Banking Under Difficulties/Chapter 19
CHAPTER XIX.
20th December, 1864.—Captain Leech, of the s.s. Nelson, visited Okatika and satisfied himself that he could take his steamer into the river. The owners (N. Edwards and Company, of Nelson) chartered her on her first trip to Messrs. Ferguson and Buchanan.
Up to this time these gentlemen had been engaged as packers, but they now started business as storekeepers in Okatika, The river was full of snags, many of which could not be seen at high water, and were therefore dangerous for vessels entering without a pilot. A boatman named James Teer acted on this occasion. The sea was as smooth as glass; so smooth that he crossed the bar alone in his boat and piloted the vessel in in safety. She was full of cargo, and crowded with passengers. Broham and I were on the South spit, and assisted to make her fast. The passengers were taken to the north side of the river—where the township of Hokitika now stands—by boat. The place at that time was one mass of drift-wood, so thick, that it was impossible to get a horse or waggon through without clearing it away. The cargo was discharged inside the river on the beach, and on a point close to the sea. A storm coming on and a fresh in the river, a lot of goods were carried out to sea before they could be removed. Some of the storekeepers sustained severe loss. Waite was one of the number, and J. R. Fraser another. Ferguson and Buchanan had erected a store on the south beach, but, afraid of it being washed away, removed it over to the north side. On the passengers being landed there was quite a rush for allotments. Amongst the first marked out were those for Cassius and Comiskey, the Bank of New Zealand, and Ferguson and Buchanan. I did not mark out one, but got the mail-bag and rode off to the Grey. I reached there at ten o’clock at night, and rather astonished Mrs. Waite by putting in an appearance at that hour and with the mail.
When I returned to Okatika next day I scarcely knew the place, it had so changed in appearance, even in that short time; buildings were going up in all directions. The inspector of the Bank of New Zealand decided to put up a building, which he did as soon as timber was procurable. I agitated for an office, and was informed that one would be provided if the rush turned out a good one. As soon as the Bank of New Zealand building was finished, two or three hands were sent down, and an agency opened. I was then working at a great disadvantage, inasmuch as Walmsley was still my opponent in the field, and his bank having an office in Okatika, had by far the best chance of securing the business accounts, and of this they did not fail to take advantage. Notwithstanding such odds against me, I managed to hold my own, especially in the gold purchases.
Mr. Revell, the warden, was busy most part of the day marking off sites of 40 feet frontage; he also laid out two streets and measured off the different allotments, reserving one chain frontage to the river and 40 feet wide for the street. Several disputes have already arisen. Not a ripple on the bar. The captain of the Wallabi crossed it to-day in his boat, taking soundings. Cassius opened a store.
21st December.—Sergeant Broham marked out the camp, on which site now stands the Bank of New Zealand, town hall, Union Bank, drill shed, and other buildings. His tent was pitched here, and here I was generally to be found at meal times.
22nd December.—The cutter Nugget, of Invercargill, and the cutter Petrel, arrived from Jackson’s Bay with thirty-nine men, who have been prospecting in that locality; Barington and party amongst the number.
Christmas Day of this year fell upon a Sunday. I was busy all day buying gold, &c. A short time after I got to bed (my saddlebags being under my head and revolver at my side), three drunken men rushed in; one came to me, took my hat from over my eyes, and said to the others, “By dad it’s the ——— banker; suppose we give him a crack on the head with a stick?” and off they went into the bar. I have often heard it said that when people are drowning the principal events of their lives pass through their brain. So it was with me in this instance. I thought of all sorts of things, and at the same time made up my mind what to do. I knew perfectly well should any scrimmage take place, and the report of a pistol be heard, there were so many maniacs about, that without inquiring why or wherefore, but “eager for the fray,” they would rush in, and I would stand a very poor show. Still, I had to protect myself and the bank property as far as I could, and this I was determined to do. I turned with my face to the door and took out my revolver, which I always kept in good order, and waited. They had drinks in the bar, and away they went. I did not see any more of them. My idea was, had they shown up again, to challenge the first man at the doorway; had he attempted to advance—fire. I knew I could depend on my revolver, and unless the mob tore down the tent I was good for six of them. All I can say is that I was in a very awkward predicament, and was not at all sorry that they did not turn up again. I have often thought since what risks Walmsley and I ran, both of our lives and of the bank property. Fortunately for us Burgess and party were not on the Coast. Had they been we would have stood but a poor show.
28th December.—A dispute arose this morning between Messrs. Cassidy and Price about one of the business sites. Mr. Revell was called on, and decided in favour of Cassidy. Price persisted in putting down his pegs and digging post-holes. Mr. Revell interfering, Price made a blow at him with a shovel, striking him across the instep of his left foot. I was present when the assault took place. The allotment in dispute was marked out by Mr. Cassidy, and adjoined the one occupied by Messrs. Price and Hudson, the first storekeepers at Okatika. It seemed hard that these men should not be allowed an extra allotment or two, having been the pioneers of the place; still, not having applied for an increased area, Cassidy was fairly entitled to it, having marked out the ground. As far as my recollection serves me, Price apologised to Mr. Revell for his conduct, and was let off with a severe lecture.
