Looking Backward

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 10473, 31 December 1927, Page 9 (Supplement)

Looking Backward

ME. FRANK HA RE IS REVIEWS THE EARLY DAYS. THE OLD SETTLERS AND THEIR WAYS. STORIES GRAVE AND GAY.

Son of Mr. Tv. F. Harris, unci a grandson of Ci: pt. J. W. Harris, tin; first pnkclia trader to settle down in Gisborne, Mr. F. It. Harris is as "Well-known as the town clock and has attained an enviable reputation in respect of kind-heartedness, integrity and public .spiritedness. None ; of the few .survivors of the very carl y days of Poverty T3nv is better acquainted with its history and none has a wider acquaintanceship amongst tlie old hands—Maori and pakeha alike. He i.s never happier than f when enjoying a chat on the days . that are past, on the trials and triumphs of the pioneers, on the wonderful record of progress that has been achieved, and on the great possibilities of the district in relation to the future. To-day, Mr. Harris i.s living in retirement, after a lengthy j period of strenuous application to I work of a variety of characters, which culminated in his highly sue- ■ i cessfiil control, for many years, of the Albion Club Hotel. But he has still numerous interests to occupy his critical attention, including participation in tho direction of vaHous companies, whilst, for recreation, he continues actively to associate himself with his favorite pastime, the game of bowls.

Mr. Harris was born in Napier on February 26. 1858, and h i.s parents came to Gisborne in the following year. His father had a store a little way from Biggs’ Corner; hut, three years later, tiie lure of gold

•drew him to that famous Otago goldhold, Gabriel’s Gully. Ere lie left 'Jlr, Harris senior sold sixty acres : aroiuul the store to Copt. Read at -> the price of £2 per acre. Incidentally. Mrs. I’Parson, now living at To Karaka, who is a sister of the subject of this notice, was horn at the home of the U’l’ren family at jVJakaTnka, near where the railway station non- .stands. The I*’.Ron's property Was very large and had a very fine orchard and flower garden and was known as “Roselaud.” Mr. Harris Returned to Gishorne in 1873, five years after the Massacre.

SETTLEMENT GREERS OUT BACK

Speaking of the early 70’s Mr. Harris told his interviewer that, at that time, settlement, was just creeping into the. hack country. Mr. W. S. Green took up Okah.utia, and was the most outlying settler in that direction. it was not until 1874 or 15775 that Gishorne was linked up with Napier by telegraph and wild rumors got into circulation rather too frequently for the comfort of the -then small community. Tn i-u-t, a very trivial incident wn : liable to create a very big scare. About that time, -Te Ko’oti was sheltering in the King Country and, every now and again, it would he bruited abroad that lie was abont. to make another descent on the district. The Johnson Bros, and Major Westrupp had ■a liloek of land extending from Te Arai to beyond Aluriwai, taking in a large part of the flat and all the front of the hill country. There were ,no settlers behind them. Years after, William Teat and Duncan McKay took up that land which is now known as the Roav station. In turn, Air. Barker, with his family, took up the Emerald Hills country, which was, then, practically all hush. Numerous herds of wild cattle at that time roamed that particular country. Messrs. .Barker and MacDonald had stations ct Kaiti and Pounwa, but 'there was ro settlement behind them. Subsequently tlicv also hold the Whntnunoko Mock. On the Coast, sottlo- „ meat was close to the sen and Whangara was held by Mr. Wallace, of lied I.ion Castle, England. On his return to Gisborne, Mr. Harris went to Opou station, then held by his, uncle. Mr. Henry Harris, and the late John Ferguson. Ho walked ont to the property with the late Dougald Ferguson. Eu route thev called in at the Koval Oak Hotel and this'was his first introduction to a public house. -The licensee was the late Aliek Hird ■and little did he (Mr. Harris') tiien .dream that he was personally destined to control, later on, one of the most important betels in Poverty Bay—the Albion Club Hotel—for no less a period than 17 years. Of those • who worked on Opou station in those .tlavs nhlv two were, to-dav. alive— Air. W. H. Cooper and himself. Hr reached Opou in the month of October and preparations were being mad" 1 for shearing which was to rmnie'i'c in the following month. With the rest of the staff. Mr. Harris was nut into the yards next day to dag the sheen and his previous notion that station life was Paradise at once faded cut. However, he worked on there for twelve years, part of the time for Air. John' Chirk, who. later, took over the property.

