fine morning in June, 1861, we started from Dunedin, with our
handsome team, the first of its kind that ever travelled the road we
were going, and we started from the smiling little town amidst the
cheers and good wishes of those we left behind.

For the first few days all was fairly smooth sailing. We travelled about
twenty miles each day, camping or resting independently of stations, and
the track so far being formed by wool drays, was on the whole feasible,
although we had occasionally to make good the crossings over creeks and
rivers.

On the evening of the third day we arrived at a small cattle station
belonging to a Mr. Davis, where were a number of diggers resting for the
night. Mr. Davis was one of those hospitably inclined to the diggers,
but as he could not be expected to feed such numbers for nothing, he
notified that meals would be charged for at one shilling per head. This
was eagerly and gratefully responded to, and upwards of two hundred men
were assembled at the station the evening we arrived.

The kitchen and dining hut being unable to accommodate more than twelve
or fifteen at once, a multitude had to remain outside while each gang
went in, in turn, to be fed.

Inside the scene was curious. An enormous fire of logs blazed on the
hearth, which occupied one entire end of the hut, over which were
suspended two huge pots filled with joints of mutton, beef, and
doughboys, boiling indiscriminately together. They were frequently being
removed to the table and others substituted in their place. The pots
were flanked by large kettles of water, into which, when on the boil, a
handful or two of tea would be thrown. After a few minutes the decoction
would be poured into an iron bucket, some milk and sugar added, and
placed upon the table, where each man helped himself by dipping his
pannikin therein.

Fortunately the hungry seekers after gold were not particular about
their meat being a shade over or under cooked; they were glad to accept
what they got, and indeed right wholesome food it was. The doughboys
were simply large lumps of dough, made of flour and water, used as a
substitute for bread, of which a sufficient quantity could not be
prepared for the immense demand.

We obtained our turn in due time, and after a hearty meal retired to the
quarters we had pitched upon for the night--viz., a straw shed where we
rolled our blanket around us and slept soundly.

The following evening, after a severe day's