SPECIAL INTERVIEWS,

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13095, 7 February 1906, Page 1 (Supplement)

SPECIAL INTERVIEWS,

REMINISCENCES OF EARLY DAYS.

SOME EXCITING INCIDENTS.

Among recent, visitor?, to Christchurcb writes our correspondent) was Judge Munro, who arrived in Hokianga just 71 years ago, and lived there for 10 years, when he removed to the infant city of Auckland. There are not many men who have lived for so long in the colony, and a Press reporter rejoiced when he got on the track of one who had known the picturesque North from the early days of settlement.

The, father of Judge Munro was commandant of one of the stations in Tasmania, under Governor Arthur. Dissatisfied with the condition of affairs in Tasmania he began to consider the question of seeking a homo for his family in New Zealand, and so came on a voyage of discovery to Russell, in a cutter yacht of his own. Ho at once decided that Russell was the last placo in the world to take a family to. Besides the Maoris, who were very fierce, the only population consisted of runaway sailors and runaway convicts. While there he mot a certain Count Dillon, who wanted to buy his yacht. Dillon was a French captain, who had cleared up the mystery attaching to the fate of La Porouso's expedition. Mr. Munro, sen., was quite willing to sell his boat to Dillon, but first of all he had a look at Hokianga, and was so well satisfied that he resolved to bring his family there. The yacht was sold to Dillon, land was bought, and Mr. Munro returned to Hobari for his family in a schooner cailed the Industry.

Clinging to this schooner was a tragedy which is worth a second digression. When the Industry arrived at Hokianga the mate informed the pilot that an accident had happened on the voyage across by which the captain had lost his life. A little later, when the crew were out of earshot at their work, he whispered to the pilot that the event was not an accident, but the men had mutinied. and thrown th« captain overboard. The pilot advised him to say nothing for the present, and took the vessel well up the river. Their* he informed the settlers of what he had heard, and it was agreed that the crew must somehow be brought to book. An exarmy office- constituted himself a sort of justice of the peace, and instructions were given that the men should be brought before him so that they could give an account, of what had happened to the captain. One by one they were admitted to the ex-officer's rude courtroom, but the moment the first man entered he was seized in the iron .grasp of Judge Manning, who clapped a pistol to bis head, and told him that if he made a movement it would be his last. r Other hands bound him so that he could lfot escape, and the remainder of the crew, as one by one they were allowed to enter, were treated m the same way. A large cage was built of wood, in which they were imprisoned. A blacksmith among the. settlers made some irons, and they were sent back in the Industry to Hobart, where they were all hanged but the cook. It. was stated that when the captain was thrown overboard, being a strong man and a fine swimmer, he swam for hours in a smooth sea behind the vessel, hoping that- his ruffianly crew would' relent, and ' turn back to pick him up, but they watched him callously from the deck until the distance or the ocean hid him.

In doe course Mr. Munro returned to Hokianga with his family in the schooner Brazil. The family made their home with one of the settlers while the Maoris built a. house for them, and a shed for their provisions. Most of the Monro's belongings had been transferred to the new structure* when the carelessness of some of the Maoris allowed them to catch fire, and the treasured European articles which had been brought from Hobart were destroyed with them.

Judge Munro had numerous adventures with the Maoris. On one occasion he was with others in a hour;.' surrounded by yelling natives- clamouring for a girl's 'rHJotl who had taken refuge within it-- walls.

In 1345. when Hone Hoke's war broke out, most of the white settlers, left the. district and the Mnnros went with them and took up their home in Auckland. With the exception of several trips to Australia, one to England, and other shorter journeys, Judge Munro lias remained there ever since.

" In those old days," the judge remarked, •' we all looked after ourselves, and if any wrong was done it was soon settled. There was no law except club law, and yet [ think we got along very well indeed. Now and then I feel like wishing those times back again, when there wore no cities, no rates, no labour laws."