Page:Banking Under Difficulties- Or Life On The Goldfields Of Victoria, New South Wales And New Zealand (1888).pdf/134

Rh was everything in the robbers’ favour. Walmsley came on to Hokitika the same night, and reported the matter to me. I at once went over to the camp and informed Inspector Broham of the robbery, and within half-an-hour he, two detectives, Walmsley, and myself were on the road to the Grey, which we reached soon after daylight. We lost no time, but pushed on to the Twelve Mile, where I remained. Broham and the detectives first visited the scene of the robbery. They then started in pursuit of the robbers. They were out some days, and arrested four men on suspicion. One of the number, I afterwards heard, was one of the gang; but, unfortunately, the police could not bring the charge home to them. This affair determined the banks doing business at the rush (Notown) to withdraw and close their offices, and about three weeks after the robbery an escort arrived and all left, forming a strong party—some seventeen in all—well armed, with van and rear-guard. We proceeded to the Twelve Mile, and thence by canoes to the Grey. I don’t remember the names of all the escort, but the following did duty on that occasion:—D. Walmsley, G. F. Martin, and G. O. Preshaw, Bank of New South Wales; C. S. Allen and George Kirton, Bank of New Zealand; J. P. Martin, Union Bank; Inspector Broham and Sergeant O’Donnell, of police force.

There was some talk of a gang being formed to stick up the escort, and great doubts were entertained whether we should reach our destination in safety. We did, however, and glad I was when I saw our treasure safely deposited at the Grey. Walmsley’s bad luck still stuck to him. In the early part of 1869 he again met with a loss. The banks doing business at Brighton had closed their agencies there, and the agents were bringing on horseback to Charlestown, the bullion, cash, &c. Soon after their arrival at Charlestown it became known that some half-sovereigns had been picked up on the road. This excited suspicion, and the agents at once counted their cash. The New Zealand agent found his correct; not so with Walmsley, who discovered that he was £160 short in his gold coin. A nail in the pack-saddle had penetrated one of the bags containing the gold coin, and by the jolting of the horse the money had been shaken out. Walmsley rode back, and about four miles from Charlestown found quite a rush of persons on the road raking and sweeping up the dust. He was only fortunate enough to pick up some £3 10s. In this case he had been particularly careful. His half-sovereigns he put in a small bag; this he put in a larger bag; these with some notes he rolled up in a sack, which he placed into another sack, carefully sewing them up. A nail in the pack-saddle had worked a small hole through the four bags, and just large enough for a half-sovereign to fall through, which they must have done one by one.