STEWART ISLAND

Evening Star, Issue 19764, 14 January 1928, Page 11

STEWART ISLAND

PUCE NAMES [By Basil H. Howaed.] No. 111. Bragg’s Bay.—There are three small bays on tbe north side’ of Halfmoon. Bragg’s is the most easterly of these. It is named after Mr John Bragg, who still lives there. The family has been intimately connected with the island from the earliest days. Mr Bragg’s father first settled on the island, on the south side of Halfmoon, near Leask’s Bay. After the purchase of the island from t’ e Natives land was allotted to him on the north side, where younger members of the family still live. It is interesting to note that the founder of the family was married “at the house of John Williams” by Bishop Selwyn in 1844, on the occasion of his visit to the southern parts of New Zealand. The elder Bragg left the island for the west coast of America, but the vessel never reached port. Mr John Bragg was born in 1848. To-day be is quite hearty and full of interesting reminiscences. He has been associated with the development of most of the industries of, the island over a long period. In 1865 he set out as a lad for the West Coast goldfields, but, whatever his luck, he returned and settled down to the more congenial occupations available at home. For man}’ years he was engaged in the oyster fisheries off the island and in the strait; fishing, saw-milling, and sheep farming have also claimed his attention, the latter, of course, being carried on simultaneously with the others. In 1902 he was elected to the Stewart Island County Council, on which he sat for some years. Chew Tobacco Bay.— A large bay between the Neck and Port Adventure. It is named after an old Maori whom the whalers called “ Chew Tobacco Bill.” Ho had a growth on the inside of his check between the upper and lower jaw. Whenever he spoke or moved his jaws, the movement of his cheek resulting from the obstruction made it appear that he was “ slewing a quid.” The native name is Ka-one-o-Tu, Tu and “Bill” above are not identical.

Christinas Village.—A native and whaling settlement on tho north-cast coast between Murray River and Saddle Point. There is a Maori story of a party of whalers or sealers who gave the Natives a stock of clothes when in generous mood. As an old hand says: “They must have fc’ohgbt it was Christmas!” But I would not dare to derive the name from that! Bnngaree.—A bay on tho north coast, about five miles north-west from Port William. Bungaree’s identity must remain a mystery. Wo know that he was a whaler who spent i several seasons on the coast, living between times at the bay. The settlement at Fortrose, at Mataura mouth, was founded by a baud of retired whalers. Their names have been preserved—Thomas Brown, John Carter. James Wybrow, Sam Perkins, and Bungary. Tho hay has been latterly called “Mutch’s” after J. C. Mutch, who took up land there. Records show that ho allowed his le.ase to lapse about 1904. Bungaree is, 1 think, the commoner name.

Burial Cove. —A small inlet at the head of Wilson or Broad Bay, South Cape district. There was at one time a Maori settlement at this spot. Tho Natives long used it as a base when on mutton-birding expeditions to the islands off the west coast. Its foundation probably dates back to pre-Enro-pean days, though custom and tradition kept it in use long after the white man’s arrival. In 1867, after tho purchase of the island, the Southlaud_ Provincial Government established a village reserve at the spot, thereby showing that it was a recognised Maori establishment. The name is very suggestive, hut explanations are hard to find. People who have been at the spot, even those who visited it long, long ago, have no remembrance of a native burial ground. One old identity has vague recollections of hearing a yarn of a man being buried there. Coincidence has it that a seaman of the sealer “ Betsy ” died when tho vessel was in the locality in the early sealing days. Unfortunately the event and the name cannot be coupled in any legitimate -way.

