predicament, and was not at all sorry that they did not turn up again. I have often thought since what risks Walmsley and I ran, both of our lives and of the bank property. Fortunately for us Burgess and party were not on the Coast. Had they been we would have stood but a poor show.
28th December.—A dispute arose this morning between Messrs. Cassidy and Price about one of the business sites. Mr. Revell was called on, and decided in favour of Cassidy. Price persisted in putting down his pegs and digging post-holes. Mr. Revell interfering, Price made a blow at him with a shovel, striking him across the instep of his left foot. I was present when the assault took place. The allotment in dispute was marked out by Mr. Cassidy, and adjoined the one occupied by Messrs. Price and Hudson, the first storekeepers at Okatika. It seemed hard that these men should not be allowed an extra allotment or two, having been the pioneers of the place; still, not having applied for an increased area, Cassidy was fairly entitled to it, having marked out the ground. As far as my recollection serves me, Price apologised to Mr. Revell for his conduct, and was let off with a severe lecture.
15th January, 1865.—Mr. Cassius appointed postmaster, pro tem. He did not retain the position long, a young man named Andrews being sent down from Nelson. He was only on the Coast a few months when Mr. Keogh was appointed; after him a Mr. Stephenson, who was in Hokitika some considerable time. When he left Mr. Kirton was appointed.
16th January.—A heavy fresh in the river bringing down huge trees and washing away the river banks, one store on the south side had to be shifted for fear of being washed away.
26th January.—The steamer Wallabi arrived at the Grey with His Honour the Superintendent of Nelson (Mr. Robertson), Mr. Blackett, and Captain Walmsley (chief postmaster of Nelson). On the return trip of the Wallabi to Nelson, when off the Buller, the day being fine, and sea smooth, a boat was put off; in it Mr. Robertson and several others; when crossing the bar she capsized, and His Honour was drowned. The body was never discovered.
James Teer, before mentioned as piloting in the Nelson on her first trip, is now, or was when I left Hokitika in 1874, a boatman. on the Hokitika River. He was one of the fourteen survivors of the General Grant, which was wrecked on the Auckland Islands. He was on the island for nearly two years, and a rough time he had of it. The General Grant had £20,000 worth of gold on board, which went down with her, and this is still at the bottom of the “deep blue sea.” Whether it will ever be recovered is very doubtful, the ship having run into a cave of rocks against which the waves are always beating. One party from Nelson went down, but the expedition failed on account of the
