HOKITIKA.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 August 1921, Page 4

HOKITIKA.

the birth of the borough. NAMING ITS STREETS. (Read before Hokitika Beautifying. Association). It lias been a very pleasant duty to endeavour to follow up the suggestion made by Mr G. Davidson a couple ol months ago, to trace out the naming of the streets of Hokitika. The iutormation I have gathered has come from various sources. Mr A. J. Harrop, ot Christchurch, lias helped with some notes. Also, while tarrying lately in Christchurch I had the good fortune to lie introduced to the Librarian (Mr Bell) of that City, and by him was given access to some of the earliest records of both the Canterbury and Westland Provincial Councils, and by this means the information now supplied becomes more authentic. Hokitika in point of fact, has quite a romantic history, and the task still remains of compiling that history and presenting a volume of unusual public interest. From the many volumes of works on New Zealand in general a. mass ol! matter could ho collected, and; the story of the town would be as interesting as it would be instructive and romantic. Hokitika is a native name, and was applied to the locality before Europeans came this way. Originally it was spelt Okatikn, and as such, is recorded on (he earlier maps. It is a word of two syllables: “Hoki’ ? —to return, and 5 “Tika.”—straight, direct, in a direct m manner. It appears to have derived .its name when the Native tribes were searching for the much coveted greenstone. The Hokitika river was the point beyond which greenstone coutri not be found, and having come this far, the injunction given by the name was “to return direct” further search being fruitless. As to tlie pronunciation of the word, that given by H.R.11. the Princd of Wales when here is the more correct and embraces the two syllables ns given above, but with equal value (in some) to each, thus Iloki-tikn. West Coasters dearly lova their land. Westlnrders do so in particular, and there is a question from Hoclistotter given in E. TV. Payton’s work published in 1888 “Round about New Zealand” which is quoted (as adapted) to suit our beloved Westland: “Was it the ties of friendship that F found thereP or was it the grandeur and peculiarity of the natural features of a country appearing in its isolation like a world of its own, tlupt attracted me so strongly? T cannot say: but I will still look back with enthusiasm to my stay in Westland.” “ Westland " as separate' l from Cantcr- ~ bury in 1887 ; , IK ] became a separate J? nrovinre. As h ading up to this, Revd. U .fames Holler (the (irst Anglican ( lergyH man to visit Hokitika) in his “forty S Years in New Zealand,” gives some interesting notes. Rut Mr Bailer’“was not the first priest here he give;* that 5 distinct ion to the Roman Catholic clergy though the name of the priest is not mentioned. Mr Boiler, however, n was the first horseman to cross the 3 mountains and make direct for Iloki<3 tika. He took six days to accomplish i,l>o journey and mentioned he had U> cross the Tcrcmnkau river twenty-six 3 times. Mr Boiler was the pioneer to 1 iinquire the way for the Revd. Harper. | who was appointed to Hokitika and * n mo later by sea. Speaking of the | "old find here in ISfid, Mr Boiler eom- | incuts: “Nothing populates a waste l ** howling wilderness” like gold. When | Mr Boiler debauched on the ocean | beach at the Teremakaii he found a stampede ol miners going north to a I lieAv rush at ! Irevinoulb. ' The beach I was alive with men, pack horses and teams tearing north. | Speaking of Hokitika as lie found it , at the time of bis advent, lie says lie came to the river and there he found a mushroom sort of a town on the north I ank. The forest reached to the waters’ edge. The houses wore on the sandy beach. Revel! Street, a mile long, was a succession of stores and hotels- the latter so called. Afterwards Revd. Boiler writes of visiting To Kmiiora. Tt might be of interest to record that Mr Roller, while in Hokitika, was the guest of Mr Alcorn and slept on a hod under the shop counter. Alcorn’s corner is now the vacant site opposite Mr E .1. Lloyd’s store and now separated I*oni the Don store by a right of wav to the sea bench. Revd. Bullor hold the first Anglican service in the Corinthian Hall- then a building without door, seats or windows. Afterwards it was a drapery emporium, then, the citadel of the Salvation