TALES OF POVERTY BAY. HOW GISBORNE CAME TO BE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3711, 21 December 1912, Page 13

TALES OF POVERTY BAY.

HOW GISBORNE CAME TO BE.

Subsequent to the founding of Wellington I>y the New Zealand Company in 1840 and of established by the first Governor (Captain Hobson) in the same year, settlers few and far between began to drift slowly in the direction of Poverty Bay and district, where they endeavored to open up trade with the Natives. The Native Rebellion. When the war broke out in 1865, practically the only European dwelling in the immediate vicinity of where Gisborne now stands, was the landing wharf and shed of Captain Read, on the Kaiti side of Turanganui, where the freezing works now stand. Receiving word that the Poverty Bay natives "were in rebellion, Sir Donald McLean, then Native Minister and Superintendent of Hawke’s Bay, came up with British forces to quell the disturbance. Colonel Porter was included in the British forces, then serving in the Colonial Defence Force Cavalry. The troops came from Napier in H.M.S. Brisk, and found that the Natives had fortified themselves at Waerenga-a-hika and in a Pah at Pnke-a-mionga (Hill of the Assembly) near the present town of Patutahi (fort that stands alone). Sir Donald landed his troops and sent a flag of truce calling a. conference with the chiefs before hostilities were commenced, and in due course the Native delegates came in, and a meeting was held in Captain Read’s store. Sir Donald strongly urged the Natives not to proceed to extremes as their brethren at Waiapu had done, and said that it would be a great mistake to suppose that they could expel the Europeans, pointing out that the mere fact of aggressive warfare would bring more Europeans into the "country, so that the Natives would lose still more of their land. The Native delegates, however, were verv obdurate, and would -not follow the* pakeha’s reasoning and retired to their front. Sir Donald allowed the Natives a few days to consider the matter, but they sent in word that they intended to fight, and the British forces made final preparations for hostilities. After, handing the command of the forces over to Major • Fraser, now dead. Sir Donald McLean returned to Napier, and fighting commenced, the first place attacked being Puke-a-mi-onga. or Patutahi. The Natives retired when tlie British advanced on the fort at daylight one morning, leaving the soldiers of tne Queen "to take possession while they reinforced Waersngn-a-hika (the clearing made by Hika). The Britishers invested this place, and a siege, lasting some eight days the Natives capitulated and a. great number (some 800) surrendered, the most of them being drafted out and deported to the Chatham?. This victory practicaPy for the time being concluded hostilities in tin's district, though there were still occasional skirmishes with roving bands of Natives conducting a guerilla warfare in the back country. Waylaid by Hauhaus.

the white man was a devil who could not be killed. Walsh, using his left left hand, however, managed, with the butt of his revolver, to stun the old Maori who fired the last shot, and took him prisoner. The elder Espie now returned, and the intrepid pair with their prisoner returned to the horses, finding that the younger Espie had taken refuge in the bush. When the party was reassembled Walsh’s wounds, gun shot and tomahawk, which were six in number, were roughly dressed, and the expedition returned to the Coast, driving their prisoner by a- tether in front.

In the meantime news of the affray had reached the British commander, and a relieving force of mounted men set out and brought in, the battered expedition.

The plucky Walsh was ordered into hospital, which was where an old Maori church on Kaiti tised to stand, and on the site of the present graveyard.' Here Sir Geo. Grey saw him and gave him great praise. That was in ’66, a few months after Waerenga-a-hika, and it is another example of the irony of fate to relate in November, ’63, when Walsh was one of the armed guard under Major Bigge at Matawhero, Te Kooti descended on his infamous massacre and Walsh. with others, was shot in his bed without a chance of defending himself, being taken completely by surprise.

the Acquirement of Gisborne. In the meantime, after the prisoners taken at Waerenga-a-hika had been safely deported to the Chathams, Sir Donald McLean revisited the dis-. trict and at a conference told the rebel chiefs that be had warned them, but they had ignored the warning, and now he was going to treat them according to their own customs. He was the conqueror and would confiscate their lands —utu-rau-patu, literally, “spoils to the victors.” Sir Donald, in a. memorable address, proceeded : “I won’t take all your land, but each tribe must cede me part of its country, and I want a piece now for the establishment of a- town here on the river banks—part of your possession of Wai-o-hiharore” (water of the mushroom}. After much korero the Rongowlmkwaata tribe agreed to cede the Patutahi block as their part. The Te Aitanga Mahaki tribe ceded the Ormond block, and the chief Kahutia gave the site of Gisborne, extending up the left bank of the Turanganui as far as the junction of the Waimata and Taruheru, and thence up the Taruheru River as far as the present Roebuck Road, and south along Waikanae (mullet stream), as payment for bis tribe. This was not considered as quite a suitable spot for the town, but the Britishers could not ask for land on the Kaiti side, where they really desired to found the town, because all the Natives, under their chief Hirini-te-Kani. on. that side were loyal, and bad helped the pakehas in the suppression of the rebellion. Otherwise Gisborne would have been on the otner *!.*t of the stream. In 1870 the town was surveyed ar.d found to contain approximately 1 -00 acres.

