ng to do. We came to make our fortunes, of course, after the manner of all new-chums, but as to how we w

made in some fashion that was, to say the least of it, unpleasant, now that we were face to face with the reality. Plenty of work offered, but none of it seemed to be of a particularly engaging kind; an

neighbours in the old home, there had been enough intimacy between us. It was owing to his letters home that we had determined on emigration. He had been apprised of our coming, so now we were not surprised to

, except that there were very few settlers in the Kaipara, and that communication between it and Auckland was not very good. Somewhat later than this date-in fact, to be precise, in 1875-an Auckland newspaper wrote of the Kaipara under

e; for, till then, we had never appreciated the word "transport" at its full meaning. Like most home-living Britons, hitherto surrounded by every facility for locomotion of persons and goods, we had utterly failed to understand that in a new country things are wholly different in this respect. One can get about one'

hese pages, had apparently had some experience of new-chums before. His agent in Auckland had bee

n the hands of the firm, and had been provided by them with a sumptuous stock of what they were pleased to term necessaries. Altogether, these formed a good

ation when he surveyed our prop

to you. Prepare your minds for a shock. This inheritance is a dead horse. Chuc

into one box of easily portable size. In the first place, the freight of our baggage into the bush would cost us something approaching to the expense of our passage out from England. In the second place, we were not going to a house of our own, but were going to work on different farms, and might be moving about a good deal. We could not carry such a cargo about with us, for the cost of doing so would

, in consideration of that prodigious and ever-to-be-regretted cheque. There was no help for it. An Israelitish dealer, who happily abided in the city, wou

istcoats, broadcloth and doeskin, scarves and gloves, white shirts, collars, and cuffs all

r this country. Rough-hide an

, only suitable for colonists who intended to settle on the top of the Southern Alps. Various knick-knacks, dressing-cases, writing-

in breeches, one light pilot coat, one light tweed coat and trousers (which we wore at the time), some handkerchiefs, some socks, two towels, brush and comb, two pairs of boots, and one pair of leggings, a wi

f revolvers. These we had brought under the idea that they would prove to be a necessity, imagining that war with the Maoris was

enue. Again, we were told that the exportation of new-chums' pistols to the United States was one of the main industries of the colony. But our purgatory was over at

ewhat rickety planking. She is about the size of some of those steam-launches that puff up and down the English Thames, but she would look rather out of place among them; for the Gemini and her sister boat, the Eclipse, which carry on the steam service of the Waitemata, are neither handsome nor n

d filling, on the part of our bark, and then at last we are fairly on our way up the river. We take a last long look at the good ship that brought us from England, as she lies out at anchor in the

and his wife have come out among our ship-load of emigrants. There is a chronic look of wonder on their broad English faces. They

are not practised; regardless also of the fact that I am on my way to just the same life and work that he is himself. The skipper of t

ely experienced among even the roughest colonials than it is in many parts of the old country, in Birmingham, for example. Apart from that, the new-chum is the incarnate comedy of colonial life. He is eagerly watched, and much laughed at; yet he is seldom or never subjected to

g provided for them as well, and that in a style a good deal better than agriculturals are accustomed to in England. They seem well enough contented with things, though a trifle daunted by the strangeness of their surroundings. Dobbs has misgivings as to the work that will

en up. Here and there, we pass in sight of some homestead; a white verandah-ed wooden house, surrounded by its gardens, orchards, paddocks, and fields. The steamer stops, and lies off three or four such places while her dingey communicates with the shore, embarking or disembarking passengers, mails, or goods. Generally, though, when the river-banks are

temata is supplied by two creeks, the Riverhead Creek and the Rangitopuni. Here the banks are steep and high, so

le spectators. By their advice we shoulder our traps, and climb up some steps to the top of the bank. Right before us here is an unpretending house, built in the usual rambling style of architecture peculiar to frame-

urther augmented by the skipper and his assistants, the wharf-keepers, one or two residents in the hotel, and the host and hostess with their family. Quite a large company altogether, and of very promiscuous elements. The only

of the house, and by the regard with which all but we strangers treat him. It is Dandy Jack, afterwards to become one of our most int

Jack stands out in strong relief. Contrasted with the unkempt, slovenly, ragged, and dirty bushmen with whom he mostly comes in contact, he is the very essence of fopper

lannel shirt, with some stitching and embroidery in front; and a blue silk scarf loosely tied below the rolling collar. No coat this warm weather, but a little bouquet in the breast of the shirt. A tasselled sash round the waist; spotless wh

America and the Pacific, and to be now endeavouring to steady down in New Zealand. He has a considerable spice of the devil in him, and is at once the darling of the ladies and the delight of the men.

oach, carries the mails, and bosses the bullock-drays that convey goods between Riverhead and Helensville. And he is rapidly becoming t

Dobbs and his wife, whose future boss has arrived in a rude cart drawn by two horses, in which to drive them and their tra

ngers altogether. Yet Dandy Jack avers that he has carried over a score, and that he considers sixteen a proper full-up load. On the present occasion there are not more than half a dozen, besides my chum and I. Glass there is none about the

