Page:Banking Under Difficulties- Or Life On The Goldfields Of Victoria, New South Wales And New Zealand (1888).pdf/119

110 who, although weaker in number, came off victorious. Matters now settled down into their usual groove, the prospectors retiring into Hudson’s store, where they remained for the night. It was then he learned full particulars of the gold discovery, which took place in the Totara and a branch creek, now known as Donnelly’s. In the afternoon the vanguard of the rush hove in sight, consisting of Maories of all ages and sexes, and by night-fall fully 150 miners had arrived. This party of Maories had evidently been induced to come to this locality, from the representations of the fugitive members of the prospecting party. The prospectors at once declared the result of their researches south, and many who the evening before were ready to hang them, now greeted them with the greatest joy. The consequent increase of the population, and declining stock on hand induced Hudson to raise his prices to nearly the extent of 250 per cent., which was cheerfully given, as it was a great surprise to many of the miners to get provisions in such a place. Price arrived that night about twelve o’clock with the horses fully laden with provisions. On the following day four or five storekeepers arrived, including Sweeney, Ward, and Murphy. They decided on going south to the rush, but found it impossible to cross the river with Waite’s bullock dray, which they had hired, so had to return to Greymouth for a boat, which originally belonged to the old Gipsy schooner. On the arrival of the boat overland from the Grey there was a general rush of storekeepers and miners to secure it for the rush to the Totara. Amongst the storekeepers were Messrs. Sweeney, Murphy, Cochrane, Ward and Co. Hudson thought it advisable to erect a store on the new diggings, so as to keep pace with his opponents, and did so, and engaged Mr. James Morton to manage the business at Hokitika, while he (Hudson) proceeded to the rush. About this time an accident occurred, which tends to show how the hardy, sturdy miner will endeavour to relieve his fellowman in difficulties. Whilst a party of miners, known as Blanchard’s party, were engaged in felling a tree, one of them (a Portuguese by birth) slipped, and the butt of the tree coming down on his thigh smashed it. His mates at once came up the river for assistance; 150 volunteers went up to fetch the man down. They made a sort of box out of the trunk of a tree (split into slabs) in which they placed him, and after innumerable difficulties they reached the township, which was about nine miles from the beach on a long point of the Totara River. Here they camped all night, placing the injured man in Murphy’s store; started next day and made Ogilvie’s Lagoon, arriving at Hudson’s store on the succeeding day. They then constructed a waggon out of a huge tree, and Mr. Ramsay, a saddler (now of Hokitika), made a saddle and harness out of a pair of moleskin trousers and some rope. All being ready they started with the poor man next morning