OLD NEW ZEALAND

Otago Witness, Issue 3443, 9 March 1920, Page 41

OLD NEW ZEALAND

INTERESTING ffISTORIOAL DOCUMENT. {Fbo_i Gun Own Coueespondent.) SYDNEY, February 26. A contribution to the initial chapter in the colonisation and Christianisation of New Zealand has just come to light here in the shape of "A Journal of My Proceedings During a Voyage from Port Jackson to New Zealand in 1814," by the Rev. Thomas Kendall. . The journal, which was found the other day among the effects of a granddaughter of Mr Kendall, who died at Kiama (N.S.W.) in her eighty-second year, runs into 60 pages, and contains an interesting account of New Zealand as it was in those days and of the Native chiefs and people. The voyage was made in the brig Active, the party arriving at the Bay of Islands on June 10,' 1814. The diary says: "I and Mr Hall accompanied the chief Duaterro to the hinwah or town called Ranghee Hoo. It consisted of several whares or small houses, about sft in height, Bft in breadth, and 10ft or 12ft in length. We were presently surrounded by many of Jhe inhabitants, both men, women, and children. They showed us particular marks of respect, and as' we repeated our visit their friendship towards us became more apparent." After Several remarks upon the friendliness and honesty of the Nativeseven not molesting an unlocked room in which were stored rum, tea, sugar, flour, cheese, and two chests of European raiment, —the journal proceeds: "The soil is very good near Tippoonah, considering the hilly nature of the ground. The cultivated land produoea potatoes, cabbages, turnips carrots, onions, etc. Those parts which are not' cultivated are generally covered with Cordial relations were established as the intercourse between the visitors and the Natives was continued, and the former intimated their intention to bring their wives and children and reside among the people, at which the Natives were pleased. Mr Marsden had been there before on a brief visit. Quoth the journal: "The name of Mr Marsden is well known at the Bay of Islands; the Natives make mention of him in their songs, and speak of him with respect." A curious episode came under their observation. "While we were walking through the hipwah I observed -an old man fenced around with some sticks in a corner who had been tabooed. He was not to eat with anyone for five moons to come nor to serve himself with his own hands. This was a religious, or rather a superstitious, injunction, but I found it must be strictly attended to. I could not exactly learn what he had been doing." Then follow the names of some of the new friends the missionaries had found —viz., Racoo, Tayhotikoo, Ken a, Mayhew'ow, Hootoo, Tarhrayha, Toka, and Moora. After commenting severely upon the eonduct of some sailors and traders, who did not scruple to, "take down" the Natives in their trading transactions, Mr Kendall remarks: "The New Zealanders have a particular desire to be at peace with us. They say we bring them potatoes, cabbages, turnips, etc., and many of. them are industrious men, and are continually in want of tools and other European articles. The«r ingenuit/ is conspicuous from the articles which are manufactured by them." Some interesting comments follow on Native character and some sagacious forecasts as to future development hi cultivation. Por about six weeks the Active lay at anchor at the Bay of Islands. During that period Messrs Kendall and Hall traversed a considerable part of the adjacent country. They were treated with invariable courtesy by the chiefs and Natives, and the Journal contains a good deal of information which at this date is both curious and interesting. As the years go on the document will bocome of increasingly great historic value.