MAROONED ON KAPITI.

Evening Star, Issue 19708, 8 November 1927, Page 12

MAROONED ON KAPITI.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—-In connection with, the recent .experiences of several M.P.s-having to i'stay longer than they intended on Kapiti, a short account of how 1 was marooned on the same island in, I think, November, 1-878, might he of interest to some of the old identities. At that time I was a, cadet in the Native Survey Department, and attached to a party in charge of Mr H. A. Field, the son of the -well-known Wanganui botanist and surveyor. Mr Field, who afterwards become M.H.R. for that district, was an elder brother of Mr W. H. Field,; M.P., who was the host of the parliamentary party. I Wo left Waiknnao in a whale boat manned by Maoris for a day’s fishing. After .excellent sport we landed on the

island. A strong north-west gale sprang up, and we were nob able to leave for three days. However, the lime was enjoyably spent hunting the goats and wild cattle which then roamed on the island. On the first evening wo were astonished to sec eases, barrels, and wreckage iloating by, some of the cases landing on the beaches. The majority of the cases wo secured contained candles and lollies. On our return to the mainland we heard that the Queen Bee was a total loss at Farewell Spit, hut all the crew were saved. Amongst the passengers were Mr Eosberry, J. think afterwards Inspector-General of the New South Wales Police, and his family. Two of them afterwards settled in Dunedin — viz., Mrs Or Maunscll, and Mrs C.-G. Kettle, who was a well-known lawyer, and became district judge. A very ludicrous incident happened in connection with this adventure. Wc saw a Poop-bound cask floating in the waves, and found a line and salvaged it late one. moonlight evening. Mr Field forbade the cask: being broached until the morning, ami there was much speculation in camp as to its contents, port or sherry being the favorite selection. A well-known character, Mexican Jack, was in charge of tho Hon. W. Para tabs sheep on the island, and he had as an assistant a no'cr-do-well whose alias was Thompson, Ids real name, however, being pretty well known. When day broke we did not wait for breakfast, but rushed down to the beach to solve tho liquid mystery, armed with a gimlet. The necessary holes having been bored, Thompson took a drink, and pronounced it “kapai.” The holes wore slightly enlarged, when Mexican Jack took a swig, and a long one. With a look of disgust lie arose and said: “ Cook’s slush, and a d d dirty cook at that.” Tho rest of us took his word for it. It was one of tho slush casks from the wreck coopered up so that the cook could sell it on arrival at Wellington to the candle works as part of his “perks.” The beach all around Otaki and Waikanac was strewn with cases, barrels, etc., and a Custom-house officer came from Wellington to examine and report. He never, however, found a case of glazier’s diamonds which wo knew had drifted ashore.—l am, etc., D. Haukis Hastings. November 7.