house was called) behind where the Bank of New Zealand now stands, and occupying the area on which the Drill Shed now stands. Subsequently the police quarters were shifted to the reserve in Weld Street, where barracks were erected, and a considerable force (including several mounted men) was domiciled there. Many will recall memories of the members of the force daily drilling in the reserve, and particularly carrying out sword exercises, for the mounted men’s accoutrements included swords. The foot police carried batons in those days and there were occasions when they had to use their truncheons.
Off Camp Street leads Wharf Street, which as it name implies leads to the Wharf on Gibson Quay. The Wharf in the very early days was a scene of very busy activity, and photography has preserved for posterity many inspiring scenes of the crowded shipping moored along the wharf. The river in these days was used for mooring purposes well up to Kortegast’s brewer, for near thereto were two or three large sawmills from which many of the vessels loaded outward freight.
[Note.—William Evans Esq. of Timaru, the well-known merchant, in a letter to the writer (extracts from which appear in this pamphlet) states he was the first to peg off a section in Wharf Street, when it was first decided to open the street, and Mr Evans actually named the street on the day he erected his tent in the first bush clearing made in the locality.]
There is another small street in the same locality known as Beach St. Its name is associated with the particular location it serves. Now it is mainly residential, but once it was a busy commercial thoroughfare with bonds and warehouses, and extended much further down the beach, for the river in the early days made its way to sea very much further south. Hotels and eating houses also dotted Beach Street, but the locality suffered severely in one very high flood when the river broke through, and its ravages carried many buildings and dwellings to sea, the occupants fortunately escaping.
Gibson Quay is said to be named after a waterman who plied on the river, but this has not been verified as his name does not appear in the first list of licensed watermen published. But he may have been engaged as a ferryman prior to licensing becoming necessary. Many watermen were engaged on the river for years. There was the ferry to the South Spit at the lower end of Revell Street. There was also a punt crossing at the foot of Brittan Street near where the Boating Shed stood. In those times all traffic was by the sea beach, and as “rushes” broke out at Totara, Jones Creek (Ross) and further south great throngs of men were continually on the move. In view of the growth of the mining south, it was decided to establish the hospital at the South Spit, and attached to it was a special ward for mental patients also. A regular boat service was established between the town and the South Spit, which became the starting point of the coach service to Ross. A considerable township grew up there. Later a road was made through South Hokitika across Wadeson’s Island to junction with the punt which was particularly useful for the crossing of stock etc.
[Note.—D. Stuart, Esq. of Timaru, an old identity of Hokitika, writes:— “Touching Gibson Quay it is almost certain that it was called after Captain Gibson, the then Harbormaster of Lyttelton.” From another source it is