BUSHES IX THE EARLY DAYS

Mr. Harris went on to srv that, in the early 70 s. there was a large Native population on the hanks of Te Arai river. R ftvted mv>r the Arai brkbre on the Opo" sale and was called Tapatahi. PVwhakMn was a bush of smile hundreds ef acres. To-day. there remained, ’-it a *'ow scattered trees, principally kaliikatea. A vear or two before his return to Gisborne, a fire bad gone through a large portion of the bush,' and. for years afterwards, strong winds would play havoc with tottering giants and. as they fell, the noise avail'd bo hoard for miles around.

, Not infrequently Natives had been lost in the bush. Later on it was cut out by the late Mr. William King. Kio Kie thrived in abundance and it produced a delicious fruit, with two crops. In olden days it was a case of woe betide anybody who touched the early crop. As a warning a rahui (embargo) was adopted. °it took the form of a pole with some kiekie vine at the top and it was used there in 1873 for the larst time. There was also a bush next to Kupenga where the Dunlqps lived called Meiemcre. It was principally tawa and was felled lor firewood and was burned mostly by the of Gisborne. The late Mr. Robert Knox had a large number of men carting and cutting. Whakawa was another fine white pine bush; it adjoined Glencoe, Whatatuna, Rnkukaka and tho flat on Eaparatu had large patches of bush. Okangn, too, had numerous clumps of kowhai, j some 30 inches in diameter. This was all on Opou station. ' To-day nothing I was to he seen of it. A great part of tho flat on Opou station from Rakukakn to Eaparatu was a burnt for- | est. His father had told him that in his young days it was all standing bush. (In his ov i part he had seen white pine trees close on five feet through. No puriri was to be seen, with the exception of two trees, smith of the Big River. Old Alakauri had a. big forest of puriri, remnants of which were to be seen todav. These were only a. few- of the bushes—those known to himself. AV*!l might Cook say. when he viewed Poverty Bay from 'Htirnngi, that it was heavily timbered.

AN HISTORIC STATION. .

Continuing, Mr. Harris said that Opou station took its name from a small block of land containing about

GO acres. Opou was one of the most historical in the Bay. It was taken up in the early days bv his grandfather, Cnpt. J. W. Harris. The first horses, cattle and sheep brought to the district were taken on to Opou. Such was also the,case in respect of the first willow, oak and ash trees. Many of the first fruit trees were also planted there. Alt oak was said in 1876 to be tho largest in New Zealand. Kupengn, part of Opou in the early duvs; was tho home, of the Dunlop family. Te Kooti destroyed this home in 1868, tho'family escaping, wi.t-li others, through the bush to Mailin'. Mr. Harris remembered seeing the remains of the home, as well as those of other settlors which had keen: burnt out by the rebels. Tho onee fine orchards and gardens had now gone. A few hundred yards beyond Dunlop’s, oil the hanks of the Te Arai river, the Forest Rangers wore stationed and lie understood Hint the embankments made by them were still in existence. They were disbanded about 1865. The pa at Tapatnlii had left traditions of the great loyalty of its people. Assuredly, the timely warning given from the pa to the Harris family had robbed To Kooti of many victims. The Europeans of to-dav should be r.-mir.d?' 1 . that many of the loyal Natives of Tapp tain "made great sacrifices,on behalf of their white sisters and brothers. Tutere, lor instance, was tomahawked, after refusing for a second-time, to tell the rebels which route tho fugitives from the Massacre area bad taken. On account of the loyalty of Heiinre Turanga, the British so’diers, after the fight at Eaparatu, acre saved. 'To Kooti got between the soldiers and' Gisborne. Ilennre summed up the position well and led the pakelias by an unexpected track. Honnre Turanga's action was never fully recognised by the Government. Te Eoti. bis father, was killed by Te Kooti, because he refused to leave the pa. When threatened with death he said: !; I am old: I will die on the land.” Many of the descendants of Ilenaro Turanga were still alive. Those who were taken prisoner by the Hnuhnus lost their lives. In the circumstances, it was hard to find fault with Major Ropata, when he took such, stern measures with all tho rebels who had taken part in the Massacre and fell into his hands.

CAPT. READ’S LUCKY PRESENTMENT.