N About this time attention was called to the Maori legend of the famous whale of "VVhiri-Koha atTe-Pakake-o-YYhiri-Koka, near what is now known as Whatatutu, and some of the settlers were vastly interested in the reported oil springs in the vicinity. Thi Maori story had it that generations before Whiri-Koka, the demigod, captured a hug© whale, and the sea receding, left it strand-d inland and that oil had ever since keen exuding from its monstrous hack. It is easy yet to reconcile the quaint fancy of the whale with the oil-bearing ridge at Whatatutu. Mr Ksoie, a settler of those days, evinced particular interest in the legend of the whale and organised a small expedition, consisting of himself and his son, Mr “Teddy” Espie, who is at present a resident of Gisborne, and Sergeant James Walsh, of the Colonial Defence 'Force Cavalry to visit the locality and make investigations. It was a. risky undertaking by reason of the wandering bands of Natives, and the fact that beyond Ormond the way lay through dense bush and heavy scrub. The party, however, reached the whale ridge without untoward adventure, and here dismounted. Leaving the horses at the foot of the hill in charge of young Espie, the two older man proceeded to climb the hill and examined the oil springs. On the way back to the horses, however, they were waylaid by eight or nine Hauhaus, and a desperate fight took place, though the Natives' first volley wounded both men' in the righ<- arms. Both men had left their < a’’lines at the foot of the hill wall the horses, and though Walsh had a revolver, the elder Espie was quite j unarmed, and so retreated up the : spur while Walsh, supporting his right ! arm with his left, heroically kept j the Maoris at hay with his revolver j He seemed to bear a charmed life, for j though fired at at- dose range and hacked at with tomahawks and -spears he did: not fall, much to his attackers’ amazement. Finally one old Maori drew' back and hastilv reloaded his gun, and then advancing, failing to notice that he had dropped the bullet on the ground in his hurry, placed the muzzle of the gun close to Walsh’s chest and fired, biit though the powder burned the brave soldier badly he did not fall, and the bulk of the Natives turned and fled, believing that

As a number of Natives who had been friendly with the whites were losing their interests by the cessiou, Sir Donald McLean ordered the payment to them of £I2OO and this money was paid over by Major Westruppf then commanding the district, and Captain Porter as Staff-Adjutant. Mi. Munr>, ’• ftc undertook the survey of the town, laid it out and the land was sold at very low upset prices. The highest-priced section —the present Masonic corner —realised only £sl for the quarter-acre, while the site where the Union Bank no>v stands and on which Mr Horsfall later erected a store, cost £SO. Where McKee’s buildings now stand was erected by Colonel Porter the first Masonic Sail, the site, a quarter-acre costing £l9. The site on which the “Poverty Bay Herald” offices stand was given as compensation to l a loyal chief named Mokena-kohere for services at East Cape, and later with the I buildings upon it was sold for about £2-30. The present Coronation Hot-1 corner was a section given to the loyal chief Major Ropata, and the Government also erected for him a fourroomed cottage with a verandah, the house being brought up in frames from Wellington and fitted together facing Lowe Street. Where is now Miller’s tobacconist shop was Major Ropata’s garden. Major Ropata subsequently sold the nlace to Mr. William Adair, who had the Albion Hotel adjoining, and subsequently the whole lot was gold for some £600.. In the corner where Adair’s buildings now stand was erected the first' Government buildings-—the Courthouse, which was also used as a Defence and Native office, and for other purposes. After the Mat”"iiero massacre in 1868 by Te Kooti when the settlers fame into town for refuge, the building was turned into a barrack room and defended with a chevaux de frise. liecoming the rallving point for the few settlers in the district. The- Maoris never really attacked the barracks, but they mad© occasional demonstrations round it. Later the -building was moved across the road to Mr. ; John Townley’s section and may still he seen there, shons now taking up the front part, while what was now known os Townley’s,,

THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE TOWN.

STORY OF ITS TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS.

No. 1. (RELATED BY COLONEL PORTER, C. 8.)

Hall occupies the back portion of the old Courthouse. j Where the police station is now, used to stand what was known as the Blockhouse, wju’ch was defended with ' pallisading and was held by a few of the enrolled militia and police. These were the two rallying points of the district.

The old Redoubt, which was occupied by the Colonial forces in ’65, stood on the Kaiti side of the river just about where the Mayor (Mr. Pettie) now lives. This was the original military post. The Te Kooti Raids.

When, the massacre by Te Kooti took place some of the settlers escaped to Alahia and some to Turanganui, whence they were shipped away to Napier and Auckland. The troops were now faced with the necessity of practically retaking the whole district. '« Te Kooti was responsible for some terrible outrages which are fairly well known of. During the Matawhero trouble the troops were

the Britishers were unable to scout in pursuit, and Te Kooti escaped, as , related, to tiie Waikato, and took re-j fuge with King Tawhiao. | Captain Porter’s troops then joined ■ forces with Major Robert, and together they subdued the Urewera and incidentally captured Kereopa Kaiwhatu, the “eye-swallower.’’ j The Eye-Swallower. j Kereopa Kaiwhatu obtained his frightful . name in a most revolting manner, the escapade which led the Natives calling him the “eye-swallow-er” being perhaps one of the most ter-, rible on record. He was one of the; prophets of Te ITa of Taranaki, and was sent to the East Coast to propa- T gate his doctrines. On arriving at | Opotiki he seized Rev. Carl Volkner, j a German missionary, and hanged him j to a willow tree, later cutting his, head off. Kereopa then took his head into ‘ the ill-fated missionary’s church and stood it upon the pulpit while he haraunged the Natives, concluding a terrible and eloquent address by-gouging out the dead missionary’s eyes and swallowing them, being ever after known by the unenviable appelation «f “the/eye-swnllower” (Kaiwhatu). On his capture Captain Porter took Kereopa. across Lake Waikaremoana and down to Wairoa, and thence to Napier, where he was handed over to the authorities, while Colonel Porter received the £IOOO reward offered for his capture and, journeying back to the Urewera country divided it among his troons.

