PART 4
I recall that once I was travelling up the coast and stayed the night at the late Edward Meredith’s station. I had my packhorses and a good load of clothing, doing business, and the country was all flooded. Going up through the Kaiwai Valley, I had to put my own horse into every stream to see if it was fordable. Sometimes I got afloat and then I would have to and try another place until I could get my horse across.
When I came to the ford at Wairoa Stream I found it was just about level with the back of my horse so I decided to take all the packs off the packhorses and to strap them on to my saddle which was high enough to keep them above the water. I then mounted the packhorse bareback and rode him across while leading the other.
The next day I came to the Mangapakia Creek and found the bridge washed away and just one stringer left. I waded in up to my middle to get to the stringer and by sitting on it and wriggling, managed to propel myself across. “Oh” I thought to myself “this is alright, I shall be able to get the packs over.” So I called the horses over, rolled the packs over on the stringer until I came to dry ground. When I had transported all my packs and saddles, I bundled the horses into the stream and let them come over the best they could. I then loaded up and went to Tinui.
Mrs Arthur Nicholls was keeping an accommodation house there at the time and when I told her where I had come from she asked me how I got across the river. After I had detailed my adventure she said “ You must be very venturesome George to risk a thing of that sort.” Perhaps I was. It seemed to me the only thing to do in the circumstances.
In 2 years time, I had paid off the £120 capital and interest, all debts and was £300 (20014 = $48,588) to the good.
One day I was in Whittems and after I had bought a quantity of goods he showed me another line and said, “Could you do with these Pain?” I answered “ I think you will find I am already past my limit.“ He laid down his pencil, I can see him now – and said “Pain, when you first came here you were a perfect stranger to me and I didn’t know your character but you have been dealing with me so long, I will take you on my account and will release your guarantor, Krull. You are to take no notice of any limit at all but go ahead and anything you see in my place that you think you can sell, take it and never mind what the amount will be.” This I did.
A year later I bought 100 acres of land where I am now living and I paid £362 for it. It is now a valuable property. All the money I was able to pay down was £25 of my own. A friend lent me £137 and £300 was left in mortgage. Later I built a house, which is still standing, behind a clump of gums.