According to Air. Harris, lie found it hard to understand how the awful Alassaere of IS6S was allowed to come about.’ He had had rtiauv conversations with survivors and the general opinion was that it should have been lealised. after the fight at Pap.nratu. that Te Kooti, in accordance with Maori custom, would .seek revenge. Some of the settlers on the Flats knew that thev wore not safe and expected a raid. in eouvorsa(ion with him. the late Aliek Robb, father of Robert Robb, of this town, had said that, on the Sunday previous to ihe Alassaere, after church, lw had expressed his fears to his (Mr. Harris’) grandfather and others, hut they had given him a poor hearing and he had not pressed his viewpoint, as he was afraid that he ■would be looked upon ns an alarmist. He fAIr. Robb, senr ) went home, however, far from satisfied. On the morning of the Alassaere. Air. Rolih was luckv to es-ope with Ins wife and fa mil'- +o Cisbarue. At the time, bo was firing at Newstoad, Alnkaraka. and. as thev fled along the narrow track through the thick s'Tub. fearing that Hunhnus would emerge at any moment and destroy them, they could hear the rebels' guns going off and see the reflections in the sky from tbo burning homes at Matnwhero. - When -at last thev reached Gishorne and Had; placed liis loved ones in safety no one could un-derstand-how relieved he was. . Atessrs. Dodd and Pepperd, who bad R-e----pongaer- hu t - resided- near Waeren-

ga-a-liikn Crossing, were, lie had been told, planting potatoes when they fell out with a Native who said, in the heat of his passion: “Yon may plant the potatoes, hut you will never eat them.” As far as he could gather, the-,- were the first \ ictims of the raid. Thus the Native's words came true. Captain Read wont out to his piaoe at M.otnwhoro the nigho before tin* Al'.ssmre. When bed-time came, he said: ”1 do not feel safe here; I will return to Gisborne.” His luck was in. There were others who had their fears, but would not show them. Tho authorities must have had something in tluir minds when they p'acod Lieut. Gascoigne and others in the Te Arai Valley to keep watch.

WHAT jv TE KOOTI HAD ATTACKED GISBORNE?

Mr. Harris went on to say that nil impossible task was set Lieut. Gascoigne. and a few men to protect such a large extent of rough country and give warning t> such a large number of settlers. It was well-known that T" Kooti had Ids spies in and about G'shtree AA’licvrever Lieut. Gascoigne placed his men their position would be known to Te Kooti. In 1898 Mr. Harris slept on the place where Te Kooti camped fn - '* nights before be instituted the Massacre It was on a ridge above the Ruakitnri river. There were still a number of Natives living in that locality who could slmd row 1 light on the awful event. He knew that the late John Ferguson and others had thought that the then Government, that of Stafford, had been lax. If the State papers of that day could be brought from their p'geon-holes it would show who was real ! y responsible for the p otection of the settlers. After tin* Massacre it was said that Major Biggs had to got the sanction of the Government even to allow tho settlors to huihl n redoubt and fro into it. Joo Ah’xajulor Tinu told him that when he gel; into Gisborne the iuitlwrities bad no arms to give liim. ft was ■ hard fo snv what might cr might not have happened if Te Kooti hed rEo attacked Gisborne. A few of tli'e followers of Te Kooti were still to be seen or-ens-ionallv on the streets- of G'sbor,,,-. and the old incident was buried.

A SPORTSMAN S PARADISE.

Aceordim, to Mr. T-Tivris. Poverty Bay, in .1873. was an ideal snot for sportsmen. Biconns and leak as' were Humorous. T ;]<<• noun' ethers, lie wits able to shoot them rfi IPs hoi-se on liis rounds on Opou. If be lirer to one side the old leave would sunply throw her heart to Hie other side. Twenty to tii’rt.v pigeons were easily obtainable. Dirts were to be found in large numbers in all the rivers and creeks on the Flats. Awo mini was a great home for them. There were thousands in Hint locality. Oil Bepongaere Lake ami Glencoe Lake it was very oasv to get fifteen brace. From Harris'" bend on the AVaimata river right up to its source ducks were also plentiful. Right back for many miles from Long Bush was heavy bush Many a good bag was taken from GKnrov. Pigs also were plentiful on the front ranges. lie had killed many from Long Bush onwards. ’Parakeets used to come to he Flats in thousands. Their In'"*:, isit. was in 1875.'.. Etd-mkos ywere liful in tbo swamps (and on the adjoining lands') in those days prohohlv ]OOO acres in extent. To-day all this land is in grass..-: No wonder the Native came disappeared when it lost its feeding grounds!

THE “KING GEORGE” AND OTHER FLOODS.

