STORIES OF THE PENINSULA.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 541, 20 September 1881, Page 2

STORIES OF THE PENINSULA.

Under this; heading as announced in onr last issue, it is intended to publish a series of narratives illustrative of the early settlement of B inks' Peninsula. There are iiiiiny wlio will agive with us in thinking that something of this sort should bo done before the pioneers (who are getling fewer and fewer as the years roll on) have all passed away. It would be a pity indeed if these e.-irly records of enterprise and selfdenial should be lost, and we call upon those who have any knowledge of them to assist us in onr self constituted task. As a fitting commencement we have selected a narrative of the French expedition, most of the particulars of which have been kindly furnished to us by our townsman, Mr Waeckrrle. No. 1 The Story of this French Colonisation of Akaroa. About the year 1820 the adventurous seamen who had hitherto captured the whale in the northern ocean, found that the fish were fast decreasing in number, and turned longing eyes to the vast waters of the South Pacific, which voyagers had told them swarmed not only with many varieties of tho whale tribe found in the north,' but also with the huge sperm, whose oil was of great value as well as the spermaceti found in its head. A few soon ventured, and their good reports and great success induced many to follow their example. At first the Cape of Good Hope was chosen as the centre of the operations of those daring men whose lives were in continual peril, but whose profits were enormous, but year by year they fished further and further, and the coasts of Australia and New Zealand were soon made— the scene of their dangerous avocation. About 1835 before the first representative of England, Captain Hobson, had taken up his residence in Auckland, an adventurous French mariner, named Captain Langlois, came on a whaiing cruise to these seas. Amongst the many harbors that he visited was the beautiful Bay of Akaroa. the perfect safety of whose sheltered waters went straight to the heart of the rough seaman after the fierce gales he had encountered in the stormy southern seas. The luxuriant vegetation that everywhere fringed the inlets, showed that the soil was of exceeding fruitfulnoss, the mighty pines that towered above their meaner fellows gave promise of a vast supply of timber, whilst the innumerable kakas, pigeov.s and other native birds that woke the echoes of the bush with their harmonies and discord, and the fish that swarmed in the waters of the bay showed that an abundant supply of nutrutions food would always be easily obtainable. S.> charmed was Captain Langlois with the tranquility of the spot, that with a true Frenchman's love of Frince he coveted it for his country and determined to found a colony on this scene of primeval loveliness, h was in the year 1837 that he firs: had an opportunity of taking the first steps in this direction by purchasing all thatpait of the Peninsula from the Maoris, which lies between Peraki and the Akaroa Ho.-uls. Mr Wseekerle did not know the name of the Ciiiet from whom Captain Langlois purchased the iaud, ami the price paid for ' it, but doubtless the amount was a comparatively sm-dl one. In 1838 Captain Luigiois returned to France, and on his arrival he told some of his countrymen of the purchase ho had made, and the result was the formation of a company to colonise his estate. f ! he company appears to have been encouraged by tho French Government, for an oid ship of war called the "Comte de Paris" was lent to Captain Langlois to take out any persons who might be desirous of i-ettling on his land, and another armed ship called the " Le Leant" was sent out to New Zealand beforehand under the charge of Commodore Lavaud to protect the Colonials on their arrival. All this, however, done quietly, for the English had already settled in parts of the Islands, though Now Zealand was not proclaimed a British Colony till 1841. ft was not till the middle of the year 1839 that the company was formed under the name of the Nantes Bordelaise Company. The principal people taking an active part were Captain Lmglois, and his brother M. Jacques Langlois and M.Ms. St Croix, and Eugene de 3ellanic. In August 1839, the company advertised for emigrants in Havre de Gras, offering a free passage and the occupation of live acres of land on arrival, which would become the freehold of the occupier in five years if cultivated within that time, but if not cultivated it would revert to the company. Each emigrant was also promised provisions sufficient to last eighteen months after landing in the settlement. There does not seem to have been much enthusiesni shown, for it was the Ist of January, 1840 before some thirty persons left Havre in a steamer bound to Rochefort, whence the " Comte de Paris " was to sail for the new colony. After an eight day's passage they arrived at Rochefort only to find that the '• Comte de Paris" was not nearly ready for sea. On the Bth of March, 1840, everything was ready for a start. A good many more Emigrants had joined at Rwhefort, ko that at that time there were 65 on board which with the officers and crew made he total number of souls on board the '• Cotnto do Paris" 105. There were six Germans amongst the Emigrants. M. St. Croix do BelLinie, who is, it is .said, living in Auckland, acted as agent, for the coinpmy and by his great affability and skill ho appears to have won universal goodwill. There were no slouk on board the vessel, not even so much as a cat or dog, but there were choice collections of all sorts of seeds, and a number of carefully selected grape vines. Tho start was a unfortunate one, for the steumer that towed I'.io vesyel out, missed tho channel, and tho "Comte do Paris" stuck in the miii. and had to be lightened of part, of her cargo before she could bo got off. However on tho 19th of March these difficulties were surmounted, mid a fair wind soon took the vessel out of sight of France. The first part of the passage was not eventful but was very uncomfortable, for tho " Comte c'.e Paris" not only sailed vary tlowly, but steered very badly. The weather too, was w.ry rough, and all on l.oard v/uro glad when a short stay was made at an Island in tho tropics (probably one of tho Capo do Vardet- , ,) where fresh provisions, including a bountiful supply of bananas, were procured. Four months after starting, when off the coast of Tasmania, a terrific storm of thuadcr and"

