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Nelson Historical Society Journal, Volume 3, Issue 5, October 1979

September 30th, 1857. —

Slate River,

September 30th, 1857.

Dear Joseph,

Knowing that you will feel pleasure in reading an account of my adventures on the gold diggings and not being engaged this evening I will write an account up to the present time. After leaving home that morning I went direct to Atkins, saw Satherly and received the four pounds ($8) from him. We then went direct to the steamer. We got there an hour or more before the steamer came. As soon as the steamer came in sight we went aboard a boat and sailed out to meet her. The boat was a large one. The sea was very rough indeed, so much so that I felt very sick before I got to the steamer. When we came alongside we had considerable difficulty in getting aboard. Sometimes the boat rose up level with the steamer and sometimes fell 10 or 12 feet (3 or 4m) below her so that when they were level it was only for a moment. At that moment we had to spring on board and then away went the boat, yards beneath her. I went aboard first and Frank handed me page 38the things as soon as possible. He put Carlo on board too, not seeing what was inside, Carlo fell on a bullock's horns. He rather hurt Carlo but not seriously. I had not been aboard an hour before I was very sick. I never remember being so sick in my life before as I was for several hours. I strained so violently that I thought my inside would have come out. Several others were as bad. Frank was sick but not as bad as me. For a considerable time we had a heavy sea dead against us so we did not arrive in time to go in the harbour. Then we cast anchor until the tide was up. About 12 o'clock we steamed into the harbour – a very pretty little harbour and such a treat to be in still water.

On account of the bad weather we remained at Gibbs Flat, Collingwood, for two days. Finding that too expensive we set out on the 10th for Slate River. During our stay at the port one steamer from Wellington and several more vessels came in bringing more than a hundred for the diggings. On our way to Slate River we called at Appo's Flat and bought a pick, shovel and tin dish, a pair of long boots for me which cost one pound sixteen shillings ($3.60) – pretty good ones. Appo's Flat is about 5 miles (8km) from the Port – a very bad road indeed. The Slate River is about 5 miles (8km) further. We met many people coming from the diggings—some lamenting that they had ever come and some singing, squandering their pounds like pence. On our arrival at Slate River it was near dark, so we took up out quarters at Batchelor's store, kept by Mr Allen where we slept two nights. So much rain had fallen that every path was from six inches to a foot (15 to 30 cm) deep in mud. The worst part of our stockyard is not as bad as the roads about the Slate River. The continual rain and the many who returned saying that it was not possible to gel a claim in the Slate River prevented us from trying much, so we started for the Boulder River nearly a day's march higher up the country. Having lost ourselves in the bush, we did not find the Boulder until 3 o'clock next day. I never had such a miserable tramp – wet to the skin – climbing precipices so steep that several times we had to lift Carlo up places he could not get by himself. We found the Boulder River was not good enough to pay for the trouble of carrying provisions so far. The river was so high that we had great difficulty in crossing it. The stones in it were from 2 to 4 feet (around a metre) in diameter – some as large as our house. In some places, the banks were near 800 feet (270 m) high and perpendicular. We found a better way back to the Slate River.

After eight days of unsuccessful prospecting our stock of money was getting short so we began to seek other means of earning money until fine weather. I engaged myself to a storekeeper and Frank joined two young men from Riwaka, cousins of the Drummonds and has since been working with them in a small party about a mile from my store. On account of the rain they have not been at work more than four or five days and have procured gold worth about 9 pounds ($18). The place is so small that they cannot work more than another day or two. They expect to get about an ounce more out of it and then they must seek another place which they hope to find before their provisions are done. I intend remaining in this store for some time unless Frank finds a good claim – if so I shall leave the store and join him. In the Slate River there are about 500 at work. I can form no idea of the amount of gold they get – on an average they may get from one pound to twenty pounds a day ($2 to $40) and some much more. One party of four that I am acquainted with has cleared 700 pounds ($1400) in two months– another has cleared £160 ($320) per man in 7 weeks. James Satherly sold me page 3910 pounds 16 shillings worth of gold ($21.60). He told me he got it in 7 days. One of the Hogans came here one day and told me he cleared 12 pounds the day before ($24). These are facts I know to be true, but at the same time hundreds return without earning a penny. I don't intend returning home myself without having my expenses at least back again. I have bought 3 pounds worth of gold so that I shall have enough to show you – that you can see without spectacles! I hope to get more yet of my own digging.

There is a report about fresh diggings in Takaka, indeed many are going there. It is becoming quite a rush. I don't like to leave comfortable quarters until it is certain. There is also some secret report about Wangapeka gold diggings being very good – many talk of going. Write and let me know all you hear about it. Today I have heard a piece of gold has been brought from Quarter Ranges weighing about 7 ounces – the largest nugget yet found on these diggings. It is a general opinion that something rich will be found in the course of the summer higher up the country – the higher they go the heavier the gold is found. Frank broke the hand off his watch and sent it to Nelson to Coates where Father will call for it. I saw the postman. Spanger, he told me it was delivered all right. The postman is in the Slate River and likely to do well. George Kite is on the Boulder River and has not done any good as yet. I have not seen Bob Talbot yet. There are so many from Auckland and Wellington and other parts that you seldom see anybody belonging to Nelson. My master has several stores so that I am left to the management of this one. I do as I like, go to bed when, and get up when I like. I have plenty to eat of flour, potatoes, beef, bacon, butter, cheese, sardines, pickled salmon, onions, tea, sugar, coffee and many other things. I usually sleep with six thicknesses of blankets and warm clothes. Hoping all are well at home, thanking Mother for her kindness in giving me many useful things. Remember me to Cleanor, John and all enquiring friends. Write and let me know how all are at home. My address is: Mr Thomas Hewetson at Mr Lloyd's Upper Store, Slate River.

I remain, dear Joseph, yours faithfully,

Thomas Hewetson

(The letters we have seen end in December 1857. It had evidently been an unusually wet spring. Thomas was considering starting a store of his own and, if the diggings were good, working at that while an assistant ran the store. In any case he did not intend to leave until he had at least recovered his costs. We conclude that he did well as J. N. W. Newport's new book, Footprints Too, contains an interesting account of Thomas Hewetson's Journey to England. He left Melbourne on January 20, 1859.)