LONG SERVICE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 59, 11 March 1909, Page 3

LONG SERVICE.

CHARLES W. HURSTHOUSE. • SKETCH OF HIS CAREER. ADVENTURES OF A SURVEYOR'S LIFE. ( On the last day of this month there will retire from the public service a man who has played a very conspicuous part in the history of New Zealand during the past fifty years. From the time of the Taranaki War down to the troubles with Te Whiti, Mr. C. W. Hursthouse — owing to his force of character and influence with the natives— » has invariably been selected by the authorities to carry on the difficult anil dangerous g work of pioneer surveying and road-making in the face of native opposition. Charles Wilson Hursthouse was born in 1841 in England, and was only some 18 months old when he landed in Wellington with his parents on the 31st January, 1843 The family moved north to New Plymouth, arriving at their new home in April, 1843. Young Hursthouse joined the Provincial Government Survey i Department on the 28tb March, 1855, entering the service as a cadet. In 1858 he was promoted to the position of assistant surveyor and clerk in the same department. In 1860 he wa3 chosen to carry out the survey of a block of land at Waitara — the land about which the Maori War ostensibly began.. On the 20th of February of that year went to start surveys with Mr. Robert Parris, Chief Commissioner of Native Affairs, and Mr. Octavius Carrington, Chief I Surveyor, but they were stopped before^they got anything done. Subsequently, he completed the survey under the protection of a military covering party. Owing to the Maori War, which began in 1860, he was unable to go on with the survey, and was, therefore, available for volunteering for the protection of the settlers' homes. BATTLE OF WAIREKA. He was at the battle of Waireka on the 28tb March, 1860, and had the hbnour of firing, in company with Sergeant Free, the first two shots. He was also at Mahoetahi, and at many minor engagements and skirmishes, finishing with the fight at Gilbert's Farm, otherwise known as Allen's Hill, in October, 1864. Was employed in 1864-5-6 constructing roads in the vicinity of New Plymouth, and in surveying and allotting land to military settlers from Tapuae, near New Plymouth, to Patea. In 1866 received a commission as ensign in No. 9 Company Military Settlers. In 1868 was specially asked by the commanding officer to take second in command of a company of Volunteer Militia Scouts for Ane prevention of surprises of settlers by discontented natives. For this work he was promoted to a lieutenant. EARLY RAILWAY 1 SURVEYS. Ii? March, 1871, ho was appointed to make a preliminary survey for a railway line t from WhcnuakuKv northwards, passing Patea and Hawera to Waingongoro. That was to be a coast railway, running round by Gape Egmont. When that survey work was done, he extended the laying out of the line southwards from Whenuakura to Nukumaru, towards Wanganui. He afterwards laid out the Waitara and New Plymouth line, and superintended the latter part of its construction. In 1873-4, with a large party of Maoris, constructed the road from near Sentry Hill through the untouched forest to near where Stratford now is, where work from the southern end was met. Also surveyed for purchase the boundaries of the various blocks around the present districts and towns of Inglewood and Stratford. In 1875 he was appointed resident engineer in the Public Works Department, and constructed the railway line from Sentry Hill to Stratford, having previously laid the line out. In the early part of 1880 was appointed road surveyor in the Public Works Department for the purpose of laying out and constructing the road from totony River to Opunake, passing Parihaka on the way, the Armed Constabulary doing most of ,the navvying work. TROUBLE WITH TE WHITI. It was on /this road that the struggle occurred as to the Crown rights — the trouble culminating in the taking of Te Whiti and Tohu as prisoners. During this difficulty several hundred Maoris were arrested and imprisoned in various parts of the colony. Mr. Hursthouse — who had known Te Whiti for several years previous to the outbreak of the Maori War of 1860— had considerable influence with that subsequently famous native chief, and ,also with his people. During the period that Mr. Rolleston was Native Minister, Mr. Hursthouse attended every monthly meeting held at Parihaka, and he sent full telegraphic reports of the proceedings to the Government. • A FAMOUS INCIDENT : "THE POTATO IS COOKED." Mr. Hursthouse was specially selected to go with Captain Knowles, A.D.C. to Governor Gordon, to present a letter from his Excellency to Te Whiti. In that letter Te Whiti was informed that his Excellency was anxious to see the trouble of, the native people justly settled ; and that he had heard that Te Whiti was anxious to pee him on the subject. Also, that the Governor would be glad to see Te Whiti, and hear what he had to say, at Wellington; or, if Te Whiti thought Wellington too far, the Governor would be soon visiting New Plymouth, and he would then go on by inland road to Hawera, and Te Whiti could see him at either place, or at some place between. It was when the A.D.C. was endeavouring to discuss the letter with Te Whiti, through Mr. Huisthouse as interpreter, that Te Whiti used the celebrated metaphor "the potato is cooked" — meaning that the case had gone too far to be remedied. At the request of the A.D.C., Te Whiti elucidated the parable by saying : "If the Governor will plant a cooked potato, and make it grow, then can he settle our difficulties !" Mr. Hursthouse was present at all the subsequent pioceedings at Parihaka — not being able to attend to the roadmaking — and was the only interpreter that Te Whiti would reply to on the day of his arrest. For his services on this occasion he was promoted to be a captain to the New Zealand militia— an honourable position, but carrying with it no emoluments. At the end of 1882, having completed th<; roadwork in that locality, he was directed to accompany the Hon. the Native Minister to Kawhia and the King Country ; and was present at Mangaorongo, at the pardoning of Te Kooti for the part he had taken in the Maori disturbance. Having visited the north of Auckland with the Native Minister to settle a dispute regarding the taking of a road through Maori land, he returned with him, and was dispatched early in March to explore the country between Te Awamutu and Waitara, for a railway line. Most of the Maoris were doubtful of the wisdom of allowing this exploration, and oiners were emphatically averse to it. The first attempt of Mr. Hursthouse brought him only some X or 15 miles on his way, from which place, notwithstanding his remonstrance and entreaties, he was conducted back to hie start-ing-point—Alexandra, now Pirongia.

