The Whaler on Shore.

The monotony of town life was varied by periodical visits from whalers, who, in their dealings with the European

Fig. 51—Panoramic view of Thorndon, 1868 (approx.), from a print in the possession of Mr. Hamilton Bannister. Reading from left to right are the residences of Messrs. Bannatyne 1, Schultz 2, Brandon 3, Clifford, Crawford. Levin. Ministerial Residence 4, Barracks 5, H. Jury 6, Guard Room and Rifle Pits 7, Hospital 8, Pipitea 9, Queen's Head 10, Princess Hotel 11, Maori Hostelry 12, Catholic Church 13, Military Cottages 14. W. Dorset 15, Dr. Johnston (Grant Road) 16.

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Fig. 52—Park Street, 1888, from Wadestown.

Fig. 53.—Park Street, 1928. showing old military cottages opposite Miss Dorset's House.

page 171 settlements, resembled sailors back from a cruise.

After they were paid the balance due to them at the end of the season, they went to Wellington or Nelson to spend it.

During the six weeks or two months after their arrival the town of Wellington became a Portsmouth in miniature. Every public house had its fiddle and hornpipe going; the little theatre was filled once a week; and the weak constabulary force of Wellington suffered from various practical jokes.

Boat races, on which heavy bets depended, came off, and an occasional fight, arising from the profound contempt which the whaler expressed for the “lubber of a Jimmy-grant,” as he called the emigrant, completed the programme of the amusements during the period.

Mr. George Macmorran, in his “Schools and Schoolmasters of Early Wellington.” p. 3, refers thus to the whalers who came ashore:—

“Sometimes there were wild attractive scenes when the whalers came ashore, after a successful season, to knock down their cheques. The taverns benefitted most by such incursions.

“How they laughed and stamped and pounded,
Till the tavern roof resounded,
And the host looked on astounded,
As they drank the Ale.”

At such gatherings, especially if rival crews met, there was much boasting; hence there had to be occasional swimming contests and rowing matches, and not unfrequently there were encounters with fists to see who was the better man. The ‘convincing ground’ usually resorted to most frequently in the early morning, was in Upper Sydney Street, where with a circle of admiring and critical and strongly partisan comrades, the principals definitely settled the question of superiority.

“Often, unseen by those below, there crouched amongst the ti-tree. sundry youths who might have been better employed elsewhere, but who were very much interested spectators of the contest taking place in the bottom of the gully.”