Samuel Marsden, Pioneer and Peacemaker

Northern Advocate, 14 June 1938, Page 3

Samuel Marsden, Pioneer and Peacemaker

(Written for the “Northern Advocate” by A. H. Reed.) During this period Marsden had his own share of difficulties on the other side of the Tasman. He would, in fact, glady have taken up his permanent abode in New Zealand had not imperative duties claimed him. in New South Wales. Much of persecution and false accusation fell to his lot. Appeal To The Law. Twice he appealed to the law, which in both instances fully vindicated him. One of the most spiteful actions of his enemies had been an attempt to poison the mind of Ruatara against him, by insinuating that the object of the missionaries in going to New Zealand was to prepare the way for the dispatch of an armed force to rob the chiefs of their country. Marsden on his part, though he was hundreds of pounds out of pocket over the voyage of the Active, continued to lavish gifts upon the mission as opportunity offered. As time went, on, the young fruit trees sent over grew and multiplied. The peach, in particular, throve exceptionally well, and for many years there were to be found, in every Maori settlement, groves of trees bearing abundance of luscious fruit. Leave of Absence.

In 1819 Marsden obtained leave of absence for a visit to New Zealand, taking his passage in a sealer, the General Gates. Accompanying him were the Rev. John Butler and his wife and son, James Kemp and his wife, and Francis Hall, as reinforcements for the Mission. The General Gates was commanded by a sea bully, one Abirnelech Riggs, who succeeded in smuggling away with him from Port Jackson ten convicts. After landing Marsden and his party at the Bay of Islands the General Gales preceded to the sealing grounds. Six or eight months later Riggs returned to the Bay, and on rounding the Heads was disagreeably surprised to find himself within range of the guns of H.M.S. Dromedary. The naval captain, accompanied by Marsden and Butler, boarded the sealer, placed her in charge of a crew, and despatched her to Sydney. Abirnelech war; placed on trial for removing the convicts, and no doubt thought himself lucky to get off with a penalty of £6OOO. Hongi On War Path. Mansion's arrival had been hailed with gladness at the mission station. The notorious Hongi was on the war path, and mustering his forces at the Bay. The harbour was studded with scores of canoes, and thousands of armed warriors were assembling on the beaches. Marsden sought out the great chief, and endeavoured to persuade him to abandon his expedition. Al last Hongi went so far as to promise that he would stay his hand while the missionary remained in New Zealand. This, at any rate, gained a welcome respite, and was certainly mere than could have been

accomplished by any other man. A Stolen Handkerchief. On Marsdcn's invitation the crowd of natives on the beach ret to with n will to assist in carrying up the newly landed stores, and to their credit be it said (hat only one article was missed on this occasion. This, curiously, was a silk handkerchief from the missionary's pocket. The matter had only to be mentioned to Hongi when that redoubtable darted in among the crowd, and busied himself to such good effect that within a few minutes the stolen property had beet) restored. Site At Kerikeri. During this visit, which lasted about three months, a site for a mission station was acquired at Kerikeri, seme dozen miles to the west of Rangihoua. There .lame.-; Kemp was installed, and (here to this day his descendants live in the very house—-Iho oldest in Now Zealand -where the family, generation after generation lias lived tor approaching a hundred and twenty years. Before returning to Ns-w South Wales Mars den made more than one journey into the interior one of tus. colleagues remarking thru noi our; in ten thousand could or would leave borne the privations, diffieulties. and dan gerr involved. •To b.i continued!.