Greenstone discovery forthwith, displaying to astonished members of the Council one pound weight of gold which had been won in that locality. This tangible evidence of the richness of the field he had packed across the divide in his swag. Despite his report and his plea to be allowed to remain, the Provincial Government insisted on his carrying out the instructions he had received. They held that Canterbury West was worthless, and try as he would Revell could not shift them from this opinion—though he knew that that land of forest and flood was a veritable treasure-trove and that gold in unbelievable quantities was there and but waited the harvesting.
Despairing of moving the Council he managed at last to interest a few business people, under whose jurisdiction a public meeting was held in Cathedral Square. Revell addressed those present, exhibiting his gold. Christchurch would have been only 14 years old then and the Square very different from what it is today. And there stood William Horton Revell—a magnificent specimen of manhood, full-bearded, weather beaten, strong. In simple language he told those present all he knew—told them of a virgin country, “with wasted wealth in wild profusion strewn,” told them where the gold he displayed had come from, and that there was more for the taking. He asked them to pass a resolution calling