Army, and latorly a private residence. In the Lord. Bullcr’s time, Thatcher, a local enfei tainer liebf forth every evenin'', ■ the admission being one shilling. Entrance was through the bar of the hotel. On the Sundays the shops were | open for business, and the first Church service was announced bv the bellman I here was not a large congregation at the morning service, but the evening service was well attended. Writing of the town when bis book was prepared for publication (1378'), Revd. Bullor says as lie left it (after his second visit) it was in the first singe o| the transformation of a permanent ami prosperous town, which now •up oys all the advantages of an organised community—churches, schools, end other institutions. A reference has been made to Mr I'avton’s work. This gentlemen offers his opinion on the East and West Coast ' railway which it is instructive to reprint as showing the point of view in ' the bravo days of old on the subject in ' questions; 1 “Some of the people appear to think the first thing a new colony wants is railways, and are trying to get a railway constructed from ] Springfield to Hokitika through the ] wonderful mountains and gorges, j 1 here is already good communication I I by sea, and nothing whatever ro warrant the enormous expenditure that a j railway would cost, both to constrict n and repair. I sincerely hope that q these ridiculous people may not be t permitted to increase the ” already j enormous debt of the colony for such f ( n purpose.” ir It is interesting to note that at this h; moment, Canterbury and Westland arc S< alike hungering for the completion of ir

tho East and West Coast railway. Other times, other views. • THE BIRTH OE THE BOROUGH. Tho Borough of Hokitika was asked for at petition dated! April 22nd 1866, addressed to His Honor Samuel Boale.y. I Superintendent of Canterbury. The Provincial Secretary at that rime was Edward Jollie, Esq. Tho petition set out that there was a population of at legist 2,000 householders., and that answering the prayer of tho petition would conduce to the welfare and advantage of the town. Some 157 signatures were appended, to the petition, but of those the only two known to he surviving are—Mr John Solomon, now of Sydney, and Mr Hugh Cassidy, (Cobh Coy.) of Springfield. On May 30th, 1886 the proclamation of the Borough of Hokitika was gazetted, the area consisting of two square miles—one on the south side of the/ river and one on the north side. On June 27t,1i 1866 at 4 p.m. a public meeting was held at tho Prince of Wales Opera House (where Keller’s sample rooms now* stand next to Perry and Coy.), to elect two persons to net as assessors at the election of ihe first municipal council and for tho purpose of nominating candidates for the Hokitika Municipal Council. The Gazetted advertisement convening the foregoing meeting was signed by Messrs Prosser, llonar, Reeves, Bracken, Munro, Wagner, Hall and Finlay and Coy. Mr George Samuel Sale was appointed Chairman to preside at any meeting called to elect the first Municipal Council. Those duly elected on November 6tb 18f;6 were:— Jobn Russell Anderson, merchant. .lames Alexander Bonar. merchant. Francis Leake Clarke, merchant. Andrew Gumming, storekeeper. Rolert Ecdesfield, merchant. James Fitzsimmons, publican. Alexander George Hungerford, tim- ' her merchant. William Shaw, printer. Charles Williams, publican. And so the Borough of Hokitika came into being. Cornelius O’Regnn, a West Coaster, gave promise of being a West Coast noct. Of him it was said - he “died in the morning of his'manhood,’’ but lie has left some lines which vividly describes tho Diggers who rushed tho Coast, and helped to lay the foundations of Hokitika upon which the town has been reared. He wrote of ilie Diggers “Seorners of despair and fear, “Who roughed it l>v wild forest, craggy fell, “And through swirl of roaring waters, for many and many a year, “Daily faced the face of Death, and bore it well.’’ And of the times lie wrote, one Digger talking to a comrade: “What days of cheerful toil, what "ild uproarious nights: “What happy days, what glorious nights where then; “Such mirth and merry making, such drinking and such fights—- “ Old mate, such times may never (om t < agon.” NAMING THE STREETS. The early association of Westland with Canterbury was a very happy circumstance in many ways. In regard to Hokitika in particular the intimacy '>as of paramount value, for it resulted in the borough being well and faithfully laid out. Canterbury had its settle,] form of government, and an efficient staff, and as a consequence the professional officers to do the duty of faying ■ off (lie town thoroughly, ft- was laid off on old English lines - with a generous disposal of special reserves and parks for the many purposes requisite for a complete civic life. Wo of this day cannot be too appreciative of the very admirable wav in which the task was performed, and the complete thought given for all purposes lending to meet the common weal. The Canterbury official was of tho right stock, a,ml to-dav and for all time the splendid service performed by those gentlemen stands as their lasting monument. Tn the naming of the streets of Hokitika a very happy system was followed, and the town is honored indeed bv having in the names- of its streets the eios e.-t association with many splendid men who in their day and generation were outstanding citizens in the young colony, and whose work in the various walks of official life in which (hey practiced was of special prominence. There were statesmen, high officials medical men, and other high professions from which names were chosen for the various thoroughfares. Also there v ere squares etc. named after notable explorers, so that the town has reason indeed to be proud of the names which grace its streets. It must bo remembered that when the town wasi laid off by the surveyors, the streets were all frr-cst-elad. As Mr Bullet* said, “tho forest reached to the waters’ edge.” The importance of each particular street could then only be guessed at, bat the choice throughout has been always a happy one, and the selection is in cvoiy way complimentary to the town. “What is in a name”? is often asked, and we know Shakespeare's rejoinder in “Borneo and Juliet” is to the effect; “that which we call a ro*se by any other name would smell as sweet.” But the happy choice of names for our streets gives them a pleasing distinction, and associated with deeds of the men, who ( bore those, names, a. marked importance, quite befitting the capital town . Hokitika was destined to he. ( There are some thirty streets in all | in Hokitika, or one loss in number to ] >c correct, because Jlaast Street is now dlicially closed. Also we have three arge squares, averaging some ten acres ■aeh. These public places all bear the lames of men who in some way more ir less import, 'Hit, and nearly always illicial, were identified with the birth of he town, and the making of Hokitika is a municipality. Our main or principal thoroughfare, Jevell St. was named after William Torton Rcvcll, who came to Hokitika n its earliest days as agent for the ’rovincial Government of Canterbury, it the time of the “rush” here Mr level!, assisted by Sergeant Broliam, larked off business sections which wc ikon up with great eagerness, and ms in the Christmas time of 1864, lokitika was created and blossomed irtli as a town. Tho somewhat vimlg nature of Revell Street is explained ■ the fact that neither Mr Bevell nor ■rgeant Broliam were surveyors, and tin* demand for sections the work

A, had to be very hurriedly performed, hence the lack of perfect alignment which is noticeable in the other streets j of the town, subsequently laid off with ’ due form. On the proclamation of the goldfield in March 1865, Mr Bevel I was gazetted Warden and Resident Magistrate. It was 011 the 21st March of that year he issued the first miner's' right on the Coast to his brother, Mr Henry Rcvell. After a long and useful life, Mr Rcvell passed away at Timarii .where lie died on the 22nd September 1893. j

n, Tlio short street off Rcvell St. known jo ns Camp Street was so called been use >w in the earliest days before the forest y, was cleared, the police camp was l adjaty | cent thereto. There is a well-known ;e J photograph on record which shows the lie *. police camp and “logs” (as the watch house was called) behind where the id Bank of New Zealand now stands, and occupying tlio area on which the Drill lie Shed now stands. Subsequently the poof lice quarters wore shifted to the re’s serve in Weld Street, where barracks rv wore erected, and a considerable force ct (including several mounted men) was st. domiciled there. Many will recall mere morios of the members of Itlie force ti- daily drilling in the reserve, and partied eularly carrying out sword exercises, filing