Christmas 1862 at the Mouth of the Buller River

Margaret C. Brown

By Christmas 1862 the little settlement at the mouth of the Buller had survived for some eighteen months. Gold had been found, first by some Maoris, who were soon followed by that ever hopeful storekeeper, Reuben Waite, by diggers, by other storekeepers and by two gallant wives. Life was a hard and uncertain struggle. A ship might call once in a while, but, on several occasions starvation was far too close for comfort and incredible journeys were made to beg for a supply ship. They had even been visited by the new Superintendent Robinson (who was to lose his life later in the Buller) accompanied by a party of surveyors who had sailed in one of "those horrid little boats" as one wife described the coastal steamers. Later, when a party had made the journey to Nelson in an open whaleboat to seek supplies, the Superintendent despatched a boat but is reported to have remarked that if people chose to live in such out of the way places they must not expect the Government to assist them.

By December 1862 things were definitely looking up. The Waimangaroa had seen a small gold rush, and the first wheeled vehicle had been seen on the Coast. The gallant Dr S. S. ……………………. had transported goods and his wife by wheelbarrow! James Burnett had given a good report on the coal in the area, but all this was forgotten when a party of Maoris penetrated beyond the "Old Diggings" and found nuggets at Lyell. The newspaper, the Colonist, had "Our Own Correspondent" on the spot, and he described the scene at the mouth of the river: "A person just landed here would think it was a large boat or rather canoe building yard—canoes in all directions. Two or three capsized in the Upper Buller which is very difficult. Diggers say a hundred pounds ($200) laid out in cutting tracks in dangerous places would save many lives. There is no telling what may happen to the inexperienced……Maoris go where Europeans would not go and persevere under difficulties.

"We had a very merry Christmas here, Europeans and Maoris hand in glove, no quarrelling. The Maori Chiefs gave a large dinner to all hands, both white and Maori, and a very good dinner they had for this place. Sucking pig, fowl, beef, plum pudding, fruit pies, etc. After dinner old Tamati Piramana, the Chief rose and all with him and gave the health of the Queen and three hearty cheers. I must not forget the canoe races—a beautiful sight." There were separate canoe races for Maoris with the first prize $10 for each, and a footrace which was won by a Maori. The day ended with a Maori War dance.