EARLY DAYS
No. XT.
Tuesday, 17 f !i. —At daylight got under weigh, with the wind light from south-west. Finding that no good could ho done with tho sails, wo pulled lo tho mouth of the swamp abreast of the Acheron’s anchorage of tho 14th and loth. Sf>’ ! soon as tho men had breakfasted and the boat boon secured, Mr Fagot, myself, and three men started for ‘Wanganui. After crossing tho swamp the track is easily found. It commences at tho mouth of a rivulet and continues up tho stream, winding along its banks and frequently crossing it. Tho track rises almost imperceptibly for about four miles; it then suddenly falls about 150 ft or
FEWNESS OF MAORIS
The only Maoris now at Wanganui are one family, consisting of a man, his two wives, and six children. From these people we received great kindness, they giving up to us one of tho two huts they occupy. I made a station on a barge sand mound near tho rocky islets opposite .ho mouth of tho harbor. Whilst I was so employed Mr Fagot and tho men went down to the beach for tho purpose of launching the only canoe in that part of tho harbor; but it proved too heavy for them. The Maoris told us that they had never used it, and that it was landed where it now is by a very high tide. The only course left
CAPSIZE OF THE CUTTER
After some short stay hero _ the :Vchcron passed round the sandspit_t< another anchorage off the western sick of tho bay. Our stay there was ron derod memorable by a very nuuirnfu. occurrence. Tho cutler, with six men and two oiliccrs, Mr Paget and Mi Burnett, went away on detached duty for three days. As they did not re turn to tho ship by tho time specified, Mr Davies, the gunner, and a boatscrew was sent to look alter them, lie brought back intelligence that in attempting to reach the ship at midnight of the previous day, in consequence of orders to that effect, they bad been washed out of the boat by the surf when about three-quarters of a milo from their starting place. That, exhausted by their struggles in the valor, Mr Hurnolt, with the seaman Beale and Waiters, and a Maori boy taken on board in Fovoaux Strait, _werc Downed. Tho case of this Maori was ■angular, lie swam well, but attempting whilst in tho water to take off iiis
A SURVIVOR'S NARRATIVE
Tho following is Mr Fagot’s narrative, whose preservation seems almost uiracnlous, the attendant circumitnnces considered: —On (bo morning if September 21, having completed tho surveying duty on which wc were engaged, [ started from the harbor of Wanganui in company with Mr Jlur.ictt and four seamen. W'o pulled in i ranoo to tho head of the harbor, and ■walked thence across to the river, where tho boat had been left in charge .if the coxswain and one hand. On my arrival I was apprised'by the coxswain that Commander Richards had been in’and loft directions tor the boat ,o return to the ship that ilight if possible. ' About 12 p.m., being nearly slack water (high), after consulting with Mr Burnett and the coxswain, and both agreeing on the practicability of reaching the ship, I pulled out of tho river and across tho tbits. _ Although a nasty sea was on, nothing endangered the boat, in any respect until wc arrived at what I conceived to bo the edge of the flat, when three or four ■seas in quick succession tilled the boat nearly tp the thwarts. Watching a favorable opportunity, bore up without shipping any more water, and had proceeded a short, distance towards the shore when, sonic confusion taking place amongst the oars, two seas came over tho stern, and John Waters,
CAPTAIN COOK'S THEE
The following morning went ashore to tho “ Capinny Cook’s Tree.” If is still strong and sound, about 3ft in circumference, being a species of laurel, called by the Natives “ Tairiki.” The tree grows in the centre of a little bay, rather in advance of the surrounding forest, very conspicuous and easily recognisable. Many names are inscribed on its bark by whalers and others, who thus leave'a brief record of their visit. [ say a brief record, because the annual growth has already obliterated many names and dates much older rl>an those now legible. The oldest is R.S., 1807.” “Fly, ’48,” “H.M.S. Acheron, ’49," are the most recent. _ Wednesday, October 31.—Lott Ship Cove and sailed into Fort Gore, a deep hay, having one still deeper to tho 7 All forests from the mountain crests to their base. _ Kore a few ragged Natives, whoso diminutive pa is °on the north-west shore, have cleared some patches on which the green corn is waving. They came on board the next day, the chief halting
“ OUR LAST CRUISE "
About the first week of November, 1830, we were again at anchor in Wellington, where the Acheron ' remained until the 23t.h. Weather extremely tine. This, our last cruise, was intended to embrace the whole circuit of Middle Island. On the above day tho ship proceeded to Port Cooper, and after some delay there put into Akaroa. Thenct to Otago, where she lay about a month, our Cliristmas beinv passed in that settlement, instead of on the western side of the island as was anticipated. Touched at Euapuka about January 8. January 15.—An immense gathering of Natives on, board seeking audiences. The schooner Otago, belonging
DISASTER AT WANGANUI - Four of Ship’s Company Drowned Wild Habits of the Whalers
200 ft at about one-third of a mile from tho head of a creek at Wanganui .Harbor. Tho path passes through a forest of black birch and rimu, only one small patch of fern laud occurring throughout the distance. This piece of open land is only a few acres; it is about
halfway across. ... In some places wo had to pass down tho hod of a stream, wading in the middle, Ift or ISin deep. The track ends at the head of a muddy creek, to which place canoes can bo taken at high water, but if the tide ho low tho only means of reaching the entrance of the harbor is by passing over the mud Hats as far as tlio two rocky islets and then taking a canoe.
