canoe by way of the Grey River, agreeing to pay them the sum of £10 for so doing. All went well until they had proceeded a few miles on their journey, when the Westland natives persuaded the Massacre Bay Maoris not to proceed further unless Mackay divided £50 between them. The explorer, who was then a strong athletic young man of about twenty-five years of age, declined to do so, and on being threatened threw one of the Maoris into the river, and knocked another down in the canoe. Tarapuhi, the local chief, then appeared on the scene, acted as peacemaker, and volunteered to go as guide. When the industrial history of Westland comes to be written, this incident should be regarded as the first of the many strikes that have taken place in the province and also noted as being of the shortest duration to date.
Mackay explored the grass and open country at the Ahaura, Totara Flat, and Mawhera-iti (Little Grey), and then returned to the mouth of the Grey River where he took soundings in a canoe, with the result that he found the river navigable for small craft. He afterwards returned to Nelson by the coastal route, carrying with him the first sample of Brunner coal that ever left the district. After his return he was appointed Assistant Under-Secretary for Native Affairs as there were grave disputes between the Maoris and Europeans who were
