North Island Story

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24325, 15 June 1940, Page 4

North Island Story

New Plymouth The story of the founding of New Plymouth is set out in attractive form in a work .skilfully edited, which contains original records not previously accessible. The papers include the “Journal of Common Things “ kept by Dr Henry Weekes. which was only recently pre-, sented to the New Zealand Government by an Englishwoman, in reply to an appeal to The Times made by Mr Thorn. M.P. Weekes came to the future town in the William Bryan, sail ing from England in November. 1840 and arriving in New Zealand in March of the following year His journals thus provide an account of the first year of the settlement at New Plymouth. . In the later pages there is a description of his second voyage to New Zealand." He returned in 1840 with a wife and established himself on the island of Puketutu. following a “boyish fancy" inspired by the read mg of “ Robinson Crusoe.” The section of his narrative dealing with “My Island ” provides an interesting and in some sense a touching sidelight on the aims and ambitions of the early settlers in this Dominion. The adventure proved far from successful, and Dr Weekes was even inconvenienced he avers, by the cannibalistic orgies of the Natives. The end came' when his shepherd, while burning fern, was unable to control the blaze, which swept away the buildings on this island home. “Moral—" observes Dr Weekes “ The life of early colonists, even under favourable circumstances, is not all rose-water.” Other material used in the compilation of the book consists of the journals of Josiah Flight, later the resident magistrate at New Plymouth describing the voyage of the Timandra direct to the settlement, the journal of John Newland covering the voyage out in the Amelia Thompson, and the rather scanty “log” entered up by the surgeon-superintendent of the B enheim on the passage Though historians may not consider it admirable one must have some respect for the terseness of this recital. Whether it is storm or calm —of which the Blenheim experienced little —the narrator is laconic and imperturbable m his account of it. The loss of a hand overboard is given four lines, which note that the man “ never rose after many endeavours to save him. but without avail.” From its nature, this publication could not be described as in any way a complete record of the early history of New Plymouth. It does, however, supply the reader with a fair cross-section view of the events connected with the founding ot the settlement. The editors have filled in skilfully the blanks in the casual narrative, and the illustrations, which include a number of sketches by Dr Weekes are excellent. A list is appended of all early arrivals in the settlement, and the book is sponsored by the New Plymouth Borough Council.

Mare Records of the Past

The Establishment of >the New Plymouth Settlement in New Zealand,' 1841-1843. Edited by J. Rutherford and W. H. Skinner. Illustrated (Avery). Matthews of Kaitaia. By S. C. and L. J. Matthews. Illustrated (A. H. and A. W. Reed). 7s fid.

Northernmost Mission In their account of the life and work of their grandfather, Joseph Matthews, the founder of the farthest north of the old mission stations, S. C. and L. J. Matthews have added another chapter to an inspiring tale of Christian pioneering Matthews’s father' was a master weaver in Deddington, near Banbury, and the son was bom in 1808, at a time when Marsden, on furlough in England, was urging the Church Missionary Society to extend its work to New Zealand. At the age of 20 the studious youth was ready to answer the cal] of the C.M.S. for missionaries to undertake this work, and by 1832 he had completed his training and established himself at the Waimate station, assisting Mr R, Davis. He plunged with enthusiasm into the work,, being especially interested in its educational aspects, but was easily dissuaded from making teaching his profession. His first visit to the scene of his future labours at Kaitaia was unofficial. for 'the fear of a Native rising had discouraged the mission authorities from venturing farther north meanwhile. Indeed, he reached his destination as the captive of the chief Panakareao, who informed him that he would be killed and eaten " Not on the Ra Tapu (sacred day),” replied Matthews, “ besides I have come a very long way to bring you a message; it would be a pity for you not to hear it.” Thus it came about that his first sermon was preached in Kaitaia, while the kapa was bping heated foi the cooking of the preacher. Such was his eloquence that Panakareao postponed the feast in order to bear more of his message. Directly conditions of peace had been restored in the district, Matthews established his mission, taking with him the wife who was to share his work The record of his mission is, from that time, one c.f practically unbroken success. In the troublous ’forties Kaitaia was gravely menaced, and the chief who had earlier proposed to eat Mat'hews, proved his most, loval supporter He remained at Kaitaia throughout his working life and after he could no longer take much active part in the activities of the mission. lived on there, respected by all in the district, revered by the Maoris In Matthews of Kaitaia the joint authors have provided a satisfactory account of a life well spent, and one which contains many Enlightening pictures of the times and of the experiences, grave and gay. that came within the orbit of the missionary. One interesting note in passing is the use by Matthews of the words “ Kia Ora ” as a wedding toast, his inspiration being from a verse of a Psalm: ‘We wish you good luck.” This, the authors declare, is believed to be the fiist occasion on which the national phrase was used in this sense.—J. M.