EARLY NEW ZEALAND.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5202, 9 December 1895, Page 3

EARLY NEW ZEALAND.

' SHORT SKETCHES AND ACCOUNTS OF A FEW EARLY COLONISTS.

fll'ritten (or tk li'airmpa Mly «n<l Weekly Tim, by N.JJS.) Moro than five and fifty years have elapsed sinco tho coming of the first settlers to Now Zealand, in the old emigrant vessels which at that time crossed tho wide ocean bclwecu this laud and tho Mother Country, from whence came so many to do Pioneer work in colonizing, tho effects of which ate forced so prominently boforo us; and it is indeed pleasing to find with us still, in various parts of tho Colony, such n goodly number of those early day settlers in this "Britain of tlio South." Those of us in any way interested in the growth and history of our country, havo excellent food tor thought in sycli works as Brett's History of Enrhj A'eic Zealand, and other like valuable records, in tho compilation of which, many of tho less prominent, though none tho less activo Colonists bad to ho overlooked by the compilers ; and as thero are not any of those living io-tltty who lwo not some information which will interest the readers of the few accounts given about them in these columns, I will commence with a short account of ono of Mastcrton's early settlers, ati old and respected resident still living in our midst, and known to all, viz MR UEXItr lIEXTfiET. Mr Hentley camo to the Colony in tho year 1811, as an able seaman on board tho old oraigrant vessel, Lord William lientiuck, which berthed in Port Nicholson, on May tho 19th of that year, having loft London on tho Sod of January previous, the voyage out being of a similar nature to that experienced on boaril most of the old sailing ships. Shortly after leaving ths vessel—(an account of which appears a little lurther down) —Mr Bontley and livo of his com panions wero engaged road-making near the Hutt; after which, they shipped on board a coastal trader bound South; Mr Bent-ley soon after leaving, to join the Government brig, tlicn under tho command of Captain liichards; during which time, they made seven trips to Taranaki, Auckland and Dunedin. At the lntterplace, thcrowas then no settlement, the brig calling merely for purposes concerning the Government. The brig being in Welling ton Eome lime shortly after the Wairau Massacre had occurred, was despatched South, bringing away two wounded Nelson men; also, the Revs, Watkins audlorusides.

The Ead news of the massacre had in tho meantime created a great scare among tho Wellington settlers, and some time after, a number of residents volunteered to go over nud help quell tho disturbance. They accordingly chartered a vessel, which, howover became windbound ere they bad gone far out, and tho party had to return to shore, by which time fears had been considerably allayed. Mr Bcntley soon after left the brig, and became connected with tho Customs Department in Old Customhouse-street, where he was engaged for eomc years, during which time another disturbance broke out between the Natives and Europeans living at the Bay of Islands, which created another scare in Wellington, and the Militia being called out, Mr Bcntley enrolled for the first time; though with the exception of a little parade duty at the gaol and barracks, there was nothing for the men to do. Mr Bcntley has a very clear remembrance of the great earthquakes which occurred soon after this time—somewhere in 48being slill in the service, though stationed nt Karori, He says:-"For several days previous, there had been a terrible gale blowing; when, on the Monday night, between twelve and one o'clock, the people were rudely awakened from their sleep, by one of tbo most violent ground quakes ever experienced in their lives. It was followed the next day, by another similar to that of the previous night; and a third on the following Thursday—greater or lesser shocks having continued since tho first dread awakencr—the ground quaking for sonic three weeks, and tho water in tho harbour

being greatly disturbed all the while. Many of the awed residents sought the sliolter of vessels lying at anchor; ami ti number of emigrants who bad just landed, re-embarked for Australia, as soon as they could, in their fear that our quaking Island was doomed, and would at any moment sink into the deep Pacific." Ono of the vessels chartered for Sydney, foundered in leaving the harbour (which at that time being little understood, was hard to navigate), the passengers fortunately being safely brought to land, near the Pilot Station.

The ellect of tho earthquake was very great, indeed, and many of the affrighted residents camped about tho hills and terraces, fearing to leave tho open and return to their homes, which of course tlisy eventually did, Not a chimney, however, was left standing; and thc.Wesleyan Churchthen in Manners-street—being chictly composed of brickwork—was completely ruined. i A sad incident in Wellington, in connection with this earthquake, was tho death of Quarter-master Lovcll and his two children, who wero all seeking shelter under a brick wall running along Old Customhousestreet, which fell during a heavy shock, thereby crushing the unfortunate victims to death. The Natives were also terror-stricken, and had never remembered a similar occurrence during their time, I Mr Bentley soon after left the Militia, to

