Charles Heaphy led first West Coast exploration

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33775, 22 February 1975, Page 12

Charles Heaphy led first West Coast exploration

(Bp

W. R. HEINZ)

Charles Heaphy and Thomas Brunner, accompanied by Maori guides, made the first recorded exploration of the west coast of the South Island in 1846.

Leaving Nelson on March, 9, 1846, they traversed the coast as far as the Maori Pa at the mouth of the Taramakau River.

They stayed there for some time, making a further journey south to the Arahura River and perhaps as far south to near Ross or the Mikonui River; altogether it was a journey of 159 days. They did not return to Nelson until August 28.

Evidence indicates that Heaphy, not Brunner, was the leader of this expedition. Heaphy wrote the .expedition journal; he mapped the traverse along

the coast, describing features and giving Maori place names; and he drew and made water colours of Maori occupation and the mountains. He witnessed pre-Euro-pean culture at the Taramakau Pa, where he recorded the Maori cutting and polishing greenstone as their ancestors had done for hundreds of years. Charles Heaphy was born in London in 1820. He was the son of a prominent artist. He was apprenticed as a surveyor draughtsman to the London Manchester Railway Company, during which time he studied art. With Wakefield In 1839 he was appointed artist and draughtsman to the New Zealand Company and in the same year he sailed in the ship Tory with Colonel William Wakefield for New Zealand.

As well as Wellington, the Tory visited Hokianga and Kiapara harbours and the Chatham Islands. Colonel Wakefield was becoming impatient, for he wanted a settlement instituted in the South Island for his company and a search was made for arable land bordering Blind Bay (Tasman Bay). Heaphy, with others including William Fox who was later to become Sir

William Fox, % Premier of New Zealand, surveyed in part the Waknea Plain and west to the Motueka country. In November, 1841, Wakefield sent Heaphy back to London to report to the New Zealand Company and in 1842 Heaphy wrote his “Narrative of a Residence in Many Parts of New Zealand,” whici was published in Londcft in 1843. \ Buller source Back in New Zealand, Heaphy. with J. W. Spacer, lea an expedition ti the source of the Bullen River in 1843. From Lake’ Rotoiti followed the Gowan river Xtowards the Buller but were-blocked by the gorges. x On February 2, 1846, Heaphy set out on another expedition with Brunner Fox and Kehu the Maori, as guide, to Lake Rotoiti. From there Kehu led them over the Maori trail across hills and ridges to Lake Rotoroa, across further hills to the Mangles River and on to the flats of the Matakitaki River (Murchison). That was the trail used by the gold miners of the 1860 s in crossing from Malborough and Nelson to .the goldfields on the West Coast.

On March 17, 1846, an expedition consisting of Heaphy, Brunner and Kehu left Nelson for the West Coast to explore as far south as possible. On April 7 they had reached Kahurangi Point (near West Haven Inlet) after a rough journey over and around headlands and bluffs.

Reaching the Kawatiri (Buller) River on April 30 they crossed and, with difficulty continued south. At Te Miko Point they found the way impassable except by the ascent of a high cliff by a rata vine and flax ladder.

Heaphy says: “The cliff is about 120 ft high and its ascent was first effected by a war party which then let down a ladder made of the rata vine of the forest above. The cliff overhanging slightly, the ladder was quite perpendicular and our position was far from being pleasant.” They reached the Mahwera Pa on the Grey River on May 23.

Charles Heaphy remained in Nelson on survey work till May, 1848, when the Governor, Sir George Grey, appointed him draughtsman for the Auckland surveys. He was appointed goldfield commissioner for the Coromandel goldfield in November, 1852. V.C. awarded. In 1859, he joined the Auckland Rifle Volunteers and, on the outbreak of the Waikato war in 1863, he was commissioned as a lieutenant. At Paterangi, near Awamuta, during an ambush on February 1, 1864, of troops who were bathing nearby, Charles Heaphy rescued under heavy fire, a soldier who had been wounded In those days Colonial troops were not eligible for the Victoria Cross but Heaphy applied for it. His claim was supported by his commanding officer and there' were representations from Sir George Grey. He v,'as awarded the cross in 1867. From June, 1867, until October, 1869, he represented the Parnell electoral district in the Auckland Provincial Counjcil.) V Charles Heaphy, V.C., \as on the way to the top. ri 1878 he was appointed Givemment Insurance Commissioner and later a judje of the Native land Coufc, s 11l Xea'lth caused him to resignV June, 1881. With his wily h? left for the wanner clinate of Brisbane, where he died on August 3, 1881, xged 59. His name is p»rpetuated in part of the cowtry he traversed —- the XJeaphy River and Heaphy Track near Karamea; and Hfaphy Point, which is the sdvthwestem extremity of pawa Island, Queen Charlotte Sound.

Men of the West XVI