Page:Old Westland (1939).pdf/216

192 Despite this and the fact that the Greenstone was still producing fabulous quantities of the metal royal, the idea that the wealth of Westland, for the most part, lay to the south became general, with the result that there was a definite drift of the population in that direction. So pronounced was this, indeed, that for a time the Grey District was almost deserted, and storekeepers who had established themselves there quickly made for the rapidly rising town of Hokitika.

“Christmas Day of this year (1864) fell on a Sunday,” Preshaw tells us, “and I was busy all day buying gold. A short time after I got to bed (my saddle-bags under my head and my revolver at my side),” he continues, “three drunken men rushed in; one came close to me, took my hat from over my eyes, and said to the others, ‘By gad it’s the b banker; suppose we give him a crack on the head with a stick?” and off they went into the bar. I have often heard it said that when people are drowning the principal events of their lives pass through their brain. So it was with me in this instance. I thought of all sorts of things and at the same time made up my mind what to do. I turned my face to the door and took out my revolver which I always kept in good order, and waited. I knew perfectly well should any scrimmage take place, and the report of a pistol be heard, there were so many maniacs about, that without enquiring why or wherefore, but ‘eager