Chapter IV.
THE OLD BEACH-ROUTE—FROM 1867 TO 1874.
THE FIRST STAGE—SOUTH SPIT, PACKERS’ POINT, CAPE FOULWIND.
PRIOR to 1867 no road of any kind existed between the Buller and Charleston, but only pack-tracks across Cape Foulwind and from the Nine-mile Beach to the Nile River. Over these and the intervening beaches travelled hundreds of gold-seekers to the new field of Pakihi, Charleston, carrying swags and provisions or, if sufficiently financial, engaging the services of packers with pack-horses from South Spit.
Before these pack-tracks existed, a man-trail had been formed by the many who had forged their way through the dense forest on the Cape, over the streams, and along the beaches. The route was from the South Spit of the Buller River, just opposite the north end of the present crane-wharf at Westport. Passengers were boat-ferried from the old township of Westport, and supplies, etc., were brought across on barges—all by man-power.
PACKERS’ POINT.
This was a point in the south bank of the river, on the up-river side of Bradshaw’s Creek, and of the lagoon which separated the point from South Spit. Here ferryboats or barges (lighters) landed passengers and freight for Addison’s Flat, etc. Freights, as the name implies, were taken on pack-horses, while passengers took “Shanks’s Pony” or hired hacks. It was not unusual for a “train” of fifteen or more pack-horses to leave here for Addison’s Flat (May, 1867).
55
