EARLY NEW ZEALAND.

Northern Advocate, 19 December 1910, Page 2

EARLY NEW ZEALAND.

THE BURNING OF THE SKIP BOYD,

Just over 100 years ago an English vessel, the Boyd, commanded by Captain Thompson, after calling at Sydney, came on to New Zealand for a cargo of timber. Whilst in Sydney the captain shipped several Maoris as members of the crew, and one? of these Tara, a chief of Whangaroa, was tlogged during the voyage for having committed some slight irregularity. Whilst smarting under this indignity he persuaded the captain to put into Whangaroa Harbor. The third morning after casting the anchor the Boyd was surrounded by a great number of canoes, and many of the natives gradually insinuated themselves on board. Tippahee, a chief of the Bay of Islands, who had been twice at Port Jackson (Sydney) also arrived. He went into thecal tin, and after paying his respects to. the captain, begged a little bread for his men; but the captain received him rather slightingly and desired him to away, as he was busy. The proud old chief (who had been a constant guest at the Governor's table at Po.'t Jackson) was highly offended at this treatment, immediately left the cabin, and after stamping a few minutes on the deck, went into his canoe. After breakfast the captain went ashore with four hands, and with no other arms than his fowling piece. As soon as he landed the Maoris rushed upon him; he had only time to fire his gun, and it killed a child. Meanwhile Tippahee had again boarded the ship. A number of sailors w r ere repairing sails upon the quarter deck, and the remainder were carelessly disposed about the decks. Fifty of the Maoris were sitting on the deck. In a moment they all started up, and each knocked his man on the head. A few ran wounded below and four or five escaped up the rigging, and in a few seconds the savages had possession of the ship. A boy named Davies escaped into the hold, where he lay concealed for several hours till the Maoris were fairly glutted with human blood, and they then spared his life. Davies, a woman who had also been spared, and two children were subsequently recovered from the Maoris by Captain Alex. Berry, of the ship City of Edinburgh, who Avas employed at the Bay of Islands, and, hearing of the destruction of the i Boyd, had gone round to Whangaroa Harbour with three armed boats, and been able to effect their rescue. The woman had been discovered by an old subordinate chief, who, moved by her tears and embraces, interceded with Tippahee, who consented to spare her life.

After a horrid song and dance in honor of the victory, Tippahee took the • speaking trumpet, and, hailing the poor wretches who had escaped into the rigging, told them that he was now 1 captain of the ship, and that they must obey his orders. He ordered them to unbend the sails, which they readily did, but when he ordered them to come on deck they hesitated. He enforced prompt obedience, however, by threatening to cut away the mast. When they came down he received them with great civility, and told them he would take care of them; he immediately ordered them into a canoe, and ,they were taken ashore. There they were done to death as the captain and other hands had been butchI ered a short time before. A few mm Jutes afterwards the white woman j whose life had been spared was taken ashore by her deliverer. As soon as she landed a number of men started lup and marched towards her with their taiabas; a number of women ran screaming betwixt them, covered her with their clothes, and by their tears and entreaties saved her life. Davies. it might be added, whose life had also been spared as above related, was long afterwards in the employment of Mr Brown, the owner of the Boyd, but was subsequently lost at sea. The second, mate begged his life at the time of the massacre. Fie was snared for a fortnight, then killed and eaten, a fate which had previously ', overtaken the other whites. ' On til 3 day of the attack and mas-t-acre the natives towed the Boyd, with her saihs net, into shallow water at the top of the harbour, and there set her . on fire. She was burnt, to the water's f'dge, and when discovered by Captain Berry she presented, to quote his own words, "a most melancholy picture of ; wanton mischief." Had the captain of the Boyd used a little more tact with the chief Tippahee, it is not unlikely that this great native would have informed him of the plot organised by Tara and the other natives of his crew to capture the ship

1 'and helped him to defeat it and save I the ship. It only remains to add that the father of the injured chief and about a dozen of his followers were blown up by the accidental explosion of a barrel of gunpowder whilst they Avere busy completing the destruction of the vessel.