Page:Banking Under Difficulties- Or Life On The Goldfields Of Victoria, New South Wales And New Zealand (1888).pdf/116

Rh

following information I obtained from Mr. Hudson, one of the early pioneers of the West Coast:—In the early part of August, 1864, he and his partner, James Price, crossed the Teremakau saddle, on arriving at which they discovered a very nasty ravine, over which one of the pack horses toppled. On looking over they saw him some 50 feet below, landed on a ledge of rocks. As this was the horse that carried their blankets, &c., it was necessary to get to him, and they consequently made their way down, taking with them a tomahawk and pick. They cut the straps and girths to get the saddle released, and decided to roll him into the ravine below. After so doing, and taking their traps up, Hudson went down to have a look at the horse. On reaching the spot he was surprised to find him munching at the scrub, not a bit the worse for his rough handling. It was miraculous, the animal having fallen a distance of 150 feet. On arriving at the bed of the Teremakau they found it to be a complete mass of boulders, and experienced great difficulty in getting the horses along. They found as they proceeded that the travelling was getting more difficult, and very trying to the horses’ hoofs, until finally they had to cut up the saddle flaps to make shoes, in the shape of sandals, which were laced the best way they could with tent cord or anything available which answered their purpose, not having met with any flax (which is the great New Zealand substitute for manilla or European rope) up to this time. They continued their journey till dusk, and judging roughly must have travelled ten miles. They made for a flat, and camped, and after feeding the horses they had supper, and pitched their tents for the night. Next day they made a start, but their progress was very slow, owing to the time taken up in the constant fixing of the leather sandals, as the horses’ hoofs and the cord were all worn. Soon, however, they arrived in the precincts of the flax bushes (which abound on the banks of the rivers and creeks of the West Coast). All the leather being used, they now had to substitute bags, clothing, or anything that could possibly be spared. About midday they met a party of men returning from the Coast, making their way to Canterbury, and during the afternoon several other parties, all of whom gave a deplorable account of the Coast, begging them to