THE EXPERIENCES OF AN OLD COLONIST.

Colonist, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4170, 20 June 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE EXPERIENCES OF AN OLD COLONIST.

In tracing the career of the late Mr Epber.t Graham ', who .recently;' died at Auckland, of which Proyince he had once been Superintendent, the ' Star' gives'the%llowing;particulars of an experience with the Maoris' in 1 the early days : — , Mr Graham had some experience of the perils of the deep. He was on board the White Swan when she was wrecked on her way to Wellington, and contributed largely to the rescue .of the crew and passenger?. Beturning to Auckland in the Lord Worsley, the steamer went ashore on. the rocks at Te Namu, then inhabited by bloodtliirsTy natives. On landing Mr Graham met the chief Wirernu Kingi, who proved friendly. The captain of the vessel, having landed provisions and luggage, went to New Plymouth fqr succor, and the command of the marponers devolved upon Mr Graham. On the fifth day after the stranding, the natives made the Europeans prisoners, and a Maori boy warned Mr Graham that it had been resolved to murder the crew, and passengers. Mr Graham at once summoned a meeting -of the natives,1 and assured them that their mjurder would, be avenged by soldiers aM men-of-war. Te Whiti, who was present, protested against the proposed massacre, but the other natives were apparently obdurate. The knowlege of the danger was confided by Mr Graham to two other passengers, he fearing that a panic would precipitate the murder. Next day Mr Graham again met the. natives, and after, con • ferring with them for two hours'peri suaded them to allow the Europeans jto proceed to1 New Plymouth. One of the most fanatical of the Maoris rushed about flourishing a, tomahawk, and swore he would murder the pakeha, and had to^be overpowered and bound by his own people.' While in this condition he pretended he had a vision from God. This vision, united with other superstitions, was the origin of the Hauhau religion. Next morning, the Europeans having given up their arms were released, and proceeded on their way to Taranaki, the cargo, including £6000 worth of gold dust, being; of course, left behind. When 10 miles on his journey, Mr Graham was overtaken by a native, who informed him the safe containing the gold had been pillaged,... With exemplary cq'urage, he returned to Te Namu, j found the gold in Wiremu; Kingi's whare, and placing the two boxes, of treasure pn his horse, galloped, ou| of the settle ment, utterly heedless; of the threats of the chief. Mr Graham found his burden too heavy, and hid it in the fern. Two days later the party reached New Plymouth in safety. After a consultation with the Superintendent of Taranaki, Mr Graham, accompanied by a couple of natives, returned to where the gold had been hidden, and recovered it. On his return to New Plymouth with his precious burden he had another narrow escape. A native who met him on the road flourished a tomahawk and remarked, " I have long wished to kill a pakeha." Mr Graham laughed, and replied, " Your arm is not strong enough to kill me. Why do you waste your time when you can get abundance of goods at the wreck ?" The native then took his departure, and the party resumed their journey. South of the Mokau, Mr Graham encountered Wiremu Kingi (not the chief of the same name previously mentioned) with 40 of his followers. This native stole the boxes while Mr Graham slept, and it was not until Mr G. hadnearly exhausted his persuasive powers that Kingi was. prevailed upon tp return thßm. Without further adventure he reached New Plymouth in safety, and his exploit won the encomiums it deserved,; Colonel Warre, then commanding the forces in Taranaki, gave him a complimentary banquet. He also received numerous1 letter of thanks, and, what was, more substantial, a testimonial of MdOO was presented to him by the insurance companies who held ripks on the1 gold.