Mission Cemetery, Tauranga (Part 2)

Further to Part 1.

On 21 June 1914, Colonel Logan, ADC, Officer commanding the Auckland Military District, unveiling this monument to Rawiri Puhiraki.

Image from NZETC.

The monument is the work of Messrs Parkinson and Co., monumental sculptors of Auckland, and is of striking appearance. It is of red granite, and the total height of the column is 20 feet 4 inches resting on a concrete base 10 feet square, rising in two steps, the base being surrounded by black and white marble tiles. The plinth rises from three diminishing square bases, and on the front face of tho lowest one is engraved a portrayal of the battlefield. A British officer, presumably Colonel Booth, is lying on the ground close to the stockade. Rawiri is standing over him, ordering his followers to bring the General water, which is being conveyed by the natives in a gourd, thus signifying the kind treatment that was meted out to the prisoners. The British camp is seen in the distance, with the hills as a background.

Bay of Plenty Times, 22 June 1914

Advertisement, The Tablet, 31 December 1903

On the front of the plinth is engraved a taiaha, or Maori spear, round the shaft of which is entwined a spray of oak as a symbol of strength.

BOP Times 1914

On three panels on the western side of the column is the following inscription: — 'Sacred to the memory of Rawiri Puhiraki, a chief of the Ngaiterangi tribe, who led the Maoris into battle at Gate Pa on April 20th, and at Te Ranga on June 21st, 1864 being killed in the latter engagement. This monument was erected on the fiftieth anniversary of his death by people of the British and Maori races to commemorate his chivalrous and humane orders for the protection of unarmed or wounded men who fell into the hands of the Maoris, and for the respectful treatment of the bodies of any of their enemies slain in battle. This order, framed by Rawiri with the assistance and approval of Henare Taratoa and other Chiefs, was loyally observed by his followers, and after the repulse of the assault on Gate Pa, the British wounded, who lay all night in and around the Pa, were given water and treated with kindness. This chivalrous conduct of the Maori leader and his people so impressed their contemporaries that Rawiri's body was exhumed in 1870 from the trenches of Te Ranga; and re-interred at this spot with befitting ceremonies. The seeds of better  feelings between the two races thus sown on the battlefield have since borne ample fruit; disaffection has given place to loyalty, and hostility to friendship, British and Maori now living together as one united people. June 21st, 1914."

BOP Times 1914

Another monument by Parkinson, this one to the Imperial forces who fell at Gate Pa.

43rd Light Infantry monument, Battle of Gate Pa.

Monument to Hori Ngatai.

DEATH OF HORI NGATAI.

The death occurred at Whareroa on Saturday morning of Hori Ngatai, the well-known chief of the Ngaiterangi tribe, at the age of 88 years. About two years ago deceased met with a severe accident through being dragged for some distance by a horse which he was engaged harnessing to a vehicle. The shock proved too much for the aged chief, and he never recovered from the effects of the accident, and his health gradually failed. Everything possible was done for his comfort by the numerous members of his family but the end, which was not unexpected, took place as above stated. Prior to his death Hori Ngatai completed all arrangements in regard to property matters with any family, Rewiti Ngatai becoming director of the hapu's affairs. Deceased fought against the Europeans at Gate Pa and Te Ranga, but a few months afterwards took a prominent part in the peace negotiations, the influence exerted by him being no small factor in bringing about friendly relations between the European and Maori races. Thereafter, he took a great interest in Native affairs, and was appointed by the Government as an Assessor of the Native Land Court, Magisterial Assessor, and Licensing Assessor. The Ngaiterangis showed great faith in the deceased chief, and on numerous occasions sent him to Wellington to represent many matters to the Government. The late Hori Ngatai was born in the Tauranga district, and always took considerable interest in the affairs of the Church of England. He was always noted for his generous hospitality. At the time of the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York to Rotorua he proceeded thither with a number of his people and presented the Duke with valuable presents, receiving in return a medal. Deceased's wife, a woman of high rank, predeceased him five years ago. He is survived by four sons, three daughters, arid numerous and great grandchildren. The tangi will be on a most extensive scale, and hundreds of mourners are expected to attend from all parts of New Zealand.

Bay of Plenty Times, 26 August 1912

Above, graves of the family of John Alexander Wilson.

After the wars of the 1860s Wilson was employed in government positions over a period of 35 years. Much of his service was in the Bay of Plenty, East Coast and Poverty Bay areas, where he was special commissioner for settlement of Bay of Plenty confiscated land from 1866 to 1868, and land purchase officer for the East Coast and Bay of Plenty district from 1873 to 1876. His criticism of Judge John Rogan and the workings of the Native Land Court on the East Coast, first published as a series of letters to the Otago Daily Times

Despite this he was appointed a judge of the Native Land Court in 1878, a position that was terminated in 1880. Wilson claimed in a pamphlet published in 1884 that his dismissal was due to false representations and the animosity of the chief judge. The judge in question was F. D. Fenton, who dismissed Wilson on the grounds that he had no legal training ...