was that of sending up for the canoe at the creek. This we determined to do at daylight on .Wednesday morning. Rain all day. Tho only thing I was able to do was to make a station at the huts for tho purpose of cutting oil the heads of tho harbor and some other points. The Maori at whoso hut we stopped has a son, fourteen or fifteen years of age, who has learned to read, and repeats prayers to the other members of tho family night and morning. They told mo there are no Maoris between Wanganui and Cape Farewell, nor for a long distance to the southward. Part of the land about this part belongs to Tiroa (Tainroa).
inernsoy his arms got entangled, and ill chance of escape was taken away mm him. His father had opposed Ms qiing to sea, and used much persuasion o induce him to remain at home. Finding his efforts unsuccessful, he be■amc exasperated, and is said to have vished that tho boy might expiate his lisobedionre by being drowned in Ids irrt cruise—a burst of anger which was most prophetically fulfilled. Marly next morning the first lieutenant went ashore to bring off tho lead and their survivors. They were laid along the thwarts, wrapped in the ship’s ensigns. A litter, or cot, being lowered, the bodies wore hoisted in singly, and the heavy, hollow tramp of the party engaged in this duty, the groups of officers and men-, as silent spectators, joined to the lowering aspect of the early day, seemed to harmonise with tho solemn occasion. Directly after liio boat was hoisted in the Acheron weigiied anchor and steamed back to Nelson.
A.R., standing'’up in the boat, she capsized. Fvcrvone succeeded in , regaining the boat, she being kecl-np. In a few minutes, however, I was washed off, and being unable to recover my place swam for the shore. When about halfway, fell in with Jeffries, who hold two pieces of wash streak, one of which he generously gave me. .1 reached the land, much exhausted when close in. Heal, who had hold of two oars, told mo ho could not touch bottom. I hauled him in by an oar until witnm I Oft of high-water mark, but was unable through weakness to stand. Helcnson and Jefferies joined me within an hour. As soon ins possible 1 obtained tho assistance of a, Maori and lighted fires along the beach as a guide to 1 lie remaining crew. That morning at daylight, it being low water, discovered the body of the unfortunate olticcr, Mr Burnett, and ihose of the crew. Hoy Newton must have been drowned almost immediately, as bis body was picked tip far out. He bad been unable to move his arms. Apparently, in trying to take off his shirt, ho neglected to unbutton flic wristbands. I found the. boat about a mile and a-balf down the beach, and hauled him into a creek, and secured such portion of the gear as could be found. . . .
and lamed for life by ono Rauparaha’s leaden missives. Among his followers was the only bald Maori wo had seen in Now Zealand, their_ hair being generally of most luxuriant growth. The women seemed to have mistaken tiie ship, crying out as they ascended the ladder: “Alt! Driver, Driver. Carpal tho Driver!” (Pilot Driver, of Otago.) On Sunday passed up Queen Charlotte’s Sound into Tory Channel to pick tip Bradshaw and party. A large whaling station, amongst tho largest of New Zealand, on our right. Got aground. Had received much kindness from Thomms, the well-known owner of the establishment ashore. His former wife was daughter to the savage Rauparaha, who sometimes made Timmins's settlement his headquarters. On returning from his ferocious and sanguinary expedition to the Middle Island he rendezvoused here for some time, bringing eighty largo war canoes, eacli more or less freighted with hitman flesh, -packed in flax baskets. Thomms was compelled to endure his visits.
to one Stephens, a whaler, had been hired for a tender to the Acheron ami ordered to meet ns at Port William. Found here at anchor with another schooner called the Amazon. Profits of whaling £6O per ton. A fish of eight or ten tons will pay all the expenses of the season and leave surplus. Excesses of whalers monstrous, but highly characteristic of the habits Of low men, suddenly becoming possessed of large sums _of money, which, because earned with hardship and privation of their usual yoarao animal enjoyments, they spend in the most - outrageous debauchery until lish whaler is said to have got rid of none remains. The master of an Eng£9Uo tit Sydney in a week.
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Bibliographic details
Evening Star, Issue 19298, 10 July 1926, Page 13
Word Count
1,841EARLY DAYS Evening Star, Issue 19298, 10 July 1926, Page 13
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