15th January, 1865.—Mr. Cassius appointed postmaster, pro tem. He did not retain the position long, a young man named Andrews being sent down from Nelson. He was only on the Coast a few months when Mr. Keogh was appointed; after him a Mr. Stephenson, who was in Hokitika some considerable time. When he left Mr. Kirton was appointed.
16th January.—A heavy fresh in the river bringing down huge trees and washing away the river banks, one store on the south side had to be shifted for fear of being washed away.
26th January.—The steamer Wallabi arrived at the Grey with His Honour the Superintendent of Nelson (Mr. Robertson), Mr. Blackett, and Captain Walmsley (chief postmaster of Nelson). On the return trip of the Wallabi to Nelson, when off the Buller, the day being fine, and sea smooth, a boat was put off; in it Mr. Robertson and several others; when crossing the bar she capsized, and His Honour was drowned. The body was never discovered.
James Teer, before mentioned as piloting in the Nelson on her first trip, is now, or was when I left Hokitika in 1874, a boatman. on the Hokitika River. He was one of the fourteen survivors of the General Grant, which was wrecked on the Auckland Islands. He was on the island for nearly two years, and a rough time he had of it. The General Grant had £20,000 worth of gold on board, which went down with her, and this is still at the bottom of the “deep blue sea.” Whether it will ever be recovered is very doubtful, the ship having run into a cave of rocks against which the waves are always beating. One party from Nelson went down, but the expedition failed on account of the weather not being fine enough to allow the divers to go down. Teer went with the party, and is living in hopes of again visiting the spot and securing the gold. When washed ashore one of the fourteen had two dry matches. The fire that they lighted was sacred; something dreadful was agreed upon as the penalty for letting that fire go out. Drinking cups were scooped out of roots, and ropes were made of native flax. Wild pigs were plentiful, but how to get them was the thing, the party having no guns nor dogs. Teer invented something, which was no more or less than a barbed hook, at the end of a flax rope, baited; with this they caught as many pigs as they required.
About this time a new rush broke out at the Totara, sixteen miles south of Okatika. I went down to have a look at this, and found it was seven miles inland, and up a creek, called “Jones.” Here I found a calico township, but there not being much doing in my line, I did not make a long stay, but returned to the foot of the river the same evening, where I, in company with some packers, camped. I put a halter on Nobby, and tied him up. Next morning he was not to be found; he had bitten the rope through. I walked to Okatika, where I heard of him; he was at the “Arahura” on a patch of feed he had found out on the way up. On my second trip from the Totara I was detained on the South Spit for two days, owing to a heavy fresh in the river. I camped with Mayne (a storekeeper), and was provided with a rough stretcher, and was comfortable enough, as far as bed and bedding was concerned. The first night I went to bed expecting to get a comfortable night’s rest, but was sadly disappointed. As soon as I got into bed the mosquitoes came buzzing about, so I put my head under the blankets. In a few minutes I felt something heavy running over me. I jumped up and found the place full of bush-rats. I beat them off till I was fairly tired, and found that with these pests and the mosquitoes, there was but very little chance of getting any sleep, so I took my blankets and went down to the beach, where I lay on a couple of logs, with a piece of wood for my pillow.
On my return to Okitika I received advice that an assistant (Mr. B———) would be sent me from Dunedin. The poor fellow never reached the Coast. He was drowned in the City of Dunedin on her way from Dunedin. She must have foundered, as she was never seen or heard of after leaving Wellington. A young man named Kempthorne was sent down, but as he was suffering from a severe attack of asthma, I sent him back by the same steamer in which he came. He, poor fellow, was drowned some years after in the harbour of Dunedin, while boating with two or three others. The boat capsized, and he, although a good swimmer, was drowned. His body was never recovered.On one of my trips from the Greenstone, the Teremakau being flooded, I had to walk from the Hohuna to the Teremakau, carrying with me about 300 ozs. of gold. I was in company with Harry Revell (a brother of the warden), a big powerful man, who kindly exchanged swags with me occasionally, I taking his blankets, and he my gold, which for me was a pleasant exchange.
The following week, the river being still flooded, and knowing that my customers had a lot of gold on hand, I rode up over night from Greymouth and stayed at Broham’s, intending to make a start from Teremakau at daylight. However, on talking the matter over with him, and finding that I would have to walk first twenty miles up and then back that distance, with about 50 lbs. weight of gold, and possibly alone, I changed my mind; not but what the will was good to do the deed, but simply because I did not feel up to it. So next morning I returned to the Grey. Later in the day I learned that Walmsley started from the Grey at daylight, that he then rode to the Teremakau and walked the rest of the way, returning on Monday evening with between 500 and 600 ozs. of gold. For the first time since our arrival on the Coast he had the largest escort, he having purchased my gold in addition to his own. My customers kept their gold up to the last, making sure I would turn up, but finding I did not put in an appearance, they sold to him. What will a zealous banker not do? What we should have done was to erect offices at the Grey, and to allow storekeepers and diggers to come to us, instead of our running after them. In place of this, each manager was chasing the other all over the country, crossing (often swimming) dangerous rivers, carrying gold on our backs like beasts of burden, sleeping on the damp ground, camping out in all weathers, and of course risking our lives. It’s all very well to see these things afterwards, but at the time, with an opponent in the field, one is anxious to do his best.