In 1874 Wilson, in partnership with William Kelly, had purchased the volcanic White Island from George Simpkins. In 1878 he bought land in Tauranga on which to build a sulphur works and acquired a 43-foot cutter, the Tamaki Packet. He began to export White Island sulphur to Australia ...

... handicapped by the depression and an unrealistic contract with Wilson the company failed to prosper. Wilson's directors complained that they found great difficulty in acting cordially with him, and he showed he did not trust them. Refusing to compromise, Wilson resigned, and the company went into liquidation in 1886. The shareholders, mostly leading citizens of the Tauranga district, suffered great losses.

Wilson continued to work the White Island sulphur deposits, but refused to let Tauranga people land on the island. A town meeting was held at which it was resolved to send a letter to the minister of justice censuring Wilson's behaviour. A bonfire was built on the beach, on which his effigy was burned, and sulphur stored in a shed on the mainland was set alight on several occasions. Wilson retained his share of White Island until about 1901, when he sold it to the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company.

Wilson was fortunate perhaps to have missed the disastrous eruption of White Island, September 1914, dying five years before it happened.

Above, the grave of Rev Alfred Nesbit Brown, noted CMS missionary and best known for The Elms today.

John Lees Faulkner. His homestead is now at the Historic Village in Tauranga.

Above: The grave of Selina Hannah Gellibrand.

The inquest on the body of Selina Hannah Gellibrand was held at the Tauranga Hotel on Saturday afternoon, at four o'clock, before Captain Tovey, JP, Coroner, and an intelligent jury, of whom Mr Norris was elected Foreman.

The jury having viewed the body the following evidence was taken. Edward Castaing deposed: On Friday morning 1 , about half-past eleven, I started from the wharf in my boat, with Mrs Gellibrand. I was engaged to go to Omokoroa, to bring her there. At the time I started there was a very moderate breeze. I reefed the sail before starting to give all the comfort I could to the lady as it was a head wind. The wind was the same till we got to Otumoetai, then the wind fell light, and I let go the reef. As soon as I got a little past the Wairoa the wind came strong. I took down the sprit, and went on in that way till a little past Oponui, and as I thought it was blowing a little strong I took a reef in the sail. After this we went along about a quarter of a milo from Oponui on the same tack, then we tacked and were quite in shallow water. On that tack we went about half a mile, and then suddenly a strong puff of wind — a sort of whirlwind — caught the sail. I had the sheet in my hand and let it go at once, but the boat had gone over too far, and would not rise again, and she capsized, after filling with water. As soon as the boat capsized, I and Mrs Gellibrand got hold of her, and then the boat turned over again, and we got on the top of her. All at once the mast caught the ground and the boat was thrown, sideways. Mrs Gellibrand told me she was on the mast, and I told her not to be frightened, that I would do all I could to save her. I was hanging on to the boat. We kept in that position for about an hour, and then the boat commenced to turn round owing to the tide rising, and we were thrown into the water. Every time the boat turned round we were washed away from her, and were struggling in the water. I could not swim, nor could Mrs Gellibrand. In the space of half an hour the boat may have turned perhaps twenty times, and every time she turned we were both of us, more or less, under the water. I mostly got on the boat first and helped Mrs Gellibrand on. The last time Mrs Gellibrand was lying with her face on the water, I tried to take her by the foot, but I saw she was gone, and the boat then turned again and I had to do the best I could for myself. Mrs Gellibrand was on the mast for about an hour, and we were struggling together for another half hour. Then I struggled for another half -hour by myself, the boat still turning round, until the mast took the ground again, and the boat remained in that position till I got picked up. It was then about half-past three in the afternoon, I should suppose from the tide. I was picked up by natives in a canoe, and was brought ashore at Opureore, about half way between Motuhoa and Oponui. On landing I tried to walk but could not.

By the Foreman : I saw the body of Mrs Gellibrand afterwards floating in the water about 200 yards from the boat. We were in the channel. If either of us could have swam we could have got ashore.

Mr J. C. Young interpreted the next witnesses' evidence.

Rameka deposed : On Friday afternoon a woman came and informed us that a boat had upset. I went to the settlement at Opureore and found that a canoe had started. They brought Castaing in their canoe, and towed the boat ashore. I went out early this morning in company with two others to search for the body of Mrs Gellibrand. I was ahead of my companions, and after I going a certain distance, I saw the body, but did not go near it. I returned to my companions, and the three of us went back to where the body was in the water. We sent for an older native named Kareti, who told us to bring the body on shore and wrap a shawl round it. Five of us carried the body to Oturu. It was found by us about half a mile from Rangiwae. Some of our party then went over to tell Mr Gellibrand; and when he arrived, the body was placed in his boat, and conveyed to Opureora.

