Page:Old Westland (1939).pdf/191

Rh Coast of the South Island, I was ordered to take a run by the steamer Nelson (from Nelson), leaving on the above date, to have a look at the place and report upon it. On the day following our departure we duly arrived at the Buller (Westport) and a miserable looking place it was, there being only two buildings, both stores or shanties, kept respectively by Messrs. Martin and Hodges. We found a good many Maoris camped about and were amused at seeing a Maori woman washing her baby, a little thing a few months old, which she took down to the river, and dipped several times, the child taking it kindly, and although the water was very cold it cried but little; she then slung it on her back without even drying it and trotted away. A number of Maoris were busy writing letters to send by us to their friends at the Grey River. I saw one or two of these, which were most creditable productions both as regards spelling and writing.

“On October 25th we sailed for the Grey, which is sixty miles south of the Buller. We ran down in eight hours. The tide not being favourable when we arrived we anchored in the roadstead until it suited. When Captain Leech thought there was sufficient water on the bar, he went to the masthead and piloted his vessel in. The Grey bar is a shifting one; at one time the run in will be a straight one; at another a long way to the north or south,