AN INTERVIEW.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 March 1921, Page 3

AN INTERVIEW.

REVISITING WESTLAND AFTER MANY YEARS. Mr John H. Baker is revisiting Westland after ail absence of 25 years from New Zealand, in England. Air Baker first arrived in New Zealand in the year 1857 when he came out to Christchurch as the guest of his uncle, Arch- ‘ deacon Mathias, after one of whose family Mathias Pass has been named. When Mr Baker arrived in Christchurch in 1857 the total population of Christchurch wjis very small indeed. I Upon the advice of his uncle Mr Baker joined the Survey Staff of the Provin- , eial Government as a cadet, in which position lie remained for about 3 years. ; He then proceeded to Invercargill I which was the capital of the new Pro- - vincc of Southland, and joined the staff j there as Assistant Surveyor. In 1865 1 Mr Bnkor was appointed Chief Surveyor at the age of 24 years, and was the i youngest Chief Surveyor in the Colony at the time. At this time Mr Baker estimates the population of Invercargill could not have exceeded 2,(XK) inhabitants. | Air Baker relates an interesting exI perience when he was sent down to the ! Auckland islands in charge of a party to search for shipwrecked mariners, as ! there had been a wreck there. Out of tho brig “The G rat ton” which was wrecked, 5 hands were on hoard and three of them had taken a dinghy and sailed oyer to Storks Island, and a. eiit-ter-man named Tom Cross took them to land. The Government sent Air Baker to pick up the other two men and whilst he was down there he had to put into harbour in the northern part, of Auckland Islands and while there be found a hut with a skeleton inside. He then went and picked up his two men and was sailing up the coast when he heard a signal fired on one of the headlands. He tried to get up but. owing to stormy weather did not succeed. He brought the men in and reported to the Government who then knew there bad been another wreck. Air Baker was put in charge to search, ‘hut when be got to the harbour he went off in a boat to search the hut, but was surprised to find that the skeleton bad disappeared. The Australian Government in the meantime, had taken the skeleton and buried it. Mr Baker and his party thoroughly searched the Islands for the ship-wrecked men, going into everv harbour and bay, hut found nobody. and it eventually transpired (though they did not hear it for more than a year) that a whaler had been passing the Island and the men had been taken on hoard and eventually landed in America. They then got news of the two liiiui who were the remnants of a crew of 18 who had all died of starvation, barring these two. The ship was “The Inver.caitld.” Mr Baker remained in Southland until Southland was re-annexed to Otago, and he was then appointed Inspector and held the same position as in Invercargill. In 1887 Afr J. U Thomson ,who had become SurveyorGeneral and Commissioner of Crown Lands in Wellington, and appointed Assistant Surveyor-General for the Colony. He remained there until 1896 when he resigned and returned to England. He lias resided there ever since at, Guildford, in Surrey. Prior to leaving New Zealand ATr Baker visited Westland, and in company with the late Mr Gerhard .Mueller, drove to Lake Kanieri. a spot which lie has again visited to-day. after nil interval ul. 35 years. Air Baker has also re-visited Southland. Stewart Island. Lakes To Allan and Afanapouri. and Alt. Cook, and it is interesting to relate that the first survey ><f tin* glaciers of Mount Cook were undertaken under Air Baker’s direction by Mr Broderick, a junior officer at that time, who now holds the position o! Under-Secretary For Lands of this Dominion. During his present visit Air Baker, who is accompanied hv his daughter, lias visited South Westland and they speak in glowing lorms of the beauties of Franz Joseph Glacier and the surrounding sub-tropical vegetation. While in the AVailm District Air Baker enjoyed a hath at the Waiho Hot Springs and can confidently recommend all tourists visiting the AA ailio not on any account to miss tins unique experience. During his sojourn on tlie Const MiBaker has been favoured with exceptionally line weather, having only had one wet day since his arrival. During the war period at Home, Mr Baker devoted his time to helping as far as his years would permit, and having a bent for carpentering was engaged in making crutches, splints etc. for (he wounded men, while his daughter was engaged constantly in responsible war work at the bead ot n district department. Mr Raker proceeds this evening, after having renewed acquaintance with the beauties of Lake Kanieri, to Greymouth, thence to Christchurch and the Kaikoiiras, ultimately joining tb ( . s.s. Corinthie which leaves the Dominion for the t Honielnnd at ilie end of April.