West Coast Reminiscences.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7927, 7 October 1904, Page 8

West Coast Reminiscences.

"Revelry "in the uWood Old Times"

Early Bays of Hokitika.

Some Exciting Incidents

In his reply to the; presentation made to him on Thursday week, the Premier is reported .to have pictured the old-time i revelry m Hokitika streets at night, and the law-abiding character of the people ' For the " reveby " (remarks an old "West Coa_ster writing in the -Press) there are quite enough vouchers. • Almost every house or shanty or tent.in the-main street had a license' to" sell grog, or sold it without any "such legal right. Bevell-street, the principal thoroughfare, ran , parallel with the sea-beach from the river, and soon after the shades of evening had fallen the fun, or " revelry," began. Pugilistic encounters .were.so common as to' be ahnost- diregarded. • Lighted candles were hold by-enthusiastic backers of the combatants on either side of the street, .and the fights terminated as they be°- a n, in the «flowing bowl." The " bowl " was, to our more modern ideas, rather expensive, for a ; small . glass cost one shilling; but then the lucky digger paid for it all. ......

The police, under the late Inspector (then sergeant) Broham, were in those days by no means adequate in number to cope with the; work, therefore revelry; with its adjuncts, was to a great extent unchecked, and it can hardly be said that Hokitika was a 'law : abiding community' When it was dangerous for a single man drunk, half-drunk, or sober." to wander into North Eevell-street away from' the ■centre of the town. Thugs from every, part of the colonies were waiting for their victims. Bobberies were as common as sheep in Canterbury. There ■was no gaol, and the police camp was crowded with inmates awaiting trial. Escapes Trere numerous, and many artists in crime were immured in cells behind the Bank of New Zealand building, which was then in front of the police station. •

In. those days Burgess, Kelly and Levy prowled about the new township at night, robbing storekeepers' and publicans' tills, and garrotting" half-drunken diggers in North Eevell-street. Somesmall gangs of men, perhaps lucky diggers, intoxicated by ; the sudden acquisition of wealth, accompanied b'v scoundrels'; anxious to prey on thenfellows, would actually " stick-up" drinking houses or hotels, and hunt away the .proprietors and servants. It was one of such gangs which endeavoured to loot Bracken's Hotel. " Major " Braclcen, as ho was called, was, before he came to HoMtika, a member of the police force inOtago. He.there; in his official capacity, had strained relations with Burgess and Kelly. Anyway, his hotel was rushed by a mob of desperadoes, and his servants driven out to the back of the place, buf Bracken was not to be cowed. He came to the front with a .gun, which he held by the barrel, and demanded the retreat of the gang, threatening to club any one who attempted to enter : further into his premises. His threat was disregarded, witli the result that he struck a man named^ Connell on the head. Connell fell and his cowardly mates cleared out. The next day Connell died in a police cell, and Bracken was - committed ■ for trial, but the grand jury exonerated him. It. is fair to say that Connell was an honest digger but a victim to drink and bad company. As a matter of fact, the spirit of- " revelry "- for some time dominated the mushroom town of Hokitika completely. There was a plentiful supply of money, and the holders thereof, as a rule, slung it about freely. Fancy an Irish or Scotch peasant, or an English farmhand suddenly possessed of or so in hard cash. : Naturally, he " revelled," and there were . plenty of opportunities offered Mm to enjoy himself. An enterprising person named Murphy: erected a goodly-sized theatre in Eevellstreet. Whether he "did this "on his own," or was the representative of a syndicate, is a matter of conjecture. Anyway it was a boom. Of course, therewere drinking bars, and the lessee of the building did better out of these than of the theatrical companies who patronised him. One of the earliest of the "stars." at the Duke of Edinburgh Theatre, was Miss Julin Matthews, a most bright.comedienne, who was idolised by the diggers. Speaking of bars is a reminder that the barmaid of those days not only drew a salary of £4 to £6 per ;week, but was the recipient of, almost daily offers of marriage. After a time the theatre dwindled into a dance house, and was run bs an; old time celebrity, "Bob Walk.er,^now gone to his last account. ■ .' - * .-■• • .■-.