-on the box beside the driver. There are no lady passenger

, but, somehow, I'm always glad when there arn't any

ing and capering shows they are impatient to be off. Our driver's lieutenant, Yankee Bill, mounts a fifth horse, and prepares to act as outrider. Then Dandy Jack, loudly shouting, "All aboard! All abo-ard!" springs to his seat, gathers u

iddle of a moorland wilderness. But now, as the coach surmounts some rising ground, several homesteads come into view, scattered about within a distance of one or tw

gh surroundings. Quite a lovely picture, in her graceful riding-habit of light drab, and her little billycock hat with its brilliant feather. So think

and Australia. The factory stands on the bank of the creek, having water-power and a water highway at its door. It is a large structure, mostly of timber, with a tall chimney of brick. Near it is the residence of the proprietor, and a row of houses inhabited by his employès. The whole

s estate as a positive offence. "Bone-dust and drainage!" he says with a snort of contempt. It seems that the land about us is considered to be of the very poorest quality, sour gum-clay; an

ve no notion of any scientific methods in agriculture. They have been spoilt by the wondrous fertility of the rich black forest mould, and the virgin volcanic soils. They

nded by the tirade against manuring, and the revolutionary ideas which our coach-companion further favo

the cities or towns. Thus, Riverhead may be described as a settlement in the "bush," and our road lies through the "bush," though here it is all open moorland. But, in a more particular way, "bush" simply indicates the n

ur English eyes have been taught to regard as a road can we discern. The country is all a rugged wilderness of range and gully: "gently undulating," you say, if you want to convey a fav

e steep declivities there has been a mild attempt at a cutting. Where we come upon streams of any size or depth, light wooden bridges have been built; and fascines have made some boggy parts fordable in wet weather.

preparing himself for some exciting incident. Yankee Bill gallops

round by th

nked!" answe

sure to be gone by this ti

t. Ford's two miles round a

lances round on his pa

nd, if we spill, spring

ms sit perturbed, for we don't know what is coming, only we do not admire the grim determination of our driver's mouth, or the devilry

runs obliquely down the incline, and this descent we proceed to accomplish at a furious gallop, Dandy Jack shouting and e

ems little more than a bare skeleton; for nearly all the planking is gone, and only the rough bare logs remain-and of these several are displaced, so that uncomfortable-looking gaps appear. Some feet below the level of this ruined bridge a regular cataract is flowing. Across the frail sc

ion. We dare not glance at Dandy Jack, but we feel that he is in his element; and that, consequently, we are in deadly peril. Then the chorus of yells grows louder and fiercer, the swish of the whips more constant and furi

d, head downward, among moss and fern. I pick myself out of that, and stupidly feel myself all

has overturned just as it crossed the bridge, and passengers and baggage have been shot forth into the world at large. Fortunately, the ground was soft with much vegetation, so that no one is much hurt;

esently, the coach is got on its wheels again by united effort, and it is found to be none the worse for the accident. In truth, its bu

se, and examination shows that one of its legs is broken, and probably the spine injured as well. It is evident the poor creature is past all further servic

e chase, woe

y life, my g

in a lou

critter; but I reckon I've ha

the others, in place of the dead one. For baggage and passengers are being

ny resentment towards our driver, or blames him in any way. The prevailing feeling is one of simple congratulation that things ar

: he always contrives that you

r life in this country is likely to be eventful, if this kind of thing is the ordinary style of coaching. And we begin to understand what our driver meant

now he proceeds to reorganize his appearance. Gravely and calmly he draws brushes and so on from a receptacle under the box-seat, and commences to titi

rest of the way, he can do it. I'm will

the speaker, his eccentricities are allowed to develop themselves wi

, seem to our English eyes of stupendous proportions, but we are told they grow much bigger in many other parts. Signs of human life are not altogether wanting in these wilds. We pass a dray coming down from the Kaipara

is to be found buried in the soil. In a few places we pass by solitary homesteads, looking very comfortable in the midst of their more or less cultivated paddocks and clearings. These are usually fixed on spots where the soil, for a space of a few hundred acres, happens to be of better quality

is covered with a dense thicket of luxuriant vegetation. In parts we see great masses of dark, sombre forest, but even in the distance this is relieved by variety of colouring, flowering trees, perhaps, or the brilliant emerald of clusters of tree-ferns. Right out on the western boundary a line of hills shuts out the sea, and their sum

like grass and cleared land. There is here a cluster of houses, whitely gleaming beside

into Helensville with as much flourish and éclat as possible. Accordingly, we proceed along the downhill track at breakneck speed, and come clattering and shouting into the village, amid much bustle and

en, three or four women, and a group of boys and children. A babel of conversation ensues. We, as new-chums, are

ed on the footing of personal friends. Hospitality is offered, invitations to take a drink at the bar are given us on all sides.

storey and a balcony above the verandah. It is furnished, too, in a style that would do credit to Au

re is no place in all New Zealand where it could be more advantageous to our future to settle in than here. And so to supper, and finally to bed, to sleep, and to dream of the wonders that shall be; to dream of cathedrals and factories and theatres rising here, and