Page:Old Westland (1939).pdf/195

Rh “The Bank of New Zealand were quite alive to the importance of sending a man down to occupy the field, as they saw we were making preparations for so doing, and one of their staff, a young fellow named Walmsley, was a fellow passenger on this occasion.

“On our arrival we found the residents of the Grey in a state of great excitement, a new goldfield having been discovered at the Totara River, about forty miles southwards. It is necessary to mention here that the Grey River divides the provinces of Canterbury and Nelson. The diggings are on the Canterbury side.

“On November 10th, I made a start for the Totara on foot. My swag containing a pair of blankets, gold scales, etc., I put on Sweeney’s waggon, a light American affair, the only one of its kind on the Coast. It was heavy walking along the beach. At the Taramakau I met Walmsley and Revell, the Government Agent; they were on their way to the rush. Lunched at an eating house, which had been erected since my last visit, kept by Mrs. King (one of the first white women on the Coast). We slept in a Maori whare (building) and all being very tired we were soon in the arms of ‘Morpheus.’

“The rain poured down on the following day and we could not stir out, so put in the time playing euchre and whist. Up betimes next morning and crossed the river soon after ::hws|break|breakfast}}