RECOLLECTIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 18 October 1933, Page 3

RECOLLECTIONS

WHEN MEMORY STIRS, “To-day tlicre came ashore from a passing steamer a Hokitika. “Guardian”. L read it with avidity, for many of my earliest years, were spent in Hokitika, where I arrived, with my parents in November, 1865.” So writes a resident of Norfolk Island under date of September 12th,,. “Once a. “Coaster,” always a “Coaster.” The name “Hokitika” bats magic for an old time “Coaster”—to the farthest ends of the enroll. I enclose one of my earliest recollections of beloved Hokitika :—“Mv earliest recollection of

schools was one kept by Miss W.illougn. by, in a house 'wlmli stood at the corner of Weld and Sewell Streets, where the police camp now is. And thereby hands a. tale. 'The olj “pol’ce camp” was on a block of land behind where the tew'n hall now stands. It was decid-

ed to remove the camp to the site in Weld Street which was, at that time, dense and hea\y bush, with Miss Willoughby’s cottage on tiie corner. me prisoners were used to clear the bush. They cut the suitable timber into firewood—.'most of Winch was stolen each night. One forenoon, Miss Willoughby sent another toddler, -jjm, McF.

and myself, with a basket, to gather

a lew cnips the prisoners had just made. We had filled our basket, and had got hold of a handle apiece, when there stepped from an adjacent stump, belliiid which he was hidden, a giant of a policeman, in the gruffest of voices he said “Carry that to the police stat-. i ion.'” Jim and 1 were simply petrified J with horror. We could neither speak nor move. The “bobby" seizecj. li>s opand grabbing each/pf. ,us by a. wrist,, dragged u,s off for ( thg police. . station. Then, we found our voices .and siicli a demoniacal yell, went , up from the two o. us, that; Miss Willoughby, her scholars, and pill. tjio ..neign hours• around,, rushed, to .their doors to discover what on .earth was happening. I Along Sewell Street we mites were dragged, and up to the police camp, rending the welkin with our screams. At that time, my home was in Sewell Street, opposite. “Government House,” and my. mother, hearing the fearful veils from children’s voices, rushed out to the gate, and evas jusfidn time to see her small son, and another child, being dragged along by a. burly..policeman. To. her. distracted inquiry.,, “Wh<u. ha s he 'done,’’ the, “man in blue’’, would, vouchsafe no answer. Eight,. the. 'police, camp we., \yere .hauled, yolling. like maniacs. From. every office and jfcooinJn the .yapip..chine.policemen,, to.

see tile splendid “capture.” The grins on their faces reassured us a trifle., . Tnto the sergeant’s office tlipy prpwd ed |r arid while, they laughed and chaffed juitMcF. and I, .slyly.crept towaids tln floor.. Tliqn we. bolted, as .fast.as oui little, legs would 'cnyry, us. ,A roar.. 61 lir,oip..., ( ,,tjic ; , A , glance behind showed them standi in in a half circle, racking with amusement Jim and. I . found.., w-cyj were a perfect •match ..as,, runners, ; neither could draw awey. frpj,p..the.others and I never stooped .Jill, safe.,in; my.'mot,h<u-h .fins,, n-.yery scared .and .winded little boy. (•, ' In ograiiftpy.i days at “'All .Saints’ •Da}\ ■ Syhnql ’•, J ijn, arql ( \ I Mfffe filwo ys evenly,gnat-died,; We,.ran many.a “dead bsat’-t-Jiut we ,-never made better, time than-,when we went “hell ,fov .leather” fui;-hp.me and mother—a. couple .of-.“es-qap.oeL prisoners;”’