The+Bohemians+of+Puhoi+Part+B

The Bohemians of Puhoi Part B
 When the Bohemians arrived in Puhoi, they were all allocated plots of land, and they started to work. They all worked together to make tracks through the bush to make access easier. Nikau whare were built as temporary shelter on each plot of land.

The settlers made money by felling trees and cutting them into shingles for roofing. They also made fence posts and railway sleepers all to be sold in Auckland. The shingles, fence posts and railway sleepers had to be carried to the mouth of the Puhoi River to leave for a passing ship to pick up. The Bohemians would then walk to Auckland (a day's walk) and meet the ship and then sell their goods.

The settlers had trouble finding food at times. But then they learnt to use the bush. Here they found that the centre of the Nikau palm tasted like cabbage when it was cooked. They ate berries, fish, birds, wild pig, eels, crabs and honey from the wild bees. Often they were on the edge of starvation. Chief Te Hemera Tauhia from the Maori Pa at the mouth of the Puhoi River, often paddled his waka to the setters to give them vegetables, fruit and kumara.

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