VISIT TO MAORI POINT

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume II, Issue 98, 6 April 1864, Page 6

VISIT TO MAORI POINT

I believe I promised in my last communication to tell the results of the visit of 6ome fair ones on tbeir tour of inspection to the jewellers' holes, that they could just gaze at on the flat, from their elevated domiciles. They had seen these men hour by hour toiling at the pumps, or using continually that long handled shovel, so useful to them. They had also peeped over the railings that are usual at Maori Point, as a preventive to slipping down the steep incline that presents itself everywhere, in wonderment and amazement. They were not rich in mining lore —about pumps, about drifts, about paddocking, about sluicing, about panning off—the last knowledge they soonest acquired. Knowingly as they could talk of these things, anxious as they were to prove to " the boys" possessing the jewellers' shops donn there, on that flat, that they were the girls, General Jackson knew they had, after all, only a theory, pleasant as it might be, of their own. They felt their ignorance, somehow or auother, and that something more definite was required to make that lasting im. pression so quietly sought for, but so strongly desired. Well, I hope I have been a faithful servant upon that occasion, and that, on that bright summer's afternoon when all was life—when those rough men looked so kind and spoke so softly—l „ fulfilled a pleasant duty, and as an old married rower myself, knowing the charm of the sight of those bright eyes my kind friends now rally me about, in the early days of the Victorian goldfields, ave, even in those of this Province, when I have watched their influence and hailed their appearance as the best of blessings. I must say I felt an interest in the scene, and lent myself for a period to those fair civilizers of mankind. Ido not regret it—l believe it will not be forgotten—l believe it had its effects, which, though perceptible to those concerned, cannot however, be traced. Now, mine was rather an unpleasant position. If I had said then, I did not half like it, I should have stood an ill chance to fare well in those good graces we naturally expect to receive from our fair friends who now preside over those welcome hostelries which, as I have already said, were unknown in the early days, when the writer of these sketches visited that then almost unknown region of the Upper Shotovei*, or its present capital—Maori Point. I had also experienced, more than a twelvemonth before, the want of a covering, withont speaking of that pleasant welcome or cheer woman always gives to the wearied traveller, and thus I found myself in the unplea. sant position I.have just sketched. lamby no means a bashful sort of a fellow, though generally looked upon as such, and I know I am put down as of the milk and water class. I know I am expected to singularise parties in these sketches, and to afford probably a medium of "chaff" and conversation. I know that I live in a little world and am known; and I know, moreover, that many think they can talk over that "muff" by just getting the right side of him. But I decline, milk-and-water fellow as I may be to he guided by these insinuating suggestions, and shall pursue " the even tenor of my way." Unfortunately, I have committed myself to tell the public what we saw and what we did on that pleasant excursion, and they will perhaps see in the lines they now read a courtesy of reception, a generous action, and an absence of prurient motives. These remarks may, in my sketches, seem harsh, but they are justified, and I would repeat to the scoffing the sentence they have ever on their lip, and ever pervert, " evil to him who evil thinks.

Let me, however, come back to the object of this description. I have said I lent myself to these fair civilizer*. I shall no doubt be considered very egotistical, but I cannot help it in this sketch. Egotism is no peculiarity of mine —it is forced upon me in a measure, as it is upon the majority of men. After all this digressive matter something might be expected, but I—that I again!—was looked upon, I am sorry to say, as fair game. Let me tell my readers how I was bagged. It was in this way: "Bright eyes'' said to another Bright eyes, '■ Kate (I leave out the adjectives) there is Jack M'C , Big C , Bob M and all the boys want us to come down and see them getting gold. Well, here is MrM , who has promised to be our escort; we are safe under his guidance, and it will be such iun to go down and have a bit of fun with them." With them ! fuu! I, a protection to two girls bent on fun, on Maori Point; with a dozen lucky diggers, some of whom the " greeneyed monster" had claimed, for the time being, as his own. The case was a desperate one, and a desperate course was necessary. I thought as 1 bad been led into a mess, I would make use, as a shield against evil consequences, of the self-same armor I had so recently been clothed with. In a word, against jealousy*

competition, and eager, passionate strivings, 11 intended to make my charges (I hope they will ! not think less of me,) the real shield of niyseH It is not every one knows me now. Victorian miners of 1851 are scarce. I had only two old I New Zealand diggers I knew, with me, the j G 's. I dreaded the effect of a visit, and j two irresistibles, dropping down amongst that! crowd of golden miners. Oh! they were dirty j fellows, so was 1 a very short time ago. The! inevitable, senseless "Joe" came; it was very! # | slight, indeed, and I have almost a mind to name j the party from whence it emanated. I will not, j however, add to their notoriety of lucky diggers, : that of wanting of common politeness. If they j forgot they were born of woman, no one else i will pity them, I think. That "Joe" was met; by a hearty cheer and a warm welcome at the various claims visited. I think that cry of "Joe" j did us much service, that the utterers of it were soon ashamed of themselves, that they wished , their claim to be afterwards visited. I now know they did. I know now also that they ! would have let their rich, gulden wash-dirt have been willingly pilfered for that visit; but as in other things, judgment had fallen rapidly and ! quickly upon misdeeds; or, as I should rather ( say upon the expression of a coarse and foolish custom. This was the only disagreeable portion of the visit. It met us at first, and like many j other things was easily got over. Words of> cheer were necessary, and they were not uttered j in vain. i