accompanied by the gold-buyer, Walmsley. On making enquiries it was apparent that all the miners were doing well. Three permanent stores had been erected by Messrs. Murphy, Sweeney, and “Daddy Maxwell,” a well-known character throughout the Coast. On this occasion Walmsley purchased 300 ozs. of gold, the field generally giving every indication of producing the metal royal in great quantities as soon as it was properly opened up.
Continuing Preshaw’s story, he states: “On December 3rd, not being able to get a horse, I started for the Greenstone again on foot, travelling being most disagreeable, the Hohuna having to be crossed no less than twenty-two times, in many places the water being over my knees. As usual I took up my quarters at Tracy’s shanty. On the following day, business being slack and there being much drinking going on and many rowdies about, I left early and returned to the Grey.”
On December 6th, he writes as follows: “The Nelson arrived. She brought over seventy passengers, Messrs. Cassius and Comiskey among the number, and what pleased me most, a horse for me, which did not arrive before it was wanted. On the day following, Captain Leech, of the Nelson, started overland to have a look at the Okatika River.
“On the eighth the first rush to the ‘Six Mile’ (Waimea) occurred, and the next day
