THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO MASTERTON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1480, 11 September 1883, Page 2

THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO MASTERTON.

The difficulty of preparing for the reception ofthe Governor on a short notice hm already (wen experienced in Mastertou, Yesterday the Lunch Committee spent the whole of the day endeavoriiiK to make satisfactory catering arrangeuionts for the proposed lanch in the Theatre Royal, but failing in their efforts tho membors of it resigned their functions into the hands of the General Committee, and the latter aolred the dilemuia by altennp the festive acene from the Theatre Royal lo the Club Hotel, Members of the Phoenix Lodge, 1,0.G.T", are requested to assemble at the Temperance Hall on 'ihursday next at 11am. for the purpose of joining in the Friendly Societies procession on the ocomion of the Governor's visit. The Masterton Rifles auiJCadeti parade for inspection snd exerpias qn Thursday morning at 11 o'clock, 'They will also aid in the reception of the Governor. His Worship the Kfayor.nf Masterton has proclnjmed Thursday next after 12 o'clock naop a public holiday.. Tho time-table for the extra local traim to be run on the occasion of the; Master* ton ploughing match, is published in another column.

REMINISOENSES OF-the EARLY WAIRARAPA SETTLERS. By H. H. Jackson. ; ((From the Standard.) Before the big earthquake of 1855, the tide used-to reach up the Hutt river as far as the bridge; also up the second and third river high enough to carry boats, punts, and timber rafts down to the pah, and thence into Wellington in boats capable of carrying from five to ten tons, the charge being 3s to 4s per hundred feet. All stores were carried by water. The first common carrier between the Hutt and Wellington was R. Rush. He was killed at the Eutt bridge in June, 1846, by the Maoris, led by Rangihaoto. The first bridge over the Hutt river was built on the architect principle, with a ridge in the centre, ho that when the horse and cart reached the middle the horse would be going down one side whilst the cart would be coming up the other, making it impossible. to take anything like a fair load over. The Government, acting then as now, wasted the public money through the want of thorough engineers. But tho bridge was soon swept away by the floods. Tho next' bridge was a suspension, built by Percy and son, millwrights. It was built of heart of totara in one solid span of cross braces set on abutments, and was both a durable and fine-looking bridgd. The earthquake of 1855 lifted it clean up, causing the right end to slide back oh the abutments for ten feet, and: the left end to drop into the river, without breaking . anything. Having iio engineering skill, however, it could not

be lifted, so bad to be broken up. Had the'sawmill brought out by Messrs Hooper, Peters, and Molesworth beei erected it would have supplied the Wellington market with timber, It was the timber trade that saved Wellington from the distress that Nelson and New Plymouth experienced. Most writers attribute the distress to excess of labor. Employors, it was alleged, not being able to employ all. In 1844 Bangahaeta's natives cut a lino across the Lower Hutt, and then ordered the settlers below the lino. They then planted the settler's land with potatoes, yet no redress could be

got from Gov. Fitzrov. Their next step was to rob the settlers. On Sunday, March Ist, 1846, they plundered the .Ni-Ni and Waiwetu. On Monday tho 2nd, they robbed the settlers on tho third river and at lower Waiwetu. There was nobody to resist them, for the settlers wero busy taking their wivosand children to the Hutt and Wellington in the timber boat. Being single, I started for Coles and Copeland's to seo what wo could do if they attembted to rob us, When within a short distahce of the house I sneaked through a belt of bush at the hack. The first glance I gave I saw the Maoris had been there, for Milkpans, bacon and clothes were lying all about the yard, all, however, was silent. They lmd just left by the river track, The belt of biish had screened mo from their sight. I was not "scared," as Mark Twain says, but I left and returned through the belt of bush into my clearing, There I saw eight Maoris loaded with Mr Williani I '' Sykes's bedding and clothing, and they were :irmed, They saw me and hailed me, but being a good distance off I took no notice. The river running between us they had to go half a mile round before they could get across and into my Irack. I made for home, which was about half a mile distance. When I reached there a breakfast of eggs and bacon was ready, but I had no'timo to have any. • I thought that half an ounce of arsenic mixed with the bacon and sugar would have soon stopped the plundering, for I knew they would eat both the bacon and eggs and sugar, But time was too precious for thinking. So I stowed away what things I could in the'fiUsh before they arrived, For ten minutes

the cook and I worked with lightning speed. Then wo took the two guns, a rifle and a four barrelled pistol, and ran to where my canoe lay in tho river. I said, "jump in and wait while I hide jn tfio an;} jiave a shot at them when they come opposite." After waiting a few minutes I stood up and took a look round, but no Maoris were to be seen; a boat, however, was sailing roußd the pa and up the river. I got into my canoe and pulled down for halt a mile till I camo to the boat which proved to. belong to H.M.S. Calliope, with liberty men, who wero out fishing. I told the officer in charge what had happened, and showed him the house. Wo both saw the Maoris break open the doors. He said "we have no fjre-arifjs." f showed him ray tyo guns and rjfje, and said, "I can take ygu rigjit upon them without your being seen," 'The' men begged to be allowed to go, He then said "if any of you men get hurt without having received superior orders you know the consequences. I will,go back and ropor. o Captain Stanley." Hero were oight fine fellows panting to

go and stop the plundering. Had thoy done so it would have been a powerful check to further depredations. . I have shown you my case to give you an idea what must have been the suffering of those men and women who had families to take care of. They were rendered homeless, and their crops destroyed. Myself and many others had wheat grown in tho stooks, being afraid to carry it lest the Maoris might burn it. More than one hundred families in and around the Hutt were exiled from their homes, which had cost them so much labor and hardship to establish. The settlers afterwards built a stockade at the Hutt bridge, more for security for the women and

children, than to stand a siege. As soon as it was completed the military took possession of it, requirini> a secure place from. an attack, whilst the settlers protected them from the outr side. But a change was coming, Fitzroy had bepn 'recalled, ancf the right man fop a' had beeji appointed, naipely Captaiij. Grey, wjjo arrived ifpoa t|io scene on. February 13th, 1846. He had tjie militia organised, under Miyor Burie and Captain Coippton and Lieutenant Pflge formed & cqrps of 2QO goltjiers an})' 100 friendly Maoris in Mr Boulcott'# house and barn at the Lower Hint,' The rebels were encamped in the hills

(where Belmont now stands). Every morning as daylight they commenced firing volleys at the barn, but wounding, nobody, though they struck the shingles,