COASTAL TRADING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2818, 18 March 1908, Page 49

COASTAL TRADING.

Mr Joseph, in the meantime, had taken himself once more to the sea as a coastal trader. For a short period he sailed an open boat, called the Annie, for Joe Real, trading to Moeraki, Waikouaiti, Taieri, and Molyneux. He eventually bought the boat, and in it conducted his own trading operations. There were, of course, in those early days, no roads through the country, and all goods had to be taken by sea to the nearest river, and there landed and taken inland by the settlers. In the circumstances, it can readily be imagined that there must have been many times when the settlers were in 6ore straits. Contrary winds might delay the arrival of stores for weeks, and it was not an infrequent occurrence for anxious men and women to be almost foodless for days waiting at the ports of call for the little trader to arrive with provisions. Indeed, that the little craft ever reached its destination at all was on many occasions cause for wonder, and there are not many at the present day who would be prepared to undertake a course of five years' trading in all weathers, on the Otago coast. But of such is the stuff that pioneers are made.