Page:Rambles on the Golden Coast of New Zealand.djvu/88

64 a portion of Canterbury. Consequently some activity was shown by the Provincial Government in making a road and in otherwise providing for the great rush which was about to set in. The arrangements of the Provincial authorities were, however, deficient. The discovery of a goldfield within the limits of their jurisdiction was an unexpected and novel event, and therefore, with perhaps the best intentions and an eye to future revenue, they could scarcely have been expected to grapple with the situation. In one notable instance, a ludicrous and expensive blunder was committed. Fired with the news of the large finds of gold, of rapid increase of population, of the sudden up-springing of Hokitika, the Christchurch authorities determined to emulate Victoria in providing a gold waggon shot-proof, and a posse of mounted constables to escort the probable tons of gold which would be sent along from Hokitika to Christchurch over the Alpine range by way of the newly constructed road. This idea may have emanated from the brain of Mr Sherman, then Commissioner of Police, an old Victorian police officer, or perhaps from some sanguine official ignorant of the facts of the case. At any rate it was seized on with avidity in Christchurch, and carried into effect promptly. Carriage builders, blacksmiths, saddlers, and other tradesmen were soon hard at work. Waggons impervious to shot, defiant of bushrangers, were built. A troop of smart young fellows, under Mr Inspector James, were sworn in as escort constables, and a number of excellent horses purchased. An experienced Jehu named Chamberlain was engaged. Stables along the road were erected at intervals, at each of which was stationed a constable-groom. The escort started one fine day from Christchurch and arrived safely at Hokitika, 147 miles away, but alas only to find Hokitika intensely amused at this provincial fiasco. One solitary pennyweight of gold was all the precious metal which this expensive escort took back to the City of the Plains, the explanation being simply that all the gold was exported seaward.

But before this time, Hokitika was a considerable town. Along a sand-bank on the north side of the Hokitika river, running parallel with the sea, a long straggling street had sprung up as if by magic. Sections of ground changed hands at high prices, the right to peg out one being afforded by the purchase of a business licence. Many persons cleared large sums by speculating in sections. The main street was called Revell Street, so named after Mr Revell, who came over with the Canterbury police, and was subsequently Resident Magistrate and Warden at Greymouth and Westport. On each side of this street were temporary erections, some of timber, some of canvas. Nearly every other one of these canvas or wooden tenements was dignified with the name of hotel. The usual features of a big rush were visible. Drinking, fighting, gambling, all the means resorted to by those who got their money easily in the first flush of a new goldfield, were conspicuous by their presence. Many of the hotelkeepers at this time must have literally coined money. The Empire Hotel, which is now a large and comfortable hostelry, under the management of Mr Churches, was, at the time referred to, under charge of Mr Osborne, and consisted merely of a bar, to which was speedily added a billiard-room. The amount of money taken over that bar was surprising.