In this vivid memoir, W. T. Pratt recounts his experiences living and working in colonial New Zealand in the mid-19th century. From his early days as a pioneer settler to his time as a prominent businessman and politician, Pratt offers a firsthand account of the challenges and triumphs of life in a rapidly changing society. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of New Zealand or colonialism more broadly. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.