AN OLD-TIME WRECK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21279, 5 September 1932, Page 11

AN OLD-TIME WRECK

LOSS OF LORD WORSLEY PASSENGERS' EXPERIENCES HELP FROM THE MAORIS The 70th anniversary of (ho wreck of the steamer Lord Worsley at Te Namu. 11 miles south of Cape Egniont, fell last Thursday. The Lord Worsley left Nelson at 1 p.m. on Sunday, August 31, 1862, and, favoured by a, fresh breeze, set all sail northward. At 1.30 next morning she went ashore in a shower of rain. Land was seen at the last minute, but it was too late to save tlie ship, which was on its way to Sydney via New Plymouth and Manukau. There were in all 60 people aboard, including three members of Parliament, who had been wrecked in the White Swan on June 29, while bound from Auckland to Wellington to attend a session of the General Assembly. The Lord Worsley was fortunate in going ashore on the only comparatively safe spot on a very rocky coast. She also struck the only area inhabited by friendly natives. Several days later Captain Bowden and some of the members of the crew arrived at New Plymouth in the ship's dinghy, to ask for aid.

Maoris and the Toll-gate The passengers and crew of the vessel landed at daybreak and went to a deserted pa called Umuroa. They had not been long there when the Maoris discovered them, the chief, Wiremu Kingi Makatea, promising hospitality and protection. The castaways were fed reasonably well, and a sail was used to provide a houso for the women. The next day was unpleasant owing to the rain and the (act that the passengers wero always surrounded by curious Maoris.

On September 3 the dinghy set off for New Plymouth and the other members of the shipwrecked party waited for the promised ride to the town in bullock-drays. A difficulty had arisen by tho fact that less friendly natives further north had established a toll-gate near Tataraimaka and were demanding exorbitant charges for the passage of Europeans, such as £2OO for a magistrate. A relief party that planned setting out from New Plymouth estimated that it would cost them £ISOO to pass the gate. However, on September 5 seven drays left- Te Namu, and reached Kopoaiaia by night. Next day an early start was made and New Plymouth was reached by nightfall. The party had to pay the Maoris heavily for food and lodging, for transport and some £ls or £2O for passing the gate already mentioned. The Lord Worsley became a total wreck. Story of the Steamer's Gold There is also another story connected with the wreck. There were in the safo aboard the Lord Worsley boxes of gold valued at £12,000. Mr. Robert Graham, one of the Auckland member s of tho House of Representatives, who had proved invaluable in negotiating with the natives, heard that Maoris had broken open the safe, and he shamed Wiremu Kingi by force of personality and eloquence into giving up the gold. Most of it had been hidden in the bush. This was several days after the wreck and just before the marooned people left for Now Plymouth. Hori Taylor, a Maori who is still living at Pungarehu, went with the party and the trip took two days. On their arrival Mr. Graham offered Taylor and a companion £3 each to accompany him back to the scene of the wreck "to collect something he had forgotten." They agreed, and were told to take a- sack each. Fast riding took them to Umuroa, where, after some hunting, Graham found the gold in a flax bush. Tlie carriers found the boxes very heavy, but conveyed them safely back to New Plymouth that same night, and were given £lO each for their services.