Buying the West Coast.

This was a task of great difficulty, not so far as the Maoris were concerned, but because of the enormously rough territory to be traversed searching out all the Maoris of the Coast, right down to the remote Mahitahi (near Bruce Bay). He and a companion, Mackley, set out from Nelson and visited every little settlement where a signature was to be obtained to the document of purchase. Mackay carried 400 sovereigns in his swag, and when he had concluded his negotiations he had 100 surplus sovereigns to carry back to Nelson. He bought seven and a half million acres for £300. Certain native reserves, including part of the present site of Greymouth town, were marked off on the map for the Maori owners; the rest of the Coast passed to the Crown.