Butterfield’s Beach.—Well known to visitors who passed it on the way Horn Halfmoon Bay to Horseshoe Bay. It is named after John Butterfield, who lived there forty to fifty years ago. Codfish Island.—The position of this island was charted and fixed by William Stewart, mate of the Pegasus in ISO!). The ‘Oriental Navigator’ of 1816 published the results of his work. Stewart or his captain, Chaco, gave it (lie name “Pegasus” Island. Bishop Selwyn. who paid a visit in 1844, calls it “Passage Island.” The native name is Whorun-Hon (“New Land”!. They ,sny that it was the first land they met with when venturing seaward towards Hand. The present name “ rvia” k- realty eg extension from “ Cedfish Harbor.” which occurs before The “Harbor” is nothing more ihan Mi” strait between Stewart Island •mej Cod'Vh. Reference to the map will show that the configuration of the coast is such that the passage provides excellent shelter in almost any wind. In the scaling and whaling days it was a common rend zvons and heavedown. De Blosseville, of Dnperrey’s expedition, rycordcd the fact that he had found ‘he name “Codfish Harbor” in a good map publi.Micd by Nozie in 1820. f Should this not bo “NorieP”) Captain Edwardson. of the Snapper, reported that ho sheltered in “Codfish Harbor” in February, 1823. _ln the works of earlier writers on New Zealand there seems to have been a confusion between this island and Solander Rock. Polack (1838) gives the position of 1 Solander or Codfish island ” as established by Cook. The confusion is Polack’s. The identity of the present Solander Rock and the Solander island of Cook cannot be doubted. The writer says, further, that the hardy sealers settled in various places, especially “on the small island of Codfish or Solandcr’s Island named in honor of the celebrated naturalist who accompanied Cook.” The reference to the scalers proves clearly to which island ho refers. A remarkable settlement took place on Codfish about 1820, tire exact date being uncertain. Some attribute it to 184 U; but Polack, who was in New Zealand from 1831 to 1837, proves that it was in existence in his day. Sealing gangs were frequently left on the shores of Stewart island and adjacent islets to collect skins wiiile the vessel went on to the Antipodes. Their life was hazardous in the extreme; gangs of Maoris used to indulge in systematic hunts for these men, presumably to obtain a change of diet; the sealing captainSj either wilfully or under stress of weather, were often guilty of leaving them marooned. There are frequent records of such men being picked up by other sealers when on the verge of starvation. Captain Edwardson’s visit in 1862 was very effective in establishing friendly relations with the Maori and in putting an end to the organised man-hunts. As a result, a permanent settlement ot sealers was made on Codfish. They wont there about 1826, taking their Maori wives with them. The colony would be almost self-sup-porting; there was fish in plenty, stock tnev nad brought with them, and inoney came from the sale of sealskins to visiting vessels. There are naturally no records ot the establishment; but Thomas Brown, of Riverton, who died in 1906 at the age of 79, was the first half-caste born on the island. This information is sufficient to establish the date with accuracy. Bishop Selwyn visited the island in 1844, finding thir-

teen women and fifteen children there. He makes no reference to the number of men; they may have been absent whaling. When H.M.S. Acheron came, in 1850, the settlement was deserted. Tho island has an area of 3,450 acres, and rises to a height of 500 ft. It is now a reserve. On the north-east side is Sealers’ Bay, tho usual landing (see remarks under this heading). East Cape.—Sundry references in these notes will show readers that tho early sealers in these waters led no uneventful life. The gangs left on the shores of Stewart and adjacent islands were in constant danger of appearing on tho native menu card. Frequently the Maori indulged in organised hunts for the unprotected sealers, who fell an easy prey to the superior numbers of the enemy. It must be admitted, of course, that these attack were often in the nature of justifiable reprisals. The ultimate result, however, was a decline of popularity in sealing off the southern New Nealand coasts; the possible profit was not worth the risk. The New South Wales Government became concerned in the slackness of tho seal trade. (It levied toll on skins imported!) The Government brig Snapper was commissioned, under Captain Edwardson, to investigate _ the coasts and report on the possibilities of the sealing trade. The vessel left on November 7, 1822. Edwardson made New Zealand at Chalky Inlet, and here, at what was then called South Port, ho picked up what was left of a gang marooned seventeen months previously. Shortly after his arrival a clash with the Maoris resulted in the capture of James Caddell, the white chief, and Stuart, another pakeha Maori. Caddell he took with him, visiting Port Macquarie (Bluff), Ruapuke, Mason Bay, Easy Cove, Codfish Island, Port William, and other less important localities. Wherever ho landed he investigated and reported on the features of the country, their suitability for settlement and cultivation, the flora and fauna, in short everything that could be of possible interest to his Government. The Snapper reached Port Jackson again on March 23, 1923, a veritable museum of specimens of all kinds. She carried, in addition, the white chief, Caddell, and his Maori wife. Through these people Edwardsou was able to put an end to native persecution of the sealers. Amicable relations were established; permanent settlements were made, and the sealing trade revived. Shortly after the publication of Edwardson’s report three vessels were fitted out for the Stewart Island scaling—Perseverance, Wellington. and St. Michael. It is interesting to note that in these vessels came three men who were to be better kimwn later in New Zealand history— Thomas Chasland, James Spencer, and John Guard. On his return Captain Edwardson was appointed to the Sydney pilot service, in which employment ho continued until his death on March 4, 1827. His name is preserved in Edwardson Sound. Chalky Inlet.