the mounted men’s accoutrements iti■r, eluded swords. Tlio foot police carried g- batons in those days, and there were fr occasions when they had to use their ?d truncheons. ig Off Camp Street leads Wharf Street, n- which as it name implies leads to the Wharf on Gibson Quay. The Wharf in th tlie very early days was a scene of very busy activity, and photography lias preserved for posterity many inspiring scenes of the crowded shipping moored along the wharf. The rver in those days was list'd for mooring purposes well, up to Kortegast’s brewery, for near tlieren- to were two or three large sawmills from which many of the vessels loaded outward freight. There is another small street now ne ill the same locality known as IJeaeli St. Its name is associated with the partiou■r lar location it serves. Now it is mainit ly residential, hut once it was a busy ; n commercial thoroughfare with bonds and ,o warehouses, and extended much further s _ down the beach, for the river in the ho early days made its way to sea very a. much further south. Hotels and cat--11 dig houses also dotted Beach Street, (r-„ hut tlio locality suffered severely in one very high flood when the river broke through, and its ravages carried many it buildings and dwellings to sea. the occupants fortunately escaping. •s, Gibson Quay is said to be named after a waterman who plied the river, id but this lias not been verified as his name does not appear in the lirst line ;r of licensed watermen published. But lit. may have been enga red as a feryit man prior to licensing becoming necessary. Many watermen were engaged on is the river for years. There was the jerry to the South Spit at the lower end h of Revel! Street. There was also a punt crossing at the foot of Rrittan •r Street near where the Boating Shed stood.' Tll those times all traffic was by the sea beach, and as “rushes” broke d out at Tolara, .(ones Creek (Ross) and r- further south, great throngs of men o were continually on the move. Tn view is of the growth of the mining south, it 11 was decided to establish the hospital at v the South Spit, and attached to it was ,1 a special ward for mental patients also, it A regular boat service was established between the town and. the South Spit, g which became the starting ]>oint of the [f coach service to Ross. A considerable s township grew up there. Later a road s was made through South Hokitika 1 1 across AYadeson's Island to junction 1- with the jaunt which was particularly useful for the crossing of stock etc. Weld Street, was one of the four 1 ' streets of the town named after not- , ably prominent polilicans of that per- : 1 iod. Tt was named after the leader of the Weld Ministry. Sir Frederick Weld, which was in office in the stormy days ; when the seat of Government was moved from Auckland to Wellington. The Wdd Ministry was defeated on the cit'd:- ■ ing vote of the Speaker, and was succeeded by the Stafford Ministry. So we have the name of Stafford 1 Street accounted for. In profile Sir , ' Kd. Wm. Stafford was of the Alkinson- ■ inn type. He was Superintendent of 5 the Nelson Province, and was twice ■ Premier of New Zealand within IS years, first for a. period of 5 years and 1 then for a period of -I years. His bio- ’ grapher was very frank about him, ! ' stating: “He talks too much ; puts “ himself too much in tHo foreground, anil is wanting iu suavity of manner, j Rut behind tin's there was a large re- j serve of genuine public worth. Ho - had a well balanced mind of the “gold- i •’ll mean” which is set down as being a I “rare and valuable statesmanlike quid- | ■ iky.” His politics were moderate and 1 1 his administration capable. Sewell Street is another connection with a name distinguished in the early , political life of the colony. Mr Henry Sowell is described as being “a, man of ' culture and considerable ability. JTis conversation sparkled with cleverness 1 and wit. Ho was happy in classical , (imitations.” Also ho was a “fussy, • restless, too easily impressionable and j lull of false dreams. This natural cl isquietude taught him to be what lie was fertile in resource and skilful in p evasion.” The biographer concludes in this unkind vein: “Being fond of office ' and not exclusive in his political associations” Mr Sowell in features was of j’ the Gladstonian caste. By profession he was an English solicitor. ( Then as the fourth statesman of the . time, wo have Sir William