Page:Hokitika NZ Evans 1921.pdf/6

4 clergy—though the name of the priest is not mentioned. Mr Buller, however, was the first horseman to cross the mountains and make direct for Hokitika. He took six days to accomplish the journey and mentioned he had to cross the Teremakau river twenty-six times. Mr Buller was the pioneer to prepare the way for the Revd. Harper, who was appointed to Hokitika and came later by sea. Speaking of the gold find here in 1865, Mr Buller comments: “Nothing populates a waste howling wilderness” like gold. When Mr Buller debauched on the ocean beach at the Teremakau he found a stampede of miners going north to a new rush at Greymouth. The beach was alive with men, pack horses and teams tearing north.

Speaking of Hokitika as he found it at the time of his advent, he says he came to the river and there he found a mushroom sort of a town on the north bank. The forest reached to the waters’ edge. The houses were on the sandy beach. Revell Street, a mile long, was a succession of stores and hotels—the latter so called. Afterwards Revd. Buller writes of visiting Te Kaniera.

It might be of interest to record that Mr Buller, while in Hokitika, was the guest of Mr Alcorn and slept on a bed under the shop counter. Alcorn’s corner is now the vacant site opposite Mr E. J. Lloyd’s store and now separated from the Don store by a right of way to the sea beach. Revd. Buller held the first Church service in the Corinthian Hall—then a building without floor, seats or windows. Afterwards it was a drapery emporium, then, the citadel of the Salvation Army, and laterly a private residence. In the Revd. Buller’s time, Thatcher, a local entertainer held forth every evening, the admission being one shilling. Entrance was through the bar of the hotel. On the Sundays the shops were open for business, and the first Church service was announced by the bellman. There was not a large congregation at the morning service, but the evening service was well attended.

Writing of the town when his book was prepared for publication (1378 [sic]), Revd. Buller says as he left it (after his second visit) it was in the first stage of the transformation of a permanent and prosperous town, which now enjoys all the advantages of an organised community—churches, schools, and other institutions.

A reference has been made to Mr Payton’s work. This gentlemen offers his opinion on the East and West Coast railway which it is instructive to reprint as showing the point of view in the brave days of old on the subject in questions:

"“Some of the people appear to think the first thing a new colony wants is railways, and are trying to get a railway constructed from Springfield to Hokitika through the wonderful mountains and gorges. There is already good communication by sea, and nothing whatever to warrant the enormous expenditure that a railway would cost, both to construct and repair. I sincerely hope that these ridiculous people may not be permitted to increase the already enormous debt of the colony for such a purpose.”"

It is interesting to note that at this moment, Canterbury and Westland are alike hungering for the completion of the East and West Coast railway. Other times, other views.

The Borough of Hokitika was asked for by petition dated April 22nd, 1866,