On the journey down Kereopa. while being got into a canoe on the Urewera side of Waikaremoana was being chaffed by some of the Native troops as to how life liked the flavor of the eyes and ho remarked: “I am a prisoner now and 4 it is the fulfilment of a bad omen. One of the eyes stuck in my throat—aitnatanga!” The task of taking the eye-eating rebel from the Urewera country to the Coast through the dense bush was no light one and acting on the advice of a Maori chief that “a light heart will give him light feet,” the rebel was al-

lowed to retain a razor which he fondly believed was unnoticed by the troopsThe presence of this weapon of offence and the joking of the Maori escort undoubtedly buoyed up his hopes that nothing very serious would happen to him and consequently he accomplished the journey “with a light heart and light feet.” When he was handed over to the authorities at Napier the razor was forgotten and when he saw the prison gates closing upon him the eye-swallow-er apparently lost the last of his buoy-ed-up hope and quickly drawing the razor, deeply gashed his throat. Hewafe in danger for a long, time, but the doctor ultimately cured him and he was tried for murder and treason and duly hanged at Napier gaol. The Natives could not understand his being cured of the wound in his throat and then hanged- As one of them put it: “What a waste of time and money! If I’d known they’d make as much fuss I’d have tomahawked him when we caught him !” The last of Te Kooti. With Te Kooti and Kereopa out of the way there has been practically no fighting in New Zealand since, though Te Kooti threatened 1 trouble in the district in 1889. Colonel Porter commanded the force and captured him finally at the Bay of Plenty and he died three months later. His body was stolen and no one even now knows where it was buried. District Nomenclature. Gisborne.—The immediate vicinity of Gisborne, before tho once struggling township, now rapidly developing into a city, was founded, was known by the name Turanganui, the

unable to get out to bury thsir which lay in the fierce sun- tor several days, being ultimately buried in a deplorable condition. The Natives plundered and devastated the district, but the Britishers drove them back to Wharekonae where they fortified themselves. They were defeated there with considerable loss and then again at their big fort at Ngatapa. These are items of history which do not need repeating. The fighting lasted from 1868 to 1871, and finally Te Kooti was driven to the Ure- ' wera country, followed by Government forces. ' I The Last Fight in New Zealand. j At Te Hapua in the TJrewcra country took place what may b® fitly called . the last fight in New Zealand. , i •Strictly speaking, it does not, of course, come under the heading of Tales of Poverty Bay, but Te Kooti was so well known in this district and soldiers who took part in the. fight were so well known in Poverty Bay i that mention is excusable.- j , Captain P-orter surrounded the rebel j chief in the Urewera pah, but he I upon the first shot being fired eluded their vigilance and escaped ■ through the back of his hut, and fled in a snow storm to the Waikato, accompanied by eight men and one woman. The Government force, 'after close sharp fighting then took the 1 pah and the Native chiefs from all around came in to make peace. The 1 Government force now found themselves snowed in in the pal), I while they had news that not more than one and a-half miles away ( Te Kooti with the remainder of his i once powerful band, was also snowed i in. Yet so deep was the enow that ]

long-standing place, the name still being retained for the river from the sea to the junction of the Waimata and Taruheru. The name has its origin in the pathetic story of one of the Maori ancestors, a chief named Kewa, whose son, one ill-fated day, while on a fishing expedition was blown out to sea in his canoe in a stormy westerly and never returned. . '

The distraught chief, possibly never able to realise his loss, daily, year after year, stood oil the beach near the river’s mouth gazing expectantly out to sea, hoping ever and in vain for the return of the lost one. So the spot gradually became known to the Maoris as Turanga-nui-a-Kewa the long standing place of Kewa—and later as Turanganui, or the long-standing place. 1 The newly-formed town about July, 1870, was named in honor of the Colonial Secretary of the time. Mr Gladstone was the British Premier at the time and Gladstone Road was named after him, while Read’s Quay serves to call to mind the early relations of Captain.,Read with the oort of Gisborne.

• Chelated by mi*, johx towxley.) AST Saturday the inner harbor SK. accommodated the largest veswhich has ever been brought up to the wharves—the Kittawa, of 1247 tons, while at the same time there lay in port, among many other ships, the handsome and up-to-date ferry steamer Takapuna, which runs at present on a trial service between Gisborne and Napier. In the course of a few days electric trams will be running in the main street of the town, Gladstone Road, while all around are builders, ever busy, erecting substantial buildings ami adding to the already solid edifices which grace the streets of Gisborne. Across the river, Whataupoko is thickly populated, having proved itself a solid residential area, while Kaiti contains the homes of thousands of'people, and tlie other suburban areas around the town —fast growing to be a city—are J icing densely populated by a prosperous people. How different from the Gisborne of 1873. when passengers were landed in row-boats on Kaiti beach from the few vessels which worked the port.

Awapuni.—Awapuni means the backwater, or blocked-up water- 'The Maoris knew the lagoon as a celebrated fishing place and used to make good hauls by placing nets across the outlet of the lagoon into the Waipaoa river. Puni really means a spring, so that the name Awapuni might be literally translated the “back spring.” -Uarakanapo.—Parakanape, or '“glistening cliff,” derives its name from the fact that whenever there was a fall of snow the first glint of the sun lit up the cliff, which glinted and glistened in the e'arly morning rays, and, in fact, still does so. Waerenga-a-kuri.—One of the Maori ancestors, named Kuri, fell out with his tribe, and taking his people, led them inland, where thev made a clear- , ing in the bush, the p'aoe being fitly ! named Waerenga-a-kuri, or the clear- | ing made by Kuri. Hero ho founded ; a famous family.

