EXPLORER’S RELIC

Hokitika Guardian, 29 August 1933, Page 8

EXPLORER’S RELIC

LARGE PIECE OF GREENSTONE. THOMAS .BRUNNER’S DIARY . .. NELSON, August 26. -An interesting relic of Thomas Brunner and his * histone ■ trip to the Wes« Coast in 1840-47 is at present on view at Murchison. This is a large piece of greenstone, 18in. long, 9in. wide anu from liri to'-Tim; thick. It was picked up by Mr William Hunter on the bums, of the Duller River near its old junction with the Matakitaki about 20 years ago. The stone,, which weighs about 241 b., is partially polished and a long*groove 1 about- half an ineii deep on one face l and the commencement ot another on the opposite face indicate that it was intended to fashion a mere out of It'has been supposed that tli.s was the work of some of thewahines who used to accompany their men on the trip from Golden Bay to the West Coast as far as Murchison, where they remained to catch pigeons and other birds, while the men went on to Pounainu River for the precious greenstone. Recently, however, it occurred to a Murchison resident, Mr W. Swanney, who is interested in' the .early history of the .West Coast, that this stone resembled a' piece of greenstone mentioned by Brunner in his diary .of his travels. 'Brunner, a Government surveyor,: was detailed to' explore the whole of the West Coast, which he did, making Ins way as far south as Milford Sonnet. Reference 'to the diary leaves little doubt that the stone is indeed the same piece; ; - •

'-'The-entry- runs:—“May 16: We left here (at the old 'shelter on the Matakitaki River)., all; our -old clothes, none of which I had previously thrown awa.v, also my old pot and two specimens of greenstone (one lfiin. long, 6in. broad and lin. thick; the other piece. was smaller and both considered valuable by the natives), some piece of mica slate for-polishing the greenstone (an occupation- which had afforded me •amusement: on wet flays), and lots' of small articles which Ekehu securely left for his return.”

Now, after practically'9o years since these words-were'written,'the stone is back at Murchison; A glance at it is sufficient to conjure up a picture of the emaciated Brunner, held up in his rough shelter by illness and weather miles away from his fellow men, relieving the long wait by-polishing the stone and listening to the drip of the ’rain on the thatch and the roar of the Matakitaki rushing d’own toifieet the Buller.