A PRELIMINARY PAGE TO THE HISTORY OF OTAGO.

Evening Star, Volume 6732, Issue 6732, 25 October 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

A PRELIMINARY PAGE TO THE HISTORY OF OTAGO.

[By M.G.T.] Th. late ■ vrnerableDr" Lang, i„ the cause of numauity are > 8 '™ ca M vc -cribing the European populat.on of New , Zealand in 1839, says that "with a few, hororablo exceptions" it consists of the veriest refuse of civilised sodety-o runawaysailors, of runaway convicts, of SUX navo served out their terms of bondage in one or other of the penal colonies, of fraudulent debtors who have escaped their creditors in Sydney or Hobart Town, or of needy adventurers from the two colonies, equally unprincipled. Dr Lang's experience was confined to observation at the Bay of Ldauds, anterior to the absorption of New Zealand into England's colonial empire ; and though some of the features he desoribed necessarily pertain to each early settlement, had ;he whaling station at Waikouaiti come under his notice, most probably, in reference to it, his strong language would have been considerably modified. In view of such a gathering of outlaws and lawless characters it seems surprising that sooiety, without magistrates, without polioe, without established law, could hold together, especially as in addition to these apparently discordant conditions, the early settlers dwelt among Natives to whom their thoughts and ways \7cro new and strange. But life, though unrefined, appears not to have been unpleasant ; there was romance conneoted with hj, anr? the pioneers of Otago, who settled at Waikouaiti some years before the Otago Si; itch Free Church Association took posses- - 3 :.-vi of the land, labored and prospered, and, t!-rou«h their intercourse with the Natives, prepared the way for the subsequent peaceful occupation of the territory. No official records exist detailing this early i.lmo of Otago's history. Any account, therefore, of life in those days is necessarily traditional, but probably is on that account the more curious and interesting. The viitor of these notes does not relate his personal experience; Losing his mother shortly after his arrival in Otago, he was r.lacod in charge of a very worthy and kindivarted couple, Mr and Mrs Hunter, of Murdering Beach, whose forty-fourth year in the CoUmy was completed last March. A 1 though his stay was, in the first instance, intended to be confined to a few weeks, it ultimately extended to three years. Most of the information to be narrated waa ob<:'lined from them, for he was very happy to lb.ten to their "yarns" concerning the "old nands," as they used to call those early settlers. THE FIRST SETTLEMENT OP WHITES. According to them, a few years prior to 1:40 the late Mr J. Jones had purchased from the Maoris a large tract of land for the purpose of forming a settlement in coßnection with a whaling station. This station was in charge of Edward Palmer, who had v.ith him John Foreman and Stephen Murphy as headsmen, J. M'Lauchlan, cooper' (whose wife was with him), two boats' crews, a picking-up boat, Dr Crocker, j,nd a man called M'Kenzie, a blacksmith. These formed the European population at Waikouaiti. But Mr Jones wanted men to till the ground and attend to the rearing of cittle and sheep, so that the settlement might be self-sustaining, as the expense of bringing supplies from Sydney was very ijicar, Having this purpose in view, he returned to Sydney, and was fortunate in engaging several families from the south of IC-igland who had been eleven months there, :u«? who, not liking the heat of New South Wales, were glad of a change, and engaged vrith him for twelve months at L 35 a-year L-.ieh with rationß. Unfortunately, the dates cannot bo fixed. It may add to the interest of the story to state their names; t'acy were: —

