When Petone Survey Was Abandoned

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 106, 29 January 1938, Page 9

When Petone Survey Was Abandoned

When the surveyors were laying off the township of Petone beach, much dissatisfaction arose in connection with the situation. It' was perceived that the proper site for the city was where Wellington now. stands, and rumours were afloat that holders of the earlier choices were prepared to take up this site, as country land, and then cut it up into a township. A heavy flood in the Hutt River occurring at this time added force to the opposition, as it was seen that the proposed township at Petone would be liable to frequent submergence. Colonel Wakefield, however, was obstinate, and refused to be turned from his purpose until the arrival of Dr. Evans, who immediately took up the cause of the opposition. He called a public meeting, which he addressed in his well-known stentorian tone, and worked up the public feeling to such an extent that Colonel Wakefield was forced to give way. The survey at Petone was abandoned and the surveyors transferred to what was then called Tliorndon, now Wellington. Then came the task of transporting families with their goods and chattels from Petone to Thorndon. There was no road, the sea washed up to the foot of the hills, and the forests overhung the waters of the harbour. Foot passengers could hardly pass along dry except at low water, and there were the Ngahanraqga and Kaiwharawhara streams to ford, over which, however, the Maoris would carry the traveller for a charge of sixpence. The chief mode of transport was by whaleboats.— W.A.G,, Hastings. Sword And Spear The following incident is related by Lieutenant-Colonel McDonnell, one of the heroes of the Maori War: —“One evening I pal'd Von Tempsky a visit to where he was encamped. While we were amusing ourselves with a song and a smoke, a European, who had accompanied the force, joined us at our campfire and commenced to relate what he would do if he were in command. We were awfully bored, but when he drew Von Tempsky’s sword out of its sheath and only wishe'd that he had half a dozen Maoris armed with their spears before him, I tnought it time to put an end to his nonsense. “You might find it rather difficult," I said, “to ward off one of those spears, if properly handled.’’ He rudely told me that I knew nothing about them. Here I laid hold of a .six-foot spear, a stout one made out of manuka wood, called a matia. Von Tempsky chuckled and so did Wilson. They both knew what I wa s going to do. Our visitor said, ‘I might hurt you with the sword.’ He placed himself in an attitude. ‘Come on,’ he said. “I gave a spring and a war whoop, danced round him for a moment, and after a feint or two, brought the butt end of the spear heavily down on his 'head. Down he went. I rushed at him and asked Von Tempsky to make baste with the tomahawk. I let him get up at last and he walked off a wiser man as regarded his knowledge of native weapons. Von Tempsky was the only man I had tried that I could not • touch, but he was an excellent swordsman.—T.C., (Hawke’s Bay). Hotel Swept Out To Sea During the big flood in Greymouth in the early ’sixties, the Grey River swept over the town and a popular hostelry known as the “Cove of Cork” was taken down the river, over the bar, and out to sea. 'The last seen of the hotel, with all the. lights going and a full stock of beer and spirits, was well out on the waves.— E, J. Duggan (Wellington). Present To Queen Victoria Tn 1849 two chiefs from Waikato, Te Warn and Kahawai, sent a letter to Queen Victoria, and as was customary, also forwarded a present. This was a parcel of flour which had > been produced by the Natives themselves. As the writers in their letter said: “We wish that you should see and eat of the flour grown at Rangiaohia. Find not fault with what we send, whether little or much; it is little in the presence of the Queen of England; we have nothing except this flour to give you.” The Queen accepted the present. but instructed the Governor, Grey, that no more presents were to be sent without previous permission. The chiefs were presented by tbe Queen with two portraits of herself with Prince Albert and the Royal Family. Tlie Maori came to the town (Auckland) in crowds to see and to enjoy the portraits of their great white Queen.— G. E. Mullon (New Plymouth) .