A Holiday on Stewart Island.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Issue 46, 8 April 1899, Page 2

A Holiday on Stewart Island.

(Concluded). The concert at the Neck pnnided some of the most exciting incidents we experienced during our stay at Stewarts Lsland. We had arranged to leave Golden Bay at half-past five, but some of the passengers did not turn up till a quarter to seven. We had about thirty on board, and as the wind had gone down, we made \erv slow progress. In addition to this, it began to lain, but we had plenty of wraps and oilskins on board, and were able to keep ourselves dry. Oui Oui, who was in charge of the cutter, was also secretary to the concert committee, and as he had the tickets he was naturally anxious to get over to the Neck ; but no matter how hard he '" whistled for the wind," the wind would not come. About eight o'clock we were more than hdlf-a-imle from our landing place, and still no wind, so it was decided to send the poople ashore in boats. There was a fairly high sea running, but as there were plenty of experienced boatmen on board it did not take long to get the first boat filled, and by half-past eight the first consignment was landed. The writer was one of the four rowers in the first boatload, and he found that pulling an oar in the dark and in a rough sea was not the easiest task in the world. When we landed we found that the audience had all arrived, and while we made our way to the schoolhouse the boats went out again to fetch in the remainder of the Eaven's passengers. The concert started about nine o'clock, and lasted till about half- past eleven. The visitors who had not heard the natives sing were agreeably surprised at their sweet voices. The songs they sang were mostly of a pathetic nature, but one stalwart half-caste brought down the house with a couple of comic songs. A number of natives danced a " haka," which to the visitors w.as the most interesting item on the programme. The leader, " Boko," had often taken part in the " haka " in public, and the horrible expression he was able to put on his face made us readily believe that a Maori dance properly done by a party of native warriors in full war costume would be most awe-inspiring. The visitors who performed were most enthusiastically received, and we couM not help remarking that when anyone was singing there was strict silence in the room, and no interruption of any kind — they gave every performer a fair chance. After the concert was over, we prepared for our return journey. We found the wind had risen, and by this time was blowing half a gale, and as it was as dark as pitch, it was proposed to wait till the wind went down. However, we enquired from the experienced hands if it was safe to venture, and being told it was', we collected our belongings, said good bye to the natives, and scrambled down to the landing place. Here all was excitement.

The Half Moon people were scrambling into boats, helped by stalwart Maoris and half-castes, lanterns were flashing in every direction, making a most interesting scene. Our cutter was anchored about a quarter of a onle out, and it did not take long to reach her, but some of us found that it was not an easy matter to get out of a boat into a cutter when there was a heavy sea running. One lady who tried to get on board when the cutter was going up and tho boat going down was suspended in mid-air, but a pan- of strong arms hauled her on board considerably frightened but not hurt. We soon got under weigh, and with the strong breeze blowing we were oft at a spanking pace, with visions tff getting home in less than half an hour. But in a short time the wind died down completely, and the journey had to be finished with the swoeps. "We reached Golden Bay at halt-past tine", and one and all agreed that the Neck concert was an experience they would not like to have missed, in spite of wind (and no wind), and rain. Next day we were not up with the lark, but took it easy. A sketch in the afternoon was all we managed, and early to bed m the evening to make up for our arrears of sleep. Sunday was passed very quietly. Some went to church in the morning and evening, and others contented themselves with lounging about and a walk round the bay m the evening. Monday and Tuesday were not suitable for an excursion, so the artists of the paity filled in the tune very profitably sketching, while the others gathered ferns or went on boating and fishing excursions, one party of three catching no less than five dozen butterfish m a coupla of hours. Wednesday was our last day on Stewarts Island. It was rather a stoimy day, and the sea so rough that there weie doubts about the tug coming o\er. However, she did conio, had to face the inevitable, and at half past one we were steaming away from the little jetty in Half Moon Bay, after saying good-bye to Oui Oui and Rattray and several of the Neck people who had come over to see the last of us, and to ask us to come back again soon. We hope to.