There were, Air. Harris continued, many Natives in 1873 between Tnpntabi. and Aluriwai at Owbeta pa, Pakirikiri aiid Aluriwai. The Natives cultivated on both sides of tiie present road to Pakirikiri. Mr. Horsfall had a store at that place and did a big business. There was a ferry at the month of <the Big River. The main traffic with Gisborne and the Aluriwai district went that way. It was a short route, seeing that there were no bridges at Te Arai and Alatawhero. There was an hotel at Aluriwai which was burnt down one night, when Air. Tibbals was at Gisborne. His wife and daughter lost their lives. It was never satisfactorily explained how the fire originated nnd the fatalities caused a deep gloom over the district as the victims were very popular with the residents and the travelling public. Tn IS7G there was a flood winch was probably the biggest known in the last 50 or 60 years. Thro'-o' then there was a flood which was higher. It occurred in my father’s boyhood. Mr. Harris thought that flood was known to the Natives as ‘"Victoria’’ as it "happened early in her reign. One again prior to that was known as the ‘Tying George” flood. It was said to have been higher than any other. Tradition, indeed, bad it that it covered the Te Karaka Flats and that the deposit raised them many feet. The ohl N>tlve". in this regard, used to call attention to the timber sticking, cut from the river hanks. Let us hope that Poverty Bay will never see their likes again.

VEHICLE? OF PAST DAYS.

As to the mode o r cmnevance in the earliest dnvs of settlement. Mr. Harris .s-"<! thut h's mother tolcl him that in 1850 she and his father were in the habit of making visits to neighbors on a sledge drawn by two

horses. They had seats on the sledge and coii.s,deis.u it a vov gay turn , out. Both his sister, Airs. Pearson ' and himself would then' be infaiits. i In 1373 the spring cart was in use; it was a one-horse affair. Later on I came the double-seated buggy—a four j wheeled vehicle. Many of the old folks used to get into trouble with them by turning too short when the wheels would lock. They would have gone hack to the old spring cart, but tho young folks would not let them. All*. Harris, with a smile, said he did not think he was ever in a pram. Today he was rushed about in a motorear. Sometimes lie thought i.e was safer on the sledge. The late Air. Sievwrigiit was the first man he ever saw on a velocipede. They were not favored; they had a high front wneei and a small one behind. H; was sure, too, that the old gentleman never felt safe upon it. In his (Air. Harris’) young days he used a horse or had to foot it. in 1873 the use of bullocks was at its height. All the ' carting to and in the country was j done by these patient animals. AA ith j a good driver it was hard to stick i them. They would go practically > anywhere. Air. Ewen Cameron, of j Toanga, had many fine teams; he was i the Henry Ford of that day.

AT DEATH’S DOOR.

Amongst the “early birds,” Mr. Harris proceeded, were some who had a knowledge of gold-mining and some who thought they did. The hack country was little known and a great part had never been trodden by a white man. The “hopefuls” always reckoned that there was gold out back it it could only be found. Many little parties tried; and some came back full of confidence. The following incident had been told to him by the late Mr. Lachlan Mclntosh. He with a small party went out prospecting and to have a look at the country generally. They were having a smoke on a ridge after a strenuous climb when, just below them, they heard a peculiar sound. An argument followed as to what it was and they decided to investigate. They found a man who was at death’s door. He was only skin and hone and unconscious. They carried him into Ormond, where he recovered. Tt appeared that he had lost himself and had been wandering about for some time.

JOY TURNED TO ANGER.

Mr Harris’ said that on another occasion, a well-known prospector went out and brought in some likely-look-ing stone. He took it to a blacksmith's shop and put some of it in a mortar on a fire. After a while he suggested to the smith that they should go over to the pub and have a drink. Others present wore invited to join in the shout. After a while the prospector suggested to the smith that they should go back, as the stone should bo sufficiently heated to stand crushing. After .the crushing took place, the prospector became speechless with what met ho eyes. The mortar was full of yellow metal. Tie waved his hand to the blacksmith and called: “Come and have a look.” Immediately they shook hands and again adjourned to the pub and gave out the glad tidings. The old chap was looked upon as a millionaire and the conclusion was reached that Gisborne was about to become one of the wealthiest and biggest cities in Australas'a. One “cocky” said lie would straightaway iirreas* Ids potato patch to several acres; another threatened to double

Ins pumpkin patch, whilst still another said that he would go in for tomato growing, as lie nail Heard of niggers giving sir much as four >;Hillings lor a tomato! the jIJ chap went home and put the yellow stult under a microscope and to other tests and to Ids astonishment he found that it was simply brass filings. Ho immediately mounted his horse ancl went back to the smithy. AA'hat lie told the smith—and in no soft- voice —would be unprintable. A crowd then collected and began to sift the matter out. It was recollected that, when they adjourned to the pub, they Rad left a boy in the shop and it was decided to ask him a question or two. But tbe boy could never be found.

