HISTORICAL CANOE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20055, 29 September 1939, Page 12

HISTORICAL CANOE

CARRIED MAIL IN 1841 WELLINGTON RELIC Of particular interest during the centennial, a 100-year-old Maori canoe has been placed on exhibition ut the Dominion Museum, ’Wellington. It is of considerable historical importance, for it played an essential part in the early colonisation cf Wellington. This is the mail canoe used in 1841 by the Hon. W. B. D. Mantell, first postmaster at Wellington. It was used by him in the early days for going out to meet the sailing ships on arrival, and taking ashore whatever mails they brought. It was also probably used for carrying mails between Wellington and Petone, before the Hutt road was completed. Mr Mantel! came to New Zealand by the Oriental, which arrived at Port Nicholson in January, 1840. lie was then 20 After a few months at Wanganui, he returned to Wellington to be appointed postmaster and cleric, an office which he held for three years It is interesting to recall that later in his career, after a lapse of 20 years, he was again associated with the postal services, this time as Postmaster-General in the Dommett administration. Mr. Mantell was closely in sympathy with native affairs, and was indeed Native Minister, and it is therefore fitting that this memorial of his first othcial position should b. a Maori canoe. The vessel is about 80ft long, hewn from a single totara trunk. I has been presented to the Museum bv Mrs. W. Mantell. Wellington.