A Description Of The Town.

We are fortunate in that some years ago Mr. William Paterson set down details of the Port Molyneux in its heyday. With the help of the view printed on page 64, this description by Mr. Paterson enables us to visualise the Port Molyneux of the “sixties,” before the great flood of 1878 finally wrote “Ichabod” over the port:—

“When we went to Port Molyneux in 1863 it was a busy place. Standing on the jetty looking up the main road (Pendennis Street) on the left–hand side going up towards Balclutha, next the jetty was Allan Gault's timber yard, and the remains of Scott's shanty, where it is said they sold something stronger than tea. Going up Pendennis Street, the first building on the left was Allan Gault's ironmongery shop, now Adam Paterson's dwelling house. Next to that was Thomson and Mailler's general store; Robert Miller bought them out about 1865; then he failed, and my father (James Paterson) took over page 67 the business about 1866, and now it is my brother Adam A. Paterson's shop. The next building, about two chains further up the street, was R. L. Begg's general store. I think about 1870 my father bought him out. The old building of R. L. Begg's was for many years used as the hall; it was later removed, and is now a barn and stable on a farm. Next to R. L. Begg's was the Government bond, in charge of Edmund Rich, Customs officer, a son–in–law of Major Richardson. A little further up was Walter Nicol's dwelling house. He was a carpenter. That was all on the left–hand side.

“Then back again to the jetty on the right–hand side, over near the Puerua River, was A. C. Begg's big general store and grain and wool shed. Between that and the Main Road was the Alexandra Hotel. Sockley was the first landlord, then Ancell, and then John Paterson (he was no relation of ours). Between the Alexandra Hotel and the Main Road was the police office and lockup—Albert was the policeman.

“We are now back to Pendennis Street. The first building on the right–hand side was Brewer and Levison's general store, late William Brown and Co., and somewhere about 1870 was bought out by my father, who removed the stock to his own shop. The old building was transformed into a residence, and for many years John L. Wylie lived in it. In later years the building was removed to Puerua, and was my home for many years. It was built at Port in 1861. Behind the shop, in two small huts, was a butcher and a painter and paperhanger.

“Farther up Pendennis Street was the Commercial Hotel. Robert McLay was proprietor, afterwards John Hartley Jenkinson. Next to the Commercial Hotel was John Colvin, carpenter, then Dan. McIntosh's blacksmith shop, and next his dwelling place. Then a little farther up, C. Finlayson, bootmaker, afterwards W. Glass.

At the top of the street, on the point of the ridge, was the old building, the first school and church. I attended the school as a boy when the school was first opened; we had no desks, and we had to go down on our knees and write on the forms. That building is now the Oddfellows’ Lodge, M.U.I.O.O.F. It was removed to its present position about 1874.

“What a change has taken place! Of all those buildings I have mentioned, only Allan Gault', Thomson and Mailer',^* Walter Nicol's and the Lodge Room remain. And my brother Adam is the only one left alive of those who were in Port Molyneux in 1854.

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“The stern–wheel steamer “Tuapeka,” Captain Murray, reached Port Molyneux on August 11, 1863. John Brown was signal master at the pilot station at the mouth of the river.”