Waipaoa.—Waipaoa, the name of

[ and the town consisted of a handful - of (straggling buildings, erected as i. their owners’ fancy willed, without l heed of street levels or frontage lino, - while the population was so small as to bo easily numbered in the mind. In those days the steamer Raiigitira traded regularly between Wellington and Napier, and extended her voyage to Gisborne if custom warranted it, dropping her anchor in overty .Bay about once a fortnight, and often not so frequently as that. Practically all the balance of trade was entrusted to Captain Read’s two schooners the lawera, tradino- between Gisborne and Auckland! and the Opotikh which was responsible lor working. Napier in Gisborne’s inteiests. Ihe schooners carried the Hiik of tin? town x trade, working tho port on high tides and being left stranded in the mud at low water. Tha Principal Business Man. Iho owner of these .schooners, Captain Read, was at this time the princijial business man of Poverty Bay, and had held this proud position for many years. He had constructed a wool shod and wharf on the Kaiti side of the river and just opposite on the Gisborne side had another wliarf and shed. He carried on business as. an exporter, timber merchant, general butcher, baker, and, in short was a purveyor of everything the district was likely to require. His store contained everything from the almost proverbial needle to the no less well-known anchor, and his premises were known from one end of tlie Bay to the other as “The Store,” though he was not the only storekeeper, as •the late Mr. A. Parnell was in business at the time, and Mr Horsfall had

the big river of Poverty Bay, should really be Te Mimi-o-Paoa. The legend goes that the demi-god Paoa ordered canoes to be built well inland and on their construction being completed caused water to flow sufficient to float them down to the sea. The water remained and was known as the I water made by Paoa. Young Nick’s Head.—This ,-was so named in honor of Nicholas Young, the masthead look-out of Captain Cook’s expedition of discovery of New I Zealand. The first point sighted was ; Table Cape (Maliia). The Native apportion for Young Nick’s Head was i “Te Kuri,” or the dog. Legendary lore has it that the demi-god Paoa’s dog was transformed into a cliff by Kongo Kako, the famous giant. Pipiwhakamve••—Near the Te Arai bridge, in days of old there flourished much bush known as Pipiwhakaawe, or the “moaning forest.” Tho Maoris believed that when danger threatened there could always bo heard in thisforest the moaning of Paoa’s > kuri, and consequently they called it the ‘ 1 mo ani n g fores t■ ”

OX CHRISTMAS EYE. Caller: “Gracious, ; man, why on earth are you burning these rank weeds in vour room?” Husband (sadly): “I'm trying to break myself in for the cigars my wife will give mo to-morrow.” MORE SPACE WANTED. “How did you enjoy your Christmas dinner, Jimmy?” “Not much. Mother told me to eat as much as I wanted to, and I couldn’t.’ *

a store where Messrs Williams and Kettle’s j>Lace is now. Mr. Parnell carriqpl on his business on the ■site where Mr. Charlie Adair is at present “out on his own.” “The Store,” then, was the centre of practically all the business carried out in the township. It was situated on the river bank on the spot where the Band Rotunda now stands. The butchery stood alone, and then came the house’ of Mr Mills, Captain Read’s chief clerk, and next to that again the general store, a large twostoreyed wooden building which was easily the largest in Poverty,j£ay. Gladstone Road in the ’7o’s. Next to the general store, extending up Gladstone Road, came the original Albion Club Hotel —another two-storied building—while Mr. G. j Nasmith had a jeweller’s shop adjoining. A small ir'on building next to ’ the jeweller’s was occupied by the Bank of New Zealand, and then came two dwellings, one occupied by Mr. Thomas Adair. Then, on the site which,is occupied by Adair Bros, handsome building, stood the old . Courthouse, in which all the civil and legal business of the town was transacted. Here were held sittings of the Magistrate’s Court, wnile the building also contained the Customs , House, the Public Library—such as it j was—the Armory; and the town’s • only medical man, Dr. Nesbitt, who was also the Magistrate. ■ Altogether the Courthouse was just as important a building, in a different way, as “The Store,” and in its time it played many parts. At the time of the Matawhero massacre the building was loop-holed for defence purposes, and a number of people lived in it. j It was later purchased by Mr John ! Townley, and hauled across Gladstone Road to the site which it at present occupies, Mr. Prime’s ironmongery now taking up the front part, while , “Townlev’s Hall” occupies the rear portion. Still above the Courthouse, going ; up Gladstone Road, stood the late Mr ■

however we were her determination .down somewhat and she produced a tin teapot and some broad and jam, and told us to make the.best of that, which we did, right royally, being glad to get anything. “J next set about looking for a place to live, but had a fruitless task. I was contemplating the building of a “V” hut when Mr l)onolme, who was living in a partly-erected house in Derby Street, where Dr Coker’s house now stands, approached and saw my people sitting round on our various boxes and goods and chattels. He . offered us the use of a room in his j house, and here we gladly went. The room was not lined and had no fireplace, and, in fact, wasn’t a room at all, but here we lived until we got a better place.” ' A Trading Centre. There were very few- people about Gisborne in ’73, as the foregoing list of premises will testify, and some may wonder what was the excuse for tho presence of three stores, but it lay in this. There were houses in various •parts of the district which had to have their needs supplied and a large Maori trade was done, the Natives coming in. from their villages to purchase all their stores. How the Harbor was Formed. At this time there was only one local body in the Bay and this was known as the Poverty Bay Highway Board. It met quarterly in the old Court-liou-e. The municipality was formed in 1877. Mr \Y. F. Crawford being the first Mayor. The harbor at this time was in charge of Captain Read and-the Government appointed a pilot for the inner harbor and a Customs officer. Captain Read ultimately sold out, lock, stock and barrel, to Mr William Adair, who continued the business for some time—until 1882—a lien the Borough Council was also constituted a Harbor Board. ibis body entered into an arrangement with Mr Adair and purchased his interests in the wharves and took over his position.

