WHEN THE WORLD WAS WIDE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2232, 19 August 1914, Page 7

WHEN THE WORLD WAS WIDE

MR. J. J. TAINE'S REMINISCENCES GALLANTRY ON THE HIGH SEAS ■ WELLINGTON IN 1840 The life of the late Mr. James J. Tamo, who died at Auckland oh Monday morning at the age of 97 years 7 months, was ,an intensely interesting one. He was amonc the very tew who witnessed New Zealand grow from an absolutely primitive state into a thriving country,, which is able to send out regiments of her-sons to do battle for the Empire m the Old World. When a man of middle age, Mr. Taine saw England send her regiments to subdue the Maori risings, and blaze the traok tor what i we arfe pleased to term European civilisation, and whilst yet alive che country has been able to pay the debt by sending well-equipped contingents abroad to uphold the flag wherever us support is threatened. Last week Mr. lame was probably the only pioneer jett who arrived in Wellington in 1840 (laving then arrived at man's estate, 10-day he,sleeps with the honoured dead, after nearly a century's term upon the earth. Mr. Taine supplied some particulars of his career to the "Journal of the tarly. (Settlers and Historical Association of Wellington," in which he 'said chat his attention was first drawn to this country bv the New Zealand Land Company's notices in the' London papere. Seekuig passage in the , shifi Adelaide,' commanded by Uaptain Oampliell, he embarked at Gravesend on September 18, 1839, and after much bufleting from the winds arid -waves of the South Pacific Ocean, Port Hardy; in D'Urville Island, was reached on March 4, 1840, and instructions were received the following day tolproceed to Port Nicholson, Some sis years later Mr. Taine'again visited that place in a small schooner from Nelson, driven there by bad weathor. H.M.S. Calliope, commanded by Captain Stanley, was also sheltering at Port Hardy, and Mr. Toine was the captain's guest for the night. It was on that occasion he met the celebrate! Lieutenant M'Killop, of Maori war~ fame, who later in life became an Admiral in the Turkish Navy, and died in Egypt as "M'Killop Pasha." For two days light winds kept-the. Adelaide in Cook Strait, and it was on-'the-'evening* of March 7, 1840, that anchor was dropped between. Somes Island and the' Maori pa, Hikoikoi, at the mouth of the Hutt River.' The Tory and the Glenbervio also entered the harbour at the same time, a southerly gale, accompanied; by lightning and rain, accelerating their arrival after calm. That night;a freshet coining down the river, the settlers decided <m 'locating themselves at the other end, of the harbour, arid a lauding was effected next day on Pipitea Boaoh. Thoriidon Flat wae then thick with. large dead trees still istanding; the lighter bush' had been burnt off by the Natives for their, cultivations, at which they remarkably excelled, and the locality was',then a very desirable one in the eye of the Maoris. Mr. Taine had been wise enough to bring out with him a large stock of necessaries, and it was with these he first commenced business. On one occasion he disposed of a keg' of tobacco for £80 to a whaling ship. Then his business premises were on Lambton Quay, on thejiresent site of' the Royal Hotel, where Taine's wharf for many years shot out into the. harbour. From hero he would put out with boat well eupplied ■with special goods, meeting many of the ships arriving from foreign ports ,a-s they dropped anohor.' . 1n.1846 Mr.,,Taine.was.'residing at the.Hutt, on the east hank of the river below the present bridge. On the opposite eide of -.the"river' his neighbour was a, Mr. Rush,.. occupying disputed ..land,, and it was while clearing it of bush that ho was massacred,by the Natives under Mamaku and Rangihaoatea. This led to'the. disturbances at the Hutt, including the memorable attack on Boulcott'Farm and the heroism arid death of the bugler boy Allen., Mr. Taine, who at'that time was a member of the local militia, decided to Temove his wife and young family back to Wellington, making his residence on Thorndon Quay, where he remained until the earthquake of 1855 badly damaged the house. All- that night the sea was in great commotion, rising and' falling right across the road almost up to' the house. Soon after he made his residence at 'the top of Wellington Terrace. Prior to. the, gold.discoveries in.Cali; fprnia and Australia, a Debenture Association was formed, the trustees being Messrs. John Johnston, George .Moore, and James J. Taine. The notes issued were guaranteed -Jby the Union Bank of Australia, and on presentation eight of these were'cashed for £1 One of these early debentures, dated 1845, is in the Dominion Museum, and another is in the possesion of the Bank of New Zealand.', The Bank of New Zealand was first established at Auckland, anfl it was mainly through the efforts of. the late Captain W. B. Rhodes and Mr.' Taino that a branch was opened in Wellington. This fees afterwards followed by the establishment of the New Zealand In-surance-Company, Mr. Taine and the late Hon. J. O. Pharazyn being the main local participants in that company's business. . ' ■, ' After his removal to Dunedin in 1861, ho co-operated with tho late Mr. Johnj Bathgate and Mr. R. Donkin in formujating a. scheme, and successfully carrying it out, for supplying Dunedin with its first water eupply. After.'various other ''financial' ventures, Mr. Taine decided to retire from business, and for some years resided at Maori Hill, close to Dunedin. Mr. Taine never enjoyed better health than when at sea, and during his Inst 20 years or so ho was a great traveller, making frequent 1 trips between New Zealand, Australia, and the Old Country. He also found the R-iyiera a pleasant abiding place) for a. time. Bnt -he was never contented for long in one place. •."'.'■''.