Fitzherbert’s rename drawn on for the street which has n become the main thoroughfare linking up the great north and great south (< roads. “A great speech from Sir WiL 'J liam” (says Win. Gisborne—tlio bio- ... grapher who has been quoted) “was an intellectual treat. He was able anil astute—-the Ulysses of statesmen— of 'j" great debating pojvor.” j. Next we have Boaley Street named alter His Honor Samuel Healey, who was Superintendent of Canterbury in April, 18(5(5, when the petition for the Borough of Hokitika. va s lodged. The petition in point of fact was addressed to His Honour. ".! til Hall Street was obviously named ( . n after he whom so many of this genera- p ( lion knew later as Sir John Hah. St When Hokitika was laid out, Hon John toi Hall was a member of the Provincial ] os Executive, and took a very intimate th part iu the early fortunes of West- U><

land. Ultimately Sir John Hall he- j came Premier of New Zealand. ; Rrittan Street it may he justly assumed was named after Joseph Rrit--1 tan, who was a mem her of the f'anter--1 bury Board of Education from Juno ■ 1865, and was identified with educational matters on this Coast. Rrittan Street appropriately leads to the present site of the public school. 1 Sale Street recalls the most memorable of names associated with the birth ' of Hokitika—or for the matter of that, | with Westland at large. Ho was knnvn 1 here officially as Warden Sale, but he 1 was more often dubbed “King” Sale, for he was a veritable Pooh Rah in - ' those early days, being everything the 1 ' town and district needed in the way of J leadership and direction. George Sam--1 ! del Sale was a native of Rugby, V’erk--1 shire, and proved to he one of, tlio hn--1 ] <>st type of men the Motherland sent I ' abroad to build an Empire across the . | seas— for he was essentially an Empire ■ ; builder of the most acceptable type. Mr s | Sale cuiue out to New Zealand. He is, 0 ( (for ho still lives, happily) a man of a | high classical attainments, and he pos- - , sensed the fullest confidences of fihe > Canterbury Government by which he - j was employed. When the “rush” to r , Hokitika, took place Mr Sale was Irans- - ! fern'll from a responsible and lucrative I ' post on the Treasury at Christchurch to s | Hokitika, with unlimited powers to • deal with all judicial and financial questions. I nder tlie comprehensive title of “Coinmissientr" he pa r- • formed the onerous duties of Deputy 1 Superintendent, Treasurer, Magistrate, r ; Warden, and u host of other duties - 1 which came to his supervision in those - j rude times. Fiery ease <>l sickness he I ' cared for, and he was literally besieged hv applieauls for assistance or advice oil s ' all kinds of subjects. Also he had to ) he his own architect. Supremo Hall, - as we now know it. was designed by Commissioner Sale, and erected under 1 his •supervision lor the Provincial offices, courts, etc., and this is another cxainph.< of the variety of his every day ■ dutiets. ‘ J A diversion in the narrative is uecc.->. ' j sary here to trace another aspect of Mr ’ I Sale’s services. It appears that at one l stage, Government oppression from Cun terhury led to an attempt to establish I Westland as a separate province. A local committee went to work in earnest and prepared such a hill of indictment a full statement of Westland’s grievances as was never before witness ed in the Southern Hemisphere. Hup dieds of names were attached to the petition and sent to Sir Edward Staiford G.C.M.G. (then Chief Secretary at Wellington), and to the Hon. John ■ flail, his colleague. To the energy of tiiose two gentlemen, Westland was in--1 debtor] for separation from what she then regarded as an evil stepmother. ! Westland was given a simple form of ' local Government, while all this time 1 Mi Sale administered the affairs of the ' district unswervingly and without his advice nothing was done. On being invited to stand as a candidate for a scat in the new County Council (which had much wider powers than the present form of County Government) as a representative of the Borough of Hokitika, he consented, and was accordingly elected. Unfortunately business affairs soon called him to England, and he was lost to Westland. On returning to New Zealand Mr Sale became Professor of Classics at Otago University and on his retirement in later life full of years and honors, went hack to England where he is still residing. Hokitika