SECOND PRIZE.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 December 1926, Page 2 (Supplement)

SECOND PRIZE.

(Bruce Bell, aged 16 years 5 months).. In the days when England and France were struggling in the 109 Years’ War the bows of a fleet of canoes from the Isles of Tahiti dipped through the blue Pacific as they sped onward to the halfmythical land of Aotea-roa, which Kupe, four centuries before, had stated he discovered. One of these canoes was the Tokomaru under the command of a chief, Manaia. In the Bay of Islands he first sighted New Zealand, which was to be the home of him and his descendants thenceforward. He sailed round the North Cape, down the West Coast to the mouth of the Waitara River. Here with his followers he landed, made his home, and killed the peaceful inhabitants. Thus came the Ngatiawa, the principal tribe of Taranaki. In the year 1642, September 26, Mount Egmont, the sentinel of Taranaki, was first sighted by Abel Tasman. Thinking it at first an island he named it “Cabo Pieter Boreels,” and sailed north on his voyage of discovery. Over a century passed before Taranaki was again sighted. Then James Cook in 1770, and Marion du Fresne, a Frenchman, two years later, sighted Egmont. Fresne called it “La Pic Mascarin,” a name fast being forgotten, and preserved only in histories of the province. At the beginning of the nineteenth century traders first landed in Taranaki. Spars, flax and preserved skulls were bartered from the Maoris for an infinitesimal price and shipped to Sydney in such craft as the Adventure. Richard Barrett landed, and established a trading station at Moturoa. He was followed by other whalers and traders, who became “Pakeha Maoris.”

Then came the great invasion by the Waikatos in 1832. Influenced by the example of the redoubtable Hongi, they procured firearms and a huge war party of 4000, under Te Whero Where, later to become famous as Potatau, the Maori King, advanced south. This great taua swooped down on the unprepared pa of Pukerangiora, situated on an abrupt promontory jutting out into the Waitara. For twelve days they besieged the pa, and then the famished Ngatiawa, making a break for liberty, were slain along the steep cliffs of the Waitara. Flushed with victory the horde of Waikatos advanced along the beach on the Ngamotu pa. This was held by 350 Ngatiawa under Warepori, together with their pakeha Maoris, of whom the best remembered are Barrett, Love, Wright a:.d Bundy. They had rifles and a few cannon. The Waikatos, attacking one early dawn, were repulsed, and tired of fighting they returned to their own country. Many Ngatiawa, however, fearing they might return, emigrated south to Waikanae, under Wiremu Kingi te Rangitake. In 1834 the Harriet was wrecked at Cape Egmont, and many of the crew were killed and eaten by the Maoris. Captain ■Guard escaped and brought help in the H.M.S. Alligator, under Captain Lambert, who quelled the natives treacherously and rescued the castaways. In 1839 the value of a settlement at Taranaki was perceived. Stokes and Park, surveyors, came overland from Wellington, but owing to scarcity of food, they returned. In 1840 ithe New Plymouth Company, a branch of the New Zealand Company, was formed. It had a capital of £150,000 and purchased 10,000 acres and later 50,000 more. The Earl of Devon was Governor. Mr. E. G. Wakefield sent Messrs. Dorset and Barrett in the Tory to buy the land, and Mr. Carrington to survey it. Dr. Diffenbach roamed over Taranaki, and made the first ascent of Mount Egmont-. Mr. Carrington selected, a site between the Huatoki and Te Henui Rivers. Barrett bought the land for a small sum off some 70 natives at Moturoa. Towards the end of the year the William Bryan (Capt. Mac-Lean) named after a famous Australian convict, left Plymouth. She arrived off the Sugar Loaf Islands on March 30, 1841. The immigrants landed at Moturoa and Walked along the beach to the Huatoki, where the foundations of New Plymouth were cast.

Towards the end of the year the Amelia Thompson arrived, and she was followed the next year by the Timandra under Captain Skinner. Thence onward a regular sticcffeion of immigrant chips arrived. The settlement prospered. • Trouble was experienced with the natives, but. only to a small extent. The next year, 1843, the depression caused by the news of the massacre at Wairau was increased by an earthquake that did much damage from Taranaki to Wellington. In the same year a number of Ngatiawa free slaves returned from the Waikato and gave trouble, as they had no land and no compensation. A number of young warriors assaulted two settlers, Pearce and Baity, and burnt the former's house. The natives were also troublesome at Waitara, so special constables were sworn in by a magistrate, Mr. Cooke, and a petition was sent to Governor Shortland. In 1844 Mr. Spain awarded the full 60,000 acres that the company claimed to the settlers. This incensed the natives. Trouble loomed ahead. Wiremu King! appealed to Governor Fitzroy, who, realising that the claims of many natives had not been regarded, annuled Commissioner Spain's award, and allowed the company only 3500 acres. What with the trouble from the natives and the decision of Governor Fitzroy this proved one of the darkest years experienced by the

settlers. In 1847 Governor Grey re-awarded the Bell, Grey and Omata blocks to the company. The natives became restless and sullen. More ominous still was the return of Wiremu Kingi from Waikanae to Waitara. The Waikatos in the north, who had received only £2OO, given by Hobson to Te Whero Whero and Te Kati, for their claim of conquest, threatened at any moment to burst from their peaceful state into war. For ten years the war was avoided, but at last it came, and Taranaki was swept from end to end with war. The hatchet was never buried till at last on the sands of Moturoa the natives danced and sang their war song before the settlers. “What is that mountain standing yonder ? Tis Taranaki's peak. Oh! Come close to us Draw near to us That we might tightly embrace you And clasp vou, close. Ah-h; Ah-h! We crunch the sand beneath our feet Like this!