Page:Old Westland (1939).pdf/209

Rh several hundred ounces of gold, and £2,000 in notes. The treasure I had packed away at the back and the few books I had in use, piled up in front. On opening it everything appeared to be as I had left it, so I locked up, determining to balance up after tea. This I attempted to do, but a lot of drunken men coming in I had to give up.

“That evening I went to Broham’s tent, where I slept; of course I told him about losing the key and finding it again. Some time in the night I woke up with severe pains in my stomach; I was regularly doubled up, groaning and perspiring with pain. Broham knocked up Cooper and sent him to McGregor’s for some brandy and gave me nearly half a pannikin full, which I drank. This had a good effect and I slept until morning. I got up and tried to get to the store, being anxious to balance my cash, but, finding myself too weak, returned to the tent, where I remained the whole day. Next morning, feeling better, I went to the store, wrote up the books, counted the cash, and balanced. I was truly delighted, and went home to Broham in great glee.

“A day or two after this the Nelson arrived at the Grey. I took what gold I had there and weighed it at Horsington’s. I could not do this at the Taramakau, my scales only weighing a few ounces at a time; my large set I kept at the Greenstone. Horsington assisted me to weigh off some hundreds of ounces, but when I totted