There was the half-caste Chaseland, whose mother was an Australian "gin," and who was acknowledged to be the most dexterous and best-tempered steersman in New Zealand--when sober.

He needed his skill when he steered an open boat from the Chathams to Otago across five hundred miles of wind-vexed sea.

Chaseland's mighty thews and sinews were rivalled by those of Spencer, whose claim to have fought at Waterloo was regarded as doubtful, but whose possession of two wives and of much money made by rum-selling was not doubtful.

Another notable steersman was Black Murray, who once made his boatmen row across Cook's Straits at night and in a gale because they were drunk, and only by making them put out to sea could he prevent them from becoming more drunk.

A congener of his, Evans--"Old Man Evans"-- boasted of a boat which was as spick and span as a post-captain's gig, and of a crew who wore uniform.