Pascoe, wife, and one child Thomas Hawkins and wife George Glover, wife, and two children William liennard, wife, and three children Thomas Jono9, wife, and two children Frederick Pryor and wife Benjamin Coleman, wife, and two children William Coleman and wifo Pwid Carey, wife, and one child William Stratten and Simeou M'Kenzle Joe Beal and wife. ARRIVAL OF THE PIONEERS. Thrs3 pioneers sailed from Sydney in March, 1840, in the Magnet, commanded by Captain Bruce; Mr Jones being owner of the vessel. She regularly traded between Sydney and New Zealand, bringing down stores and taking back oil, °etc. In addition to these passengers wcre the most influential Maori chiefs of the day. They had been Mr Jones's guests in Sydney, having been invited by him in order that they might see the wonders of the place. BLOODY JACK. One was named Tuwak, but was known by the whalera as " Bloody Jack." He was very friendly towards the whites, and tried to imitate them in all things. He obtained his ominous English appellation because of his w.vlike characteristics. He it was who defeated the renowned Ropera, who, marchiug southwards, was killing all he came ji.toss and devastating the land. Bloody Jack, hsaring of his approach, gathered together his fighting men and went to meet him. On learning this Ropera retreated, l-.ufc was overtaken by Tuwak's force. It w.i 3 then arranged that the battle should be decided by single combat between the two chiefs. Jack, armed only with a greenstone ni-rc, went forward and confronted Ropera. Both were gigantic men—each, it is said, biirg fully six feet in height—but Jack was seated to be the smartest, and the result '.eemed to prove it. After eyeing each other a few moments he rushed at Ropera and seized him by the mat which he wore. But Ropera knew the foil, and, slipping from bin mat, he bolted and ran, and was followed by all his men. This experience cured them of their designs on the south, for they made no further effort. Like King Tawhaio, Jack had his fancies, one of which was a desire to go to Sydney to witaesß convicts hanged in that city. So strong was this longing within him that he tried to persuade Captain Bruce, w'a.jn the Magnet was passing the island of Iluapukc, off the Bluff, to put in there, when lie would amuse the passengers by hanging a few cookies or prisoners of war who were datives on the island. Captain Bruce, however, contrived to have an unfavorable wind, and could not oblige his humorouß guest.

THE SETTLEMENT AT WAIKOUAITI. The other chiefs were Tukua and Kaikerino-, the latter of whom was known by thy whalers as "Big-fellow." He was 6ft 'Jin high. Leaving Jack and some stores at i he Bluff, the Magnet sailed for Waikouaiti, :.;;ii arrived there after a passage from Sviiticy of twenty-one days. Temporary •in i- tors were provided for the new arrivals in a large wooden house with a thatched ruijf. There was only one room. Round it were arranged rows of bunks as on board .ship, and in it they had to take their meals rind manage in other matters as best they could. Soon, however, after the architecture of the Maoris, but on a somewhat <.-.'. tended scale, whares were constructed, about 40ft long by 14ft wide. They v.; i'c easily built. A timber frame was mail! of round logs cut in the bush for up.-igiita, smaller ones for the ridge pole and p'ates, and then they were covered with iu.-.hea tied in bundles with flax and laid

on. A partition of the same material liiviuod each whare into two rooms, tu each of which were added a small window and a door. Chimneys built of utonqs, cemented with mud, completed the fittings of these elegant structures. Very gladly did the new-comers take possession of their' new habitations, for they had longed to forsake the big house. Very soon the immigrants settled to their work, well pleased.with the chaDge from the heat of Sydney to the temperate climate of Waik'ouiiti. They commenced fencing and breaking up ground for cropping, cntting timber, and they gave an occasional help at th.i v/haling station when their services were lidded. Their neighbors were, however, "-.: "rum lot," as the old settlers described t-u.ru. The whalers were compounded of runway sailors, conviot expirees from Ky.luoy, men who had come to get rid of tnmHeKomo annoyances in the shape of r, -,hy creditors who would not die nor forget i'x in ; and added to these were some wellcil'ioiited men who were attracted to the c \-\wi- liy love of adventure. They were a wild, mLcliicvous lot, but very good natured, and always roatly to do a good turn to any, and • cspoeially now arrivals. Then there were about 200 Maoris under a chiof known at the atation as Wry • mouth on account of hiu mouth being towards ouo

side of his face. These came down to welcome the newly-arrived pakehas. They shook hands with them, and invited them to go down to the camp. Maori fashions then were different from the present. They were clothed in blankets and mats wrapped round the body, and fastened on the left shoulder with a stone or bone pin. The children generally ran about without clothes, and at home it would seem the adults followed nature’s fashion too; for on the settlers paying the first visit to the Maori bdics some iressengers ran forward to announce that the “wainabulas” were coming, and they must, therefore, adorn themselves with their mats and blankets. “Wainabulas” translated means “ship’s women,” the Native expression for the Magnet’s lady passengers. TRADING WITH THE MAORIS.

