Page:Banking Under Difficulties- Or Life On The Goldfields Of Victoria, New South Wales And New Zealand (1888).pdf/121

112 into deep water, and was carried down about a hundred yards into an eddy, which sucked him under. The sad news cast quite a gloom over the town. He was well known in Otago, where he had made money, and had come to the Coast with the intention of starting in business. Since my arrival there has been on an average one death per week through drowning, at this ford.

23rd November.—Immediately after breakfast made a start with my washing (my first attempt), which I would have made a mess of had it not been for Waite, who happened to be passing at the time. I had my flannel things in a bucket of water, which I intended to boil; fortunately for me I did not.

24th November.—Inquest held on the body of Shillingford by Mr. John Rochfort. Went to the Greenstone in company with Horsington and De Silva; put up at a shanty kept by a man named Tracy. Our lodging was on the cold ground. We had some old sacking under us, and my blankets, which I had brought up with me, over us. I, as usual, managed to get the middle berth.

25th November.—Sunday was the business day. During my stay I visited the few storekeepers in the town. Not being satisfied with this, I found out one or two parties who had large parcels of gold, went to their tents, purchased it from them, and issued some deposit receipts. Having no office and no safe, I had to carry a pair of saddle bags with me wherever I went, which was anything but agreeable.

28th November.—Harry Abbott arrived with his pack horses at one o’clock. There being nothing more for me to do, I packed up and went with him as far as the Hohuna, a creek five miles from the Greenstone, which empties itself into the Teremakau. Here I got a canoe, which took me to the Teremakau, having got out at one place called the Devil’s Elbow. This was a sharp turn in the river, where great skill had to be shown in handling the canoe: a capsize in that spot meant sudden death, for under the high bluff was deep water, with numerous whirlpools. I did not care to risk it, so got out with my swag. From the river bank it appeared as if nothing would save the canoe from being dashed to pieces against the bluff. She shot down the rapids at the rate of ten knots an hour, when, by the skilful handling of the man at the stern, she turned in a twinkling. I got in again, and in a few minutes was safely landed at the Teremakau. Hearing that the Nelson was in port, and being anxious to send my gold by her, I looked round for a pack-horse, but could not get one; they had all left about an hour before. I was determined not to be beaten, so after getting something to eat and drink made a start “on shank’s pony” for the Grey, a distance of ten miles along the beach. I had a large cloak on, a heavy revolver by my side, and last—not least—a bag containing 350 ozs. of gold dust; high tide and the wind and rain right in my