A. Parnell’s store, and then came the saddlery shop and dwelling-house-of Mr Matthew Hall, who is at present in business at Matawhero. '■ Above the saddler’s again was "The Music Hall,” which was erected on the site where McKee’s buildings are now. by a few of the townspeople as a place in which to hold entertainments of various natures. ! A short distance above “The Music Hall” even the poor resemblance to a street which Gladstone Road presented was lost, and one took a turning to the right on to an old Maori track which led through the thick , manuka scrub to Makaraka. j The left-hand side of Gladstone ' Road, looking at it from the river, j was a mere nothing. First came Horsfall’s store, then the Argyll Ho- ; tel. a small barber’s shop, and Mr. j Stubbs’ chemist shop, on the site where Mr. E. D. Smith now carries on business as a chemist. Mr Stubbs filled an important role in those early days, being chemist, postmaster, and general adviser to the public. His was the last building on tin's side of Gladstone Road, and the next strue- . tore was Stagall’s Hotel at Maka- j raka.

Round the Town. In Whataupoko in these days there stood one house, lonely and forlorn amid the dense manuka scrub. The residence was occupied by Mr. Wyllie. who crossed the river, to and from the town, in a boat. Near Read's wharf on the Gisborne side of the river, was a boarding house and the only building in course or erection was Mr Forbes’ dwelling, in Lowe Street. There was a dwelling Station is at present being erected, stood the Block-house, which was built in the real old style, with the upper storey\ projecting well out over the lower one, the whole building being plentifully loop-holed. It was garrisoned and occupied by a few of the constabulary. Lower down Childer’s Road, oil the site now occupied by the Gisborne Hotel, was Sergeant Daly’s boarding-house. On the Haiti- side of the river were Read's wool shed and wharf, already mentioned, and a few Native whares and the Native Church and European redoubt >

Tlns comprises a list of pretty well all the buildings in the town at that time.

Later Messrs Graham and Kinross, of Napier, bought out Mr Horsfall’s store, and Messrs Teat and Robjohn ooened up the business at present carried out by Eure’s. Manv of the buildings in and around Gisborne were built on sledges so as to be portable and as the section on which a man lived was sold he moved his house to another. Quar-ter-acre sections were worth from £25 near the wharf, to £5 higher un the road, while one or two in Gladstone Road fetched up to £SO or so..

Tn 1 884 the Harbor Board was reconstituted on its present lines, members being elected from the County and Borough. The. Board was elected on the understanding that the port was to he developed, and it- straightaway, taking advantage of an Empowering Bill, negotiated a loan of £200.000. Mr. Thompson was appointed engineer for the Board, and propounded the present works. After laying down tramways, etc.. lor the carriage or metal from near the island, and making preparations for the manufacture of the concrete blocks for the breakwater. a tender was let for the construction of the timber work on the Haiti side c-r the river, and over this was hauled the breakwater material and 1100 feet of concrete breakwater were laid down. Next came the construction of the present groyne, and after this had been completed—tbe whole of tbe works took irom ISB-5 to 1880 to finish— work was practically stepped until the little dredge John Town ley was obtained. Even the most, confident anticipations never looked beyond an ultimate depth or 12 feet in" the liar For. it being regarded as impossible to lift out tbe hot-

j tom. Until the new dredge Maui ! arrived, there was very little hope of j any vessel drawing over 10 feet- being '• a hie to work the harbor, but now the Inga and Ihumata, which draw about 15 feet, use the port, and ultimately it is. possible that a depth of It- feet -will be obtained. The Ancient Read Problem. Up till 1880 but little hud been done in the way of forming roads. It- was realised that it was a big question, and a very long iob. and this lias noi been properly dealt with even yet. No metal could be found anywhere, and so a contract was let to Mr. Berry, who used to bring grave! from the TV aimata down the river in punts. This was a failure. Next a contract was made with Mr Malcolm McLeod, to bring shinglo' from Kaiti Beach, and a commencement was made with the metalling of Gladstone Road about 1885. The next advance was the carting in of metal from Patutahi, and then came the Gentle Annie metal tramway, and the streets of Gisborne, after many experiments, are beginning to look something like streets. The Bridges. The 'What.uipoko Bridge was built by the Land Company, which opened up "Whataupoko for sale, prior to the sale, and was formally handed over to the Borough by the late Mr. Roes as solicitor for the company. The Kaiti bridge was built by tho Borough Council, the Cook County, and the Government, the Borough Council paying the bulk of the cost.

How Stores were Landed. Timber in ’73 was landed in rafts in the river while stores and other goeds were either brought in by the schooners or by row boat. This system of landing timber prevailed for a long time, as most of the schooners trading here had deck loads of timber, and as it was necessary for them to lighten themselves to negotiate the river, the timber invariably went overboard and was towed ashore on rafts. (Some of the larger vessels, such as the steamer Rangitira, were lightered by Captain Kennedy, who was then running Captain Read’s boats. He used a small schooner for the purpose. At first only a weekly service was run by the Union Coy., but this has been gradually improved, and it can only be a very short time now until tlie reproach of isolation is finally removed from the fast-growing town.