The Natives were keen traders, but all exchange, in the absence of money, was done by barter. For a needle with a long piece of thread they would give a kit of potatoes weighing 501b. For an old key that happened to fit the lock of an old seachest, twenty kits of the same weight were given. A rosewood pipe realised a similar quantity, while for a musket they would give all their personality. Their fine mats and greenstone ornaments and other articles of vertu could be bought for mere trifles. Necessarily their eagerness to possess Pakeha manufactures laid them open to be taken advantage of. A whaleboat would command tons of potatoes, and in addition a great number of pigs—a good bargain for any vessel that had one to spare. Their canoes, constructed with so much care and labor, lay neglected on the beach, rotting under the combined action of the sun and weather. On the whole, the whites and Maoris got on well; they helped each other, and never quarrelled. BURNT OUT. Soon after the Magnet's departure an accidental fire occurred that caused some inconvenience. One windy day a man named Ludlow was "trying out" some whales' blubber in a frying pan on the fire in one of the houses. Something went wrong with the pan, the oil took fire, flashed up in a blaze, and in an instant the whole settlement was in a blaze. There was barely time for doing more than snatching np the children and rushing out to place them in safety. Those in the houses furthest from that in which the fire originated succeeded in saving a few things, but very little could be rescued, for the fire ran rapidly among the dry thatching of rushes and soon destroyed the walls and roofs. This was a very serious loss to the people, The frail buildings could soon be replaced, but men, women, and children lost all their spareolothes. Months wouldelapsebeforethe return of the Magnet, and when she did arrive she would have to go back to Sydney to obtain the necessary supplies. The women suffered the most severely, especially for want of boots and shoes, and all imaginable substitutes were invented. Some wore the native feet covering, the paras, made of native flax platted, while others cut up the men's old coats for uppers, sewing them to green bullock's hide for soles. Bonnets and other articles of apparel were impro vised in a variety of ways. As soon as Mr Jones was informed of the disaster he sent a consignment of women's apparel by the first vessel. The men were not so much inconvenienced, as there was a supply of men's clothing kept constantly in store at the station. THE FIRST MISSIONARY. The next trip of the Magnet brought Mr and Mrs Watkins, Wesleyan missionaries. He had been appointed to teach the Maoris by the Wesleyan Missionary Socioty, and brought with him a large supply of school books and Bibles printed in the Maori language. He soon made his presence as a spiritual adviser felt, and Sunday became a day of rest and quietude. Service was held in the morning for the whole of the people ; the afternoon was devoted to teaching the Maoris, and a day school was established for week-day instruction—chiefly for the Maoris. They soon learned to count, and rapidly acquired knowledge. Mount Watkins, near Waikouaiti, is named after that gentleman, and commemorates the fact that he was the first European who reached its summit. BIRTHS, DEATHS, AND MARRIAGES.

Hitherto the little settlement had had nothing to cast a gloom over its prospects ; but death visited it. The first to pass away was Mrs Charles Fullar and her infant. Next, David Carey lost a daughter two years old, who was drowned at Matanic; and shortly afterwards Frederick Pryor's only child, a little girl, fell into the fire, and was so severely burned that she died the following day. They were all buried at Matanic, and, with the exception of a Mrs Robertson, who had previously been buried there, they were the first European females buried in Otago. Mr M'Lauchlan was the father of the first boy bora of British parents in Otago, and Mr David Carey, now of Blueskin, of the first girl The dates of these events, though sought for by the writer, have not been ascertained. The first marriage in the settlement was between George, the sawyer, and Betsy Dods, at that time one of Mr Jones's housemaids. They were married by Mr Watkins, the ring being lent for the occasion by Mrs W. Coleman. " Pity 'tis, but still 'tis true," that there is reason to believe the union was not a happy one, for George proved to be a soamp. ON SHORT COMMONS. The cost of living in an infant settlement forms to some extent an index to the oomfort of the people. Of course this cannot apply to those whose rations were found for them, and, so far as independent laborers were concerned, no doubt their wages or earnings bore some proportion to the cost of necessaries. At first food supplies had mainly to be imported, and occasionally they ran short, but the averago price of flour was 303 per cwt. On one occasion, owing to the detention of a vessel, the settlers had to subsist on maize. Sugar was nearly black in color, and soft-grained fetched 4£d per lb. As for tea, the people called it post-and-rails, and was charged 2s 6d per lb. It must be remembered there waß no Customs duty to be added. Good tobacco was Bold at 2s 6d per lb. There was no fresh beef nor mutton, but corned beef and pork from Sydney were plentiful. The only fresh meat obtainab'e was that of wild pigs, which were plentiful enough. Anyone possessing a gun and ammunition could vary his food with pigeons or ducks; but the principal food was potatoes, fish, and Maori cabbage. These were always obtainable, and were a stand-by for those who ran short of money or provisions. Money was a very scarce art : cle, and no change given less than a shilling. THE EARLY WHALERS, After the engagement with Mr Jones was completed some of the men re-engaged, others took contracts for sawing timber, while others again were employed in the boats whaling, and were paid according to their success and the quantity of oil they obtained. Some, however, left Waikouaiti and went over to another whaling station at the Otago Heads, owned by a Mr Willers, of Sydney. A German named Schultz was in charge, with Mr W. 0. Harewood (now of Portobello) as bookkeeper. Six boats and about sixty men were employed by Mr Willers, who had also a Btation at the Taieri. There were generally one or two vessels belonging to each station. They were mostly barques or brigs with a full whaling outfit, and carrying three boats with crews to man them. These vessels visited all the stations, landed Btores, conveyed sealing parties to their destination, and at certain seasons of the year they were employed in sperm whaling. When sufficient oil waß obtained to load them another duty was to convey it to the nearest market. If the season proved favorable probably fifty whales, yielding about 800 tons of oil, would be captured.

