the bay. A few of the hands ran away, and one of them told us he had just come from California and knew all about gold-digging, so we got him to stop until we finished the sheep It was agreed with Mr Thomas Archibald, as he wanted to go an r l see the country, that he should take his boat. We started and got as far as the momh of the Tuapeka. It there appeared that Mr Archibald did not want to look for gold ; what he wanted to find was the burning plain. When California Sam, as we called him, said that we would go inland next morning as it resembled California, and prospect for gold, Mr Archibald told us if we would not go with him he would take the boat home. His brother Andrew was with us, and tried all he could to persuade him, but to no purpose. Home he would go, and we could not stop him, as the boat and most of the provisions belonged to him, and back we had to go. Mr Archibald would not have known anything about the Native finding the stone if we had not told him. Another thing, he never saw Thuawaiki, for he wus drowned before he came out. This is how Gabriel Read knew of gold a' Tuapeka. Read came to Mr Hardy (of Tokomairirol— l think he was working for Hardy. I had told Mr Hardy all about our trip, and what California Sam had said about it, and Mr Hardy, of course, told Read. I must blame Mr Archibald for us not finding the gold at that time, as Sam had marie a ciadle while we were finishing the sheep, so it looked as if he knew something about getting gold. He cried when leaving us. This is the true story. I also see by the paper that Mr. Archibald is made to say that he and party were three weeks away, and only got a few specs. We were only three days away — two going up and one coming back. We got no specs for the reason that we never tried to get any, and we had no time or chance to do so. Ido like the truth, and this is the truth."

The late Mr John Jones was already wellestablished at Waikouaiti when the pioneer ships came out to Otago. He had turned his land purchases to account by bringing from Sydney a cargo oi sheep, cattle, &c., and with them a nurnbei of married settlers. Cherry Farm was the first scene of agricultural industry in the district, and is popularly supposed to have been named after the first cherry trees planted there, but the true account is that the farm was named after the master of a whaling vessel who had been killed by the Maoris a year or two before, and who had been greatly respected by Mr Jones.

Mr Jones opened a store in Dunedin on the arrival of the Free Kirk immigrants. For some time he was the only merchant in the place, and it was by his vessels — the Scotia in particular — that anything like regular communication with the outer world was kept up. This store was erected on the Government reserve close to the landing place, where the first jetty was constructed, and in those days the waters of the harbour lapped the foot of the rising ground on which the store stood.

Mr Jones's death took place in 1869, and his funeral was probably the largest ever seen in Dunedin, with the exception of that of late Dr Stuart. It was attended by nearly all the leading citizens of Dunedin, the principal townspeople and settlers of Waikouaiti, and a large number of Maoris, with whom he had always lived on the best of teims. Crowds of spectators lined the road, and the ceremony, as read by the Yen. Archdeacon Edwards, was listened to in silent and respectful attention by thousands.

Though not the first to introduce steam navigation to Otago, Mr Jones was more than anyone else idenified with the early steam fleet both as owner and shareholder, and with the exception of the sad loss of the City of Dunedin his enterprises were marked with singular success.

A correspondent whom we have every reason to credit, writes us: — "Some of the statements you made (inadvertently, no doubt) about the late Mr John Jones in your Jnbilee number are exceedingly inaccurate and stra n gely mythical. You at times refer to the ' large area.3 of land he acquired from the Maoris, and all of the best description. &c. , for goods, not excluding rum and tobacco,' and to 'one very large area extending from the Waikouaiti River to the Pleasant River, purchased for a bag ot black sugar ' ; and afterwards you refer to the Rev. Mr Watkins's ' welcome to Purgatory,' to his successor, the Rev. Mr Creed, both missionaries brought over from Sydney at the cost of Mr Jones. Let me first reply to the latter by enclosing a copy of a letter now before me from Mr Watkins, too long I fear for publication, showing an almost affectionate regard from him for kindness lavished upon him and Ms ' cure ' by M r Jones. Then let me say that the lands Mr Jones acquired were all, without exception, purchased from and paid for to the Government, and for which his successor held (Jrown grants ; and further, that not one acre did he acquire from the Maoris : and last of all. that the Commissioners. Messrs Godfrey and Richmond, appointed by the Government to inquire into certain claims for benefits of various kinds conferred upon the Maoris, certified in 1867, a year before his death, that Mr Jones had expended upon and paid to them £11,957 15s for which he had received no compensation (vide N.Z. Statistics, 1867, page 537). and for which the Commissioners recommended a grant of land to him of 13,150 acres. This I need hardly say, was not given effect to."

