DEATH OF AN OLD SETTLER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10622, 14 October 1896, Page 2

DEATH OF AN OLD SETTLER.

I (Fkom Our Ows Corbkspondbnt.) J Auckland, October 13. j Oue ni tha few old settlers who knew New I Zealand bofore ths Union Jack was hoisted j here has just passed away at Te Whakapu, Russell. aDd a short record of bis life will be interesting to those who can remember some of tho early days, as well as to others who are l only acquainted with modsro times. William i Paiue Brown was born at Deal, Kent, England, j in 1815. Whan 12 years old he was apprenticed to his uncls, a boatbuikler. Soma of tho boats they built found employment in carrying goods by such routes and at such times as to avoid paying his Majesty's customs dues—a lively, thriving occupation on most of' the English coast lines iv the <<ld time*. Now and again tbe boatbuilding work was varied to help iv dUehnrgiust the cargoes of the unfortunate ones seized in smuggling. At 16 years old be left Eugland for a three years' cruise on a whaler. He left England iv thss»me ship on her nest voyage, but did not ag*:n go back to his native land. The ship put iv at the Bay of Islands to refit, and he left her there, going j up to Kawakawa aud living with the Maoris for two weeks. He was treated by the Natives ] witb tbo greatest kindnoas. Prom tbtra he joined the mission schooner Columbine as a sailor, but when the mats left Brown was offered and accepted the mate's berth, which he held for about three years. His erperieuoe in this position and tho scsces that came nnder his notice were very varied, some of them horrible. A boob with some of tho more pro- ■ mineat events recorded in it has been kept, and mr.y ba published soma time. In the year 1837 hn left the Columbine and entered into partnership with Gardner, a boatbuilder of Russell. They removed to Te Whakapu, at that time owned aud occupied by Mayo, au American. The whaling business was then very extensive, as many as M ship* being seen lying off Te Whakapu at oue time retittiiig. Brown and Gardner purchased about one acre j of lsnd from the American'firm at a cost of ! £350. Work and money were plentiful ie j those days. Brown married when 27 years of I-age. When He's c's war broke ont be left his | homo and most of his property, taking his wife ! ond their one son to Sydney. The Maoris were j opposed to his leaving, aud said he had nothing to fear from them. After a short time in I Sydney he returned to Auckland, where he was urged to settle. He was offered building lots in Queeu street at £5 eacb, but determined to go buck to bis home at Te Whakapu. Here he found that Europeans bad cawed far more loss than the Maoris to the property. His partner joined him again, and they set themselves to work to recover their losses through tbe war, ancl started to build small vessels. The first vessel plying between Auckland and the Bay of M&mis waa sailed by* Captain Tautari. In 1850 Mr Gardner died. In those days the timber was all hand sawn and had to be toned tv the yard with small boats. The cost was Horn £1 to £2 per 100 feet, and copper nails were 5s the lb. Brown's experience at sea was very valuable to him in making the sails, an well as in building. Brown spent most of the 60 j years' of hia Bay of Islands life on the historic j spot of Whakapu. Tbe foundation of tho flrst New Zealand- post office can still be seen, as : well as soma evidence of military occupation during the war.