Manson and a few other hands, sailed up the river Avon in a whale boat, as far as the "Bricks" (so named because bricks for building chimneys were landed by them there), and thence in a canoe to the large pool at bend of the river (at gully west of Hospital); they then followed the creek which joins tlie river there (Washbou—te's creek), to avoid the flax swamp and bush to the west, to where it outflowed from the river (above Wood's Mill); then up the river banks through tall fern to Potoringamotu, now "Riccarton," where they erected the, "first house built on the Plains." It still stands, but is somewhat the worse for its thirty-nine years' wear; it is built of wood, put together with wooden pegs, which were made in the tent in the evenings, they had to take the place of nails, which were unfor tunately left behind at Wellington. When it was finished, in May, Manson and others returned to Port Levy for Jdhn Gebbie and the women and children. They followed the same route as before described; when they reached their destination, William Deans stood all alone by the one only dwelling on the vast Plain, watching and waiting to wel come that band of pioneers, the first instal ment of the hosts that have since followed to reclaim the wilderness. As the canoe with the content© could not be brought further up the river on account of the shallows, and the distance being too great for the children to travel, each father and boatman on landing took a child on his shoulders and bravely strode on, the mothers as bravely following, fighting their way through the tall fern ar#l. scrub till they reached their destination. On their complaining of the roughne— of the the damage done to boots, etc., in consequence, William Deans laughingly told them there would in the future be roads and railways in all directions, and in all pro bability'a tunnel through tho Port Hills, and that hereafter they would be able to drive about in their carriagas. The house, or rather shed ((now known as the old "barn"), that was to shelter them during the winter months, was partitioned off into three apart ments with blankets and sheets, the two families taking one each, leaving the sitting room for the Messrs Deans. It had alsoia loft above for stores. 