rst scarcely raise their axes. This gradually wore off, and at the
end of three or four days they found that they could get through a far
greater amount than at first with much less fatigue to themselves; but
even on the last day of the week they could do little more than a third
of the amount performed by the natives. By this time an ample supply of
trees had been felled. The trunks had been cut into suitable lengths and
roughly squared. The bullocks arrived from Mr. Mitford's, and as soon as
the first logs were brought up to the house the work of building was
commenced. The Maori carpenter now took the lead, and under his
instructions the walls of the house rose rapidly. The logs were mortised
into each other at the corners; openings were left for the doors and
windows. These were obtained from Mr. Mitford's store, as they were
constantly required by settlers.

At a distance of four feet in front of the house holes were dug and
poles erected, and to these the framework of the roof was extended. This
point was reached ten days after the commencement of the building, and
the same evening a native arrived from Mr. Mitford's with a message that
the party from Wellington had arrived there and would come over the next
day. He also brought a letter to Wilfrid from the Allens, in answer to
one he had written them soon after his arrival, saying that they were so
pleased with his description of the district they should come down at
once, and, if it turned out as he described it, take up a tract of land
in his neighbourhood.

While Wilfrid had been at work he had seen Mr. Atherton several times,
as that gentleman had, upon the very day after his first trip up the
river, filled up the necessary papers, hired half a dozen natives, and
started up the river in a boat freighted with stores to his new
location. Wilfrid had not had time to go over to see him there, but he
had several times sauntered over from his place, which was half a mile
distant, after the day's work was over. He had got up his hut before
Wilfrid fairly got to work.

It was, he said, a very modest shanty with but one room, which would
serve for all purposes; his cooking being done by a native, for whom he
had erected a small shelter twenty yards away from his own.

"I have not quite shaken down yet," he said, "and do not press you to
come over to see me until I have got everything into order. I am sure
you feel thankful to me that I do not expect you to be tramp