Page:Rambles on the Golden Coast of New Zealand.djvu/71

Rh rock at its outer extremity; and to this pinnacle we made one of our warps fast, while the other was passed ashore. We did not anchor, the soundings being rather deep, but it would have been well if we had done so, for, during the night, by some negligence of the watch, the steamer was allowed to drift shoreward before notice was given, and she grazed upon the rocks—not the most agreeable sensation, with the knowledge that there are ten or twenty fathoms of water close at hand—before steam was up, and Captain Hart was able to proceed to sea. In the evening, and before this happened, there was an eager rush on shore, for the possession of greenstone, which this beach has deservedly the credit of producing. Some came on board with their pockets full; others grumbling at their ill-luck. The greenstone, so far as we found it, is about the smallest of the shingle, and, although it is obtained readily enough, it is advisable for one to keep what he gets to himself, and not give it to his neighbour, as he may do so, and then search for the next two hours to discover that there is nothing green to be seen, except in his own organs of vision.

Next morning we were close to Martin’s Bay. In fact, we were rather past it, when we steamed in closely towards the shore and entered Big Bay instead. The outline of the land was not readily distinguishable, in consequence of a thick haze which overhung it, except to the southward, where the long lines of the snow-capped peaks, which form the surroundings of Milford Sound, were seen clear and sharp against the morning sky.

It is necessary that I should here introduce a diversion from the narrative of the proceedings of those on board the “Geelong.” This expedition had partly been undertaken in the knowledge, or in the belief, that there were some miners in Martin’s Bay, who had obtained gold, but who were without the absolute necessaries of life. There were only traces of miners having been in the neighbourhood when we landed; but it has since transpired that they were there even until a day or two before the “Geelong” arrived, and as the result of their sojourn on this part of the coast has been communicated to me by their companion and storekeeper, Mr R. Cleave, of Invercargill, it may be well to give his statement. We were not aware of the circumstances until after the return of the “Geelong” to Dunedin, Mr Cleave having arrived nearly about the same time; but his information communicates a complexion to the resources of the Martin’s Bay district which it is well to know, and it explains what were to us, at the time of our visit, merely matters of suggestion.

Mr Cleave states that, on the collapse of the diggings at the Haast, a party of eleven men, of whom he was one, proceeded to Big Bay. They arrived there about the end of June, this year, and it was determined by them to prospect the coast to the southward of Martin’s Bay, thinking it not worth their time to try the country north of the Awarua, as they were not informed of any one having previously obtained there any indications of gold. They were three weeks detained on shore, in consequence of severe weather, but, at the end of that time, they started in their whale-boat for the beaches to the southward of Martin’s Bay. The weather continued unfavourable, and, being unable to