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White Wings Vol II. Founding Of The Provinces And Old-Time Shipping. Passenger Ships From 1840 To 1885

Getting Ashore

Getting Ashore.

"Barely had the grating sound of the chains and heavy splash of the anchor announced that the voyage was over, before a loud cry of "Man overboard" rang out. In the moment of this supreme confusion a little child had fallen from its mother's arms. Without a moment's delay Mr. Blackie, the schoolmaster, sprang over the side and rescued the little one from its imminent peril, for the tide was running fast. Safely on deck with his charge, the air was again rent with a thousand hurrahs. Soon Captain Cargill was on board and welcomed his old friend, Mr. Burns, who for so many bitter years had been so staunch a henchman.

"Captain Cargill now addressed the assembled people. First thanking God for His mercies vouchsafed, and then congratulating them on their safe arrival, he proceeded to give them some homely, plain advice as to their future conduct. He concluded by saying that he had fixed the rate of wages for public works at 3/ a day for labourers and 5/ for craftsmen.

"There was constant boat communication between the vessels and the town, and it was some weeks before the last of the women and children and the stores were landed. The shelters, or barracks as they were called, were situated along the beach, which extended from the junction of High and Rattray Streets to Dowling Street. They were long and low, and constructed of native grass, rushes, flax, and small timber. That built by the Scotch emigrants was 60 feet in length, and was entered by a door at one end. The single girls occupied the upper part, the married folks the middle, and the single men the lower part.

"The sight must have been as unique as it was busy and interesting. The Maoris helped their new comrades with all the good humour of the race; indeed, their assistance was invaluable in the erection of these primitive dwellings. The forms, tables, and other fittings brought from the ships, completed the furniture. Cooking was done outside; fuel being abundant and to be had for the cutting. All were active, happy, and exhilarated under the new conditions and serene skies which preceded the stormy and rainy weather. The landing of the cargo was much mismanaged and occupied over two whole months. There was no recognised leader in the business, and the cases, crates, and casks were dragged up the bank from the boats by main strength."

Soon, however, the weather changed, and the winter came in, cold and disagreeable, and almost incessant rain, still the people bore up with wonderful cheerfulness.

When the first ships arrived they found in the vicinity of the site of the present city of Dunedin only five houses. First of all there was Watson's Inn, a rough weatherboard structure close topage 85 where the Grand Hotel now stands; the house of Mr. Kettle, somewhere near the office of the Otago "Daily Times"; the house of Mr. Pelichet at Pelichet Bay, now known as Logan Park, where the exhibition was held; and the clay hut with thatched roof at Anderson's Bay, where lived Anderson, described as a shepherd.

Dense forests spread over the hills and dales which are now covered with houses and fine substantial business building. It will remind us of what a very small beginning contented the Pilgrim Fathers if we realise that when they were all settled down their little town was easily accommodated in the quarter-mile strip that begins at Stafford Street and ends at Rattray Street, taking in a moderate amount of the hinterland up those two thoroughfares and up the intervening High Street. And that small territory cleared from the surrounding bush, fern, and flax, was not by any means thickly studded with the primitive buildings which the hardy newcomers built for themselves.

Captain Cargill appointed April 21 as the day upon which the settlers who had land orders should make their selections. The order was decided by ballot before the ships left the Old Country. It must have been a matter of some difficulty for these new chums to select wisely. However, they made the best choice they could, and set about putting up their primitive buildings—or perhaps shelters would be the better term.