is becomng a town of memorials, and it is suggested that the 1 life and work here of George .Samuel Sale is worthy of some recognition, however simple in lorm that memoiial i might he. Might it not he suggested I to the Reautilying Assocation that a j memorial oak tree be planted at tlie i foot of Sale Street, and enclose it with a. permanent fence, placing therein a tablet in stone setting forth something of the work and achievements! of Commissioner Sale in this town. In the same way too the Association might mark the services of Warden Revell by some notable form of memorial in front of the Town Hall in Rcvell St. I’ostonly which has‘enjoyed 1 tw> much hv reason of the labor of the leaders in 1 civic life here in the early days, can well afford to honor at least two of the men who in official positions did such typical services affecting the foundation of the town to which now wo are 1 all so much attached. | And so we pass on to Holiest on St. This it is very easy to decide was named after William RoHcston who was ( Provincial Secretary for Canterbury at j the time Hokitika came into being. Like Sir John Hall, Sir William RollesI ton. as he afterwards became, served ' well into the later years of his political 1 j life. A line monument to deceased is ( ! placed in Healey Avenue, Christchurch, ( in front of the Museum. Sir William I Holiest on was a notable, figure in New 1 Zealand polities over maiiy years, and ( to his credit stands much land and edu- t rational legislation. 1 Davie Street was called after Mr Cy- 1 rus Davie who was Commissioner of s Waste Lands in 186(5, when the peti- 11 tion went forward from Hokitika ask- t ing for the municpalily. From this s fact, we may take it, Jollio Street rereived its title. 1 Hoffman and Livingstone Streets have not been specially associated with any celebrities in those far off days, 1 and it is not proposed of course to guess why the particular names referred _ to wero chosen.

Non- conics n> group of four streets 10 names or locution of which will he iiown to hut few even ill this room, ho streets are Harper, Dalton, MeDcrmtt and Beswick. They are all adjoint to the Hokitika racecourse on the pper side of Hampden Street. Hnmpmi street abuts the racecourse grounds, his street was not named after the •st resident Anglican Clergyman as ight he supposed, hut after Charles >lm Harper (possibly a. relative, of the ergvman) who was commissioner of e Rakaia Hoad district at the time e town of Hokitika was founded. The derivation of the name of Dalton reel is not clear, but Beswick Street is doubtless named after Samuel Besik who was tin* first Coroner of Hoki;a, or Joseph Beswick, who was Sedan’ for Public Works. The former swick is favoured because McDermott, root was no doubt named after DoeMcDcrmott who (along with CJiarLloyd Morice) appears to have been i first medical men lie.ro to submit ir papers for registration to Mr Sale

R.M. Dr McDermott had Ins rooms in Revell Street where Mrs Roberts’ sweet store now is, and Joe Sellers still living here, was batman for. the Doctor, who was a very worthy and popular iigure about the town in those far oft

times. While referring to the comparatively unknown streets of the town, there are two others, or strictly speaking one, for the second street has been officially closed now for some time. liaast Sticet and Ross Street are the two referred to. Both were laid off at angles in order it is said to the diiving of stock through tfio town. Haa-t St. rap from Stafford Street at the inter-

section With Davie Street, right aero; the town to the ocean beach—wine was the high-way north in the old day The name was no doubt derived froi Sir Julius Vou Haast, scientist and c: plorer, after whom so many physiei features in the South Island are nan ed. Ross Street crosses from Hampdi Street at the intersection with Linn stone Street, out to Spencer Stro< whither a way could be made to bit Herbert Street which became the big way north as the inland road was mad This street was named after Geor Arthur Emilius Loss, who became IT vincial Treasurer in Canterbury wh< Mr Sale resigned in April 1805 to tal up li,is work in Hokitika and Westhir generally. Probably tbq town of Tte was named after the same .official. Tanned Street it should have bee noted earlier in this paper was napw after Henry John T'aucred, who wi appointed Deputy Superintendent Canterbury in January 1866. I Hamilton