BRITISH ADVENTURERS

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 4945, 21 January 1937, Page 6

BRITISH ADVENTURERS

WHALING A CENTURY AGO. I OPERATIONS ON TARANAKI COAST. The late Mr. George Ashdown, whose death at the age of 90, at Paraparaumu was reported recently, was a familiar and popular figure at social gatherings of the Early Settlers' Association. He was the son of a grand old British adventurer of the past, who came to New Zealand just about a century ago—a boast that very few New Zealanders indeed can make, writes "Tangiwai." Somewhere in the twenties of the last century, George Ashdown, English sailorman, set foot on a Taranaki iron sand beach from a whaling and sealing vessel, went in for shore whaling with a group of other great hearts of the sea, married a Taranaki Maori woman of chieftainess rank, and harpooned and lanced many a sperm and "right" whale off New Plymouth coast —there was no New Plymouth then.

In 1832 Ashdown was one of the whalers who, with the famous Dicky Barrett, helped to defend the Ngamotu Pa against the Waikatos and manned the guns, one of which is now in Pukekura Park, New Plymouth. The guns were loaded with nails, stones, and all sorts of projectiles when cannonballs ran short.

In June of that year the defenders of the Ngamotu Pa and the remnants of Ngatiawa tribe gathered near Sentry Hill and trekked through the forest, coming out near where Normanby now is, and eventually joined their tribesmen at Otaki and Wellington. In 1833 Ashdown and his mate, James Bishop, who also married a Taranaki native girl, went to Lord Howe Island, sailing in a schooner. They spent a Robinson Crusoe life there, fishing, sealing, and living on the flesh and milk of wild goats. Several children were born to them there.

Bishop died on the island, and, when dying, made Ashdown promise to take the women and children back to Tara-

naki. After Bishop's death, Ashdown sold the island to the New South Wales Government. The deed of sale should be in existence in Sydney. In the forties, Ashdown and the others returned to New Zealand, and early Cuba Street was the birthplace of George Ashdown, junr., in 1847. The father died in Wellington about 60 years ago, and was buried in Sydney Street Cemetery.