LINK WITH THE PAST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20725, 19 November 1930, Page 14

LINK WITH THE PAST.

LATE MRS. LEV! BUCK.

MEMORIES OF TE RAUPARAHA. NEIGHBOUR FOR TWO YEARS. An advonturous and romantic career was 1 hat. (if (ho late Mrs. .Levi Buck, whoso dentil Ml, 111" age of 88, at. Paekakariki, was mentioned in Monday's Herald. Mrs. Buck was a member of a very well-known family, which came to the New Zealand shores before Auckland or Wellington was born. Mrs. Buck, up to the time of her death, was probably fho oldest Wellington resilient .'dive, for she was born in 1842 on the small island off the southern end of Kapiti Island, having been the daughter of Captain Ames, who was master of a schooAer which used to trade between Sydney and the coast of New Zealand, supplying stores to the whalers, and trading with the Maoris up arid down the, coast..

Captain Ames settled on Ihe small island in 1839, before Wellington was even heard of as such, believing that his wifo and infant family would be safer from molestation there than on Kapiti Tsland itself or the mainland, as the Maoris of those times wero an unknown quantity, and (he whalers, who had a boilingdown station on Kapiti Island, were, a fairly rough crowd. Hence (lie island homo of that generation of Ihe family, of which Mrs. Puck was the last survivor. Later on a shift was made to Wellington, where the family resided practically over since. Duo no doubt to those early associations the family has always been 'singularly attached to Paekakariki, and it, was understandable that tho old lady should pass away there in full view of her island birthplace. Christened by Bishop Hadflcld. Tho late .Mrs. Buck is said to have been tho first white child christened by the. Rev. O. (afterward Bishop) Hadfiehi, on his arrival in the district from the Bay of Islands in 1839. That incident serves as a link in a chain of interesting events.

When ( aplain Ames established himself on (he little island lie sailed awav on his business. Having seen the vessel depart, the natives on Kapiti, still seeing smoko issuing from the rocks, launched a canoc, and made the passage. The chief in that canon is said to have been the wily and at times bloodthirstv Te Rauparaha. Mrs. Ames (Mrs. Buck's mother) met the natives on the beach, not without misgivings; and by signs arid an occasional word they made Iter understand that they wished to know where tho man was. She had to confess with a rpiaking heart that he was not on the island—ho had gone away.

With great tact and not. a little courage, Mrs. Ames invited (ho Maoris to eat. They were always ready for a meal, particularly pakeha stores, and she gave them such full and plenty that they were filled with contentment, and left her alone. As Mrs. Buck remained on the island for over two years with To Rauparaha as her neighbour, it is assumed that tho woman had commanded tho respect of tho formidable Maori warrior. Te Rauparaha's Missionary.

It, was through Te Rauparaha that the Rev. 0. Hadfield went to tho island. A slave, Ripihau, taken in a northern fight, had been educated at the mission station at the Bay of Islands. It was he who carried tho Bible to the natives of Coolc Strait, and the stories fold by Ripihau fired Te Rauparaha with a desire to have a missionary of his own; and, with that object in view, he and his nephew took passage from Kapiti to the north to arrange for one. That mission was successful, as, accompanied by tho Rev. H. Williams, Mr. Hadfield left (he Bay of Islands on October 31, 1839, and made Kapiti at the end of November, and finally became resident alternatively at Otaki and Waikanae. At Otaki there stands a monument to (ho foundation of Christianity in tho district. Mr. Hadfield lived to do notable work among the Maoris, and as Bishop of Wellington held the love and esteem of Maori and pakeha alike.

Mrs. Buck was the widow of Mr. Levi Buck, formerly of the Postal Department, and in the early days a most enthusiastic cricketer.