CRUISE OF THE ROSE ANNE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 322, 9 November 1865, Page 1

CRUISE OF THE ROSE ANNE.

DEATH OF JOHN HENDERSON, A SETTEES WHO WAS SHOT THROUGH THE HEAD NEAR MAWHAI. (From the' New Zealander, Nov. 4.) The Eose Anne, schooner, left Napier on the 30th of September for Auckland; called at Mawhai on the Ist October, and landed some stores for the friendly chief Henry Potae. The captain learned from him that an old settler, John Henderson, had been accidently shot through the head by the friendly natives whilst fighting the Hau-haus. The captain went on shore to see him, and he expressed a desire to go to Auckland in the vessel, so the captain kindly consented to give him a passage. He then made the following statement :

On the 12th September the friendly chief Henry Potae came to my house at Anaura, and ordered me to leave and go into his pa at Mawhai. for protection, as he said the Hau-haus would rob and murder me. I went, and assisted in defending the pa, but had I been left at my own place there was no fear of my losing my life or any other Pakeha-Maori by the Hau-haus. The only friendship the friendly Maoris have towards the Europeans is to suit their own ends, and rob them as they have done all along the coast from Hicks’ Bay to Tologa Bay, more or less. On the sth October the Rose Anne arrived off Kawakawa, and was boarded by Mr Peachy and Mr Collier, but there was too much sea onto ship produce. John Henderson told them the same as he had told the captain in the above statement. The schooner then proceeded to Hicks Bay and anchored. Saw the Brisk, man-of-war, lying there with steam up, so the schooner hoisted the ensign with the union downward, as the captain wished to put Henderson on board of her, as he thought she was going to Auckland direct, but the man-of-war took no notice of the signal, and proceeded on her voyage. At 7 a.m. on the 7th instant went over to Kawakawa, and got Peachy and Collier on board, and started for the Bay of Plenty Off Long Point boarded the Tawera, and at 5 p.m., off Cape Runaway, spoke the Success bound for Opotiki. Doctor Grace wished to see the wounded man, so a boat was sent for him, and he said that Henderson was doing well, but the captain told him that he thought he was dying, as he had not spoken since 1 p.m, on the 6tb. The doctor said, “He is all right; only feed him well.” On the 10th, at 8 a.m., inflammation set in, and Henderson’s wife wished him to be put on shore, so the captain spoke to Mr Bristow, who offered to attend on him at his place. As the captain had to attend to the cargo on the 10th, he was unable to go on shore, but he received a note from Mr Bristow stating that at 12 a.m. on the 9th instant John Henderson had died. The captain then started for Mr Bristow’s, where Peachy and Collier had arrived, and the last offices having been paid to the dead man he was buried at 5 p.m. on the 10th instant.

The Rose Anne arrived at Tauranga on the 24th ult. On the 26th sailed for Auckland, with a light W.S.W. wind, and after getting clear of the Bay it increased to a gale, during which she burst her foresail, staysail, and jib. The captain wore his vessel round and and made for Mercury harbor, where she arrived in safety. After the sails were repaired she sailed for Auckland on the 30th and owing to the heavy head sea had to put into the Great Barrier, where she remained till the 2nd. The gale then moderated, and she made sail again with a light southerly wind, which continued till anchoring. The cutter Whitby, hence, arrived at Tauranga on the 26th ult., and was to sail for Auckland via Mercury Bay on Monday. The schooner Hope, hence, arrived at Tauranga, and sailed for the Awanui to load cattle for Tauranga. The schooner Fortune was to sail from Te Kaha with a cargo of wheat, maize, pork, and pigs, for Auckland. The schooner Kauri was also at Te Kaha windbound, on her way to Napier, from Poverty Bay The schooner Lark was in company with the Rose Anne on Thursday, and may be expected to arrive to-day.