Page:Rambles on the Golden Coast of New Zealand.djvu/25

Rh and colonial hard work. In 1855, he, in company with the late Mr John Clarke of Pakawau, explored the whole of the mountainous country lying between the head waters of the Acrere, Heaphy (Wakapoai), Mackay (Karamea), and Anatoki rivers, also a portion of the country between the sources of the Pakaka and Karamea rivers. He furnished the Provincial Council of Nelson with an account of the explorations and a sketch map of the country. Early in January 1857, Mr Mackay, accompanied by two Massacre Bay Maoris, travelled by the sea coast on foot, from West Wanganui to the river Buller. Their object was to see some grass plains which the Natives reported existed there, and which Mr Mackay proposed to stock from his run at Massacre Bay, if the country was found suitable. On arriving at the Buller, he was much struck with the appearance of the mouth of the river, and as the bar was perfectly smooth and the weather calm, he proceeded out in a canoe, and sounded the channel, which he found to be navigable for coasting craft of considerable draught. After this they went to the Kara-o-tamatea plains, now known as Waite’s Pakihis, and the party travelled inland to Ngawaitakere now known as Charleston; thence they took to the Coast, and on reaching the Miko cliffs (Jacob’s ladder) near Cape Runney, they found the ladders used by the Maoris so decayed that they had to replace them with new timber. Having ascended themselves, and hoisted up their swags and dog, they were astonished on reaching the summit to hear voices of Maoris exclaiming “He Kuri Pakihi” (a dog of European breed). The dog having run on ahead, a rush was at once made by the Maoris into the bush, and it was some time before the astonished Natives could be led to believe that they were safe to approach the exploring party. The Natives were so overjoyed at seeing a European, none having been there since Mr Brunner’s visit in 1847, that they agreed to defer their trip to the Buller and to accompany Mr Mackay instead, all the way to the Grey. On reaching the Grey, Mr Mackay made arrangements with the Natives to take him up the river in a canoe, as far as Ahaura, for a payment of ten pounds. On getting there they incited Mackay’s two Native companions to refuse to go any further with him, and said he should not proceed by himself unless he paid a sum of fifty pounds, to be divided among all present. Threats were used and personal violence was attempted. Mackay met this by throwing one Maori into the river, and knocking another down in the canoe. Affairs were waxing warm, when the head chief (Tarapuhi) came on the scene, and restored order, volunteering to act as guide himself. Mr Mackay then explored the grass and open country at Ahaura, Totara Flat, and Mawheraita (Little Grey). After this the whole party returned to the mouth of the Grey, where they sounded the bar in a canoe, and found that the river was navigable for small craft. He then returned to Massacre Bay by the Coast. An account of this trip was published in the Nelson Examiner, where attention was drawn to the fact that the Buller and Grey rivers would admit coasting vessels of light draught to enter. It may be here mentioned that Mr Mackay, on this occasion, carried in his swag the first sample of Grey coal ever exhibited to public notice.

The Collingwood goldfield had then become a source of attraction, and as there were numerous disputes between the European and Maori miners (the latter had come there