whole of the trade of West Canterbury would go to Nelson by sea. This prospect was not all pleasing to the enterprising business people of Christchurch, and the Government was asked to form a road. The need for land communication was accentuated by the dangerous nature of the sea voyage from Nelson. The only harbours near the goldfields were the mouths of the rivers, and the vessels employed in the trade had to be of light draft to enable them to cross the bars. Many lives were lost by shipwreck, the small craft going to pieces on these bars in attempting to make the ports.
The Government, therefore, on March 15, 1865, sent Mr. Edward Dobson and fifty men to form a road via Arthur’s Pass and the Otira Gorge. Mr. Dobson took with him his son, George, who had recently returned from a prospecting visit to the locality, and who fell a victim to Burgess’ gang of bushrangers in the following year,
The read was pushed forward energetically, and on July 15, the first West Coast overland mail arrived in Christchurch, Messrs. L. G. Cole and Co. being the contractors. In September, a dray was taken over the Otira Gorge, and when in March, 1866, the Superintendent, Mr. Bealey, visited the Coast, he was able to travel in Cobb and Co.’s coach.
In September, 1865, Mr. Walmsley, an officer of the Bank of New South Wales, was “stuck up” in the West Coast bush and robbed of gold, and in consequence the Government organised an armed escort to convey the gold from the West Coast to Christchurch. The “gold escort” was quite a picturesque turn-out, and created a small stir as it clattered down the streets of Christchurch or Hokitika, reminding people of the early days of the Australian diggings, and of the objectionably romantic gangs of bushrangers by which they were infested.
After some weeks’ drilling the expedition left Christchurch for its first journey, on December 4, 1865; a
