turous period when, gold having been discovered, many thousands of men came from other parts of New Zealand, from Australia, from America, from different parts of Europe, and even from China to dig for the precious metal. That was indeed a thrilling episode in the history of the district and it leaves a romantic memory throughout the West Coast peopled now for the most part by the children and grandchildren of those hardy gold-seeking pioneers. Most of us even of this present generation have vivid recollections of the aftermath of the gold rushes of the sixties, of decaying mining hamlets now entirely disappeared but which so recently had been the centre of activities of thousands of miners. With a touch of the dramatic Mr. Lord carries his history of Old Westland only to this period and leaves to our imagination or to our memories the decline as rapid as had been the rushing torrent of incoming gold seekers. Thus is presented a complete and satisfying picture of Old Westland—the task to which the author addressed himself.
This book introduces us to many interesting persons who took part in these stirring events. Of this period much has been written in a scattered and desultory way by different writers. It is not too much to hope that we may still have another book upon Old Westland wherein will be collected more intimate and detailed stories of these explorers, administrators and miners. Nor of these alone. Among those who