At that time Otago harbor was a regular place of call for the South Sea whaling vessels. They put in for their supplies of fresh water, potatoes, and pork, as well as for effecting any repairs that might bo needed. It is stated that at one time eleven vessels, all whalers, were lying at anchor in the harbor at one time. John Hunter, Richard Driver, and James Fowler were the pilots, and in the absence of regulations the first boat to reach an approaching vessel got the job of piloting her in. For this service L 5 in and L 5 out were given. Many a smart race was the result. Besides piloting the vessels Mr J. Hunter undertook to supply them with potatoes and pigs. He was always on good terms with the Maoris through in-

variably acting honestly with them, and had no difficulty in purchasing what supplies he needed from them. On obtaining an order from a captain of a ship for so many tons of potatoes, to be on the beach the next day, Hunter told the Maoris what was wanted, and next morning the Natives would be seen carrying the prescribed quantity in kits and depositing them on the shore in rows. If payment was to be made in tobasco, Hunter walked between the rows and placed a plug of tobacco on each kit. The Natives then followed, and took the plugs from the kits, and the sale and payment were completed. The kits then might be taken on board the vessel. Pigs were obtained something after the same fashion, the payment being probably varied by giving blankets or sugar instead of tobacco. At the Heads the European population differed from that of Waikouaiti inasmuch as there were no married people till after Mr Jones brought over his first immigrants. Gradually, however, they came in twos and threes, until it became a respectable settlement. It was not, however, so peaceful as that at Waikouaiti, for the Maoris were somewhat troublesome. They numbered over 100. and were under three chiefs— Tukua, Colac, and Tairoa. A TROUBLESOME CHIEF. The two first were quiet, inoffensive men, doing all in their power to remain on good terms with the whites, but Taiaroa was somewhat of a tyrant. Every man, woman, and child were afraid of him. Had he had his will, he would have killed or expelled all the whites, but he was kept in oheck by the firmness and determination of these in charge of the station. On one occasion he attempted to take an American brig named the Pearl (from Boston). The wind being contrary, she could not get out of the harbor. It had been blowing hard from the north-east for some days, and the thought struck him that he should like to board and capture her. To this end he mustered his canoes and surveyed her. The crew of the Pearl were few, but had by some means obtained information of theplot, and, having boardingnetting, it was run up, and the men, armed with wh«le lances and fire-arms, took their stations to resist any attack. The Natives had never before seen boarding netting, and were somewhat disconcerted at the preparations for their reception ; so esteeming discretion the better part of valor, they retired for the time, intending to renew the attempt the next day. But in the meantime a party from the Pearl had landed, and, catching Taiaroa, they put him in irons, and kept him prisoner until the vessel cleared the Heads, when they landed him on the rocks, and left him to walk home, most probably not very well pleaded with his adventure. On another occasion he resolved to loot Mr Willers's store, but was prevented by the smartness and determination of the manager. Having had a hint given him of what was intended, he at once sent but messengers to call the men in from their work. As each arrived he was immediately armed; the store was barricaded, and in a short time was placed in a position to resist a siege. Thus, when Taiaroa and his men arrived, they found themßelveß opposed byabout forty well-armed and advan-tageously-placed men. They evidently had a wholesome fear of firearms, and finding the defence too strong for them they retired. But Taiaroa did not at once relinquish his project, for he had a strong hankering after the sugar, rum, and tobacco that were in the store. For some days afterwards he or some of his men were seen stealthily surveying the store; but finding that sentries were keeping strict watch day and night he appears to have ultimately given up the project as hopeless. Several uncanny stories are told of him, however—some as to his levying a sort of black mail on the settlers by going into their houses when the men were absent and demanding a shilling. The request was generally complied with, his absence being preferred to his overbearing company. The money was generally spent on rum. Then he is said to have sold land to Mr Hunter for 303 which was immediately afterwards claimed by Tukua, a superior chief to |Taiaroa, who demanded another 30s for it. This Hunter was compelled to pay, as he had fenced the land, the cost of which far exceeded the sum demanded of him. Many other ways were adopted for obtaining money, which, when acquired, was mainly spent in drink.

