LOOKING BACKWARD.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14407, 18 May 1917, Page 6

LOOKING BACKWARD.

. The city of Nelson is receiving a visit from Mr. W. C. Nation, a s,on of Mr W. Nation, wto started "The Colonist" nlj ISS/ * Youu S - Nation was 17 years ■old when he came to New Zealand, and he is therefore now in his 78th year. He is well acquainted with- Nelson as it 'wasr in early, days, and he tells „ol the Maoris coming in their canoes, laden with peactes and potatoes, from-the Taranaki side of the btra.it,- and landing at "the'old Saltwater bridge. • ■ - ' .

The .residents Averc as a large family then, and doors were not locked at night. Br,t there were prisoners in those days, and the gaoler was a Mr Crawford, who, when tho prisoners were at work on the Church Hill, always addressed them as Mr. and asked, ' Mr. , will yo v ii put a few barrowloads over there?" as they were removing the soil. It was alleged, though t:ero is no confirmation of the report, that when an entertainment was on in the town, he would let the good conduct prisoners out to attend it, and tell them, if they^were not in by 10 o'clock he would lock them out.

My. Nation well remembers Dr. jloclistetter and his lectures on the formation of the country across Blind Bay and tho mineral wealth that would bo devdnpod. And the inhabitants had* bright visions of gold, coal, and other sources of wealth:" Young Nation was fond of roaming over the country and explored the caves at Takaka, the imarblo deports on the hillsides in that locality, Jer!ivi?is\v coalmine at Stoke, and the Dim Mountain copper mine' When the Wakamarina diggings broke out and all the residents of Nelson took tl:e gold fever and in hundreds crossed the Mai;nga-tapu with picks and shovels, dishes and tucker, our young fnend throw up his • position in the Colonist" office, 'where he had worked for seven years, and joined the excited ti-rong that crossed the Pelorus river ana pitched their tents on the new El Dorado, .where pockets of Pojd were round on rocky bars in the river in crevices and among the roots of treeswiiero shoemakers, tailors, .shop assistants and every industry Avero represented among the amateur diggers who stood up to their knees in water, with every variety of tin dish, bringing to light the precious metal. Of the-Maori war at the beginning of the 'sixties Mr. Nation has vivid recollections. Men, nomen and children had to forsake their farms in iaranaki and hurry into New Plymouth. The town became so congested that it was decided to send the women and children over to Nelson, and many hundreds' were brought across, in the ™ v steamer, the Tasmaninn Maid, lno Is elson-people welcomed them with affectionate sympathy, -opened their homes to many, set aside the public halls, where bedding and other necessaries were provided, while the cooking was done m the open air. The husbands and older S on« tad to stay and hght in laranaki, and when news"cam© irom iv ew p; vm p U th, And tho "Colonist issued extras, an excited crowd stooa in front of the office and looked un ac the windows, waiting for the news. And there were pitiful scenes at tiiros when the death of a settler was announced whoso wife and family were among the refugee*,-. " Those wore days when the Nelson volunteers were held in readiness to be sent over to New Plymouth. Crossed m WebWs Nelson tweed," they were ny rl l 7 Sergeant-Major Alborough Tli i , lravers ' jeing captain) in Tollemache's paddook, which faced on Hauly and Colhngwood streets Tie old.flint muskets were tho weanon*, until a supply of Enfields arrived " The company had" to be in readiness to over to Taranaki any day, and quitcT.i number of persons would watch these volunteers fix bayonets and charge .across the paddock, with .blood-curdling yells upon an imaginary foo. But the Maori war came to an end, the-volun-teers were disbanded, and by decrees t^.^onty- of refugees returned to treir wrecked, homes. ■Sixty _• years ; ago! v~And ' now' Mr ■ ftation is visiting our city once more Ho misses^ many of the old landmarks', out lie sees advancement and prosperifcy on every hand, and he is glamoured with the delightful resi! them 8 ' R K I1" e^ns which surround them. But he misses tie friend* of is youth. Nearly all have passed in the Me beyond an d old memories will be stirred if ho wander,■ » m(mts the wetur^S 011 HMe Where