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straight for Dunedin Jetty and see if there was any
chance of getting into anything afloat and just as I was
about to go on the jetty there was an oldish man standing
there and he came over to me and asked if I was a
seafaring man and I very quick answered that I
was. so he said to me that they wanted a hand in a little
steamer called the Beautiful Star laying down the jetty
and if I would go and get my clothes as she was ready for
sea. But as I said I won't disappoint you for I will go on
board just as I stand. All right he says come on as
we wil be back in two weeks. It was no use for him
telling me to go for my clothes as all the clothes I had
was on me. All the rest burned in the bush along
with my chest and what little money I saved and I
was so glad at getting a berth so easy that I never
asked where she was going or what the wages was
or anything else. I was so proud to get a start. Anyhow
we sailed and took cargo and mail for five ports as far
Lyttleton. I was in about eight months at eight pounds
per month and I can assure you that just put me on
my feet once more. So after eight months I left her, as the
work was very hard, as in those days the crew had to
work all cargo at every port and all the ports was pretty
close to one another on that coast so I had a look round
and I found that the Captain of an old collier Barque
was up in Dunedin so I found him at the agents office
and he wanted nine able seamen and bound to new
castle for coals. As that was her trade between Newcastle
and Dunedin. Anyhow she was in Ballast trim. As those
old ships generally was condemed for carrying general cargo
and they were only fit for carrying coals. So we sailed from
from port Chalmers and made a fair passage through
Cooks straights and across to Newcastle. Now this old ship
called the [Eleanor?] belonged to Mr Hannel the ship-
ing master in Newcastle and discharged her ballast
of stones into a lighter alongside, then hauled her in under