A LEG AA'EL'L PULLED.

With a laugh, Air. Harris went on to say that, later on, he had had his own leg well pulled. He was working at a shearing shed for the late Air. John Ferguson at Lavenham when a Alaori showed him a lump of quartz welj studded with gold. On enquiring .where it had been found, the Native said: “I dare not tell you: the tribe would kill me if I divulged the secret.” He had asked him to let him have it for a day or two and the Native said : “As you are one of us, I will let you have it for that time. You are the only one I would allow to have possession of it.’’ Air. Harris said that he could not get to Gisborne quick enough. He went to his old friend “Billy” Good and to'-' him. When he produced the specimen all other business was suspended and he got all the attention. “Billy,” on examining it under a micoscope, said that it had been tested before, for the acid marks were plainly visible. They parted. “B’llv” went to his customers and the narrator went to the nearest pub. Since then “Billy,” he had noticed, had come hv* some good gold mines in the shape of valuable town sections !

THE AIAORTS AND THE OIL QUEST Talking in respect of the explorations for oil in the district, Air. Harris said that before IS6S some of the local explorers discovered the oil springs at Te Hau-o-te-Atua (“The Wind of the Gods). The. Wal ‘v"ctives, however, wondered why they were making such a fuss over the discovery. The springs, they said, had b p en known to them for mnnv generntions. In the 70\s a company wi-ps formed to bare for oil nnd some Natives appeared on the scene, ennuiring the reason for all the work. Thev were told that the pakelias would put down a pipe into The earth and from it thousands of barrels of oil would come forth. An old patriarchal Alaori amongst the visitors shook his head nnd .said : “Pakehas! * Your work will fail. Listen to

me and I will tell you why. In ancient times Rongokhko stood on Alahia peninsula. When you are on the kaipuke (ship) you will notice how flat the hill is (we call it Table Cape or hill). After looking round, he stepped across the sea and placed his foot on Tapjiwai (a flat hill on the Coast, this side of AA’hangara pn). As he moved across the Bay. a whale was spouting underneath him. He reached down and lifted him in his arms. Oil his next step the whale slipped out of Iris arms and fell on the laud, where you see the oil.” If many of ns had taken the advice of the old chap, we would have been freed from many disappointments. Perhaps, mv friend Afr. Dalton could estimate the whale’s dimensions!

ELECTION OF FIRST COUNCIL.

The candidates for the first election for the Borough were: Stubbs. J. H. ; Smith, Carlaw (elected); Nasmith, ALttthew (elected) : Adams. Thus, (elected) ; Crawford, AA’. F., who became Alayor ; Kelly, Richard; Aoylnn, Hy.;

Aforgan ; Ross; Brown, K. K. (elected) ; AA’anen, John ; Teat (elected) ; Adair, AVilliam (elected) ; Tutchen, ; Josiah ; Clayton (elected); Cooper, Robert; Taylor, Brooke; Townley, John (elected); Best. Alas, the ma- j joritv of the above old townsmen are I resting in their last sleep. Many cl their di-siriular.ts, are, however, still with ns. 1 do not know if any of those old candidates are living. Some, of them went to Australia, including, KolJv, Brown and Stubbs. The "G.0.M.” Crawfo:d rests in Auckland cemetery. 1 think there should lie one mo e ; n tho Council, but I cannot place ii.m. as fi tv tears is a long time to* test one’s memory. J There ate Mi ne amongst us v. ho work- ] ed lor tin* first Council. Air. Thomas j Saddler i.s cue of Hum. Imt there | must be others, if they -could only be j found. !

SETTLERS BEFORE 1860.

On mv return to reside in Gisborne iu October, 1873, the following are numbered among those whom 1 was closely in ton'll with: Richard Pcuigrain. who had arrived in 1840. a son William at Te Karaka (Richard Poulgrain died alter Captain Read); Tom U'Rcii. who was living on the old family estate at Mnkrraka (the railway station is on part of it, and it was called “Roselaud”'; Air. and Airs. Tttrr (181-5). Airs. Tarr lived to a great age ; John Harvey (1846);; Air and Airs. Dunlop; Brown (grandfather of Alahakt Brown, now at Palm); Capt. Read: Janies Smith, wlio; lived! near Awnpuni, near the wool works; James Alncki y (father of Ra and AYi) ; and John U'Ren, alio was farming at Tanrika (John and lom U Bren were sons of the old pioneer). The above* id! came to Poverty Bay before* 1860’..

