TRAMPERS VISIT KAPITI — ISLAND OF BEAUTY

Chronicle (Levin), 15 March 1947, Page 4

TRAMPERS VISIT KAPITI — ISLAND OF BEAUTY

Kapiti, island of beauty and rich in historical interest because of its associations with the famous Maofi chief, Te Rauparaha, was visited last weekend by a party of 30 members of the Levin-Waiopehu Tramping Club. In pre-war days the outing was an annual one, but this was the first trip the club has held to the island since early 1939. The privilege, fof privilege it is, has been given to comparatively few to set foot on Kapiti and en j oy its rare natural beauties, and to experience the unexcelled facilities for fishing, swimming and tramping which are a part of it. Firstly, the greater portion is a bird sanctuary owned by the Crown, and no landing may be made without the permission of the Commissioher of Crown Lands. Seeondly, three and a-half miles of Tasman Sea sepa'rate the island from Paraparaumu Beach, the nearest point on the mainland; there is no regular launch service and the crossing cannot be afranged without some difflculty. Kapiti, also known as Entry Isle, the name given i't by Captain Cook in 1770, is six and a-half miles long, ahd is slightly less than 5000 acres in area. At the northern end there is a flat Of 'abbut 100 acres, part of •500 acrbs of fafm land owned by Mrs. V/ebber since the passihg of her husband, the late Mr. Hona Webber. The other 4300 acres is vested in the Crown. The land belonging to Mrs. Webber is separated fr.om the bird sanctuary by a. stock-proOf fence. Members of the party were astir early on Saturday morning and left Levin soOn after 7 a.m. by bus. The day was fine but cloudy. With all their tents, camp. equipment and provisions, the party was on the beach at Paraparaumu by 8 a.m. The launch engaged made two trips to the island, and shortly after 11- a.m. the trampers were all landed safely at Waiora, on Mrs. Webber's portion of the island.

Old Landmark Gone • To the only two members of the party who had b6en on the island before the war ,the landing was made with mixed fe'elings— no ■longer is Waiora marked by "Manaaki," the Webber homestead. This beautiful eight-roomed home was destroyed by fire in September last, together with the many valuable fa'ihily relic's, such as Maori curios, carvings and pictures. These and the lovely grounds surrounding "Manaaki" have previously been a source of great interest and admiration by visitors who have, enjoyed the hospitality of Mrs. and the late Mr. Webber throughout the years. ^ In the arbuhds a bach has' beeh erected iheanwhile. Beyond the site Where "Manaaki" ohbe stobd the party- erectCd tents on a gfa.ssy fiat, ahd prepared the cahip' which was to be its' headquartefs; for the weekend. . Simullafihdukly a much-he'Cded lunch was made ready and thofoughly enjoyed. Hefe some o'f the hardier ■members cf the party indulged ih swimming, flndjng the wa^e.r cold. In the aftcfncon tlie" majofity followed the beach round to the northern end: of the islahd and enjoyed som'e ekceliehf rofck climbing, while the others borfow-

