Samuel Marsden, Pioneer and Peacemaker

Northern Advocate, 11 June 1938, Page 9

Samuel Marsden, Pioneer and Peacemaker

i Written for the “Northern Advocate” by A. H. Reed.) (Continued). On board the Ann bound from England to Australia, a momentous meeting took place. Four years previously, in 1805, a young Maori chief of high rank, seeking adventure, joined a whaler which called at the Bay of Islands. Ruatara Appears. The story of Ruatara's adventures is worthy of being told at length, but the barest outline must suffice here. On his initial voyage on the Argo he was badly treated by the captain, who eventually left him stranded far from home. Awaiting his opportunity; he joined another whaler, whose captain, more humane, restored him to his people. Ruatara next joined a scaler, and was called upon to suffer untold j miseries, along with a dozen other I members of the crew who wore j marooned on those bleak and barren ' rocks euphemistically known as the ; Bounty Islands. After five interminj able months they were taken off by their ship, homeward bound, together with the eight thousand skins they had secured. Arrived in London the rascally captain refused to pay Ruatara his wages, and in order to get rid of the poor fellow, whoso health had broken down, he had him put aboard the Ann, then awaiting orders to sail for Port Jackson with convicts. v Fennel By Marsden. It was here that, friendless and forlorn, weak and miserably, he was found by Marsden. The sight of his friend and benefactor acted as a tonic; the sympathetic help of captain and surgeon were enlisted; and soon the Maori was a new man, and able to take his turn of duty with the crew. A Villainous Captain. Arrived at Port Jackson, Marsden took Ruatara to his own home, where he remained for several months, and received useful instruction in agriculture. Towards the end of 1810 a whaler put in at the Port on her way to New Zealand. By arrangement with Marsden the captain promised to land Ruatara and three companions at the Bay of Islands in return for their services in New Zealand waters. When actually within sight of their home the unspeakably villainous captain put the ship about and carried them off again, abandoning them at Norfolk. Island. After much suffering they were picked up by a passing vessel, and soon after Ruatara was once more under the hospitable Parramatta roof. When at last an opportunity was found of restoring the chief to his tribe he took with him from Port Jackson, not only a knowledge of agriculture, but tools, and a good supply of seed wheat. And so it was that Marsden’s kindness to a chief in trouble enabled wheat growing to be introduced to New Zealand. Ruatara may be said to have sustained the part of a John the Baptist, preparing the way for Marsden to bring to his people the Gospel of Peace. (To be continued).