Page:Charleston • Irwin Faris • (1941).pdf/81

 it until a comparatively recent year. In a recent map the Totara Lagoon is marked: “Herring’s.”

Nicholas Beebil, known affectionately as “Old Nick,” who conducted the ferry for much longer than any other, was a Greek, a sailor who had left his ship at Westport. He was an extremely popular, respected man, and noted for his hospitality. After his wife’s death at Totara he returned to Greece but was soon back in this the land of his adoption, died at Westport, and was buried at Charleston, where also lie his wife and infant daughter.

The Totara was a treacherous river, subject to sudden floods and beset with quicksands. Usually vehicles were guided across by the ferryman, who selected crossing-places. In early days the method of summoning the ferry, from the south side of the river, was by “cooee”; but it is said that about 1891 the bell from the dismantled Methodist Church at Charleston was placed upon a post there and used for the purpose.

On 17th October, 1868, says the Westport Daily Times, the cutter Satellite of 27 tons, Henry White being master, from New Plymouth, where she was owned by Webster Brothers, got too close inshore and, the master realising that there was no escape, as the wind was strong and squally, set sails and beached her about half-a-mile north of the Totara mouth. The crew of three were saved, and an enquiry held the master blameless. The wreck was sold by auction at Westport on 24th October, 1868, and on 10th April, 1869, the newspaper stated: “The cutter Satellite, recently wrecked near the Totara, is now inside the river, repaired and ready for sea. She is now named the Joseph Paul.”

Shortly after the newspaper announced: “She got out on Saturday, 10th April, 1869, when there were nine feet of water on the bar.”

From the Nine-mile Beach the route was over a point called Parsons’ Hill, because owned by Parsons, of the Welcome Inn, to Little Beach, sometimes called Nile Beach, it being immediately north of the mouth of the Nile River.