lightning was experienced. The lightning first struck the main topgallant and topmast and tlipy Imth carried away. The seamen were terrified at the catastrophe, and great confusion ensued. Immediate orders were given to take all sail off the inizcn mast, but fortunately they were not immediately obeyed, or there would have been great loss of life, for a second flash struck the niizen mast and it carried away about Bft from the deck, and the vessel broaching too in the trough of the sea, neaily capsized. Capt. Langlois and his crew were, however, equal to the emergency. They cut away the wreck and rigged jurymasts, and a month later they were off the Peninsula. Here two of the emigrants died, and as their friends were desi-ions they should bo buried on land, the vessel anchored in Pigeon Bay where the remains of the unfortunate colonists were interred on the beach. It was a primitive burial, and all trace of the graves has long since been swept away. Captain Longlois was anxious before entering Akaioa Harbor' to ascertain if Commodore Lavaud had arrived there, and taken possession of the place as previously arranged ; so he dis patched a whale boat from Pigeon Bay, for that purpose. Four days later the boat returnad with the distressing intelligence that there ' was ho sign of the frigate. On the 14th of August the '• Comte de Paris" sailed from Pigeon Bay and anchored at Akaroa Heads on the 15th, and dispatched another boat up the Harbor in search of the lagging Commodore. This time the search was successful, for they found the vessel had arrived, and the frigate's launch was sent to tow the " Comte d.c Paris " up the Plarboi. Very lucky it was ; for those oh board that such was the case, for there was a heavy sea running at the Heads and one of the flukes of the anchor had broken and the vessel had . drifted close, to the rocks. However, the frigate's boat soon had her in tow, and once inside tho Heads all difficulties were passed, and the following morning found her safe anchored off the future town of Akaroa. All on board were delighted and astonished at the delightful prospect, and the colonists were determined not to spend another "night on board the ship, so all the spare sails and canvas were taken ashore, tents were hastily rigged, and the weaned voyagers reposed that night where the Akaroa Mail Oflice at present stands. The morning of the 17th : was calm and beautiful and the colonists were pleasantly awakened at the first dawn of day by the notes of innumerable birds.

