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