“THE FINANCIAL KING A’

Capt.. Read was the financial' king. He owned the “AA’iltows” and also* a large area in the Alakanri block and 600 acres at the Big bridge. He grazed a large number of cattle. He was the bingest owner in cattle. He leased 1030 aeres to De Aloidry .at .£1 per acre and he sold many 10 and! 20 acre sections around Alatawheiu and Afakiuiri at £2O per acre-—lie named! it “Aleiiclelstrcin” after the place where he was born. He was keen to. get settlers on the land, as belaid it was the only way to settle the Native troubles. He brought many workers from Auckland in the Tawera (Capt. Joe Kennedy). Capt. Read was of peculiar temperament. You could make money under him, but you could not cross his grain. When yon ruffled him, he was very fiery. He had many good {joints. Many of bis employees worked the best part cf their lives for him and when he died he did not forget them. He was for many years the leading storekeeper.

GOODS DUAIPED INTO SEA

Mr. Horsfall started in opposition to Cap. Road at what is now Williams and Kettle’s corner, but Horsfall sold out to Graham and Kinross. This was the first hard opposition the old man ever had to face. Some of his right hand men later went into business on their ovvn account. But Read

was cute enough to see that he was too old.to carry on and he sold out to William Adair. Many ot his old clients were sorry to see him retire, i never knew the old chap to advertise cheap sales. Fashions did not change much those days! You must remember that steam communication with Wellington was once a fortnight and with Auckland only occasionally. The Taw era, a schooner (Joe Kennedy, capt.) carried most ot the trade that way in 1873. Two or three years later, the business system had changed considerably. I was told that goods Capt. Head could not sell were put into the wool bales, placed in the Taweru, and thrown into the sea between lie-re and Auckland.

Head was a jolly eld chap in his own way. One time lie bought some flour in Auckland, where he principally did his business. It was a bad spec. He sold a ICOlb bag to a Maori Later on, the Native told Head the Hour was no good and wanted to return it. Read’s answer was, ’ I hau to stick to it and so will you.” Later on, when the rye grass was coming in, one bag proved very heavy and it was emptied and out came the 1001 b bag of flour! When Read was told, he asked if the Maori had been paid. The answer was • ‘Yes.’' Some days afterwards, Read met the Maori and told him that he would have to refund the money. The answer was: • You tell me I buy the flour (prower) and 1 have to keep it. f talk the same to you !” This conversation would be in Maori and English. The old man took it a:; a good joke, but John Harvey got a lecture for taking delivery of heavy bags.

HOW READ MISSED' GETTING TEADUCER,

There was another old chap that Read did business with for big amounts. Tliev would settle accounts once a year, and a great day it was. You could hear them a good distance elf. High words were used on both sides but no blows were ever struck. At last, the client would come out, closely followed by the old man. The client’s parting orcls would be, ‘•You will never get ary more of my money” and Read’s: '‘You will never get any credit from my store.'' And thus they parted. This way of settling accounts had been going on for many years. That famous sire Traduccr was nearly bought by Read. He was asked at Auckland to go and see him. The price was very small. When the top door was opened, Traduccr rushed at Read, showing all his teeth. Read said, “Wo have enough mankillers' down our way,” and would have nothing more to do w : th him. This was just after the Massacre, latter on, the old horse’s stock was famous throughout N.Z.

MADE MOST OF HIS MONEY AFTER, MASSACRE.

