NEW ZEALAND SOUTH HISTORICAL ROMANCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2676, 28 June 1905, Page 81

NEW ZEALAND SOUTH HISTORICAL ROMANCE.

THE RUAPUKE BELL.

JJr Ro. Caeeick.

Oban, situated at th© head of Halfmoon Bay, is, in extenso, urban centre of Raki-ura (Stewart Island). It camps out in an amphitheatre of hills, flanged right and left with " raised beaches." It hae sealed its testimony to the truth in the erection of two churches — 'one dedicated to ike Anglicans, the other "thirled" to dogmas_of the- "brither Scot." Perched upon these '" raised " pedestals, on© church looks down from the east, the other from the -west; so that between them the spiritual -oversight fa' all but perfected in a* /round turn. There is still, however, the escape by sea, so that "when the devil goes about Obanlike a. roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, be sure he came thither by way of fne " devil in the deep sea." -Since the days of -that most indiscreet monarch Charles H and his equally indiscreet brother James, "together with the " dour " Dutch William, these two church icommunities have learned to keep the peace towards each* ■other ; indeed, it is only once a. -week, on a •Sunday morning, when they rattle their bells, that they make outside stir at all, so that the holy calm, the dim religious light, . is as strictly observed in Oban as it is anywhere else. One of these bells — the one that rings up the faithful under Anglican auspices — has .had a strange, eventful career — a oareer that " chimes in " with the rich historical romance that gives life and immorEality to the wild, Dewilderintj scenery, sea-girt, of these seaTioards. We get its story fragmentarily in ihe ".History Records of New Zealand South." Pieced together, the narrative "pans out" thus : —

About the year 1823 New Zealand was in ■effect "jio man's land." Prior thereto' Gook, visiting its. shores, had taken " formal possession " in name of Great Britain. -Thereafter it .was partially included in a "■flyingr survey" fixing the limits of New South Wales. If we except certain ludicrous 'efforts to frustrate what were erroneously .supposed -to be attempts made^ by other nationalities io obtain beneficial occupation, that is about all that was done to substantiate possession. The English convict element dumped down in^'Nesv fiouth Wales, when it got the oEanoe of changing the venue, was not slow in resorting thither. in that way a wild, lawless state of affairs, was created. , Our western fiords became piratical nests, and their outlying islanders knocked each other on the head with impunily. Sojpi«ndacious did things become ' that -the fair trader — the whaler, the sealer, and their confreres, flax and pork dealers — were in danger of Being cut out bodily, and the place threatened -to return to a worse «fcate of barbarism than thai from which it had just emerged. Over 100, in outlawed gangs — a. majority %einj; escaped' convicts, — were known to be harboured in 3,nd about Foveaux Straits. Repressive measures ,%ere sought." The colonial brig Elizabeth Henrietta was fitted up and despatched in pursuit thereof. Post-captain, Kent was put i!a command. After visiting Dusty Bay(Scund) Kent proceeded by Easy Bay and the South 'Cap® "to G-olburn — the name Sydney conferred on Huapuke. His purpose was to investigate a native outrage committed on a South ""Cape seal gang. Arriving off the island (Ruapuke) they were boarded by a canoe manned -with Maoris. One of the latter gave Captain Kent sailing directions for the anchorage, which on being followed landed the Elizabeth Henrietta on a boulder bank. The position — little better than an open* roadstead, with one or two sheltered nooks, now goes by the name of Henrietta, Bay. "

flji an endeavour made to get the brig refloated armaments, etc., were put on shore. That gave ,an , opportunity for loot which was duly embraced. Amongst other "things " lost, stolen, and strayed " was -a 10-poixnder gun, .also the ship's bell. Nothing more was heard- of either until the Europeans interested in the -wreck left the island, 12 mo-mtlie Jitter. The gvrn. then "made -its. appearance at Parangiaid, a beetling cliff' overlooking the ' old Ruapuke pa. "' Along with" another "shooter" of the .same calibre, which Tuhaiwaiki brought back with .him on .the occasion of his memorable visit to Sydney in 1840, ft found its way over the cliff, and now lies buried -among .sand , dunes. The two "itupuisea cannon" -were [ Long a, speculative problem to Both are now, ■as stated, buried among the sand 'heaps. The vicinity is well known, but not the exact spot. . They jnight easily be traced, And as relics of the past they -are -worthy of research. The subsequent story of the 'bell is that when the Rev. Mt WobUers reached th© island* it was given over to him fox church and meeting-house purposes. When the old gentleman died bis daughter, "Mrs Arthur 'Traill (Ringa- , ,ringa), retained it as an heirloom. It was A happy inspiration prompted ncr to hand it over lor continuance in a cause in which it had been embarked! when that cause struggled, amidst much, tribulation, into existence.

You laay probably feel interested in the after-part of- the shiji's tragedy. It makes "farther eventuality in the romance of real life of these colonies. After tidings of the -<wcr<eok~ reaching Sydney, H.M.S. Tees, in 'command of Captain Eve, was despatched tD the relief. She returned June 5, 182+, reporting the Elizabeth Henrietta an "irreclaimable wreck." Mr James Busby, •fterwards British Resiclent (New Zealand's first resident official), -was at this time practising his profession in Sydney as a civil engineer. Something in the circumstances attracted his attention. He did not consider the wreck irreclaimable. His opinions were communicated to the Governor. A cutter craft named Mermaid was .fitted up and -placed a* his disposal. Acoonipaniedi by a gang of men he pr-ooeeded to the island. Nothing is heard from him untif January 19, 1825, when the St. Michael (Beverage, 'master) arrived from New Zealand, bringing advices that "Mr James Busby was htuibz_jana ■akare.d end&avourjnj^ to float the

Elizabeth Henrietta by means of casks." The enterprise was hopefully spoken of, and Sydney was congratulated en the prospect of the wrecked vessel's speedy return to her port of departure. Six or eight weeks thereafter Busby's arrival T)ack in Sydney ie notified, together with a detailed account of his adventures. Despite the emphatic opinion expressed by high nautical authority that the vessel's position was hopeless, lie (Mr Busby) was not intimidated in the successful efforts r.-ade for its^j rescue. He did the work, with the assist- ] ance of six men, in 26 days, which is spoken of as the accomplishment of an " hurculean task." She was rigged with jury-masts, and set sail for the Bay of Islands, a voyage of £00 miles, in company with the Mermaid. SJie went there for the purpose of effecting more substantial repairs.