SKETCHES OF WANGANUI: PAST, PRESENT, & FUTURE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 7406, 6 May 1891, Page 4

SKETCHES OF WANGANUI: PAST, PRESENT, & FUTURE.

(By " Marksman." INTRODUCTION. In the face of the growing importance rapidly being attained by Wanganui, and the prominent part it is likely to play in the future destiny of the colony, a brief resume of the principal events connected with its early history, and subsequent progress, together with a prophetic foreshadowing of its ultimate future, may not be without interest to the general reader. The usual course adopted by writers in a task like this is to carefully collect all available information on the subject in hand, and when sufficiently primed, to work on the material gleaned, and weave out a narrative in as attractive a form as possible from the gathered fragments. This plan however has one serious objection, as the writer is almost bound in reading up his different authorities to become biassed in his judgment, and liable to give partial reports. The present writer adopts however a totally different course, and prefers to occupy the same position as that assigned to a juror, ■ of being utterly ignorant of the facts of the case on trial ; and as he happens to be in the happy position of knowing next to nothing of the subject he intends to deal with, relying almost solely upon a lively imagination to supply the necessary particulars, there is little reason to fear that he will be accused of either showing partiality, or a pre-con-ceived bias in his judgments and conclusions. Trusting that his present efforts in the direction of supplying instruction and amusement to the many readers of the popular journal that he has the honour to represent may be justly appreciated as they deserve, and having taken the necessary precaution of insuring his life, to guard against unforeseen contingencies, he will now proceed with his allotted task, and commence to deal with Wanganui as it was. IN THE PAST. The present residents, who when night's shadows fall over their beautiful city ,retireto their domestic hearths, and in a cosy sitting-room, brilliantly illuminated by jets of gas, and with a bright coal fire burning in the grate, ensconce themselves comfortably in an easy chair, and settle down to the quiet enjoyment afforded by a perusal of the interesting pages of the Evening Hekald, can scarcely realise the prevailing aspect and condition of things that existed in the remote past, and it will be my endeavour to lift the veil which has hitherto enshrouded with mystery this portion of the history of bygone days. THE FIRST DISCOVERER. It has always been a vexed question as to with whom rested the honour of being the first discoverer of Wanganui. By many of the older, settlers it is claimed that Shakespeare is entitled to this distinction, and in proof of this assertion,, they proudly and confidently point to the cliff overhanging the river, which bears the name of that memorable and eventful occasion. It is further contended, that it was on this identical hill, that he composed his great masterpiece " Macbeth/' and there is considerable colouring of proof to ,this assertion, as many namesakes and descendants of the Scottish King are still found settled over portions of the Rangitikei district, whilst McDuff still survives and runs the largest coach factory in Wanganui, as well as the colony at large. Feasible as this theory appears to be, my own opinion is that the following account which has been briefly described in a little work entitled " Interesting Chapters of the Early •History ofWanganui,"but of which ' I will endeavour to give the full particulars, will be found to be not only more reasonable, but also substantially correct. A ROMANTIC TRAGEDY. In the month of January 1831, exactly 60 years ago, a fishing party of Taupo natives, were encamped on the banks of the Wanganui river, near the Heads, when they observed a strange boat engaged in crossing the bar. The occupants, consisting of four white men and a negro, having effected the passage in safety, drew rapidly ■ near, and receiving friendly invitations from the natives to land, headed the boat ashore, and stepping out, were quickly surrounded by a crowd of aboriginals, who gazed in wondering awe at the white skins of the Pakeha strangers. It was whilst thus engagaged, that a sudden change came over the natives, who ceased their noisy clamourings, and drawing aside, made room for the approach of a young chieftainess, who gracefully advanced to greet the Europeans, clothed in her most gracious smile. It is scarcely necessary to add that this* was the only article of apparel that she appeared to be encumbered with. The captain of the boat's crew, one Andrew Powers, at once likewise gallantly advanced to meet and do homage to the dusky scion of royalty, and tried to ingratiate himself in her favour by endeavouring to do what is now modernly termed, "a mash," with his fair sovereign. Whilst engaged in these pleasant formalities, some of the more curious of the natives, advanced to the boat, and entering it, commenced to take up some of the articles with which it was loaded. This aroused the ire of one of the sailors named " Joe Capstan," who at once ordered them to desist, and on their refusal to do so, commenced to remove them by a process commonly known as " chucking out." The Maoris resisted, and their savage instinct being aroused, drew their tomakawks, and; slaughtered the three Europeans and the negro, whose heads they at once cut off,and then proceeded to distribute choice tit-bits, to the rest of their companions. This is the first instance on record of capitation allowance being granted to the Maoris, although it is a common practice with civilised people, and is invariably accorded to all teachers of our present public schools. Powers would no doubt have shared the same fate, had not Rora, the young chieftainess, upon whose susceptible heart he had already succeeded in making^deep impression, taken him under her royal protection, and made him " tapu." Powers was however compelled to Jiand over the whole of his personal

belongings, his pockets being closely searched to effect this object. As his possessions were found to consist solely of a black clay pipe and a large potato, which latter filled the whole of his side pocket, whilst the former adorned his hat, there is every reason to suppose that he was of Irish extraction, and evidently only recently hailing from the Emerald Isle. To this country therefore may fairly be assigned the honor of having produced the original discoverer of Wanganui (To be continued.)