Early in the century, New South Wales sealers, after ransacking the West Coast Sounds, invariably betook themselves to the spot where Riverton now stands as a place of refreshment. One of these parties fared badly. Their boat was lying at anchor inside the bar. Between the captain and the chief of the hapu negotiations for the purchase of provisions were pending, when in company with two of his men, he was induced to visit the pa. One man remained in charge of the ship's boat while the other one accompanied the skipper to the pa. There, without any apparent reason, they were attacked by the natives, the sailor being killed on the spot. The skipper escaped, hotly pursued by the natives, and made his "way along the beach to where his boat was lyin^. On reaching it, however, he found Ihe man in charge badly wounded, a simul(.menus attack having been made on him. They li.-id great difficulty in getting on board the sealer, and no time was lost in clearing out loi Sydney Cove.

Mr Shortland, the first Native Commissioner lor the Middle Island, visited RivertoM early in the forties. He speaks of it as the site of a flourishing shore whaling sta-

tion. One of its hands is specially mentioned. He was a doctor of medicine, holding high credentials from the London faculty. Shortland, to whom these credentials were shown, vouches for their authenticity. The doctor acted as head man to one of the boat's crews. In respect of recklessness and daring he is described as being a perfect marvel. No explanation is given as to what brought him into such a predicament, but we are led to infer that it was puiely and simply the love of adventure. In a district where there was no regular practitioner, his medical skill must have been of great importance, and that fact no doubt brought his case more prominently before notice than would otherwise have been the case.

Bishop Selwyn, in his memorable tour to the south, made about the same time, reports that although there were a considerable number of resident Europeans living with native women, not more than three couples presented themselves for marriage according to the rites of the church; the simpler Maori forms being held to be sufficient.

Occupying a lip of land with a tidal basin on one side and an inlet of the sea on the other, Riverton is the keystone to a fine amphitheatre of mountain, "wood, and flood.

South Riverton is equally happy in aspects of a different sort — bays, coves, sandy beaches, foreshore rocks and wooded knolls. Farther afield the grent Southern Alps, in severe mountain sculpture, rear their mighty heads into regions of eternal snow and cloud.

Some of the foremost names in Southland originate from whalers and sealers, and are preserved m the names of districts, towns, bays, and headlands. Riverton, Colac, and the Bluff were their headquarters. They built houses on their land, brought stock, seeds, plants and trees from other colonies, and themselves became colonists in the true sense of the word.

George Duppa came to New Zealand in 1839, so he was a very early settler. In 1842 113 went to New South Wales and brought from thence the first cattle that were imported into New Zealand, and splendid cattle they were. They were branded with a "bow and arrow." They soon became known and were sought after as the best cattle in New Zealand for many years. Some of these cattle were introduced into Southland by Mr Dansey in 1857. Stn^Ua^ei.^ by

About 13 miles north of Popotuna, near the Pomahaka River, there was, when the Europeans came, a hole of burning lignite, which had been on fire and smouldering slowly for many years. The natives called the place Tapu-Whenua (sacred ground). The lignite is still burning. In 1895 the spot presented a remarkable appearance, the surface soil having subsided seme 20ft or 30ft over several acres, leaving on the south a long, high clay bank. The soil having fallen very unevenly, looked as if it had been turned about by a gigantic plough in a most erratic manner. The soil was of a red ashy colour, and smoke issued from no less than eight vents. The smoke is not always visible, but there is always a strong smell of sulphur. The seam of 'coal pisses under the river and the flat on the opposite side, where it has also been on fire at some past time. S tnv) 'Lionel h «?/

The country around the burning lignite was named by its first owner, Mr Fuller, the Burning Plain, a name which it still retains. It nows forms part of the famous Pomahaka estate. Jc uU Cu^-U. t^ f &&£ fa 3 / itffhSfl

In the early days the squatters frequently drove their own bullocks. One day Mr Baigrie was passing throgh the Wairuna run with his team of eight rather heavily loaded, when, while crossing a swampy creek, the dray got bogged to the axle. No verbal persuasion, mild or profane, no amount of whiplash, could induce the struggling bullocks to extricate the sunken dray. Mr Baigrie threw down his whip and was thinking of unloading, when he heard a quiet voice from the bank above him. " Maybe . you'll be stopping there." On looking up he beheld a Highland shepherd fresh from the wilds of Glenlyon. "It looks like it, Dugald. Come and help me to unload. " " Och, na. Tugal must see after the sheep." And off he went, leaving Mr Baigrie in anything but a pleasant frame of mind, to unload, and reload, after he had extricated the dray .all by himself. /tfAM/?