After further negotiations with the Maoris by the Hon. Mr. Bryce, another start waj mad© in company with. Wetere Te Rerenga, and other chiefs and followers making altogether a party of about twenty-two. MADE PRISONER BY THE MAORIS. This time Mr. Hursthouse got further and fared worse — much worse. He and his 'one European companion, Mr. Neweham, were assaulted, robbed, bound hand and foot, and were placed in a cook-house at a place called Te Kumi, near Te Kuiti, where they were 'insolently treated, and suffered much from cold, hunger, and thirst. After remaining thus for about 41 hours — which included two nights — they were rescued by their recent companions and their friends, and were taken by Te Kooti to his residence at Te Kuiti, where they were most kindly and hospitably taken care of. Communication was then established with the outer world. During the assault on iur. Hursthouse a very smalJ display of temper on his part would probably have led to disastrous results, nut fortunately he kept hi« temper — otherwise he and the couptry would have suffered. The ring-leaders of the Maoris who were guilty of the assault soon afterwards visited the town of Alexandra, to try the supposed miraculous effect of a power by means of which their leader promised to make white people as though dead — in fact, fall into a trance — jduring which time they would be pdwerlese, and their goods would be at the mercy of the faithful. At Alexandra the whole of tne native visitors were arrested, brought before a magistrate, charged with assault, and were remanded to Auckland, where they were subsequently tried at the Supreme Court, and found guilty. RAILWAY AND ROAD EXPLORATIONS. Mr. Hursthouse then returned to Alexandra, and in company with the Hon. Mr. Bryce and others, the Ministerial party succeeded in getting through the country to New Plymouth by way of Awakino and Mokau. In May following Mr. Hursthouse returned to Mokau, and began exploration work again, to which there was no further opposition of any moment. During this exploring duty," Mr. Hursthouse contracted rheumatism badly, and was unable to continue for the time being, and so was sent to Kawhia to carry on some Toad works there, to which the Maoris hafL objected. Hje remained there for about twelve months, eettled the business — making about twenty-fivo miles of road. Then he returned to the railway line, the route for which meanwhile had been chosen, practically speaking, where the Main Trunk line now is. In conjunction with Ma-. J, Rochfort and Mr R. W. Holm-es, now Engineer-in Chief of the Dominion, ho started laying out the line ?or the construction of the railway between Te Awamutu and Otorohanga— the first, 15 ,miks of the Main Trunk railway. MAIN TRUNK LINE. On the 15th v April, 1885, the first cod of the railway turned by Sir Robert" Stout in conjunction with Wahanui, Re\vi Maniapoto, and a great many other Maoris. The ceremony took place on the Maori land within the Rohe Potae— just acroEs the Puniu river from ie Awamutu. At the ceremony the Maoris asked to be allowed to do the work on a certain portion of the line — six miles in length — which was agreed to by tho Government. A contract was let to Coates and Metcalfo for the first 15 miles-, and Mr. Hursthouse was appointed resident engineer, to superintend the construction and employ the Maoris on the piece of line that was set apart for them to work on. The natives- did the work in firstclass style, and there was little or no trouble. He remained there as resident engineer until the line was completed to the Mokau railway station. Occasionally there was some trouble with the Maoris, but owing to Mr. Hursthouse's personal influence with the natives the difficulties were always amicably settled. There was then a. pause in railway construction for several years after the line reached Mokau. The Poro-o-tarao tunnel was completed under Mr. Hursthouses supervision. In 1891 he was transferred to the Lands and Survey Department, to take charge of road construction, in which position he laid Tr 1 - a J? reat **eal ot roa( l work in the King Country, and also constructed many miles. Mr. Hursthouse also had charge of the Rotorua-road district. CHIEF ENGINEER OF ROADS. In 1899 he was transferred to Wellington to take a more general charge of the road work under the Lands and Survey Department. In 1901 it was found that this class of work had so much increased that it was considered best to make a separate department for j the execution of road works only. Ihis department was established in April of that year, and Mr. Hursthouse was appointed chief engineer in charge of the department. It may be here stated that his services were considered so valuable in connection with native aflairs, that he lost many oppoitunities of promotion in his profession as a civil