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Preface.

The writer's aim in this work has been a realistic and truthful description of station life in New Zealand, together with a faithful depiction of the historical incidents woven into the story; and in this he has already been creditably informed that he has achieved success. It is true that, for the convenience of his narrative, he has taken some little liberties, which, however, in no way interfere with the aim recorded, and these he freely confesses.

It may be asserted that the country church, the cattle station, or the race meeting are not, and never were situated in the exact locality wherein he has placed them; but what of that? It suited him to place them there, and that should suffice. With regard to the church, he would go further and state that if it was not there it ought to be.

In one instance only he has thought fit to record a rise in the market price of the shares in a certain mine, which did not actually take place, still as considerably more extensive advances in prices occurred in neighbouring mines, he may surely be pardoned this slight inaccuracy.

With these, perhaps unnecessary, admissions he makes his bow to the public, and leaves his work to speak for itself.