Wanted—Breakfast. “We landed here,” said Mr Townley with a smile of amused recollection, “about 10 a.m. on May 6, 1573 ; being put ashore in a whale-boat from the steamer Rangitira.-, among the Kaiti rocks. We went to the Argyll Hotel and asked for breakfast, but the proprietor declined to take His cook off the duty of preparing lunch and would not give us breakfast.

“We hunted hungrily about and at length came upon Serge. Daly’s boardinghouse and appealed to the lady in charge for a meal, but again with the same response. She was busy preparing for dinner. Ultimately

by th© Maori generations, there stood upon the highest hill (Kaiti) on the north-west shore of Turanga {Poverty Bay) the remains of which are still to be seen, a strong pa Maeoro {fortified pa) Te Pioi, in which dwelt the tribe Te Aitanga Haniti. At the time this legend originated the young chief Tahito-Kura-Maranga had just- succeeded to the chieftainship by the death of his father. Tahito had already proved himself a toa (a brave) in battle, was said to be of a tall, commanding presence, handsome of feature and a remarkably fine athlete in all pastimes of the people, and no less expert on the fishing and hunting grounds. Many maidens longed for Tahito’s love; and chiefs of other tribes sought alliance by negotiation to betroth their daughters to him, but all without avail, as fate held hidden the one who was to inspire the tender emotion in Tahito’s heart. There had existed a feud between the tribes of inland Opotilci and the Turanga, and many battles had been fought, til] at last a Mau-Nga-Rongo {peace) was arranged and the tribes met to confirm it.

• The people assembled with the usual ceremonies of war-dances, speeches, joy dances, and feasting. Then, to give special eclat to such an event, the graceful, rhythmic poi dance, with song, was performed by a party of selected maidens, all of “rangitira” birth. The leader of the performers was the only daughter of the chief of the branch of Whakatohed ti'ibe of Opape, south-east of Opotiki. This maiden’s name was Tau-puta-puta, described as a. most amicable, beautiful girl, with a sweet-sounding voice, surpassing in its musical richness in the chants of the poi all other performers.

Vet there was no jealousy, as she was beloved by all the maidens and sought in marriage by many young chiefs, but as in Tahito’s case, Fate held hidden the one in store for her During the tribal assembly neither Tahito nor Tao-puta-puta, held converse, nor sought any. They had only once or twice cast glances at ■eaqh other of mutual admiration, without thought of love. The people dispersed—Tahito returning to his Pa, Titirangi (Kaiti), and Tao-puta to her home at Opape. Chr.ntar I!. THE POWER OF LOVE.

The mysterious spell of the power of love began to work in the hearts of each; as although separated by a hundred miles of forest and mountain, the clairvoyant thoughts of mutual regard flew to the loved one.

Tahito was seized with a feeling of depression and loneliness. His thoughts, night and day, reverted to _ ‘ 43

the graceful leader of the Poi dance, now at Opape. His people remarked the change in their chief’s manner, hitherto so bright,, now so melancholy; till at last the Tohunga was delegated to ascertain the cause of the trouble, all thinking him “Makutu” (witchcrafted). The Tohunga after using a Kara Ida- to dispel the witchcraft, approached Tahito during one of his lonely wanderings on the seashore and said: “Oh ! mv sou, why the darkness of your mind?” “It is not the darkness of mind, but the sadness of my heart.” v “What is the cause?” / “I cannot define it, other than a longing love for a maiden far away, whose image haunts me night and day.” “What is her name and where dwells she?” “At Opape. her name is Tao-puta of the Whakatohea, our lately enemies. Therefore am I sad (pouri).” “Oh! my son. cast off your sadness, suppress the love, the people would never consent to a union.”

. “Alas ! I kn ow, I feel it, yet is my love .strong!” The Tohunga informed his people of the causa of their chief’s sadness, but all were averse to the alliance, even if Tao-putu reciprocated the love, which even Taliito did not know. Daily continuing his lonely wanderings on the shore' beneath his Pa. Kait-i beach, Taliito in thouglrt and “waiata” (song) transmitted his love to Opape, and chanted this love song, (Waiata Aroha.): “WAIATA AROHA.” "K to, e te ra, rehu kite rua, Ivingiringi a wai te roimate i aku kamo. He Jlea Mahue an, e te hikoinga wae wae. Nail e Taoputa, Whakangaro atu ana. Kei raro taku atna e aroha nei au. Kati tou wairua, te haere mai, Ka mntu pea aliau nei toku tangihanga.” ' vr Translated; 0! Set Thou Sun, sink into thy cavern; Thou causest to gush like water tears from my eyes, I am a deserted one, through the stepping out of the feet. Of thee, 0! Taoputa, long hidden from my sight; My idol, whom I love. Let thy spirit cease visiting me; That perchance I may forget my sorrowing.”

The sun was sotting when Tahito, after .singing liis love lament, was returning to his pa, when lie say lying on th© shore, freshly cast up, a large empty shell—pupu-ma-tangata which he picked up, exclaiming:—“Ah, i wiir make thee a messenger to my love!” - Then, using a certain incantation, and breathing a love charm inside, he raised the shell, ready to cast into the sea, and used this exhortation : "Oh! tly, thou messenger to my love; He not dismayed, at the raging of the sea, At the dashing of the waves, thou envoy ! of a. chieftain’s love. The wind from the Tonga (South) favor tliee'; The wind from the irauu/uru (North) speed thee, Depart to my love at Opape.”

