Page:Tales-of-Banks-Peninsula Jacobson 2ed 1893 cropped.pdf/187

speedily good rid of, not seeing at the moment what he was to do in New Zealand. He came down to the Peninsula, and joined Mr. Tribe’s gang in the French Farm Bay, cutting blocks for the old Government buildings, piles for the Lyttelton jetty, firewood, etc., at which employment he was occupied nearly two years. Very jolly was the life led by these bush fellows in the old days. Many of them had been delicately nurtured and well brought up, but they turned to with a will, and found that they could do hard work as well as those to the manner born. Their hard-won earnings were, however, in most cases speedily disposed of. They used to work like slaves for a month or two, and then go to Akaroa and knock it down in a few days. Mr. Gibbs kept the principal hotel, which was the one now known as Bruce’s. He was a decent fellow, with a large corporation, and the boys all liked him, for he was of a very genial character.

Mr. Tribe rented the Government bush in French Farm, and employed a great many men. He was universally respected, but in spite of all his enterprise, he never (through a series of misfortunes) succeeded in making the fortune he thoroughly deserved. At one time he was burnt out in Lyttelton, and afterwards took the Central Hotel in Christchurch. He eventually found his way to the West Coast diggings, when he was returned as a member for the General Assembly, and did much good for the community he represented, and was as generally beloved by the diggers as he had been on the Peninsula.

When Mr. Tribe gave up French Farm, Messrs. Keegan and Wilkin bought a spot of ground on the south side of Akaroa Harbour, on which Mr. Keegan is still living. Mr. Moore went over with them, and stopped for a year. At this time Mr. Townsend was traversing the Peninsula on the survey. He was joined by Mr. Moore, who stopped with him