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Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1986, 23 January 1907, Page 1

STEWART OF STEV.'ART'S ISLAND. Br E. M. L'unlox). A romantic story has recently beou revived in moro than ono quarter and lately appeared in the Auckland Herald, concerning a lady supposed to liavo been a daughter of the House of Stuart, said to liavo boon confined during a great part of her life on Campbell Island, which lies on the South of Now Zealand. Connected with tho story is the name of Captain Stewart,' which lives in Now Zealand history as that of the pioneer and discoverer of the insulatory of" the small island forming tho third in our New Zealand group, and which bears his name. Tho story which concern:; the lady and the old sea captain is deeply interesting, and it is well that all tho facts which it is possible to collect should bo authenticated at a stage in our story still offering the liope of verification. In the early history of Now Zealand wo find records of two' diHeront persons bearing the name of Captain Stewart, around whom stories cling, and there is some danger of confusion on tho part of the historian. Obloquy is justly attached to the name of the Captain Stewart who, in the year 1829 .made use of his brig, tbe Hlizabetb, to convey To llauparaha and his tribe to Akuroa in order that revenge might be taken on the Southern chief Taumaranui Stewart, and who was offered the reward of a cargo of flax for performing tin's service Taumaranui, with his wife, daughter, and many of his followers, was beguiled into boarding tho brig Elizabeth, when' a terrible massacre took place, followed by a cannibal feast. Tho details of the massacre are of an extremely horrible nature, and are well authenticated, since. Stewart was tried in Sydney for his countenance to the affair, but be escaped the arm of justice.

The Captain Stewart, however, whoso name is associated with .Jacobite tradition, and also with the insulatory of the Southern Island of New Zealand, began liis career in our waters at an earlier date and also lived on into a much later period He died at he ago of eighty-five, in the year 1851, at' Poverty Bay, on the blast Coast of the North Island of New Zealand. A little consideration will therefore show that at tho close of the eighteenth century, when tradition connects him with the exiled daughter of the House of Stuart, lie would have been in the prime of his manhood, about thirfcv-four years i-i age. That his whole life was adventurous in the extreme there can be no manner of doubt, ami it is by no means unlikely that at the outset of his career he was in some way associated with the members of the 1 loyal House of Stuart, fragments of whose tartan were in liis proud possession in his last days. He lived amongst the natives in Poverty Bay and was wont to relate anecdotes connected with his associations of early days, when he had “drank burgundy in the company of princes.” His stories were received witli amusement and incredulity. Of his own private life he related that after a lapse of many years he had revisited the scenes of his youth in search of his wife, whom he had forsaken tv follow the sea. His fate was that of Enoch Arden, for he found her again indeed, but, counting him dead, she had married another, and the children of another husband encircled a happy hearthstone, over which she presided. Stewart again took his departure for the Southern seas, to live and die in exile. He had ,in his early New Zealand life, founded a home and family on the island which bears his name. The scenery and surroundings of Stewart Island attract at. the present time the attention of tourists. Much beautiful forest flourishes there. Tho rata is extremely fine and at the present season beautifies every bay with its lovely crimson blossoms and dark, shining foliago. The shooting is excellent and tho oysters are noted for size and quality. Hundreds of persoils arc ill this trade, but, in the time of Stewart, the attraction to the trader lay in the number or soals to be obtained there ,seeking shelter from Antarctic severity. Like the whole of New Zealand the aspect of this island is now entirely altered by the progress of civilisation. It was the home of the Morioris, a dark race differing somewhat from the inhabitants of the North and speaking a different dialect. But few of these people now remain in existence. At the beginning of the last century, when Stewart ventured to cruise familiarly around the island, the desolation was extreme, and it is marvellous that a white man should choose a sphere so adventurous and solitary. As regards the lady of. the House of Stuart,' English history shows us that Charles Edward was a wanderer in Scotland between the years 1745 and 1750. If, as the story goes, he was joined by Meg Wilkinshaw, who afterwards followed his fortunes to Franco, her daughter might well at the close of the century be from 4o to 50 years of age, and it is not at all unlikely that she was concerned In Jacobite plots which made it desirable that ' she should he removed. There is probably a largo amount of truth in the story, as Captain Stewart, from sources altogether independent of tho legend, is known to have been in some manlier associated with the Jacobite dealings. Either lie removed the lady from a dangerous sphere by way of rescue, and maintained her on that distant isle, or as a traitor to the Jacobite cause, and in the pay of her enemies, he popvpyed her thither and hold her there' in durance vile. The story of the solitary lady frequently seen by whalers, and wearing a Scotch cap and tartan, needs to lie taken with caution, also the fact stated that in her cap she wore a sprig of Scotch heather. The fact, however, that traces of her occupation remain cannot be denied, and the existence of masses of Scotch heather covering a solitary grave gives a reality to what otherwise might appear but a romantic dream. The pathway laboriously constructed of eliqson crystals is on abiding memorial of patient industry. If, indeed, the daughter of the House of Stuart lingered out a solitary existence in this desolate spot, her lot was, indeed, one which calls for sym'pathy and pity. Perhaps n close examination or excavation might reveal some further details for confirmation of the story. Should it lie proved ti-ue' '•* suitable memorial irtigr.t be to alter the spelling so that Stewart Island might become known as Stuart Island. This change would also remove some of tlie misunderstanding or confusion of names, which attributes the place in history to the Stewat connected with the massacre of Taumaranui and his tribe.

Campbell Island i« now private property having been purchased for use as a sheep run by Captain Tucker, of the Poverty Bay district. It is about thirty miles in circumference, and is very broken and mountainous in character. There is a great deal of rain and mist, and the soil is of fallen forest leaves many rent titles, absorbing the moisture like a sponge. There is more than one pretty inlet, the most important being named Tucker’s Cove and Perseverance Harbour.—N.Z. Herald,

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