ed a dinghy and emb'arked on a ^Lshing outing. By the time tea was over a mist had come down and a proposed tramp through a picturesque valley to the western side of the island had to be cancelled. There, in clear weather, from the top of a precipitous cliff face, at the base of i which the sea pounds ceaselessly, | the setting sun can be watChed, | with all its glorious colours. mstead games were played until dark, when the camp fire was built up and the remainder of the evening passed with a sing-song and supper. Visit to Sanctuary Sunday dawned fine but cloudy again, and after an early breakfast half the party was on the launch once more, bound for the fishing grounds. They met with a fair measure of success. Mean while. the remaining trampers Walked round the island to Rangatira, a small bay on the eastern side, for a visit to the sanctuary, permission for which had kindly been granted by fche Commissioher of Crown Lands. On a small fiat overlookihg tnis bay stands the home of the only permanent inhabitant of the island, the. caretaker (Mr. Lindsay) . Beyond his house the island rises steeply to 1900 feet at its nighest point, Titeremoana, which is marked by a trig. After meeting the caretaker the party set out to revel in the natural beauties of this portioh of the island, rambling along the rocky shores, exploring the fiat and tramping through the bush. They were immediately struck by the size of the bird population, and the many varieties of f eathered birds contained therein. Bellbirds se'ehi3d to be the most predominant, while wild pigeons were otaserved in abundance, with at intervals one soaring above the trees and dropping in a dive. in the flax on the fiat there are hundreds of tuis. Green and red parakeets, cuckoos,. white !eyes, white heads, robins, fantails and others made up a collection not seen elsewhere in -the Dominion. The low mist caused the abandonment of the usual tramp up the steep track through the beautiful bush to the trig. * Along this track a weka can generally be seen, peering out through the uhdergrowth in the dim light of the bush. These birds are noted fof removing artieles from the unwa-ry's camp, ' and have a paftieular affinity for cutlery. At the summit one can gaze out over the Tasman Sea from a height of 190b feet, beloW cliffs drooping sheer to the sea, and obtain fine view§ of the surrounding country and nminland. Later in the morniiig the members who had beeh fishing landed at Rangatira for a visit,' while the party which had walked found the island was . taken on board the launch to try its skill'with hook and line. The two parties subsequently joined forces again back at their cahip. It was then time to pack . up, and reluctanily the trampers turned their backs on the picturesque island, carryhig- away a W'^alth of memories of their pleasant weekend. The launch trip back to Rafa- .

paraumu was completed withput incident and the party joined the bus for the return journeyto Levin, which was reached at 6.30 p.m. Romantic History u This is Kapiti as the trampters saw it, an island of bush and bifds, without human habitation and Sel- ! dom disturbed by visitors, but it has inot always been such a sanctuary. Of events which happened there just over 100 years ago a romantic chronicle can be wrirten. Kapiti 's eventful history dates baCk to the early whaling days, when there were several stations; on the island and it boasted more Europeans settled there than Wellington. For several years in the early 183 0's the whaling was very profitable, but then the whales diminished in number and ships became fewer. Relics of those days can still be seen, among them rusted trypots upt'urned on the beach at Rangatira. , In 1819 a party of Maori Warriors 1000 strong, headed by the wily Te Rauparaha, travelled south from the Waikato, ravaging the eountry on the way and visiting Kapiti. Te Rauparaha was given the idea of transferring his tribe, the Ngatitoas, to the island, a location which he could see posse§s£d exeellent facilities for def^nce, procuring much-needed weapons from the Europeans and trading with them, as well as plundCring :he mainland. He returned to the Waikato and in 1821 the migration of his Ngatitoas began. They sojoumed in Taranaki.' The migration contfnued via the Rangitikei and Manawatu Rivsr mouths to Ohau, which was within the bbrders of the promised land. Te Rauparaha dispossessed'the Ngatiawa, Rangitane and Muaupoko tribes. The latter, under the pretence of a friendly gift of canoes, 3lew several of Te Raupafa's wives and children, including his eldest son, an act such as he himself loved to perpetrate, but for which he pursued Muaupoko with unabated' vengeance for many ybars. About 1823 Te Rauparaha captured the island. which was for many years previously the horhe of Rangitane and Ngati-apu, who were ousted by Te Peehi Kupe. From there Te Rauparaha" carried out suecessive attacks on Muaupoko at their pas on Ljakes Hofbwlienua and Papaitonga, dealing them defeaf after defeat, . About 1824 Te Raupafaha?' enemies launched against hiui great amphibious operatlon. Two thousand fighting, rneii drove their war canoes into the. tide which- rips and eddies round Kapiti. Thb tide had an important effect oh thb outeonie of the b'attle. Accordihg to one acCount, an extra large wave overturned the leadipg canob and others Crashed into it. Seizin'g- the opportunity offefed in the confusion which followed, the defendeys rushed in and routed the ihvaders. When .Colonel Wakefield affived in New Zealand ih bafgain vilh the Mapris for the sale of land to the New 'Zealand Cbmpanjy, his ship, the.Tory, anchored off Kapiti, and. Te Rauparaha was ohe of the chiefs who boarded the "Pbfy for the negotiatiohs.