West Coast Reminiscences.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 233, 6 October 1904, Page 4

West Coast Reminiscences.

"REVELRY" IN THE "GOOD OLI) TIMES. ' EARI.Y DAYS OF HOKITIKA. SOME EXCITIXC INCIDENTS. In his reply to the presentation made to him 0 n Tliui> day, thei Premier is reported to have pictured the old-time revelry i„ Hokitika streets at night. and the law-abiding cliaracUr 0 f the people. For the "revelry" (remarks a n old West Coaster, 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, 0 r sold it without any such legal right. Kuvell-street, the principal thoroughfare, ran parallel with the sen beach from the river, and soon after the sl-ailes of evening had fallen the fun, or "revelry," began. Pugilistic encounters Were so common as to be | almost disregarded. Lighted Candles were held by enthusiastic backers iif 1 lit* combatants on either side of the street, and the tights terminated as they began, in the "flowing bowl." The "bowl" was, to our 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) Brohum, were in the early 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 emmunity" when it was dangerous for a single man, drunk, half-drunk, or sober, to Wander into North Revell-street away ■'rom the centre of the town. Thugs from every part of the colonies were waiting for their victims. Rotoberies were as common as sheep in Canterbury. There was no gaol, anid the ipli'-e camp was crowded with inmates awaiting trial. Escapes were numerous, and many artists in crime were immured in cells behind the Bank of New Zealand building, which was them in front of the police sta-

lion. In those days Burgess, Ivelly, and Levy prowled about the new township at night, robbing storekeepers* arid publican*' tills, and garrotting ha!f-dnmksn diggers in North Revellstvpet. Sometimes small gangs of ruen, perhaps lucky diggers, intoxi•ated by the sudden acquisition of

wealth, accompanied i>y scoundrels anxious to prey upon their fellows, tfould 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. "Ma*or" Bracken, as he was called, was,

before he came to, Hokitika, a member 0 f the police force in Otago. He there, in his official capacity, had strained relations with Burgess iand Kelly. Anyway, his hotel was rushd by a of desperadoes, and his

servants driven out to the back of the place, but Bracken w a s not to be cowed. He came to the front with a gun, which he held by thu barrel, aJid demanded tho retreat of

the gang, threatening to club anyone who attempted to enter further into his premises. His threat was iisregauded, with tho result that ho struck a man named Connoli. on the head. C.onneil fell, and his cowardly .nates 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 Council w n s an honest digger, but a victim to strong 'drink and bad company. As a matter of fact, the spirit of revelry for sometime dominated the mushroom town of Hokitaka completely. There was a plentiluT* supply oi money, and the holders thereof, as a rule, slung it about freely. Fancy < n Irish or Scotch peasant, or an K.iglish farmhand suddenlypossessed r! £SOO or so in hard cash. Naturally, Ire "revelled." and there were plenty of opportunities offered him to enjoy himself. An enterprising person named Murphy erected a goodly-sized theatre, in Revellstreet. Whether he did this "on his own," or was the representative of „ syndicate, is a matter of conjecture. Anyway, it was ia boom. Of course, there were drinking bars, and the lessee of the building did better out of these than out of the theatrical companies which patronised him. One of the earliest of the "stars" atthe Duke of Edinburgh Theatre was Miss Julia Matthews, a lffost bright comedienne, who was idolised by the diggers. Shaking of bars is a reminder that the barmaid of those days not only drew a salary of £4 to £0 per week, hut was the recipient of almost daily offers of marriage. After a tiime the theatre dwindled into a dance house, and was run by an old time celebrity, "Hob Walker," now gone to his last account.