THE FIRST MURDER IN OTAGO. The first murder was committed about this period. Tenteraki Pauwa, a wild young Maori, quarrelled with a man named Jameß Brown, who kept a grog shop. One day this man was much annoyed by Teuteraki, but would have nothing to say to him. A carpenter who had deserted from one of the vessels lying in the harbor was stopping with Brown, but lacked his forbearance. Being present during one of the Maori's visits he snatched up a pistol, which, however, was proved to be unloaded, and, presenting it at Teuteraki, threatened to blow his brains out if he did not take himself off. The wild young scamp went away; but shortly afterwards returned, armed with a loaded musket. He took a deliberate aim at Brown through the window, and fired; but the carpenter apparently came between them, and, receiving the charge in his neck, fell dead. The Maori was immediately captured, and a consultation was held as to what was to be done with him. It was unanimously resolved that he should be shot. Then came the question Who was to shoot him ? Not an executioner could be found. The nearest seats of justice were the Bay of Islands .or Sydney; but it was not to be expected that a captain of any vessel in the harbor would go so far out of his way for the purpose of taking a criminal for trial. A free passage to America was offered to any one who would shoot the man, but no one came forward. During some days the criminal was kept in confinement in a small room, where he was frequently visited by the Europeans, who wrought upon his feelings by representing how he would be banged in Sydney, until he implored them to shoot him. Eventually he managed to get hold of a gun, or it was placed for him, and, sitting down on the floor with his wife behind him, with her arms around him, he liberated the trigger with his toe, and shot beth himself anfl her, the ball going through him and lodging in her heart. This first murder took place on February 15,1840. UNPLEASANT VISITORS.

An incident illustrative of lawlessness in the Australasian colonies took place about this time. The brig Highlander, from Hobart, paid a visit to Fort Chalmers harbor. She was manned by a daring reckless crew of released convicts; the only untainted man being one of the mates. By their disorderly rowdyism they kept the whole place in confusion. Luckily their stay was short. The day prior to her sailing the captain went ashore and bought a tew articles, one of them being a stove, J. Hunter, who sold it, and on whose authority this narrative is given, was to receive payment in goods, and for this purpose went on board the vessel in the afternoon. Most of the crew were then on shore drinking in a grog-shop kept by one Mrs Andcrso;:. When they went to their boat to go on board they found the bow-line had been taken away, and this they reported to the captain on their reaching the vessel. Flushed with drink, they armed themselves, manned the boats, and, with the exception of the second mate, the only respectable man on board, they pulled direct for the shore, leaving Mr Hunter behind, a prisoner. It was then dark, and Hunter became uneasy, for shortly he saw a house on fi-e, and then heard the yelp of a valuable dog belonging to himself which he had left on the cha n. The night being still, he distinctly heard the noise made by people shouting, and the commotion lasted until daylight, when the boats returned. Standing at the side of the vessel, Hunter saw one man clamber on board with a fine double-barrelled fowling-piece in his hand, which he knew to be his property; and another adorned in a jacket that he had left looked up in a leather trunk, while everyone had something which evidently had been stolen. Hunter was on good terms with the captain, and he therefore complained, and the captain ordered his property to be restored to him ; but at the same time commanded him to get the vessel under way and take her outside the Heads. Hunter demurred to this, as, according to rule, the job belonged to another pilot, who bad brought her in. But he was told he must do it, or they would shoot him. As it happened, however, James Fowler, who had engaged to pilot her out, arrived on board, not having heard of the night’s proceedings. “This saves your bead, old man," said the first mate to Hunter. On arriving on shore he found matters in a very had state, The

