Page:Rambles on the Golden Coast of New Zealand.djvu/84

60 were despatched in search of Dr Hector. The Government Store, in the condition we found it was, a significant indication of the mutability of things, and of Governments. The building, nothing much at first, was already, though only two or three years old, reduced to the remnants of the frame, rotten and tottering—its floor, a shrubbery of a growth as high as what were once the walls; and around it, in admired confusion, were the relics of a few cases and casks, which had stood until “rust and moth” had corrupted them, and then collapsed. Upon a tree in Gravel Cove was nailed a piece of printed calico, with the words “Good News to the Diggers. They are come at last. Who? The Diggers’ Friends!” It is just possible that the Superintendent and the Secretary for Lands and Works may have accepted this as a personal compliment, specially prepared for them, in recognition of this visit; but, if I am not mistaken, I have seen the same sort of thing about Bullen’s corner, or in the windows of “The Greatest Wonder of the World.” By what chance it had got here, it is hard to say. As a development of the advertising mania, the circumstance may not be without interest to those for whose genius there may be an outlet in the establishment of the first morning paper at Martin’s Bay. Upon another tree at the same place were carved the words—“Kakapo Lake, Gravel Cove, ‘Matilda Hayes,’ Geo. Surv., Otago, Sep. 17, 1863;” and underneath these “J. Cook, A. 2, 1864.”

It is in this vicinity that there are some of the choicest spots for settlement, although there are superior situations on the left hand bank of the river, when sailing down, and half-way to the sea. A small township at this end of the lake is not an improbable realisation of the future, in connection with the settlement of Martin’s Bay. There is deep water close to the fine beach—occasionally close to the bush; there is a level or gently rising ground behind; and it commands the finest view of the lake. But Gravel Cove, even with the facilities for settlement or shipping, is almost too pretty a place for anything but a picturesque pendicle to some privately-owned estate. The township, if there ever be one, will probably be where there is an equal extent of practical resources, and less of the picturesque. There is no paucity of situations of either sort, but the most probable selection will be on the left hand side of the river, after crossing the bar. On the right hand side there is an extensive sandspit, quite as applicable to the purposes of a township as the site of Hokitika, but it is not required with such a choice of other and better area around.

Our camping place for this night had been chosen from a point of view which coincided with highly cultivated notions of the picturesque, but without a due regard to one of the natural features of the place—the presence of blow-flies, sand-flies, and mosquitoes. There were indications of an early downfall of rain, and the sand-flies were especially active and ruthless in their attacks. Your correspondent, with a prescience for which he gives himself great credit, had provided himself, before leaving Dunedin, with a pair of dog-skin gloves, but the others had neglected this precaution, and at teatime, this evening, the majority appeared—and without even making apology—with their hands, instead of their feet, enclosed in their woollen socks. Taking into