The Kana-kana (lamprey) Falls are on the River Mataura ; and here this delicious fish so greatly esteemed in England (where it is said to be found only in the Severn), are found in great plenty. The colonials do not seem to have yet discovered the merits of this dainty fish. In England the lamprey are stewed in rich gravy, to which a little port wine is added. It is then a dish fit for a king, and one king (Henry I) is said to have died from indulging too plentifully of it. S erurfda^d. /&■s■& /t & 2*J.//J,(t?

"When we," says an old setler, "visited the kainga at Tuturau, the old chief Reko ("nhite dogskin mat) received us with a hearty "ringa ringa" (shake of the hand), and set his wives to cook some potatoes for i;s. Reko was a native of Kaiapoi, belonging to the Ngaitahu tribe, and had emigrated southward after Te Rauparaha destroyed the pa at Kaiapoi in 1827, and had taken possession of Tuturau when the Ngatimamoe, the former possessors were driven away. StruJLLa^il. lßft>fi2>s UK itJ/2

" There was a pig in the whare, which we offered to buy, but the chief refused to sell it. We had just commenced our frugal meal of potatoes without salt when some other travellers joined us. One of these — Jack, the halfcaste — was related to one of Reko's wives, and in token of friendship she made him a present of the pig for which she had refused our gold. As soon as the potatoes were all eaten, " poaka " (pig) was caught and killed in the whare, and then carried outside, skinned, and suspended to a triangle foimed of three spears tied together. Thanks to Jack, we enjoyed a splendid supper of pork chops, though we had no mustard. ~£ cru/M-&*eL- tvt.(BSf> /i-3d I)'/! 4.#

The native whares are unencumbered by seats, tables, or furniture of any kind, nor is there always a partition, but the women's part is marked off and raised a few inches, and is by custom tapu (sacred). When the whare is large they have a second fire in their portion, at which none of the men are permitted to cook, or even light their pipe.

A Maori chief was asked in 1856 if he had ever seen a moa. He said he had not, nor had he ever spoken to anyone who had. He had been to Te Anau (an uneven or crooked surface), and the natives there had never seen traces of one. SenUAla^d, /BSsfi.3t,

Mr Meurant, in 1823, saw the flesh of a moa near Molyneux Harbour, and a moa bon<?. which reached 4in above his hip from the ground, and as thick as his knee at the end, with flesh and sinews upon it. The flesh looked like bull beef. The Maori slaves said that the moa was still to be found inland, but was nearly extinct. The feathers were double-shafted, of a greyish-brown, or nearly blick, colour, with a purple edge, having quills equal to those of an albatross in size. S an*jfU<*™46. /Bf£> f\Jtt

The natives could then describe the bird well enough, but it was from tradition. They stated that the moa was very large, like a horse on two legs ; that it was used as food ; that it was caught by strong flax running nooses placed across the tracks, for the birds made regular beaten paths through the scrub and long grass. S (tvc^Ue^J. /84&/iJ4

Many Maoris declare that the moas were purposely destroyed because they used to steal and carry away the children. A day ■was fixed upon and fires were lighted in every available spot throughout the island, from north to south, from east to west. The moas not having any wings could not escape through the blazing grass and scrub. UMf^

It Avas at that time that so many thousands of acres of forest were burned, the charred remains of which are still frequently found by new settlers in all parts of the colony, in places now quite devoid of trees. 3 truM^tt^.itlßSOi JiOlr

Even when the old identities came out the moa was spoken of as a bird of the past — an extinct wonder — and the chance of seeing a live one was nearly as improbable as it is now. An ancien' Maori then sang the following lines :— " Far in the distant south, is the moa bird from which I may a plume obtain to flaunt me in my days of joy." Ser^/4UA^s/L ;BS~£ fi ,54

Other extinct wingless birds of whichL the remains are sometimes found are the ralateryx, the aptornis (resembling a large swan), and the notornis (a bird about the size of the kiwi). There weie other extinct birds — a goose, an eagle, a duck, the terapo, and a species of rail, not to mention the tuatara and other monster lizards.

