Page:Old Westland (1939).pdf/182

158 Hudson had many conversations with a celebrated prospector known as Jimmie Liddle, with whom, as soon as the weather cleared, he proceeded south, and on October 1st, 1864, they arrived at what was then known as Okatika and here they erected a store, the framework being constructed of saplings, over which calico was drawn, the size over all being 12 x 20 feet, and thus came into being the first building in the town of Hokitika, now the capital of Westland.

As has been shown, the Maori name for this river, on the northern bank of which this town now stands, was Okatika, but this being somewhat hard to pronounce, old timers, who were prone, in their own words, “to do things regardless,” added the aspirate “H,” substituted an “i” for an “a,” and so coined the word Hokitika, which they considered more euphonious. Maori tradition hath it that the meaning of the word is “retreat,” the story being that on one occasion, when the Ngai Tahu tribe were about to attack the pa which was defended by the resident (Ngatiwairangi) tribe, the Chiefs of the former were drowned when attempting to cross the river, and their followers, finding themselves without leaders, were forced to retire, the place afterwards being called Okatika, meaning retreat.

Messrs. Hudson and Price, their store being erected, proceeded to stock it—supplies being