Street so named after IV liam John Hamilton, Collector of Ci toms, Christchurch. Hamilton stre led to the original Customs office he and the earliest photographs show was not joined as at present to Rev* Street. Hampden, Tudor, and Spencer Stm cannot be fitted in with the availnl records of public officials of the peril dealt with, but they are evidently tl names of individuals who were conside ed important enough to he associati \yith tile work in hand. Aiid so wy conic to the last, street yet undcalt withy and in some respec those who laid oil the town must ha considered it destined to become one our most important thoroughfares. Tl reference is to Park street which w: not named after any individual, b was so called because it hs.l the " i to the Public Park of something lil 200 acres whjch the founders of Ho! tika placed on the outskirts of the town eastern boundary, and which is now municipal endowment. In addition Pai Street leads past Ho' itt Square, eiudi of eleven acres. The; are other educational and e.och'wmen areas along the route of the street a undeveloped, so that it is dear tl thoughtful-founders of the munieip; a rea intended Park Street to be tl main thoroughfare tapping all souici of outdoor recreation which should l the lungs of the city to be Out < the public Park, the Hokitika rac course reserve was taken, and Ilampde Street was developed as the highwn to the course and the park reserv though the latter has not been develo) ed as it should have been. Of the two Squares along. Rark St: the areas likewise undeveloped, "Whi combe Square was named alto- He* l -' Whit combe the fated road smveya who was drowned in the Teieinak. river on May 6th., 1863. He bad be engaged in surveying the road fn". Christchurch. His name is engraven the Explorers’ Monument wh: • stands in the-Hokitika Cemetery thou ' it was first erected in \\ ed Stive where the Clock Tower now stands. I lias been suggested that the Explore • Monument might he moved Ck * Square, but it occupies a comm; ndi-i site where it is and is in reveieiiL si r roundings. Mr Whitcombe has a moe.i nient too in Whitcombe Pass in t’r high mountains, whence rises the Wh.t combe river, the largest tributary o the Hokitika. Howitt Square was likewise uamoc after a lost explorer- Charles How l who was drowned iiy Lake' Lruimer ii September, 1863. Ihe exact date i: not known; but it is known he w e crossing the lake for provisions am later the upturned boat was fount and some of his possessions in the v i\ of maps and records encased ut •> water tight compartment were recovered. Mi Howitt’s name likewise is engraved on the Explorers’ Monument on Sen Vow Hill overlooking the Tasman sea with the mountain landscape crowded hetiind, a not unfitting setting for such a neinorial. Thciv remains Cass Square—now “the lungs of the town,” and out popular Maying field. This was nani-tl aitei I'homas Cass who was Commissioner of frown Lands in Canterbury prior f o fynis Davie named before. Travellers ,v the overland route also pass a wellmown locality likewise named after Mr Mss. Cass Square, too, is to become he object of special attention by the beautifying Association*, and the mem iers and public alike while this liecosaiy civic work is being done, should Iso feel that honor is being done to lie pioneer officials of the past who had ■j much thought for the future gpnerans by providing so generously for the eoplo who were to come after them. With these thoughts, this paper may e brought to a close. The desire has ecu to stimulate an interest in our jwii, so that- the citizens will pride lemselves on its well-being. A long st of notabilities are associated with Lii ( > naming of our streets, men who did their country great service. They were all men of splendid spirit. Longfellow has put it in his memorable lines from “A Psalm of Life”: “Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime, And, departing leave behind us Footprints oil the sands of tune.” Let thy lives of the pioneers inspire us so that as a corporation we might see the town further progress and be made more and .more worthy of the | honor done it by associating with its fortunes for all time the names of men distinguished in their professions and in their public life. Lot our motto ho: “Forward, Hokitika,” and work and strive to achieve that municipal importance which will come from honest effort and unqtienehed endeavour. D. J. EVANS.