a regular service to and from Greymouth, steaming both ways with Brunner coal, which soon commanded a market greater than it was able to supply. It is of historical interest, too, that at this time Captain Leech, for many years afterwards harbour master at Westport, was then in command of the Nelson.
On the day following the arrival of Reuben Waite, that is on June 23rd, 1864, his brother-in-law, Isaac Blake, the second storekeeper to reach Westland, arrived at the Grey. He came by the schooner Mary which sailed in without mishap; he was accompanied by a further 40 diggers from the Buller. These men at once proceeded to the Greenstone where they soon struck it rich. Blake, on the other hand, having landed his goods on the south side of the river, at once set about erecting a store and eating house on the beach, where to-day is situated the prosperous suburb of Greymouth, known as Blaketown. It is necessary to mention here that many writers are under the impression that the original name of Greymouth was Blaketown. This is of course incorrect. The Grey River was so named, as has been shown, by Thomas Brunner in 1846, and the infant township was, in its very early days, referred to as “The Grey.” John Rochfort when surveying it in 1865 gave it the name of Greymouth.
There were many “characters” on the Westland goldfields, and among them Isaac Blake
