OLD COLONIAL DAYS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 133, 29 February 1936, Page 22

OLD COLONIAL DAYS

Footnotes to New Zealand History Incidents associated with the early settlement of New Zealand, fragments of history and anecdotes are invited for inclusion in this section. The Dominion will pay 2/6 for each published note, which should not exceed 250 words. Each contribution must be accompanied by the sender’s name and address, but where publication of name is not desired, initials or a nom-de-blume may be used—initials for preference.

A Lesson in Strategy In the early clays, when the Maoris at Waikanae were in an unsettled state, the Europeans nt Pahautanui formed themselves into a Militia. They were trained by a sergeant who came from Wellington to drill t:tie volunteers. Hearing of this the Maoris came down and watched the Pakehai training, then returned and trained their own men. One day the sergeant, who came from Ireland, asked: “What’s them black fellows watching us for?” to which one of the volunteers replied: “They are watching you train us, then teaching their own to do likewise.” “Ah, bedad, are they,” said the sergeant. “Right oh, bhoys, we’il tache ’em.” So they carried on their drill, and quietly manoeuvred the Maoris into an angle of a hawthorns' hedge. The sergeant then said: “Fix bayonets. Charge!” Needless to say, the Maoris did not wait to see the finish, but dived through the hedge, jumped on their horses, and galloped away, much to the amusement of the Militia.—A.B.H. (Raumatl). How Marton Got Its Name

The land on which the town of Marton to-day stands was originally owned by Messrs. Signal, Follett and Morris. They cut the property into sections, ' and the settlements that grew thereon were called “Tutaenui” and “Upper Tutaenui.” The appropriate name of “Travellers’ Rest” was given to the first hotel. This hostelry was kept by a retired sergeant of the 65th Regiment named Mathews, and when the coaches took the Marton route to Wanganui the horses were changed at the “Travellers’ Rest.” The first store was built opposite the hotel, and was owned by Beaver Brothers, of Wanganui, and managed by Henry Lyon, who was later a chemist in the township. As the place grew dissatisfaction with the names “Tutaenui” and “Upper Tutaenui” were expressed, so a public meeting was called for the selection of something more fitting. Henry Lyon suggested “Marton,” because it was the name of Captain Cook’s birthplace in Yorkshire. Thus Marton was named. —N.E. (Wanganui). THe Church Militant Bishop Selwyn was a man of great physical strength as well as force of character. This story of him was told to the late Archdeacon Harper by one of the crew of the Bishop’s yacht “Southern Cross,” In 1856. The yacht had been in Akaroa Harbour, where there were several whalers at anchor, including an American ship. The Bishop went ashore to visit the sick wife of a settler. "So we rowed him to the beach,” said the sailor, “and waited with the boat while be went up a little way to a house and went in. We was a-sitting there yarning when presently we saw the door of the house bang open, and out came, flat on his face all along the ground, a big, slabsided Yankee, and after him the Bishop’s foot and leg. The chap picked himself up, shook his list at the door, and came down to the beach with his mouth full o’ bad words, and off he goes to his own boat. Fact was, he had been insulting the woman, and the Bishop, he just kicked him out of the house. You see, sir, he wasn’t accustomed to a Bishop like ours!”-—DAV. (Christchurch).

Father Moreau Adherents of the Roman’’ Catholic faith in the Manawabu have good reason to reverence the memory of Father Moreau, for it was he who pioneered’ the establishment of his church in this large district. A French missionary to the Maoris, he landed in New Zealand in the first days of white settlement, and after working among the natives in North Auckland and Otago, he settled at Otaki, from which place he ministered to both native and pakeha over the West Coast from Wellington to the Rangitikei. He used to walk from Otaki to Foxton, Palmerston North and the Manchester Block. He selected the site for his church at ’ Feilding, then only a surveyed township on a map, and himself felled the dense bush standing on the site of the present convent school and beautiful church building. In 1882, Father Moreau, though then 75 years old, volunteered for mission work amongst the Maoris up the Wanganui River. While voyaging up the river he contracted an illness which necessitated his return to W’anganui, where he died. Old settlers used to say that the words most frequently on his lips were there: “The Lord is very good.”—G. Fitzpatrick (Feilding). Naval Engagement in Porirua Harbour During the exciting times of the early ’forties of last century, when Te Rangihaeata, the famous warrior of Ngati'Toa, built his stronghold, Matai-' tana, close to Pauatahanui above the extreme point east of the eastern arm of Porirua harbour, and defied the Bri-. tish troops at Paremata redoubt, there were several lively engagements between the Toa people and our troops and sailors from H.M. warships Castor and Calliope. A boat from the wrecked barque Tyne had been purchased by the Government, and a 12-pounder swivel cannonade fixed as a bow gun, and it was used for the purpose of harrying the Natives of the pa. On one occasion, a charge of canister chalk (an waded out to her, keeping up an into the scrub surrounding the pa, when about 100 Maoris seemed to rise from the ground and charged down and out into the water. They had apparently thought that the boat was aground and waded out to her. keeping up an incessant fire. The officer in charge of the boat, Lieutenant McKillop, stated that none of the crew was hit, “but every shot striking the boat, many passing through, although she was coppered nearly up to the gunwale.” As a precaution, the crew had rolled blankets in hammocks and lashed them along the gunwales, thus forming, a bullet-proof protection. The Maoris made an attempt to board the boat on the quarter, and pie gun was slewed around to drive them off; but when it,.was fired the piece burst, knocking McKillop- over, temporarily blinding him, and the back blew out and struck him. inflicting a gash on his head. No. one in the boat was injured Eventually the attack was repulsed, and the Natives retreated, but attacked again under the leadership of Te Rangihaeata. The heavy musket fire from the crew of the ship’s boat was too accurate for -the attackers,' and they drew off. This engagement took place on July 20, 1846. In later years Lieutenant McKillop served in Egypt'as McKillop Pasha. His book, “Reminiscences ■of Twelve Months’ Service in New Zealand,” gives an account of some of the merry times in Porirua harbour.—“JET. Maynard (Wellinyton).