ruffians had vjsited every house in search of the stolen bow-line, and going up to the doors cried out: “Open your door, or down oorass your house.” The house where the door was not opened was set fire to and burned to the ground. They attacked Harwood’s store, and rolling cut a barrel of rum they knocked in the head, and drank the liquor out of the heels of their boots. They shot Hunter’s dog, smashed everything in the house, and completely destroyed a new whale-boat that was in a shed at the back of the house, besides doing other wanton mischief.

CURIOUS CUSTOMEKS. There were a few notorious characters in the settlement known by such names as Cranky Bill, Joe the Convict, Paddy Burke, and the like. Some of these fellows would steal, or do anything but work, for a glass of rum. Amusing stories are told of some of their doings, such as selling to Mrs Anderson, at the grog-shop, her own washing-pot and frying-pan, or stealing all the hamß and bacon from a chimney where they had been hung for curing. They would part with anything for drink, even to their boots. Consequently their outward adornments were often of the oddest and most incongruous character. Flax shoes, showing below wornout moleskin trousers, enclosing a ragged old blue buttonless serge shirt, and on the head a dilapidated remnant of a hat. The necessary adjustments and connections were made with flax. There was also John Bull, a giant in strength, who could carry a boat that two ordinary men could not lift. " Little Christie" was a rather helpless individual, totally unfitted for so rough a life. . Having a few hundreds of pounds, he had visited Otago on spec. Portobello owes its name to him, in commemoration of his native place in Scotland. His speculation proved unprofitable, and he was reduced so muoh in circumstances that he had to subsist on fish and pigeons given hfm by some of the settlers. Potatoes oonld always be had from the Maoris, and Maori cabbage for the gathering. He bought a Maori woman with part of his money, and when he was hard up she took him away South on a "muttonbird" expedition. He was away some weeks, and on his return his friends did not know him, so altered was he—so blaok and full of grease was he. He had never washed himself since he left, and through carrying a great bundle of mutton-birds the grease, that drained from them had mixed with and been colored by smoke from the fires, so that the little, genteelly-nurtured adventurer from Edinburgh was unrecognisable even by his intimate friends. His fortune soon changed. His father died and left him a fortune of L 14.000. He left by the next vessel after receiving the news, his last words being "Good-bye, groper—good-bye, barracouta, and bless the pigeons." A GOOD ALL-BOUND MAN. Mr Hunter was a model colonist —a really good all-round man. If a job at carpentering or coopering was needed, he oould do both; or if boots required mending he could do that. If fish were wanted, he had a boat always ready; if a man died and a coffin was needed, he could make one; and in the absence of a clergyman he could reverentially read the funeral service at the grave. The principal store was kept by Mr Harewood, who did muoh in the interests of the settlers. Mr Wiltshire was also a storekeeper, but he was not so highly thought of—at least by the Maoris. Such a life as has been described was not favorable to the Muses, but the poetic instinct will crop out, albeit in a crude form. A few doggrel rhymes strung together as a song, the tune of which cannot now be recorded, referring to these circumstances, used to be sung by the whalers as follows : Along tho coast the Magnet came, With Captain Bruce—a man of fame, But in his face there is no shameOn the beautiful coast of New Zealand. Mr Wiltshire gold to " Bloody Jack " Two hundred of flour tied up in a sack; And a Maori carried it all on his backOn the beautiful coast of New Zealand. Waikouaiti and Molyneux, Tautuki and Otago, too— If you do not want to be duped by a Jow— Come to the beautiful coast of New Zealand. Peter Shavatt has a shocking bad hat, And old John Hughes, with his shocking bad shoes; But for all that they are having some ohat— On the beautiful coast of New Zealand. PLUCKY WOMEN. The writer has said but little about the ladies who braved the inconveniences and endured the coarse food and scanty comforts of their primitive and half-bar-barous life. Courageously they acted their part. True to woman's mission, their generous sympathies were with the Natives, They never shrank from helping them in any way they could be serviceable, and through giving them cast-off clothes, and making others for them when material was to be bad, they soon induced a beneficial change in the habits and dress of the Maori women and girls. Mats and blankets were thrown aside, and gay colors and ribbons took their place, Uniformity in fashion was of course out of the question. No Mr Worth revolutionised annually the whole Maori costume. Their make-up was undoubtedly haphazard, and not always in the most correct taste. Occasionally there was a sort of compromise—a half Maori and half colonial outfit—a mat decked with ribbons, or a blanket half hidden by a gown, or stockings saved from the earth by paras, or flax shoes. These mixtures were inevitable, and though they contributed to the amusement of the white donors, they were important steps in the civilisation of the Maori race, THE OTAGO SETTLEMENT. Towards the clobb of the forties a rumor reached the settlement at Waikouaiti that the Free Church of Scotland were about to found a settlement at the " river," as the waters beyond Koputai Bay were then called. This was then favorite huntingground for wild pigs. Parties of four or five would go up to the head of the river for three or four weeks at the fall of the year, and, obtaining a winter's supply of pork, would salt it there, and put it into casks. The usual camping-ground of the pigstickers was in a gully between High and Rattray streets, somewhere about where Butterworth's warehouse now stands. The writer's informant states that the hut of the pig-hunters existed for a long time after the settlers landed in Dunedin, and they found it fitted up with conveniences for cutting up and salting pork. The first band of settlers reached Dunedin in 1843 by the barque Deborah, from Port Nicholson, She brought down some surveyors, including Messrs Watts, Thomas, and Park, who surveyed the town of Dunedin and part of the Taieri Plain. They were in this part of Otago for nine months. They were accompanied by the late Donald Rosb and two other policemen, whose duty it waß to watch the money chest and the camp while the survey party were away, It may be remembered that an attempt to steal this money chest was made by " George the Sawyer " and a man who was called " The Gipsy"; but they were caught, and sent to Sydney, where they received a long term of imprisonment. It was this survey party who gave tho name to Dvborah Bay, after their vessel, whioh was the first of such large t mnage to come bo far up the harbor. These surveyors, after finishing their work here, left for Wellington in a Native-owned cutter, sailed by Billy Woolly Woolly and a Native crew. Besides the surveyors there were as passengers a white woman who was going to Pigeon Bay (Banks Peninsula), a Mr Rowenp, who had been carrying on farming at Kelvin Grove (Otago Heads), a Mr Harwood, and some others whose names cannot be ascertained. As the outter was never afterwards heard of it is supposed that she was caught in a squall and foundered.

