STORIES OF THE PENINSULA.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 553, 1 November 1881, Page 2

STORIES OF THE PENINSULA.

No. 7. —Easily The Monarch, commanded by Captain Smale, chartered by Messrs Robinson (formerly Resident Magistrate at Akaroa) and Smiih, who was the first* person who placed -••beep on Mr Buchanan's run at Little River, was the first English ship thf.t ever came to Akaroa. Sue arrive.

on April 2. 1850, and a Hi\ account of her trip was published in this journal in 1877. She brought some, pheasants which were turned out at Pigeon Bay, bat went over to Port Levy. Tbey did not do well at first, failing to increase much, till some Chinese pheasants were added to their ranks, after which they soon bee me numerous.

Besides the pheasants some cattle were brought out by Mr Smith. There were 52 passengers on boml, most were bound to Auckland, at which Port the Monarch intended to call first, hut 40 of these were so delighted with the appearance of Akaroa, that I hey resolved to remain here. At this time little progress had been made since tbe first settlement by tbe French. The English were few and far between, though, of course, a good many whalers, French, and American visited the Harbor. Mr Watson was the Resident Magistrate, and Messrs Fan* and family, Parker and family, Pavitt and family, two Vogane, Haylock and family, Rule, Green and Hilleur, were amongst the principal passengers by the Monarch. Amongst the earlier settlers were Messrs Bruce, P. Wood. Reed, McKinnon and others. The two latter squatted on tho laud afterwards purchased by the Rev W. Aybner. Messrs Farr, Pavitt, Haylock and their family, with the two Vogans, settled within tho township of Akaroa. Mr Pavitt, sen., and his family went to Robinson's Bay, where Mr taxton now lives, tha eldei sons going sawing in the bush. The houses were of the most premitive descrition, the block houses being then gradually falling into decay. Bruce's Hotel had by far the most imposing appearance, Bruce kept it beautifully clean, having it w-ishal down every morning as if it was a ship. He was an old siilor, formerly the owner of a cutter which traded from the South. On Mr Bruce's first trip here Captain Smith, late of the Wairarapa, was on board, and a Maori woman. The vessel when lying inside tho heads in calm weather with all sails set was suddenly capsized in a squall. The Maori woman, who was down below at the time, was drowned, but the rest succeeded in getting in a boat belonging to the vessel, and Bruce was so struck with the appearance of the place that he determinnd on settling here and started the Hotel which now bears his name.

Paddy Wood, another " old identity," kept an hotel where Mr Garwood's store now stands. These two publicans were continually quarrelling*,, but this was nearly entirely owing to Wood's fault, who was very rough and disputatious. Bruce was a most kindly, man and many a tale is told oi his kindness and generosity. Where the private part of Braces' Hotel now stands, there was originally a store, built by Messrs Ellis and Turner. These two men like the publicans, could not agree, so after a lengthy series of quarrels they determined to separate and divide the prooei't}. Here, however, a difficulty a rose'with regard to who should h-ive the building. At last they hit upon the most original plan of dividing it, and (Nit it fair down tiie centre with a crosscut saw, each party boarding up Ids own en I,

Another store stood where the iron gate near Mr Garwood's store is at present situated. This was built by a man named Duvauchelle, and was afterwards u:*e,l as a lock-up. and at the end of its career in that capacity became- a hospital. It now forms the older poitio iof Mrs Watkins' sto-e.

Dr Watkins pre-.cn I: dwelling house was then situated on the I each, and was also near Garwood and Go's stor* 1 . It win moved in pieces up to iis present position.

Mr Wac-'kerle had a flour mill close to wh'-re the Chinaman's house now is. A good deal of wheat was grown, principally by the Natives. The first willow, supposed to be a slip from the one overhanging Napoleon's grave at St Helena, was planted in German Bay by Mensem- de Bellinio. ft is from this tree that all these that beautify Akaroa and the borders of the Avon in Christchurch originally sprang. This same gentleman also planted the first walnut trees which have so increased and multiplied. The first willow was cut down by Mr Lucas, who appears to have been utterly devoid of sentiment, and when reproached with his vandalism said that he did not see any difference between one willow tree and another.

The first settlers that arrived under the Canterbury Association were, Dr Watkins, the i.-vte Mr D'Oyley, Mr Matson, (manager for Captain Muter), the late Mr Dicken, the late Mr Funnel!, and Mr Hammond of German Bay. The ii3xt arrival was that of the I lev. \V. Aylmer and bis family, who brought with him Mr Moore, Mr Morgan and his family, the late Mr Augusts Porter, (brother to Mr John Porter), and Miss Catherine Edgeworth, now Mrs Garvey. lie was the fmt Incumbent of Akaroa, but previous to his arrival two clergymen cf the Church of l-higkind did temporary duty ; the Rev. Mr Thorna 1 - and tbe Rev. Mr Fenton, (cousin of Mr 11. .11. Fenton. On Mr Aylmer's first arrival, tbe only building available way Commodote Lavaud's original house, containing four small rooms, and a round house built of clay that used to stand at the back of the present Court House. This was close packing foi ten people. Mr Justin and Mr W. Aylmer used to live in the round house. Mr and Mrs Ayl mer and part of the family walked over from Pigeon Bay, but Mr Justin Aylmer and ten others had tho pleasure of coining in a cutter of 17 tons burden, named the Kaka, commanded by Captain Kane, now of Timaru. The trip took no less than a week, the last night off the Akaroa Heads being very stormy and disagreeable, as owing to the crowded state of the little craft, the hatches could not be kept on. So long was ihe delay of the vessel's arrival, that Mr Bruce sent out a boat to look for the Kaka, and one of the crew of that .boat was Mr Gerald FUz-gerald, lately Resident Magistrate at ilokitika.

The first schoolmaster in Akaroa was Mr WadsweiYn, who came out; in the same ship with Mr Garwood. lie was a v_y capable man and much liked, but lie soon left, and entered the civil service in Victoria, where he now holds a good position.

The tir.*t Church of England service was held in the French Magazine, which was also used as a Court-house, and stood on tho site of the present Court-house, and the seats were borrowed fioni the Roman Catholic Oh'-pel. Shortly after tbis Archdeacons Paul and Matbias paid a visit to Akaroa for the purpose of holding a wholesale marriage and christening of the Natives. The Maories flocked in in great numbers, apparently delighted at thcj_idf--a <

Many of the children had been baptised before by clergymen of various denominations, but they had it done over again to make all sure. Some of the ladies left long strings of their children outside tbe building whilst tbey went in to be married. In these earlier days a brig named the Mountain Maid used to visit Akaroa and other New Zealand ports periodically. She came from Sydney, and was tbe property of Mr Peacock, father of the Hon. John Peacock. The Mountain Maid was a perfect floating warehouse, from which the settlers drew *:heir supplies. She bad everything on board, '-from a needle to an anchor," and her decks used to be crowded by bu*.y purchasers whenever she arrived.