Experiences of an Old Pioneer.

Manawatu Herald, 21 August 1894, Page 3

Experiences of an Old Pioneer.

(Continued.)

SHIP-BUILDING.

I was led by the amount of goods on ray bands to start the building of a vessel of about'4o tons, employing ; a very capable shipwright named Frank Abel. In less than a year the vessel, which I named the Mary Jane, was launched, and proved herself to be a thorough good sea-boat and fast gaiter. As trade continued to increase I found it necessary, particularly as good timber, such as totara, rata, maire, white and red-pines besides other woods were easily procurable, to build another vessel, which started by the same builder, her carrying powers to be about 85 tons. This boat turned out to be a regular clipper, and on going to Wellington laden with proclneet Jwppene&to wrir* when a sail-*

ing race Was in progress with the Vessels in port. Captain Underwood entered the Hannah for the raCe* and laden as she .was; beat the others but and out: $he jbrize for this race was a silver cup. These two vessels the Mary Jane and Hannah were the first and only ones built on the banks of the Manawatu. HONESTY OF. RANGIHAETA. Bangihaeta, the leader of the Wairau massacre, retreating to Porotawhao, in passing up the Manawatu Biver with his war-parties, met a cifioa Ipadediwith goo:b belonging to mej&ihe vilue^f about £200, and thjpr he; forcibly seized. However, ol&isiling him to ask- hjs intentions he promised to pay the full vvalue in^ flax, which was honestly" earned ottt by him getting his followers to work. AN INCIDENT. ; Perhaps an incident worth mentioning is4hat Bangihaeta fearing an attack by the Government troops, sent several messages to the settlers in the T Manawatu ordering tTiem : to leave the district. We received three such messages, and at last thought it advisable to go and see him at his pah at Povoutawhao. With him we found all the natives armed, and mostly those who had taken part with him in the dreadful massacre at W/amu. Discourse jalany, had left the district after receiving the first intimation, but Messrs Compton, Hartley, Kebbell, Barnett, H.^Sy* mons and myself decided to see him first. The old chief informed us that we were to depart at ones, with the exception of Mr Kebbell, who he wished ;|o retain". for the purpose of grinding their wlieafc, "Mr Kebbell then being the possessor ot a flourmill at Pamka. ARMING. Instead of leaving we determined to. arm. ourselves and keep a good lookout, as we had laid ourselves open for an attack" at any time. The Government hearing of the critical position we were in, sent a schooner up to take the settlers away. Many also made use of this opportunity to getaway, and only three remained namely, Messrs H. and C. Symons and myself. The schooner anchored at the mouth of the river, and those wishing to take passage went, down in canoes and got on board, when they Waited for a favorable opportu nifcy; to get over the bar. One of the three that decided to^ remain called out to the captain of the vessel, for the sake of a little diversion that the natives were coming down ther^ river in their canoes to seize the vessel, \pKcn~ caused the. captain to at once 'sweep 7 on i; of the river sooner than he intended, all however reaching Wellington in. safety. - PLUNDER. Shortly aiter to show, hoy? uncertain both life and property were, from the disaffection and excited state of the natives, Messrs Charles and Henry Symons who were farming at Oturoa, on the bank of the river, had just erected a comfortable dwelling house, and which the natives first plundered and then burnt to the ground, robbing them of everything they possessed. Other colonists in different parts were also robbed at this time. -• RETURN OF THE FUGITIVES. A few months later the fugitives returned to the Manawatu, I having written them to the effect that matters were quieting, and the excitement of .the natives wearing off.

(To be continued.)