The next stir was made when Mr Tuokett came from Wellington as Land Commissioner, accompanied by Mr M'Garthy as their Custom-house officer. They were the first Government officials sent to Otago. M'Garthy, who had been an officer in the Royal Navy, was very strict, and liked to have everything his own way, which be too often got, An anecdote concerning him is characteristic of the man. On one occasion he was going down to the Heads in what he called the Customs’ boat, and one of the men aboard, not belonging to the crew, began talking in a way that was not pleasant to M'Garthy, who was not used to having his word contradicted. Without any ado M'Garthy ordered the crew to lift the disputant out of the boat and put him on a sand-bank in the middle of the bay. There he was left to reflect on the folly of contradicting a representative of Her Majesty; but when they reached the Heads M'Garthy’a

heart was softened, and he consented to the boat being sent for the man, who had passed a very bad time, as, he could not swim, and the tide would have been soon returning. The settlement gradually and naturally increased until the inhabitants received a large addition to their number by the arrival of the John Wickliffe in March, 1848, and of the Philip L'aing a month later. From that time to the- present the progress of Otago ia too well known to need reference to by the writer, who trusts that the newly-formed Early History Society may be successful in gathering, ere it ia too late, from the lips of the oldest identities, narratives and facts connected with the doings of the pilgrim fathers of Otago.