engineer. He always responded to the call of duty, even though it involved risk, danger, and loss of promotion. At the end of this month Mr. Hursthouse will have worked for the Government — provincial and general}— 474 years. It is 54 years since he first joined the public service. Owing to a short break in his service he will, it seems—although there is some doubt on the pomt — be only entitled to count his 29 years' continuous service. As is apparent from the sketch of his career given above, he will thus lose the recognition of some years of service. A THRILLING EXPERIENCE. "You ask me," said Mr. Hursthouse to our representative, "if I have any personal experiences of a very exciting or thrilling nature. Well, I have had a few which made me thrill at the time, but whether I can describe any that will produce a like effect on you or your readers is a question enveloped in doubt, much depending on the adventure ana mi'ch on the description, or rather the language in which the adventure is described, but I will give you one case. "In the year 1860, when we in Taranaki were at war with our neighbours the Maoris, a party of 15-of us arranged to take a walk at the back of NewPlymouth, which at the time was surrounded by a trench and various kinds of barricades. The distance we proposed to go at the furthest was but a little over a mile from the town. Of course we were all armed, and as we intended to forage for any garden or poultry produce, .we were provided with haversacks. "We left at the peep-o'-day, and having gone along our road for about i£ miles turned off and looked over a email farm, and the charred remains of the cottage, occupied but a short rime before by a prosperous and happy family. We then crossed a bushy gully on v, the property then owned by the late Captain King, R.N., who for many years was Taranaki's chief Magistrate. Passing along a nice road through a narrow strip of bush, we arrived at the deserted homestead, garden, and orchard. GATHERING PEACHES: A SURPRISE. "Here were abundant peaches just right for cooking with which we immediately began to fill our bags. The tree from which I was gathering seemed to have the best fruit near the top, co

I stood my rifle against the trunk of it and climbed up till my feet were four or five feet from the ground. My companions were standing on the ground, and all of us were very busy gathering the fruit. I should explain that the orchard was bound on one side by native bush and a ditch, on the bank of which a very dense growth of native shrubs had sprung up, offering an. excellent screen to any one desiring to approach the orchard unseen — the opposite side was bounded by a slim and thin-looking hawthorn hedge with a gap in it through which we had entered, and a dislocated gate which, having lost its hinges, was tied to its very substantial posts. The peaches were going into the bags at a very' satisfactory x % ate when the calm fresh morning air resounded with a bang ! a single shot of a firearm. A pause followed, during which there was time to hear the echoes of the report drifting vavelike into the distant silence, and to wonder who amongst us was fool enough to discharge his rifle, when rip ! • bang ! bang ! came a volley of bullets, killing instantly one of our party, and wounding another, and knocking bark, twigs, and leaves off the trees. Those of us who were on the ground rushed through the before-mentioned gap and formed vp J behind the hedgxj bo us to face the enemy. As for myself, I had to get down the tree and then run along the hedge about a chain to the gap. I was not long getting down and picking up my rifle. I first tried to take a header through the hedge, but failed for want of impact. By this time the enemy had reloaded and were quite ready, no doubt, for a little sharpshooting with me for the mark. I nevei; felt so small in my life as I did while running that 20 yards, those rascals trying to punch holes in me, but I wished I was smaller. The thrill was principally concentrated in that run, and I owe my life to -very bad shooting — on the part of the .other fellow. There were, as I afterwards ascertained, 30 Maoris in the party that attacked us. ] may mention that the two oldest^ members of our pvrty did not form up behind the hedge with the others, but continued their journey to seek and send relief. This action of theirs I have always considered revealed much wisdom and a good deal of that caution which I understand comes with age. We stuck to • our positions, notwithstanding the Maoris tried to dislodge us. We covered our dead man, who was not touched by the enemy, although we could not get him. When relief came it consisted of • friendly Maoris and European officers. Our wounded man stuck to us like a hero, -although shot in the ribs. The surgeons say the bullet is still in his liver."