Port Chalmers

"Port Chalmers is truly the gateway to Otago -- for a long period, because of the dangers of the narrow channel to the Dunedin Harbour, and the hazards of cross country travel, all traffic to and from the region had to pass through the port. "Port Chalmers: gateway to Otago" necessarily tells of ships and sailors; the glamour of full rigged sailing ships and their take over by steamers; the sad stories of those ships that came to grief in the harbour; the Antarctic expeditions of Scott, Shackelton and Byrd. We learn also of the settlement and growth of the town, and the activities of the inhabitants; the famous moonshine whiskey, distilled from the clear waters that run into the bay; the amazing influence of the 1860s gold rushes on the port. The notable -- and notorious -- characters that abound in every port are described: Charlie Ellis, the frequently inebriated town crier; Tom Geelong, whose home was a hulk on stilts; French Louis, who became invisible to Customs Men at night; and many other strays from all over the globe. These and all other facets of life in the port are detailed in an easily read style with a lively interest in the subject. Supported by a wealth of illustration, "Port Chalmers: gateway to Otago" is a fine record of the varying fortunes of Port Chalmers, and of her development into the busy international port the author knew in the 1940s. It is a book vital for understanding the important part the Port has played in the establishment and subsequent development of the whole Otago region." -- Inside front cover.