A strange circumstance had been noticed by the new arrivals in coming up the harbor. When the Cotnte de Parie was towed past Green's point, near where Mr W. B. Tosswill's residence now stands, all on board saw a small group of men surrounding a flagstaff from which flew gaily in the morning breeze " tho Union Jack of old England." Snch a sight, naturally surprised and disturbed the new comers, but they were told it meant nothing, but was merely a piece of vain glory on the part of two or three Englishmen, who happened to he whaling in the vicinity. The real facts of the case, however, were by no means so unimportant as W--.S represented. It appears that Commodore Lavaud on his way from England, touched at Auckland, and that whilst hi-? vessel was lying in the calm, waters.of the Waitematrt, Captain IloHson who then represented British interests in the north, though Now Zealand had not yet been made an English colony, entertained him right royally. It appears sh.it in an unguarded moment the Commodore let out the secret of tho French expedition to Akaroa, and what was more injudicious spoke with rapture of the beauty of the Akaroa harbor, the fertility of the soil, nnd other natural advantages. Now Captain Ilobson was a man of action tvul of foresight. Ho saw that New Zealand had a great future bufore it, and was anxious that when it was made a jewel of the British Crown, it should be without a flaw. He then called in stratagem to his aid, and whilst the gay Frenchmen were enjoying themselves ashore after their wnary voyage, a small brig named the Favorite was secretly despatched under the charge of Mr Robinson, who was instructed to make the best of his way to Akaroa, and if possiu'e hoist the English flag there before the French arrived. Meanwhile, Commodore Lavaud appears to have been in no hurry to reach his destination, for he knew the sailing qualities of the Corrite de Paris, and did not think she could arrive hero till the end of August. Besides the company was good, and lie knew Akaroa was only a beautiful wilderness at the best, po it was early in August before the •'Lβ.Leant" sailed down the east coast and'pissed through Cooks Strait on her way to the Peninsula. Meanwhile, Mr Itobineori' and his expedition had, not had a very good time of it, and it was with very desponding hearts that on the 14th of August they reached Akaroa, for they feared the French must have been before them and taken possession of the place. What was their delight ihen, to find that no foreign keel had ploughed the waters of the bay. No time was lost, the English flag was at once hoisted and tho country claimed for the British Crown. It was not a moment too soon, however, for the following morning Commodore Lavaud arrived, just a few hours top late. But the new colonists knew nothing of this. The Commodore held a conference with Mr Robinson, and it was agreed that whilst tho French man-of-war remained in the harbor, the English flag should not be hoisted, and the fact of their having taken possession before the arrival of the French be'kept a secret, for fear it should ;i lead to disturbances between" the' English and the new comers. The secret was well keptj and though of course many rumors were current, it was not till years afterwards that thu arrivals by the Comte de Paris were aware that they were living in an English, and not a French colony. As soon as possible after the landing the land was allotted to the settlers. As before stilted, the bush came down nearly to the waters edge in many places, so thero was little clear laiui it was therefore arranged to divide the land facing the sea into 2£ acre blocks, giving one to each emigrant and to let them select their other 2£ acres where they liked. It being the condition of the tenure that the land should be cultivated within five years of the arrival, or revert to Captain Langlois. the colonists all avoided selecting land in the bush, but took up the clearings which they found bore and there, which ware then covered with toi toi. They lived altogether in the tents for about a mouth, but by that time they nearly all removed to tlie whares they had built on their respective sections. Tho six Ger-

mans who were amongst tho emigrants found that they could not get their sections altogether in Akaroa, so they determined to explore Captain Linglois' estate further. They found a beautiful bay with plenty of clear land a little higher up the harbor, and asked permission of the C»vnmodore to locate themselves there. Permission was granted, five acres wero parcelled out for each, and the b.iy was christened with the namn it still bears of " German Bay." The Germans built a great V hut, 40ft long by 30ft wide, of timber and rushes, with proper divisions, and in this they passed a very pleasant winter. Commodore Lavaud built a magazine in Akaroa just where the Court House now stands, and this was used for the storage of provisions and tools, and also for a hospital. Everything went peacefully along, the seeds germinated well, the vines flourished, and the colonists were content with their prospects. The French settlement was of course under French law, which was administered by Commodoie Lavaud. Mr Robinson wis the English Resident Magistrate, but his office was almost a sinecure. Wβ will here conclude this firet paper. Next Tuesday we hope to give our readers a narrative of the principal events that occurred during the first few years of the settlement.