Early Colonial Days.

In New South Wales—he had come out at the suggestion of some relatives who had taken passage in the “St. George”—young Donald gained some practical experience of sheep-farming. He walked to a station near Bathurst, and presently was managing an out-station for some months. By this time, early in 1840, New Zealand was a greatly tempting field for young adventurers, and he decided to try his fortune here. The firm of Abercrombie and Co., of Sydney, who had kauri timber properties in the Auckland district, sent him across on business, and later he saw much pioneer life on the coast and became very friendly with the Maoris about the Hauraki Gulf, at a period when native law and custom still ruled, troubled little by the new dispensation under the pakeha.