Chapter 111. ROOKS OF OPAPE —THE SPELL WORKS. Th<j story now reverts to the dispersing of the tribes after the mau-nga-rongo meeting, when the Whakatohea returned to Opape. Then Taoputa resumed the finer duties of a chieftain’s daughter; the weaving of silky flax garments and Takapau, at which she was an adept. At times her thoughts reverted to the young chief of Turanga, Tahito, and she often sighed and became sad. Her father and friends, seeing-this change in the maiden, determined to betroth her to a suitable young chief of an adjoining tribe. Taoputa did not consent to the betrothal, but could not refuse, as according to ancient Maori custom, girls of good birth were seldom or never consulted in affairs of marriage, as the aim was to maintain a pure line of rangitira descent.

It was low tide on the rocks at Opape, when the maidens of WhakaTohea. among them Taoputa, as was their wont, went to gather and ruku (dive) for shell fish. On that occasion all the 'maidens wore most successful; their kits soon filled with pupus, pawn and koura; whereas poor Taoputa was must unsuccessful in all her quest; at last she found an unusually large white shell (mipu-nia-taii-gata), and called to her companions to see her find. They saw that it was but an empty one, so laughed at poor, disappointed Taoputu, who in anger cast the shell back into the .sea Doing to another part of the rocks the same shell presented itself to her, and she again cast it into the sea, to the amusement of her companions. ’Phis was repeated several times, the .shell still, however, dogging her steps, till at last she said : “Ah! I will be avenged, l will wear you round my neck!” She then strung it, the flat part resting upon her breast. It was the same charmed shell cast into the .sea

by Tahito at Turanga, on the Ivaiti Beach. Now resting upon her breast the charm began to work, a strong love for the distant Tahito entering the heart of Taoputu. From that time her thoughts night and day. were of the young Turanga chief, whose love-token, she all unconsciously wore. Lamenting her betrothal to another she composed and sang this “waiata aroha” : "Mapunapuna ai. He wai kei aku kamo, Nolio niai i roto mi. Kei korerotia naku koe. Kei ringa man— e— .” ''Mo Tahito ra, E kai nei i au, Me taiuri atu au. K liika, kia. koe, Te t.angi, a tinirau Ki tana mokai,' ki tutunui, Kia mate ia nffae na !” Translated : "The tears gush from my eyes. My eyelashes are wet with tears, But stay! my tears within, Lest you should be called mine.” "Alas! I am betrothed (hand bound) It is for Tahito, That my love devours me, But I may weep indeed, Beloved one for . thee! Like ‘Tinirau’s’ lament For his faithful Tutunui Which was slain by Ngae, Alas!”

Chapter IV. THROUGH DIFFICULTIES AND DANGERS UNITED. Thus was the spell of mutual love, being strongly cemented between Tahito and Taoputa by transmission, through the long space that divided tlxeir abodes,' till at last came simultaneously to each the desire to desert peoples and homes and go to the other. Overpowered by this strong incentive prompting of love, Taliito started alone to travel the dense forests and mountains dividing Turanga from Opape, where dwelt his love. Taoputa also alone left her home and people to travel the same paths to join her love at Turanga. Travelling through the dense solitudes of the forests, broken only by day with the screech of the “Kaka”

and at night by the “Rum,” the lovers were unconsciously nearing each other.

It was a beautiful bright mid-day in Na;u mate (summer), the banks/of the Motu River were reached, when the travellers were startled by seeing the other descending to the crossing. For a brisff space Taoputa was frightened at the presence of a man in the solitude, and retreated, hiding herself in the forest. Tahito was also superstitiously frightened, thinking lie saw the wairua of his loved one, and used these words:

“My heart is always beating for my beloved; Como near me, my love, and keep by my side.” Peering from her hiding place Taoputa saw it was Tahito, and shyly emerging, said : “Oh! Tahito, it is I, in body, not in spirit; and my heart is glad.” The joy of this unexpected meeting and union of true lovers, needs no description. Together they joyously returned to the Pa of Tahito at Titirangi, where the people rejoiced at their chief’s return from darkness to light, and amidst feasting and customary celebrations the couple were wed, from which union resulted the future goodwill between their separate tribes.

Chapter V. HISTORICAL. The following is the genealogy of the hero and heroine: Awapururu —Hine —te—Ahuru Taiau T alii to—Kura—Maransa— Taoputaputa Uekapua—nui Tamatea—Niho —Jfakuru Taurea Te—ao—kai—rau Te Butanga Kahika—Maranga Kura —Kake- rangi Matarau Tohu— Ngaro Te Ore Tiri—'Tahua Ihu—lCumea Matenga—kai—auru—te—ra n gi # Honare—Mangumangu Keita—llarahara.

The Hapus (sub-tribal) issue of those ancestors now living are Xgati-Kor-oke, Xgati-Oneone, and Xgati-Tiki-R angi-Wetea. It was the descendants of these ancestors that so strenuously resisted the landing of Captain Cook on the Bth October, 17(10, when he first discovered New Zealand.

