PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1453, 30 May 1912, Page 5

PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

* EARLY DAYS IN COOK STRAIT. An interesting lecture on "The Early History of Cook Strait" was delivered before the members of the Wellington Philosophical' Society last evening by Mr. R. M'Nnb. Thero was a fairly good attendance of members, and Mr. G. V, Hudson presided. The lecturer prefaced his remarks by commenting upon the difficulty of obtaining authentic information concerning the early history Of New Zealand. Official ■ records dated from tho arrival of the first Governor. In 1820 tho sealing industry in tlio strait languished, and was given up, and about tho same time Te Rauparahn camo to Kapiti, and began to trado with Europeans. The whaling industry began in tho early "thirties," but there were few records left of these vessels. Mr. M.'Nab went on to relate tho story of the whaling barque Elizabeth, whoso crew cooperated with a marauding band under To Rauparahn. in n cold-blooded massacro at Akaroa, followed by orgies of tho wildest description. Records of this affair were found in London. Generally speaking, the log-records of the American whalers wero easier to trace, as these logs were handed over to the owners, who carefully preserved them. The speaker Mien traced tho principal events through the 'forties and onward, and nt tlio close of his remarks was accorded a hearty \o(e of thanks.