When React retired front business, lie was living in Lvtton Road where Mr. Barker now lives. He went in for breeding high-class sheep on land owned by him from Lvtton Read toStanley Road, all facing Gladstone Road and Childers Road. It was rrr a very rough state and he cleared and ploughed it, and planted maize and trees, some of which may be seen today. Robt. W. Bttcknev was Ills foremint and he spent a heap of money on tile property. He died there, his end being sudden, about 1876. His funeral was the biggest ever seen in the district up to that time. He is buried In the family vault at Tie Arab along with his brother Robert. His estate was- valued at £130,000. T 1 tat was ! the amount on which the probate was 1 paid on, at any rate. The great portion of his money was made from IS6B (after the Massacre). One night Read was having a- convivial evening with some friends, my grandfather amongst them, and he was supposed to have said: ‘"You see all the aimed forces coming into the pbu-e. The , Government will have to spend a lot of n”’i:ey: now’s our tint'' !'- get it. 1 will stick to business.'' He was i (lie only out' that did so. j . THE ‘-SHL\ PLASTERS.” ! When the Government paid out. the ! bulk of the money was taken by .foe | Kennedy to Auckland. Capt. Read j ti.sccf to issue paper money of bis own. I His notes vere called '‘shin plasters” : for why Ido not know. 1 think i thev were used until the Bank of ; N-.Z. started. He was supposed to i have made money with them. A lot ! of them would bo burned when Te I Jvocti made the raid. He had a. small ! steamer named' after his wife. He i also had a store where the freezing j works stand and vessels used to dis- I j charge into it. Tie also had another j sto-c where the band rotunda- is siti tutted. He used both these places for [ many years Then again lie had ani other store between the Albion Hotel and the river; this one was where he did his business with the public. He bad no country branches and lie liked everything in that line under his own. eye.

THE FAITHFUL NOKO.

Captain Read was married' to a Native woman named Noko. I was at ReatT's house on two or three occa-

sions and Noko was always doing something. She was a fine type pi woman. Cupt. Read’s apparel wis alwa-vs spotlessly clean, all due 1 should say, to his wi‘e. W hen Read had had had turns of health, he always found Noko in close attendance; others would give him a wide berth as they used to say he was very irritable. Noko was a good wife to him. Capt. Read was the “King Pin oi Gisborne as far as business was concerned. It would take the pen of a Charles Dickens to describe linn. The history of Gisborne cannot be written without giving him a prominent place.

A STRANGE MEETING

The late Air. Dunlop was a .jolly old chap. 1 should think it would take a lot to worry him. Jock Muir, before 1873, met him and had a long lock at him. Jock said: “Were you ever at 1 in Scotland'” Danlop said, “Yes.” Muir added: “You used-to ride behind the hounds and I held your horse for you and, you gave ine two shillings.” Mr. Dunlop remembered the event. I never heard of Mr. Dunlop being out of Gisborne after his arrival, except at the tune of the Massacre. Tarr was the man that worked the so : l. He was a typical old fanner. I should think he had sprung from generations who had tilled the'soil. By all accounts, he grew big crops of wheat- and for seme of it he must have got b'-g prices. It was shipped to Australia when the gold fields were booming. : I only beard of him being once out of the district, when he had a look at

Auckland. He was for many veais farming at Cpou. Many oi liVr'i.unity were born there. Richard P ingrain, I behove, ha 1 been a trader. He was a very old man on inv arrival. "William Brown lived at- Makauri on a place called B own's Point. 1 would think he laid been a seafaring man.

FOUNDERS OF EM TIRE

James Mackey—his son was k.'ib-u in the second Massacre—in the call;, days was pit-sawing lor my grandfather at Eakukaka. He was fond or a joke and could tell many Stoiie.s of the navy. He kept the lorry at Gisborne lor many \ears and lived to a great age. He lost a son in the Massacre white curry.ng dispatches. Tin. lure ot tin- city had no charms foi those old chaps. Poverty Bay was good enough ior them ami you would get a dressing down if yon' s lid anything against the place. I lie took great exception to the changing of the name from ‘‘Tni-anga” to “Gisborne" and refused, for a long time, to say

“Gisborne.’ These were the founders of Poverty Bay. Their comrades murdered and homes burnt, and barely escaping with, their own lives, within. a few days or weeks they were back again with their wives and children. They helped to build the Empire ami keep the. old flag flying.

AN ABUNDANCE OF i-RUJT.

Fruit grew in abundance. Peaches and app.es were found in many parts of the runs. There was a peace grove on 'Te Ami station, about half a mile long, on the bank of the river Te Arai in 1873. 1 don’t sujtp-o.se the trees had been pruned ior we knew nothing about fruit p.-sts. The trees simply grew and great was their yield. They had evidently started growing before the stock oauie into the country and delicious fruit it was, equal to the limit- one gets to-day. Ji was invaluable timl anyone could help themselves. Although we. were isolated .we enjoyed ourselves.