A monument to him now marks the spot where lie stood, with his party of marines, near the boat landing place. The rock near by is where he had to shoot dead two of the aggressive Mao l "'*, over one of whom was laid a red-lined marine's coat from Cook’s ship and afterwards held by the head chiefs as an heirloom; subsequently buried with the great chiei of the tribe Te kaui-o-takirau, at Whangara, about ISoo. The Pa occupied l>v these descendants of Tahito and Taoputa in 1769. was the palisaded one on Tua-Motu Island, North Head, the subject of so much conjecture among Cook's officers as to the purpose of the palisading; but never having before seen a fortified Maori Pa, some thought it a doer park, others an enclosure for cattle. Another stronghold was the ancient Pa of Tahito. named “Te Pioi,” upon the top of Titirangi (Kaiti Hall). The direct and collateral branch descendants of the subjects of tills authentic legend, still preserve among them, the story as handed orally down through long lines of “Kaiimatua” (elders of the people) to the present time of “Te-kotahi tanga” (unity of the races). “Te-Meau-Nga-Rongo” and “Rangi-Marie” (peace and days of calm.) “Kanintu” (ended.)

children are recalled by a loth century manuscript preserved in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, where St. Nicolas is represented m his episcopal robes, holding a crozier and blessing three small boys rising from a tub. The story goes, that coming to the house of a butcher who had murdered throe hoys and kept them in pickle for seven years, he declined food unless he could have some of “the little swine. For seven long years lain in brine!” The butcher, alarmed at his guest’s knowledge, fled, and the saint restored the boys to life again. The origin of his surprise gifts at Christmas is in the legend that a certain nobleman of Padnia had three daughters,, who could not find husbands on account of their father’s inability to provide them with a- suitable dowry. St Nicholas came to the rescue by throwing a full purse in through the window: on the third occasion that- he did this, the grateful father managed to seize his coat, but

the saint, annoyed at bein'* recognised, commanded him to keep the secret, and he has not vet been released from his vowSanta Claus assumes different forms in the different countries he visits. English children think of him as Father Christmas, coming down the chimney on Christmas Eve to fill their stockings with his delightful presents; and the idea of hanging ut> the Stocking to receive thorn seems to have originated in Belgium, where every child has a chocolate bishop (often with three hoys) put in his stocking ns a souvenir of Santa Claus.

Tn Holland, children place by the hearth their shoes to hold his gifts, and) carrots for the white horse he rides, while a black slave of the saint is supposed to come with him down the chimney to administer the birch rod to bad boys.

Tn Norway and Sweden. Santa CJaus becomes: identified with the god Woden (whose name we preserve in Wednesday), and is represented as a hearty, jolly-old man who brings gifts from the fir-trees in his woods. Tn Sweden, everyone in the country districts puts a sheaf of corn on a post outside his door, to console the birds, because they have no . stockings to hang up; and in Denmark, corn is placed at the edsie of the roof for the benefit of the white horse, which is a tradition here, as in Holland. Tn Russia, Santa Claus is very little known; but in Switzerland, he is accompanied by his wife Lucv, who wears the national peasant girl’s costume, and lightens his load by carrying the gifts for little girls. In Germany, Christmas is, perhaps, an even greater festival than with us; and here Santa Claus as the Christ Child comes beforehand to inquire into the behaviour of the children of the house. The good children receive the presents they wish for, hut the had are threatened with being carried away for punishment in his servant’s basket. Tt is interesting to know that often in country places in Germany the table is laid for a meal, and candles kept burning throughout Christmas Eve, that the Virgin and her Child, in passing through the house, may take some needed refreshment.

Tn France, Santa. Claus is called dean Noel, and is awaited, as in Holland, by shoes on the hearth or mantelpiece, while Austrian children place baskets on the window-ledges for his gifts. Formerly, in Rome, house walls were supposed to turn into cream cheese, to let him eat his way in, in tlie shape of an oM woman. In the New World, he is looked for as here, and Canadian and American children imagine Father Christmas driving his reindeer sleigh, just as do their English cousins.

‘‘first foot” their friends, which they never do empty-handed, as it is said to bring “bad luck.” A popular first footing gift amongst the humorously inclined, is a red herring decorated with blue ribbon. Other dainties being large cakes and shortbreads, iced and decorated with mottoes suitable to the season. (The writer knows a young lady who makes unite a considerable income painting little scenes and mottoes on the sugar plates for the shortbreads). The one regrettable feature of this enjoyable time is, that the “whisky bottle” is too much in evidence! amongst the lower working classes, who at this time usually imbibe, “not wisely, but too well.” There are any amount of entertainments for the people, a feature in one particular town being a Promenade Concert, got up by the Town Council. The best talent is mrocured. the programme changed everv hour, from 12 noon till 10 p in., and they charge

only a penny per head, and you can stay any time, long or short. A quaint custom used to exist in some of the Scotch villages—namely, on New Year’s morning, the village children used to go from house to house, knocking at the doors, and saying : “Get up, guidwife, and shake your feathers, And dinna-think that we are beggars, For we are bairns, come out to play : Rise up, and gie’s oor hogmanay. Thereby usually receiving their New Year’s faring, either in goodies or money, sometimes both. These are a few of the features of a Scottish Yuletidc, usually a jolly time, looked forward to by young and old alike-

come into his grey eyes when she whispered that a little life was to he-en-trusted to their care, . . And so she waited all that day, and cried herself to sleep when the long, lonely night came. Next day he wrote a cold, short little letter. He could see, he said, that their marriage had been a great mistake. He was going away. In three years she could apply for a divorce on the plea of desertion, and she would have the freedom she longed for. She read the letter over and over again, and then the understanding of what it meant came to her. She rushed to her bedroom and feverishly began to change into outdoor clothes. “I must tell him! I must tell him!” her thoughts came confusingly. And then she paused. Where would she find him? The letter had no address on it. She sank down on to her bed a little limp figure. At last she arose, her pretty lips tightly compressed and a light of determination in her eyes. She had her own little income. She was an only child and an orphan, hut there were their mutual, inquiring friends around her. The saddened woman let her pretty home and went away into the country,