EARLY DAYS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16310, 11 August 1917, Page 9

EARLY DAYS.

OTAGO IN 1858. The following are further extracts from the late Mr James Strachan's story of his adventures in. the early days ■Afterwards we took in a cargo of tea, lii three weeks we were ready for st a again, but the trouble was to make up a crow. The skipper went to Foo Chow to see what he could muster, and did not come back that night, but a fellow came on board with his dunnage, and said ho had shipped as second mate. Evidently ho had been drinking and had the horrors, so we tied him up for the night. He said he came on t'ho ship "Talavera," which was loading there. "When the captain came aboard tho next day ho had him bundled with his gear into a sampan and 'sent back to -the "Talavera." "When they got him there they would not have him, so he lowered himself into the water. No one took any notice as most of his shipmates knew that he could swim welL out he must have conic up under the sampan that, was alongside. At all events that was tho last we, or anybody else saw of him. We afterwards gathered a scratch mob of a crew, 1G in all, 11 different countrymen, vizTCnglish, Scotch, Irish, American, a Belgian steward who was kicked out of the pantry and made to work- on dork, our old friend the German tailor, a Dane from Schleswig Holstein (the only good seaman on the ship), and by good hick I was put in the same watch with him. He took a lot of trouble teaching me our business. He really was a born teacher. We filled up all our sraclc time pleasantly while tho others were employed quite differently, but I had made up my mind to be a sailor, as it meant in those days, not to be in a hurry to get 011 a blue and brass suit. We had also the son of a wealthy "down-easrsr," an awfully decent fellow, but snSly out of place among that crowd. We had a nigger, black as coal, from Nassau, New Pro- ! vidcnce, and, poor fellow, he was used as a chopping block by the newly-mado mate, who was taken out of the forecastle. We also had a Chinese boy about 16, whom the skipper pretended lie was going to take to Shanghai to his friends. So he did I believe, but it was th~ next voyage. Tho rest wer* anything and everything but sailors. There were only three in our wafcrh out of six who were allowed to steer, and I, a boy a. little over 14 years and first voyage, war. one of them, but as I took great interest, in the rigging and working of the ship and sails I was equal to twif of the other bovs.

We liful a fine nm down the China Sf-as, and at the Straits of Sunda took in. fresh meat and vegetables, aud for "the, next fortnight had a, fatrlv good time. _ Between the Straits of'Sund.i and Cape Agulhas all we. saw was a Yankee ship, the .John E. Mills of Newbnryport, and exeepting a few waterspouts nothing happened until past ( ape Clear, Tusear, to Liverpo-01, when T saw what wis the most curious ship it) me. One of the very o!d style with

quarter gallics at the stern and three decks. on would think she was a matt of war. She was one of Money Wigram's old Indian traders and had just arrived that morning, having token 350 days from Bombay. She "was the greatest sight we had seon in our round inn, London-New Zealand, Foo ChowLiverpool. 1 We made our passage from China Home in 120 days, and after staying at homo ior three months my people were very anxious for me to give up the idea ot following the sea. but I was bitten, so I joined the Strathalhm, 000 tons register, which was also boing built at Dundee, same owners at. the Strathmore. V. hen ready for sea wo were sent round to Leith. where we- took on board 31D passengers and 30 of a crow, and Here bundled out into the roadstead on a, Saturday night so that Sunday coukt be used up in stowiug a.way luggage and getting the crow sober. However, with the work half done we hove up anchor and made sail down, the Forth. We made good time till opposite North Foreland, where we. met a. southerly gale which blew us back to Flamborough Head. In all it took us lo days irom Leith to Land's End, and the poor passengers had a bad time of it through the bad weather striking us so early, nearly all of them being sick and some o: thom very bad. After getting out- of the- Channel, however, we hat! a spiondid voyage all the way. -eventy-nine days from Land's End to Cape. Saunders. AT PORT CHALMERS. i Jo Nothing happened ixcept the skipper getting drunk every day. His name was Todd. The mate. Grieve, navigated tin: ship the most ot the. way out and took her Home. I believe she write i live months in Port Chalmers to get- 7<«l bales ol wool, which was the first direct shipment to England. Previously riie wool was sent, over to Sydney in ,-undrv brie-;. When we arrived in Port Chalmers all the crew -truck work and. took three months in ' Monsou's Hotel at the foot of Stewart. ■ Street-. 1 was put in the cabin as ste.w----1 aid and one nlternoon 1 had to go ' ashore for stores, and in taking a stroll j I missed my v. ay and wandered up ;i | ; raek behind the Presbyterian Church. away over the bill-, to B'.ue.skin. now I Waitati. The,-,, was only one hous'i

there then, and the proprietor, Mr Anderson, very kindly pressed me to stay there, but it was early, thought it was the correct thing to sleep in the scrub, and was very sorry I did. ais it was very cold. Next niornin«, after floundering through creelcs and cattle tracks, I came upon a man who was in the. course of building a camp fire outside, and was a good big pot of porridge. At his invitation I willingly shared the porridge, and while doing so I forgot my boots, which I had put by the firei There was not much more than the soles le?t and I had to tie them on with flaK and managed somehow. 1 found out that my Samaritan's name was Warren, and expect that it is some of his descendants that have given the name to Warrington down there. By his direction I followed a track which led down to the beach, which I followed about two miles. Then it led into the hush, and being confined and used by cattle principally it was a regular quagmire. But I made my journey worse, as after going about two miles I must have taken a. wrong turning, and came right back to the beach ' again. I was more careful next time, and got on all rfght till I reached the Maori pah at Purakanui. The Maoris were very kind. I had a feed of potatoes and wild pork, and then they ■ pointed out and directed me to Cherry Farm, Wakouaiti, where I knew one of my shipmates had gone to service with Mrs Johnny Jones, whose husband occupied the farm. I liave often looked at the country since and wondered how I floundered through those swamps and creeks. However, I got there all right and found my shipmate also. I had a good dinner, and was ready for the road again. I left aud went 011 to a shepherd's hut at Hawkesbury Bush. Tho shepherd was a half-casto, as was h : s wife, and they had two little children, and we all occupied one room as | they had not any more.