Dancing was all the go. but I could never manage it. Bjii.g too big, my feet got beyond control 1 lno con.ertina was the principal nii:~ . a.i instrument in those cays ami '.r.:uutu: music it was. You would find some very hue playe. s in chose days on station. Ilie station b.>> yvoulu have their dances in the wool-shed.and this was the style of one M.C.—“Hook your mutton!” “Turn to your partner, Tawhio! Now to Tommy’s daughter* Now to the gir; yun tile blue dress on!” and so on. i k.s was all to the strains of a concertina. Later on, when the European mammas came to the back blocks of those da. s a different sort of M.C. was made use of. Our refreshments were vt* y light—a bucket of water with a lew pannikins and you helped yoursei:. ilicre wars no charge for admittrn.e. The conduct was of the host; if othenvisa one was put out and later on he woulll, know all about it. The Natives havealways been fond of dancing and theEuropean modes of dancing appealed

to them. Tim soup- mose days seem to Hive bad r. s-vu-.c which you do not hare to-drtv. ! silt! remember two lines that used to mwo us station rousenbouts: -Mjte cay-tain with his whiskers took, a »!y p'ance at me, etc.” We would b -;mr our bluchers down with great force until she returned. The other one- was sung by a gent dressed to the knocker with great force b “My IrnpH v as in a flui-

lor when she tripped across the gutter.” etc. These songs would get a greet hearing. escaped through the bush.

The following, fugitives at the time of the .Massacre escaped through the I i.ush: Mr and Mrs Henry Harris and laughter (both dead); John Ferguson | Finlay Ferguson, iJugnld Ferguson, : fall deceased); Isabella 1-orgus-:on (now Airs. John Brcingan, ; Bush mere) ; Bidgood (deceased; Ito married e*K? of the Tarr’s); Robert Read, brother of lived (buried at iv Arai); William Green, son of U . S. Green (died at Auckland!; Matt WeMrupp, ::i cun:maud (dead); •’uti t Area, (guide of the fugitives,' lead.': Mr. Dunlop, Sour, (dead); Mrs AY. S. Green, wife of W. S. Green, tee Aiiss IT*Ren (dead); John Wiliams Harris (dead); Woodbine John- •••’ father of I r.ly Alatti Pomare and Mrs. Randall Shenn.tt). dead; Harry Ellis, a partner of Bidgood, who itnd a small business at- Tapatalii (dead) s • Mrs-.. A. F. Hardy (wife of

Capt. Hardy), dead.. There was- a party ahead of these fugitives.

VICTIMS OF SECOND. MASSACRE.

Liquor at Alatawhero delayed. Te' Konti. l tj), lather <>l I-tidy Carroll, and Hem we 'J ura-.tga gave the alarm to niv gt ancifaliier between 3 and 4 in, tne morning. Finlay Ferguson was on an out station beyond Kupenga. John Ferguson brought him in and gave the alarm to the Dunlop family. I its Harris and Ferguson families crossed, the Arai river by a boat owned l>v R. Read and walked to Tamilian:! ]>t. Joint and Finlay Ferguson lolloaul with the horses. . Airs. Wyl--1 le’s aunt- warned my uncle to go in, as there were enemies in the pa. Finely r ergn. -.t/.t, Alai-key (brother of Ra. Mackey), linpi Kinilta’s son and.Gav—vv Wyllio .•% bml her were killed at. Opou on 12th December, 1568.. John Ferguson and others returned, from, Alabin to Gisborne. Major AVcstrupp, aid A'r. Vt’i dbiue Johnston were with

the party. 1f...11 nr ris aiudl.L. libir.gus,on i Olio wed lutor. H. Harris and J. Ferguson le t r. Ferguson and partv on the date ne. was, killed. They rode through the Oka.uuga bush. To Kooti and his followers,saw them and some or them pointed their, guns to shout them but .Tc Kooli forbade them to fire. He did not. want to disclose Ills position, to Colonel Whitmo. e, who was leaving Gisborne with. Ins 1 roops oil the steamer Sturt. Lurkily for tips settlers, she struck a. lock anil sprang: a .eric and had to return to the river. Colonel Whitmore followed Tc Kooti and iouglit him at Ngatap.'.

BURIED TREASURE LOST.

! Finlay Eergusony on- tiie morning of 1 the Massacre, buried in the old oreh--1 a: d a dressing case ;- the secret of the> plnnt. died, wlijl. him. Many searches, were made- for ft but it was never , found, it was an oak ease, mounted in silver. It was said that the lute R’„ Rteadi, before he left his home

on the morning of the Massacre, bured a sum of money which be was never able to locate again. He was an o ! d man. An old bay mare (Jessie) imported, from Sydney by my grandfather was stolen by the’ Hauliaus. She returned to Opru two years after the raid, covered hv manv brands of a large size. She lived many years afterwards. She had probably • hcmi at Waikarcmcana.