Chapter XIX
Dance Hall, Hokitika
In the year 1867 it was estimated that Old Westland had a population of 50,000, whereas but two years previously there were under 1,000 people on the whole of the West Coast, such is the lure of gold. By this time Hokitika was the wonder city of the Southern Hemisphere, so phenomenal had been its growth; and now, at the zenith of its greatness, it presented a picture unique in the history of the Dominion. Men from far-flung places of the world congregated in its streets and talked of gold, and nothing but gold, and as they talked a mounted escort would pass by—there had been a “wash up” at Ross, Kanieri, Waimea, or at some of the river or beach claims and another 10,000 ounces was being put aboard a vessel for export. Such a shipment, then valued at £40,000—to-day at twice as much—caused no undue
