GETTING A FOOTHOLD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20472, 25 January 1930, Page 1 (Supplement)

GETTING A FOOTHOLD.

BEFORE WAIMATE.

BY MATANCA

Marsden's eagerness to extend the blessings of Christianity to New Zealand led him to seek aid in England for the enterprise, and he persuaded tho Governor of New South Wales to grant him permission to visit the Homeland for this purpose.v., There he laid his project before the Church Missionary Society and won its approval, savo in somo details of policy. He took a share in the selection of two laymen, William Hall and John King, as pioneers, and sailed with them "'board the Ann on the return voyage to Port Jackson. It was on this voyage that there happened his eventful meeting with Ruatara, whoso wanderlust had taken him far from his pa at Oihi across the world and robbed him of health and almost of life.

The Ann had not been long at sea when Marsden discovered Ruatara in the forecastle. Wrapped in an old great-coat, sick and weak, and afflicted with a cough, accompanied by profuso bleeding, the dejected chief seemed likely to die; but ho was nursed back to health by Marsden and his two associates, for ono of whom, John King, ho developed a particularly deep affection. At Parramatta ho stayed for some months as Marsden's guest. But for news of tlie Boyd massacre at Whangaroa, tho two laymen would have accompanied him when lie took passago in a ship going to the Bay of Islands. The horror of this terrible deed, perpetrated in the vicinity of tho only part of New Zealand then much frequented by whites, was so deep and lasting that Marsden could not get official sanction to carry out his plan. At last, early in 1814, Governor Macquario consented to a reconnoitring party venturing across tho Tasman, and to Marsden's having leave to seo to tho mission's establishing, if the, party should return with a good report. So, in the littlo brig Active, of 110 tons, purchased by Marsden in default of other means of reliable transport, William Hall came, accompanied by Thomas Kendall, recently arrived in Port Jackson as a third member of the pioneer agency. A Venturesome Voyage.

They found Ruatara, who, in the interval, had been abroad again with another whaling captain and suffered at his hands, overjoyed to receive them. With Hongi and other chiefs, he went back to Sydney with them, > and the great adventure was soon afoot. On November 19, the Active sailed eastward again. Hero is a vivid page from Marsden's diary—

The number of persons on board the Active, including women and children, was thirty-five; the muster, his wife and son, Messrs. Kendall, Hall, and King, with their wives and children, eight-New Zealanders (including Duaterra and his uncle, the great warrior Shunghie or Hongi), two Otaheitans, and four Europeans belonging to the vessel, besides Mr. John Lydiard Nicholas and myself; there were also two sawyers, one smith, and a runaway convict whom we afterwards found on board, a horse and two mores, one bull, and two cows, with a few sheep and poultry. The bull and cows have, been presented by Governor Macquarie from His Majesty's herd. They made land, northwards of the Bay of Islands, four weeks later. The chiefs went ashore, and a canoe came alongside with fish, and then a strange chief ventured aboard, Marsden found thus that his own name was known as a friend of the Maori. Anchor was dropped soon after at Whangaroa, and there, amid the very tribe that had massacred the Boyd's company, ho spent ft night with Sir. Nicholas, the two of them lying down in their overcoats under the roofing sky of stars.. Innumerable spears stood upright in the ground here and there, ana tho natives slept in groups. " I did not sleep much during tho night," writes Marsden. " My mind was too seriously occupied by the present scene, and the new and strange ideas it naturally excited." Eigh Breakfast on the Active.

In the morning there was high breakfast on the Active, the local chiefs going abroad for this and the presents Marsden wished to make them. Thus his pen describes the scene:— The axes, billhooks, prints, etc.. I intended to give them were all got ready after breakfast; the chiefs were seated in the cabin in great form to receive the presents. I sat on tho one side, and they on the other side, of the table; Duaterra stood and handed me each article separately that I was to give them. Messrs. Kendall, Hall and King, with tho master of the Active and his son, were all one after the other introduced to the chiefs. The chiefs were at the same time informed what duty each of tho threo persons was appointed to doMr. Kendall .to instruct the children, Mr. Hall to build houses, boats, etc., Mr. King to make fishing lines, and Mr. Hanson to command the Active, which would be employed in bringing axes and such things as were wanted from Sydnoy, to enable them to cultivate their lands and improve their country. There ensued—all being done through tho interpreting of a certain chief George —a plea by Marsden that peace should be kept between the local tribe and those of the Bay of Islands. This was effectual. There, in the Active's chief cabin, as Marsden narrates, " Duaterra, Shunghie, and Koro Koro shook hands with the chiefs of Whangaroa, and saluted each other as a token of reconciliation by joining their noses together," Ruatara's " Great Idea." On to the Bay of Islands tho Active went, anchoring off Ruatara's hill fastness on December 22. Hero tho mission settlement was to be founded, but much was to be done ashore before disembarkation. The coming was Christmas Day, a day of days in New Zealand's history. Anticipating it, Ruatara had his " great idea." He had been impressed abroad with tho English keeping of the Ra Tapu, the " holy day," and he would, as he said, " keep a Sabbath." On Saturday he set to work. About half-an-acre was enclosed with a native fence, parts of an old canoo were made into a reading desk with a piece of black cloth over the toplie had brought it from Sydney with sonio such intent —and some upturned canoes were placed oil either side as seats for tho English. On the top of his hill lie had put a flagstaff. Thy.fc night he went aboard the Active and told Marsden of his wish. It was all "of his own accord," Marsden writes. On deck betimes, Marsden saw with delight the Union Jack flying on Ruatara's staff: "I considered it as tho signal and the dawn of civilisation, liberty and religion." The story of that day's memorable service has- become classic.

When the Active left again for Port Jackson, many of tho chiefs sought passage in her. Twenty-eight were taken, all of them fully armed after their native fashion. Think of it! She was manned by but seven Europeans. In itself, that voyage held the promiso of all that later came of concord between tho two races. Mr. Nicholas makes a diary entry that is the best comment of all: "I do not believo that a similar instanco can be shown of such unlimited confidence placed in a race of savages known to bo cannibals. We are wholly in their powor, and what is there to hinder them from abusing it' Next to tho overruling providenco of God, there is nothing but the character of the ship, which seems almost sacred in their eyes, and the influence of Mr. Marsden's name, which acts as a talisman among them. They feel convinced that lie is sacrificing his own ease and comfort to promote their welfare."-