26 April 1872

On our way from Dipton Plain to Kingston, when crossing the Mataina River, one of the horses got loose in the buggy and turned round to look at the carriage. The driver jumped off and refastened him, but the reins having caught, we were turned round in the river 3 times. Fortunately we had a buggy that locked, or should have stood a fair chance of being drowned. On arrival at Kingston we were much amused on finding that the City (so described) consisted of Two Public Houses and Two Wharries – although when Gold was first discovered in page 99 Otago, and the rush took place there were 30 acres of houses!