NEW FRIENDS
I SHALL never forget the sensation that passed over me when the
“Bertie” dropped her anchor, and made fast to the railway wharf on
arrival at Wellington. It was my first foreign port, and we expected to
be there for four weeks before sailing for home. The sun was setting
as we dropped our anchor in what looked to me like a picture I had
seen of the Lake of Galilee, with the hills surrounding it, and this
was Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, the land of the Maori
Chiefs. There amongst those hills they had lived and fought and died.
I wondered if I should see any of them, or if there would be any time
to see something of the surroundings. I could scarcely take my eyes off
the hills, with their lights and shades of purple and gold, bronze and
scarlet, as the sun passed over the various strata of which the hills
are composed. Before turning in, Jones and I had planned to go on shore
together and see, as far as lay in our power, all that there was to be
seen.
The day after we arrived two ladies and a gentleman came on board and
asked if there were any boys or apprentices on the ship. The first mate
called Jones and I to where they were standing and introduced us to
them, and the ladies immediately gave us both an invitation to tea that
evening, at the same time telling Mr. McLean they would look after us
each evening during our stay to save us from getting into bad company,
of which there was too much round the seaport. You may be sure Jones
and I thanked them heartily, and almost counted the hours that must
elapse before we could go over the shipside, after having been at sea
three months.
When they had left the ship I asked Mr. McLean who they were, and why
they troubled about two youngsters like Jones and I whom they knew
nothing about?
“My lad,” he said, putting his hand on my shoulder, “there are plenty
of kind hearts in the world, and here in Wellington several ladies
and gentlemen from the different churches have banded themselves
together for the sole purpose of looking after all the sailor boys
and apprentices that come into this port. Many a boy has been saved
from destruction by their kindness and care, for in a place like this
temptations abound, and before you know where you are you are led
astray.”
At five p.m., when the day’s work was done, we tidied ourselves up
and donned our best clothes, and at five-thirty two gentlemen came
on board for us, and we were soon walking along the wharf, our escort
pointing out all the places of interest as we left the shipping behind
us and came into Queen Street, and then turned into a large house, at
the door of which stood the ladies who had given as the invitation.
They gave us a hearty welcome, and hoped we should feel at home with
them. To our surprise and pleasure we found there were eight boys,
besides us, belonging to other ships lying in the harbour. You may
be sure any shyness we felt soon wore away under the influence and
the kindness of our hostess, the good tea, and the exchange of views
regarding our ships amongst us boys, each, of course, thinking his own
ship the best. After our hostess had returned thanks to God for the
meal we had just finished, we went into another room. We then had some
music and sang a few hymns. Some of us played draughts, some dominoes,
and other parlour games, until seven-thirty, when one of the gentlemen
asked us if we would like to join the Order of Good Templars. He
explained to us what it meant and pointed out to us that by belonging
to this Order we could visit any lodge, if there was one in a port
that we called at, we should be made very welcome, and at once find
ourselves amongst friends. We both agreed, and the other boys, who had
already become members were very pleased, telling us that we should
like the lodge they were sure. At eight o’clock we all went to the
Temperance Hall a few doors further up the street, there we were made
members of the Order. The members vied with each other in making us
feel welcome and at home, and I felt that if this was a sample of the
evenings spent in the “Good Templars’ Lodges,” that would be where mine
would be spent in any port where there was a lodge held. At the close
of the evening several of the members walked down to the ship with us,
and so ended one of the happiest evenings of my life.
It was with light happy hearts that Jones and I did our work the next
day. Both the chief and second mate asked us how we had spent the
evening, and seemed very glad that we had met with such friends. My
work seemed nothing, so much did I long for evening to come.
At five-thirty our two friends came for us, and also some of the other
boys and we set off to see the places of interest. That night we saw
the Government Official Buildings, Lambton Quay, the General Post
Office, Custom House Quay, and the Public Hospital, New Town. These
buildings were all very imposing. We were also told about the two
earthquakes that had wrought such havoc in the years 1848 and 1855, and
how that it was a long time before the effects had faded from the minds
of the people, but once having got over it, the buildings had gone
on quickly, and where, a few years ago, small farms stood, handsome
villas and private residences had sprung up.
Another time we went to see the Parliament Buildings. We also had
some side trips, to Lower Hut, and had tea at the Belle Vue Gardens,
then to Wainmomata on the Saturday, going by rail to Lower Hut, and
I had my first ride in a buggy to finish our journey. Again some of
the Lodge members made a party up, and we went by steamer to Seatown
and Haraka Bay, each day brought its work and its pleasure, and each
Sunday afternoon Mrs. Hamilton, our kind friend and hostess, gave us
writing materials and made us write to our friends at home, she paid
the postage, and herself posted the letters for us.
I had also seen several Maoris, one was a great, chief named Te Araroa,
he had his face tattoed all over, this was considered an ornament, but
I thought differently. Our last outing before leaving the port was
to the Lighthouse on Somes Island. Before leaving for the ship that
night Mrs. Hamilton gathered us all together and, after singing a few
hymns, she asked us to kneel with her in prayer. Never shall I forget
that prayer, and how she pleaded for us to be kept safe from sin and
shipwreck. May God, whom she loved, bless and reward her for the great
kindness she showed me and hundreds of boys who came to the Port of
Wellington.
We finished loading at last, and had to say good-bye to our
kind-hearted friends. Many of them came to see us off. Captain Crosbie
seemed very pleased, and when they had gone he turned to me saying with
a smile:
“You seem to have had a good time, boys.”
“Yes, sir,” I replied, “a time I shall never forget, or Jones either.”
“That’s right, enjoy life while your hearts are young, it will help you
to do your work better, and give you pleasant things to think of when
you are old. Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful,
drink it in with all your eyes; it is a charmed draught, a cup of
blessing. It is God’s handwriting.”
“Thank you, sir,” I said, and went to my work with a light heart. We
left the wharf in the early morning with a full cargo of wool, tallow,
hides, rabbit skins, etc., for London.