join Iho Armed Constabulary Force. His first experience was with the Native Chiefs ol (Mi and Manawatu—named lioporo or To llauparaha ami Eangihacata. These rebel Chiefs and their followers, came down south of their usual boundary, crossed the hills near Wellington, iu all probability intending to war with the residents there. On their way, however, they came across the troops stationed, at the time, at 'Mi; upon whom they made a sudden raid, at daybreak one morning, cut oil the outline pickets, attacked the guard, and were pushing their way onward to the eamp, when the alarm was sounded by one of the buglers, at the cost of the bravo fellow's life; for some of the foremost Natives cut off his head and arms, whilst he had yet the buglo to his lips, The camp—into which the Natives now fired with fury—was quickly under arms, and soon succeeded in completely routing the enemy, who then made all haste to the hills at Pahautanui, where they garrisoned themselves behind a barricade of trees, thrown across tho brow of ono of the most suitable hills, making a very secure defence, which, indeed it proved to be; for although the Artillery, Militia, Arnwd Constabulary, and friendly Natives-as well as the 58th, Goth, and 9'Jth Begiments—under the direct command of Governor Sir George Grey, were ordered to follow the retreating rebels, to where their hill fortifications stood, ant 1 fired shells upon them from the wooded gully beneath; attempted to cut a road round the hill, to get a better attack—they had at last to leave tho Natives masters of the situation, after losing about nine of their men.

The Forces were ordered back, leaving the Natives a clear road of escape, which they readily took advantage of, making for Wainui, which is situated between Paikakariki and Waikanae. Here, they again became troublesome.

Tlw Armed Constabulary wero subsequently stationed there; and, with the assistance of a number ot Marines from off the" Castor" frigate, which was anchored off Wainui, succeeded in again quieting the disturbance.

The Natives wero very war-like, though their supply of war material had by this time become greatly reduced; and their ansicty for ammunition, led (hem on a very decided " wild goose chase," upon one occasion soon after; Mr Bentley's account of which, is rather amusing.

It appears that, at that time, there was a whaling station at the northern end of Kapiti Island (which is not far Irom the mainland), and a store at the Southern end, kept by a man named Brown, and his two ions; at which the whalers called lor provisions' and general supplies. A Native trom one of the rebel tribes, had called at the Island, mistook somo kegs of white paint lying outside the stores, for powder; and returned to the mainland, convoying this startling piece of information to his Chief, who, with forty warriors t'n full warpaint, hastened to tlio Island in a war canoe, to secure the powder, ol which tliey were in such great'need. They speedily reached their destination, and before the affrighted steepen could gain the slightest clue to the situation, they were given to understand that the least resistance on their part, would mean death, The kegs were soon sought out; but, on the Natives discovering that instead of powder, asabstanco was contained in thoso kegs, the use for which thoy know not, thoy commenced a | great talk, becoming infuriated at tlio' sell,' but in some way making up for their disappointment, by stealing away to their canoes, all the flour and BUgar about the place, took a short but angry farewell ot the Island and its European inhabitants, and then returned to their old haunts, though not in the victorious way they had anticipated when lirat bearing the supposed good news.

. It was in connection with this incident, also, that Mr Bcntley and five other members of the Armed Constabulary, stationed at Waikanae, came near losing their lives. It being,on a Sunday morning when the [affair happened, and having little else tod 0

that day, thoparty oI Bis, under ohargo of Mr Bentley, put, oat in A boat, for tho whaling station at the northern end of tho Island, just as tho warriors wero returning with their spoils, irom the sonlh, and wonld undoubtedly havo eoiuo in eloso contact with them, on the sea, had it not boon tor another boat Irom the station on tile Island, Icing out fit sea and noticing tho Maori war eanoo and its warriors, hastened on towards Waikauao, aid luckily camo across Hie other six men, who alio altorod their coui'-o, exceedingly pleased at their deliverance, (or tbo warriors would havo had little difficulty in djspatcbing tbo small hand of Europeans, who-to mako matters worse—wero at tho time quite unarmed. However, the war canoo passed by tiiem, towards the Miinawatu, tho Natives After having been stationed with tho Armed Constabulary, in those parts, for some fifteen months, Mr Bentloy was removed to Welling:on, where he completed his two years of service in the Force; after which, he settled down to quiet life in Karori, and noon after, in '53, left New Zealand for the Australian goldticlds. but returned again about a year afterwards. About this time, in conjunction with many other of tho settlers in that part, lie took up a block of land under the Wairarapa Small Farm Association, aud in '54, tho same year, journeyed from Karori to Mastcrton, to view his selection, which turned out to Ic some capital bush land (known at the present time, as tho Bentloy Estate) near the Mastcrton Railway Stntion, He was very pleased witli his land, as were several other selectors who came with him, all of whom were of the opinion that tho country rouirl the district generally, was tho I'iDcst in tho Valley.

