Experiences of an Old Pioneer.

Manawatu Herald, 18 August 1894, Page 3

Experiences of an Old Pioneer.

(Continued.) A Warm tussle. The following niorning I proceeded round" tfie harbour to the nearest point to where the Adelaide was anchored for the purpose of getting a i . u. ... v/>/imaif.Aß tent, tdolfl ana owei *%«!- ashore, being anxious to eveot the tenfc to receive my brother, who had been Buffering a severe illness, the doctor advising that it might save his life by having him away from the ship as soon as possible, and which had the desired effect. The Bpot selected was called Waiplratt, ntar the present Governor's residence. On pegging my tent down I was visited by the first native I had ever seen, who was the chief of the PipiteaPah, and his name was Te Bangi Rurupuni. He at once made great gesticulations, the meaning of which I could not understand, all the whil« brandishing a tomahawk that lie carriecL His first movement was to pull up the tent-pegs, which led eventually to each trying who waV the strongest. Knowing the disadvantage I was under, I naturally made every endeavour to obtain the weapon he held, and in our wrestling together I succeeded in throwing him down, and had the tomahawk in my possession. Being close to tbe sea I decided to throw it as far as possible into the water, not knowing it was so shallow some distance out. To my great surprise, after watpbing what I had done he tucked uj i his blanket, quietly walked into the sea and recovered the tomahawk. This was rather alarming, btft I was further surprised when he walked deliberately up to me and did not seem in any way vexed, but made overtures of peace. SUGAR AND BLANKET POLICY. Afterwards falling in with a Mr Brooks, who was a good native interpreter, and with him found the native with whom I had the altercation. Through Mr Brooks I was told that the native's anger with me was that I had pitched my tent near 8/ patch of potatoes growing, and also adjoining a stream of water, which he claimed some payment for. Wishing to remain friendly, I ascertained that a pair of blankets would be ample compensation, and they were accordingly presented to him. From then and afterwards no dispute of any nature arose between us, but we remained the best of friends. PAST COLONISTS. The only Europeans at the time of my lauding living thereabouts were Mr Richard Barrett and with him Mr Brooks (the latter some 8 years after on iJune 18th, 1848, at the Wairau massacre of Nelson colonists, meeting a- most unfortunate death, he having his tongue cut out.) START OP WELLINGTON. (Vefy soon after the decision to fix tbesite for the town, many people came to arrange homes for themselves in the meantime, until we could select our land as bought frcm the Company. As settlement progressed, people launched out into businesses of various kinds, Dr Johnston settled down to carry on his profession, and Barrett's Hotel was the first one erected. The primitive mode of building houses was by poles put in the ground interlaced with supplejacks, and plastered with clay outside, lined with reeds inside. The roofing consisted of poles as rafters with a toi tot thatch. THE MANAWATU. Two years from the time of landing everyone found business very precarious, owing to the drainage of money away to Sydney in payment for necessary goods imported ; money became so scarce, in fact, it may be said that there was no money whatever in circulation, and people in business were obliged to issue debentures, commonly called at that time " shin-plasters." As there was a general stagnation to business I removed to the Hutt with the intention of trying farming, but my expectations not being realised, I was led by the good account given me by (wo friends (Messrs Harrison and Kettle), sumyors, to take a look at a block of land in the Manawatu recently purchased by Colonel Wakefield. I was so pleased with the country that I decided upon settling at Paiaka, on the banks of the Manawatu River. This purchase of Colonel Wakefield's was, however, afterwards dis* allowed by Mr Spain, a special commissioner sent out by the British Government, to enquire into all the purchases of land by the New Zealand Land Company. He held his Court at Wirokino, at which Colonel Wakefield attended. NATIVES AS PRODUCERS. Finding that the natives were very numerous and raising large quantities of produce, such as wheat, potatoes, and muka (dressed flax.) I commenced trading with them, thtre being a great demand in Sydney for wool-lashing, rope, etc. I engaged a number of rope-makers to spin the flax purchased from the natives, and for a few years sent gw»y "htrerdredß of tons. Building operations being very rife in different parts of the colony through new forming, I also employed sawyers, and chartered vessels to take the Umber and produce away. (To be continued.)