In ancient times the Ngatimamoe (the descendants of Mamoe — long cooked or sodden) tribe of Maoris were the most numerous and powerful on the Middle Island. They owned the whole of the south, south-eastern, and eastern portion of the island from Aparima (party of five workmen) to Akaroa (long haka, or dance). A body of the Ngaitahu tribe came from the Forth Island, and took up their abode in Otakou. After a long struggle and much fighting they agreed to make peace, but some of the Ngaitahu were treacherously betrayed into an ambush, and their chief taken prisoner and slain. This led to the destruction of the whole of the invading tribe ; and they, in turn, were avenged by the famous fighting chief, Te Rauparaha. Only a few Natives seem to have escaped this general slaughter, and most of these took refuge at Ruapuke and on the banks of the island lakes. The last battle between Maoris is said to have been fought at Tuturau in 1536. J**^ /+*u<S>m/&Z^JL

In 1842 a sealing party discovered one of the Nga-ti mamoe haunts. In sailing up one of the narrow fiords that indent the south-west coast the crew were astonished to see smoke issuing from the face of a steep cliff. Having moored their boat directly under the spot, they succeeded in scrambling up till they reached a large cave which they found deserted. It was partitioned in the middle, the inner part being used as a sleeping place. A mat neatly covered with the feathers of different birds was found in the cave, also a mere or club made from the bone of a speim whale, also fishing lines and baskets.

On the eastern slopes of the Hokonui range^are a vast number of small round quartz pebbles. Some of the original settlers maintained that they were the giz/ard stones of the moa birds that had died, but if so they must have perished by thousands. They are probably gravel brought up to the surface by roots of large trees uprooted by violent gales of wind, for all this country was at one time covered with a vast forest. Most of the creeks have gravelly bottoms, and so have the swamps, when you can find it. Se*t*^t£A~*c£.h&&

Reko. the Maori chief, had a canoe on the Mataura, and when the river was too high to ford but not in flood, he used to cross people for a consideration, only he would never attempt it after sundown. One day Mr McNab ai rived, and wished to cross on urgent business. The sun was sinking in the west as the would-be traveller cooed. Reko went part of the way down with the intention of crossing him, but noticing that it was near sunset changed his mind and bawled across "You, Hokonui. stop there," and returned to his whare. As the river was too high to ford, Mr McNab was obliged to ride back home a distance of 13 miles, tad Shortly after Mr C. Kirkcaldy was elected lieutenant of the Dunedin Scottish (No. 2) Volunteers in September, 1864, he set about forming a military brass band. In this he was ably assisted by Mr Charles Begg, who was the founder of the well-known music warehouse in Princes street. In their efforts ihese gentlemen were quite successful, and established one of the finest bands that has been in existence in Dunedin. It numbered among its members many well - known musicians, and had for conductors such men as Herr Meers, Messrs Fleury, Lamb, and others, whose abilities as musicians were well known. The band afterwards became the battalion band, and was in existence for a number of years. These facts are well known to old-time musicians and volunteers, and eff. cttially dispose of the claim recently made by a Gore musician that he was the founder of the first brass band in Dunedin.

Mr Thomas Wilson, of Glenorchy, is one of the oldest residents of the Wakatipu district. He was engaged by Mr W. G. Rees at Waikouaiti in 1861, and had to find his way alone to the junction of the Hawea and Wanaka Lakes, where he was met by two of Mr Rees's men, whom he helped with a mob of cattle. He assisted in building of wattle and daub the first huts at Queenstovvn. He and several mates went to the Shotover River one Sunday, and obtained some fine gold about a quarter of a mile above where the lower bridge was erected, but as night was approaching they had not time to go further up the river. Mr Rees was very angry when they showed him the gold, and told them that a gold diggings would ruin his partner and himself. Mr Wilson subsequently went to the G-abriels rush, and afterwards to the Dunstan, when he was surprised to hear that another rush had set in to the Shotover.