CENTENARY OF WRECK

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1934, Page 1 (Supplement)

CENTENARY OF WRECK

TARANAKI 100 YEARS AGO

(By

W. Gibbs Beckett.)

‘ The hectic half-century immediately preceding New Zealand s proclamation as an empire dependency, in 1840, was characterised by nothing so much as the unrestrained lawlessness of the rough whaling-fraternity, dregs of the earth who infested the waters of the South Pacific in those days. And there are many cases on record where the native dwellers in these remote lands under the Southern Cross suffered atrociously at the hands of these rude forerunners of a White invasion.

Centenaries are occasions almost unknown to the New Zealander. Few centennial ceremonies have been held in this country, principally because there have been no hundredth anniversaries to commemorate, so short is oui’ colonial history. But to-morrow, (April 29) will mark a centenary in Taranaki’s history which, although perhaps not of such vital consequence in itself, forged a chain of circumstances which attained a wide importance, and which reached as far as the English House of Commons. On that date, exactly one hundred years ago, the whaling brig Harriet, of 240 tons, was piled ashore on the rockbound coast of Taranaki near Cape Egmont, and became a total loss. Her crew of 26, as well as the captain’s wife and two children, reached shore in safety, and a supply of muskets, powder, and provender was rescued. Subsequent 'events —an affray between the castaways and a coastal tribe of, Maoris, the whalers’ flight, leaving Mrs. Guard and her children to the mercy of the natives, and the ultimate recovery, some five months later, of the three pakehas with the assistance of an armed force from H.M.S. Alligator and the Isabella, and to the accompaniment of a brutal and unjustified slaughter—all these colourful events aroused strong feeling throughout the civilised world, and was instrumental in casting a powerful beam of publicity on conditions obtaining in New Zealand in vthe early days of last century.

Although when on April 13, 1834, the Harriet’s were unfurled and she stood away from Port Jackson on an easterly course for Cloudy Bay, she was bound, in the imagination of her owners, for a highly lucrative season with the whaling-fleet, the Fates were otherwise disposed, and sent her to a permanent resting-place on Taranaki’s rugged coastline. Soon after the castaways had landed and established themselves in camp they were visited by natives, who proved friendly to the pakehas. But before many days had gone by, as the result, it is said, of licentious quarrels and interference with native women, this attitude changed, and relations between Maori and pakeha grew strained. For some reason two castaways deserted from Guard’s camp, and organised the natives in launching an attack on the whalers. The castaways had for-tified their position well, and were heavily entrenched, so that during the first part of the engagement they more than held their own, while the list of casualties among the assailants steadily mounted. However, Weight of numbers told eventually, the beseigers ultimately carrying the day, and putting the whalers to rout. There were twelve survivors, including Captain Guard, and these took to their heels, abandoning the white woman and her two children. It is surprising that in the flush of victory the Maoris did not despatch these captives out of hand, but when eventually she was returned to her people, Mrs. Guard stated- that the natives had shown her every consideration during her captivity. Guard and his dozen followers surrendered themselves to a band of Ngatiawa whom they encountered. Some of these captors urged that the pakehas should grace a cannibal feast, while others felt that they should be protected. The latter proved in the majority, fortunately, and the prisoners were taken to Moturua (Sugarloaf Island). At any rate it is said the Maori was not overkeen on pakeha “long-pig,” for it was distinguished by a salty flavour not pleasant to the native palate. The castaways managed to prevail upon the Ngatiawa to procure for them one of the Harriet’s whaleboats, promising them as a reward, if they did so, a cask of gunpowder. This offer was readily accepted, and some rough repairs were carried out to the whaleboat by the sailors until she was made more or less seaworthy. The natives stipulated that Guard’s brother and eight other pakehas be left at Motorua as a guarantee against the arrival of the gunpowder, while the boat was manned by Guard, five seamen, and three native chiefs. She sailed on June 20 for Cloudy Bay. Bad weather was encountered on this hazardous voyage, and coupled with this the boat “was in such a bad state that it required one hand to be constantly engaged bailing the water out.” Storms delayed their progress, and at one time a number of Te Rauparaha’s followers detained them, but eventually decided to let them proceed on their way. At length they came to Cloudy Bay, and thence made their way to Port Nicholson. Finding here a ship which was sailing for Port Jackson, they embarked, after the captain had undertaken to call in at Motorua and at Cape Egmont, and to endeavour to prevail on the natives, with the assistance of presents which would appeal to them, to release the prisoners and the hostages. This plan would almost certainly have met with success but for the fact that adverse weather intervened. The Joseph Weller was unable .to make up to the Taranaki coast, being forced instead to square away for Port Jackson. She carried with her the three Ngatiawa chiefs who had accompanied Guard in the Harriet s whaleboat to Cloudy Bay. The whaling skipper’s next move was to approach the New South Wales Government, waiving his intention of endeavouring to effect a rescue by means of ransom, and appealing for the assistance of an armed force to punish the Maoris for their “treachery.” In his deputations to the Council he gave no hint that the troubles which descended upon the.heads of the castaways were largely the result of their indiscreet interference with native women. Guard must have argued his case very speciously, for the Council agreed to authorise an expedition to instil in the Taranaki natives a proper appreciation of the inviolable might of the Britisher. Mr. C. D. Riddell, the Council’s Treasurer, was the only member who questioned the advisability of such a procedure following upon such scant evidence. On August 31 H.M.S. Alligator (Capt. Lambert), in company with the colonial schooner Isabella, both carrying a quota of foot-soldiers in addition to sailors and marines, set sail from Port Jackson, arriving off Cape Egmont on September 12. From this point, an enlightening account of the King's Navy at work a century ago is to be found in the scathing “Personal Reminiscences” of Surgeon Marshall, of H.M.S. Alligator. (To be continued.)