Mr Bcntley returned to Karori, and in November '55, brought back to Masierton with him, his wife and family of four children, and settled on his selection. _ At that time thero were very fen- people living in Mastcrton, and a cottage belonging to Mr G. W. Woodroofo (which is still to bo seen standing a fow paces from tho Drill Hall) was thn only wooden buildiug about the place. There were a good number of friendly Natives living near in thoir pahs nt Ngauiatawa, Akura, and Hipumpimi, Though these Natives had novcr given any great trouble, except being a little bold at tlio timo of the Taranaki War, tho residents living in various parts cl Masterton, took every precaution against attack, and by means of somo very strong sUbs erected perpendicularly in tho ground, and filled between with earth and stones, with a ditch round about, and loopholes in tho slabs, formed a stockade (or themselves, the traces of which rude and secure barrier, aro still visible on the old site, which is now sonic fifty yards from the entrance of tho Mastcrton Park, near Dixon-strect. Somewhere about this date, Dr. Featherston, who was then Superintendant of the Province, called a meeting of Waitarapa settlers, when it was decided to form a Volunteer Corps, in which Mr Bcntley enlisted, ar.d of which he remaiued a member for over twenty years, receiving tho Long Service medal a few years ago. In the earlier days of the Volunteer Corps, Mr Bcntley held a commission as First Lieutenant, and more recently acted as Drum Major, and has been the lifo of a good few encampments, and was, until their recent disbandmcut under Captain l'ownall, known familiarly to all the members of the Corps, as" Dad." The old natives living when t .c settlers first camo to the district, held a tradition which was to the effect that at one timo they had been a numerous following, but- that owing to n larger and stronger tribi of warriors from tho Waikato district, making war upon them and slaughtering them in battle, they had become greatly reduced in number, and had since then separated into various branches and tribes in different parts of the country, lleturning to the lime of Mr Bentloy's arrival in Mastcrton, it may be stated that his first occupation was that ol sawyer on his own property, as buildings were beginning to go up about that time, nmt what work there was to do about tho district was well paid for, though considerable difficulty was experienced by the early settlers in getting their provisions from Wellington, as it took them three days to go to the Uimulaka range (where the city merchants met them with tho goods required) and back, which was very fair travelling, when the wretched state of the track, between the t .o places, is considered. The cost of conveyance of foot

between Wellington and Masterton, in those days, was £3O a ion, and pro-ed ft great handicap to early settlement. In the early h rii-.s Mr Bentley narrowly escaped death by diowniug ut the Outer i'oiut of Evan.' Bay, the boat in which lie anil Bcvcial others were in, being capsized by oho of those sud .1 n squalls which have ever made boating in Wellington harbour a someflhat risky undertaking. Fortunately lor ilieiii a boat's crow from a vessel some distance away (from whoso deck the mishap had been witnessed), rescued all but one, iron; an untimely end. Before concluding, I will tell an interesting narrative of how Mr Bentley and his live sailor companions dctermineilto" skip" from the" Lord William Uentinck," mid become Colonists,

A fortnight after the vessel had landed her cargo of emigrants at Wellington, and a few days prior to the vessel's sailing for India (which was a frequent route for the emigrant ships to take in those days, on tho return journey to England), Mr licntley and live others, all seamen belonging to the crew, made up their minds to abandon their vessel and share their fortunes with the emigrants who came out- iu her. Being all of them young and strong able men at the time, they soou devised a plan. Accordingly they awaited opportunities, until one favorable night stuv them on deck when watch was not being kept, ready to escape, Being a good swhimer, Mr Bentley, minus nil superfluous and heavy wearing appeal, procured the twenty-fathom lead-line, with which lie swam to the ship's boat, which was always some distance out, and fastened oneeudof the line to tbeboat, whilst his companions on dcuk, who maintained a firm hold of the other end, by this means drew the boat close in under the ship's side, when in double quick time the other five bundled themselves, clothing, oars, and a small barrel of biscuits into tho boat, and as noiselessly as possible, "pulled for the shore," (though not to the accompaniment of that wcll-kno'wn hymn bearing a very similar title), and soon succeeded iu landing at Kaiwarra, where they moored the small boat, which was the only indication of tho course they had taken. It was raining hard during tho first few days of their new-earned freedom, and what with the cold and biting winds, and their food supply quickly _ diminishing—not to speak, of their being afraid to kindlo a lire for fear ol attracting attention—the party's first experience of Colonial life among the bush and hills of I'etonc, was anything but a cheerful one, and they were indeed greatly relieved when the "Lord William Bentinck" —whicli in the meantime had sent out a search parly—was observed to bo uuder full sail for India. They then ventured out to the settlement, where they very speeiliiy obtained work and food; feeling very secure in their new sphere of life, until one day a good while afterwards, the police having heard of their being engaged road-making near the Hutt, came out and arrested them on a warrant for desertion, They were duly arraigned before tho old Justices and, under the circumstances, treated very lightly, being let off on condition that they joined another vessel lying in the harbour for want of hands, and bound South, tho captain of which was willing to engage their services, and in fact had urged on tho search by the police to meet this end, which proved a very fair piece of business to them, and more in their own line, at which they kept for a while, receiving £3lss each per month for their services. Mr Bentley, who is now tonic 76 years of age, has a large family of sons and daughters married and living in this and other parts of the Colony; and he still resides in our midst, along with an aged and faithful parte, who also came out in the same vessel. Both have had many ups and downs in life, and I regret to say, siilfered sevcro reverses ol fortune in their declining years, which, however, with tho wonted courage and truo independence of spirit (which almost invariably marked our early Pioneer settlers) they bear with becoming fortitude and cheerfulness.