EARLY REMINISCENCES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13793, 27 October 1908, Page 3

EARLY REMINISCENCES.

I . .• • .'«e lato Mr W. K. Mulke. ■ -, M/. W. H. Skinnor.]

\Co i] turned irom yesterday.)

: .c roasqn for Mr Hulke's leaviug "Wajv.mui in 1841 and sacrificing his bus'Dsas was stated by him thus. — S'-a after tho establishment of tho sell lenient at Wellington tho colony nas inundated by a class of undesirables from Sydney and Hobart, the social state of which places at this time was notorious, they being the penal settlements for the British lslands. Those undesirables were gradually hunted out of Wellington by tho police and many of them drifted to Wanganui, where tho strong arm of the law was as yet unknown, and where a lawless state of minor crimes and drunkenness was rampant. Drinking and rioting were engaged in day ana night and property was not safe unless one was armed and « onstantly on the watch. Mr Hulke, on account of his absolute refusal to participate in these drunken sprees, was marked by this "push" for abuse and insult. On one occasion a messenger was sent to him from Mr that he wished to see him at once at the Company's house or store. Going there and being shown into the room he found a considerable company sitting round a large kind of counter or bar, with as chairman. He was shown a seat and was informed that all who came there were compelled to obey the rules of the "Club." The first rule was that he was to drink round for round with the president and company, failing which the gin or rum was to be thrown in his face. Mr Hulke was in a trap, the only outlet being by the door, at which a sentry had been placed with a drawn cutlass, with instructions to cut down anyone who attempted to leave without tho permission of the president. A pannikin of gin was handed to him in his turn, which he refused to take, and the gin was promptly dashed in his face. Round after round this was repeated, until all the company were showing signs of decided intoxication. Mr Hulke had been watching closely the sentry at the door, who, nobly taking his rum as his turn came round, found it somewhat difficult to stand steadily on his feet. Watching his opportunity Mr Hulke jumped from his seat, pushed over the sentry, wlio was too far gone to offer any decent resistance, and made his escape. That night a mob of drunken and half-drunken men attempted to raid and burn, Mr. Hulke's store; 'He was awakened by their noise and, fearing their errand* ,< he hurriedly rope and partly dressed j before they reached the store. Arming himself frith a heavy manuka canoe paddle, he stood inside the doorway and struck down the first man who ontered. The others, seeing what had befallen their leader, hesitated to come on a-nd suggested burning out the "rat," but better counsels prevailed and they withdrew. After this Mr. I Hulke decided to leave the place. He left his share of the business in the hands of his partners, but he never received his snare of the money put into the venture. Mr was a prominent figure at j,hese drink socials, but on the occasion just- mentioned Mr Hulke noticed, that he was not at the tafoie with the others. After a while he notioed a man stowed away on one of the top shelves of the store,* sleeping heavily, and was informed by one of the company that this was — - , who got drunk early in the day Bnd hadbeeu placed up there on the shelf for safety., v ., . '•' „ •