Page:Banking Under Difficulties- Or Life On The Goldfields Of Victoria, New South Wales And New Zealand (1888).pdf/141

132 rapidly, Mr. Broham marked off a street at the back of, and parallel to Revell-street, which he named Wharf-street; the steamers lying just at the foot of it by the river bank, and where they discharged cargo. Twelve or more allotments were pegged off. Broham put as many numbers in his hat as there were allotments, which were drawn by the few persons about at the time. The allotments were valued at £20 each, and in less than two months were selling from £200 to £300.

7th March.—I started for Nelson per s.s. Wallabi.

8th March.—Met a small steamer (Waipara), bound for Hokitika, her first trip. Arrived at Nelson at five p.m.; when we reached the wharf, had quite a rush of business people on board, all eager to hear the latest news, and in a frantic state of excitement when they heard we had brought up 1900 ozs. of gold, the escort up to this time not exceeding 700 ozs.

26th March.—Started again for the West Coast per ss. Nelson. Arrived off Hokitika on the morning of the 28th, and found quite a fleet of vessels in the roadstead; took passengers from two or three of them at £1 per head; crossed the bar soon after ten; found the s.s. Stormbird ashore on the North Spit; scarcely knew the place again, it had so changed; found Revell-street nearly a mile long, some very good buildings erected; no end of shanties, and the street crowded with diggers, so crowded that it was with [sic] difficulty [sic] I elbowed my way through; went over to see my friend Broham, with whom I had lunch; found quite a crowd of Government officials at the camp, Messrs. Seed, Revell, Rolleston, Kenrick, Mallet, and Limming having arrived from Christchurch per Nelson on the 19th March. On the 21st Mr. Revell opened an office in a tent, and issued the first miner’s right to a brother of his, Mr. H. Revell.

At the time of which I am writing money was so plentiful that all seemed to have more than sufficient for their needs. Of course it was the gold-digger who made the capital for all, but that capital was distributed in many curious ways. I well remember one young fellow, of a type that would seem impossible to any but a colonist. He was the son of a professional man, and had been educated with a view to succeeding his father, but after trying that and various other occupations, banking included, he determined to come to the West Coast and try his luck.

Here he did almost anything and everything. He was by turns clerk, Customs-house officer, auctioneer, digger, and at last paper seller and general postman. It is in connection with the last that his experiences may prove interesting. They are as nearly as possible in his own words, as related by him to me many years after:—

“You want to know about my ‘paper-running’ experiences! Ah! Those were queer days, and money as plentiful as dirt.