CHARLESTON
considerable increase in the population and prosperity of the district.” Gold was everywhere, in every backyard, but water to secure it was scarce, and had to be brought from far away, in races, flumes, and pipes, while scores of dams had to be built. Notwithstanding this, the lack of water continued to hamper working; and in 1871 Mr. A. D. Dobson, District Engineer, reported to the Provincial Council on the matter, but as several more water-races were being built by Haines & Company, no action was taken by the Government.
To a town of calico and canvas, whose population was increasing by leaps and bounds, the prime consideration was a regular food supply. Without roads, or even pack-tracks, the settlement was dependent upon the few small sailing-craft that occasionally entered the bay, and eyes were turned to the nearest port of consequence, the Buller River. Westport was also in its childhood, a small settlement on the North Spit of the river mouth. From the South Spit, a few packers brought to Charleston a proportion of its requirements, over rough country and beaches, until 1867 when a road was formed over Cape Foulwind, and a coach service initiated. A dray-road to Westport was a crying necessity. The provision of such a road could be left to the Provincial Council; but to leave to it the construction of the necessary bridge over the Nile River was another matter, so these self-reliant pioneers took the matter into their own hands and the bridge was built (late in 1866 or early in 1867) by private enterprise, the builders being granted protection for five years and authorised to impose a toll of 1/- per person crossing it. This toll was collected at the bar of the Nile Hotel which was erected by Blanche Bros. at the south end. “A rough log-bridge,” Mr. Dobson declares, but it stood up to heavy traffic and to current and floods, for about eight years. The names of the original shareholders of the Bridge Company are not obtainable, but in newspapers of August, 1868, it is recorded that “Mr. Allen paid £400 to Mr. McCarthy for latter’s share,” also that “Mr. Hutchinson sold his interest to Mr. P. Allen, who is now the sole owner.” The contractors for building the bridge were Messrs. Atkinson & Company.
In December of 1868 or early in 1869 the bridge was
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