AGE WITH HONOUR.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 15 May 1909, Page 2

AGE WITH HONOUR.

A. PASSAGE OUT IN THE EAELY BAYS. A PIONEERING BETBOSPECT. (Written for the "Evening Mail.") In the Biwaka district there lives at "Green Tree" Farm an old lady named Mrs Charles Pattie. who was 83 years of ago on the 20th of January last. The writer having often heard Mrs' Pattie recount incidents of her early history, thought the sLory of her j life would prove interesting "copy" and accordingly called upon her th? other evening. Ho found her hale and hearty, and, being a personal friend received a warm welcome. She had staying with her another old lady. Mrs Askew senr.. well up in the seventies who also is a very old resi. dent of Biwaka. The two had just finished tea as the writer tapped at the door and were busily engaged "wash, ing up." Mrs Pattie told her story in a lucid and versatffe manner, laugh, ing long and heartily over some of the amusing incidents. Mrs Pattio is a native of London, and together with her husband, the late Mr Charles Pattie, senr.. and thentwo children, set sail from that city for New Zealand in the good ship "Stand's Castle" on July 19th. 1852. Not a single call was made on the way out and the ship had a very good voyage, arriving at Port Chalmers on Monday morning, the Bth November. Only one ship was sighted on the long journey. On one occasion the sailors broacheM the rum and there was a mutiny on board; but the men were brought to their bearings by the cap. tain threaening to "put in" at Capo Town and have the offenders punished. When off the island of Tristan d'Aeunlia the captain told male pas. songers that if they helped to raise the anchor he would be in the harbour by the morning, and they would have a day's shooting. The men worked like Trojaus and the work accomplished arms and ammunition were put in readiness but, lo! when morning dawned Tris:an d'Acunha was no. where in sight, and great was the dis. appointment and indignation of the men when the skipper chaffingly told them it would have been more than his ship was worth to put in thero. The first part of New Zealand sight, ed was Stewart Island. The captain an. nounced that at about 12 o'clock land •would be seen, and all were eagerly on dock. At first there seemed to be a kind of mis!; but as they approached the mist grew bigger and bigger and at last was discernible as a mountain, ous island clad with dense bush. The Scotch emigrant on board gave way to loud lamentation and wailing when they discovered the wild nature of their future home. Most of the emigrants were bound for Dunedin. and disembarked at Por. Chalmers. Here the ship waited for five weeks. Mr Charles Pattip and a friend Mr Cole, essayed to make their way on foot through the bush to Dune, din On their way they came upon numerous wokas and meeting a settler they asked him whose fowls they were. On learning that they were native birds and that they might shoot fbem at pleasure, their delight knew no bounds The two wayfarers returned to the ship next day with a good "bag" of wekas kakas, and tuis and together with their fellow.passengers. sat down to a sumptuous repast. On the way to Wellington the Ship had a most trying experience in Pal. liser Bay. S;ormy weather prevailed in the Straits, and three old whalers who had been taken on board at Port Chalmers, warned the captain that if he did not heave to his ship she would be driven ashore. The captain smart, ly told them to mind their own busi. ness and he would mind his ship About ten o'clock that night the ship began to roll heavily, terrifying all on board. The captain's voice could be heard above the storm roaring out hi.: orders All the male passengers were on duty on deck save two who were in their bunks. One of the lat. ter. a stalwart specimen, over six feec in height, was suffering severely from mal.de.mer. and at every roll of the ship he would blubber out. "Oh. what would my mother think of me now!" This mournful dirge grated on the ears of his loving spouse, whose time was fully taken up with her children in an adjoining compartment, and she calle.l out "Oh, bother your mother; we"ll have lict out!" Another terrified husband rushed down the stairway shouting, "Sarah! Sarah! get up and dress the children; wo shall all be drowned directly!" "Hark at tl'at old fool." ejaculated another woman "•as if it matters whether we b( dTowned naked or clothed.'' Mrs Pattie s husband was on duty on deck all that night from 10 o'clock till about 8 o'clock in the morning ano hia wife was alone below with her two children. Part of the rigging and masts had to be cut away and sooi. the gallant ship turned the point and rode in calmer water. A pilot came on board, and told them that they should go down on their knees and ,hank God. for the-rs wa.: the only ship that had rode safely ou' of Palliser Bay. The repairs to 1 heship took about one month at Welling, ton. which was then only a smal 1 place. It took another fortnight to reach Nelson, the ship having to shelter at Port Underwood for a week. Here the beach was literally covered with whales' bones this being an old whaling station. Nelson was reach, ed on New Tear's Day. 1853. Mr Pattie. being eager to find out the way to his brother's place at Ri. waka. and not knowing the nature of the district over which he" had to tra. vel set out on foot, promising his wife to return next day He did not. however 1 , return for a fortnight, and by this time Mrs Pattie had quite given ■him up for lost, and was making ar. rangements for the return journey on the ship. The adventurers were next taken across to Molueka in an opeu boat by Mr McNab. father of Mr E. McNab (Motueka). In an open boat! Think of it. you grumblers of to.day who lie stretched out on the comfort, able cushions of the much-abused Koi! They were put ashore on what was then called the "Manuka Bush." and had to walk over a long stretch of mud. flat. Motueka was reached about 8 p.m aDd they set out the same night to walk to Biwaka Valley. Beaching the ferry at the Motueka river abou f dusk, they cooed loudly and lustily, but met with no response; and were obliged to ! retrace their steps to the hotel, now known as Holyoake's. Here they met with a kindly welcome, a cheerful fire and a good table. "We slept in the room just over the door." said Mrs Pattie "and I never pass that way now_a.'days without looking up at that window and thinking of that night " "Well do I remember tho next morning " tho old Jady continued. "When I looked out of my windoy I could discern the dense bush on t>ho opposite side of tho road. Where Manoy's buildings now stand, and the Co.Op -and Court-house, there was no. thing but virgiu bush. The native bi.rds— kakas. pigeons, and wekas— were there in abundanrc, and the woods resounded with the beautiful