AN OLD COLONIST.
The " Bay of Plenty Times " of the 3rd, thus records the death of Mr. Tapsell, senr. : — " We yesterday received intelligence from Maketu of the death (which occurred on the previous day) of Mr. Tapsell, senr., one of the oldest settlers in the colony, who visited New Zealand more than two generations ago, when the only white inhabitants consisted of missionaries stationed in the Bay of Plenty, and one or two fugitives from whaling ships, who had taken up their abode amongst natives in the interior. Mr. Tapsell, whose real name was Hans Hamen Falk, by birth a Dane, and son of an official under the Danish Government, was, to the best of his own recollection, born in the year 1777, consequently he must at the period of his death, have reached the advanced age of 96, a surprising circumstance when his eventful life of hardships and peril is considered. His maritime experiences commenced with the war in which his own country was engaged against England. When of age sufficient he obtained the command of a privateering cutter, succeeding so well as in a short time to be promoted to a large barque. While at anchor off Elsinore, abreast of the English fleet moored on the opposite side of the Sound, a night attack was made by man-of-war boats to cut out the privateer. The boats' crews were beaten off with great loss, but Tapsell received a sabre wound which nearly cost him his life, the effects of which he felt to the last. His ship was afterwards taken by the Swedes, and he remained a prisoner for twelve months. After two futile attempts at escape, he recovered bis liberty by an exchange of prisoners. By and by he found himself in England, where he took the name of Philip Tapsell, for the purpose of obtaining employment in British vessels, which were not allowed to carry officials of any other nation. From this period begins his whaling voyages, full of incidents, during one of the earliest of which he had occasion to put into the Bay of Islands, even then, as now, a resort for whaling ships seeking supplies of wood and water. Mr. Tapsell's descriptiona of those early days of piiinitive New Zealand, where cannibalism prevailed, were extremly interesting. It is between forty and fifty years ago that Tapsell's concern in the capture of a runaway convict ship, led, by a train of circumstances, to his permanent settlement on the island as a trader on behalf of some Sydney merchant. He chose Maketu as his station, which place he purchased from Hori Tupaea, to whom it had been awarded at a great council of tribes. At his invitation the Ngatiwhakawa and Ngatipiakiao (Arawa) came dawn from Ro^orua and settled at Maketu. Here Mr. Tapsell became a great chief, and prospered exceedingly, until he was burned out by an invasion from Waikato andTauranga.. Of his flight, his subsequent settlement at Whakatane, or h.is shipwreck, it is impossible here to' speak. It may suffice to say that a-life of almost unprecedented adventure, and occasional I'iWpwt^termjbaftted^ a» oW age. o£
dependence, soothed, however, by the affection of dutiful sons, under whose roof he broke bread in his declining age. Mr. Tapsell was remarkable for firmness and intrepidity. Though in* his prolonged sojourn he had acquired a large experience, it was not the knowledge to be gained from books, or the graceful amenities of social life, but rather the stern and unconciliating wisdom of an ancient warrior. Nevertheless, he was kindly affectionate, and, when he had the opportunity, open-handed to a fault. It is pleasing to have to record that in his late years he imbibed a strong devotional feeling, and, in the retirement which his growing infirmities enforced, he read his Bible several hours every day. Never did he sit down to his frugal meal without shading his face with his trembling hand and imploring a Divine blessing. Such as he was ho is gone to his rest.
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Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 295, 25 September 1873, Page 6
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668AN OLD COLONIST. Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 295, 25 September 1873, Page 6
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