Dr Armitage, M.R.C.S., deposed that he had examined the body of the deceased, and from the appearance presented, death had evidently been caused by drowning. The body must have been submerged for some hours. There were no marks of violence, in the ordinary acceptation of the term, on the body.

After a short deliberation, the jury gave their verdict "That Mrs Gellibrand met with her death by drowning on March the 1st by the accidental capsizing of a waterman's boat at or near Oponui, and that no apparent blame is attributable to the boatman." A rider was added, "That the jury desired to express their appreciation of the humanity shewn by the natives of Tauranga harbour, in putting off to save the occupants of the boat."

At the request of the jury, the following Maori translation, of the rider is published : — "I whakaaturia hoki te hiahia o to Runanga, i ta ratou tino whakapai ki te mahi a nga Maori o Tauranga moana, i runga i ta ratou hoenga atu lei te whakaora i nga tangata o te poti tahuri."

Bay of Plenty Times 6 March 1878

Her husband was Joseph Tice Gellibrand. 

THE LATE MR JOSEPH TICE GELLIBRAND.

The gentleman who has so lately passed away from our midst after a painful illness of some weeks duration, was the third son of Joseph Tice Gellibrand, of Derwent Park, Newtown, Tasmania, who was appointed Attorney General of that Colony by Lord Liverpool in 1823, and who subsequently lost his life in so melancholy a manner in exploring Port Phillip in 1837.

His son, named after him who died on Monday last, was born at Hobart in 1826, and spent his early years in that town where he received his early education, obtaining a scholarship at Queen's school in 1842. Two years later he started for England in the ship Duke of Roxburgh and landing at Penzance after a voyage of nearly five months duration, he immediately matriculated at St. Johns College, Oxford. In 1845 he paid a somewhat lengthy visit to Russia, staying with his uncle William Gellibrand, who was living at St.Petersburgh. During 1847-48 he made a voyage out to Tasmania and back to England taking his B.A. degree at Oxford in October; the following year he was ordained deacon |by the Bishop of Bath and Wells, and in December of that year married Selina Hannah Evans, second daughter of Samuel Evans, Esq., of Cambridge.

In 1850 he was ordained Priest, and two years later took his MA degree at Oxford, and then returned to Tasmania where he held various appointments in the church until 1871 when he finally retired from the ministry, having declined the Canonry offered to him by Bishop Bromley. In 1875 he left Tasmania for a tour round New Zealand, finally settling at Omokoroa, Tauranga in the following year. In 1878 he lost his wife by the capsizing of a boat off Oponui point, and this melancholy loss of the companion of thirty years of active life cast a shadow over his remaining years.

In the same year he occupied a seat in the Tauranga County Council. In 1881 he paid a visit to Tasmania and stood to represent North Hobart in the Assembly, but without success; since then he made several voyages backwards and forwards between Tasmania and New Zealand, and in 1886 acted for some months as editor of the "Tasmanian News" and on resigning that post towards the close of the year he returned to Omokoroa. There he resided until his death on the 10th inst.

Apparently with a strange prevision of his approaching end he had made memoranda of all particulars likely to be useful to his successors and jotted down in a note book all the principal events of his life concluding with the following epitaph, "In memory of Joseph Tice Gellibrand, born May 1st 1826.  'To live in hearts we leave behind is not to doe." 

 Bay of Plenty Times, 14 October 1887

He was also buried at the Mission Cemetery.

Grave of Thomas Dale Wrigley. He met with an accident one day in August 1878, involving ducks and a piece of timber.

A serious accident happened on Monday evening to Mr T D Wrigley, of this town. While driving some ducks into his yard he trod upon a piece of timber which turned with him and he fell to the ground, breaking his right leg just above the ankle. One can hardly fancy how so slight an accident could terminate so seriously. We fear it will be some time before Mr Wrigley will be able to resume his business, though we heartily wish him a speedy recovery.

Bay of Plenty Times 21 August 1878

Our readers will, we are sure, be sorry to learn that Mr T D Wrigley has not been progressing very favorably of late. Throughout last week he suffered great pain, and the fracture showed no signs of improving in any way. This being so his relatives and friends thought it desirable to send him to Auckland, where he will be within the reach of the best surgical aid. He was therefore very carefully moved on board the Wanaka on Sunday afternoon, and accompanied to Auckland by Dr. Armitage and Mr Ellis. We hope to hear before long that a decided improvement has taken place. 

 Bay of Plenty Times 10 September1878

The friends of Mr T D Wrigley (and their name is legion) will be glad to hear that an operation has been successfully performed, and that he is out of danger, and progressing very favourably. Mr Wrigley desires to return thanks to Captain McGillivray and tho officers of the Wanaka for the extreme kindness and consideration shewn him on the trip to Auckland. 

 Bay of Plenty Times 14 September 1878

All, therefore, must have seemed well. But such was not to be.

Although still dangerously ill, Mr T D Wrigley was, according to latest advices, a little easier.

Bay of Plenty Times 29 October 1878

Mr T D Wrigley was brought down in the Taupo, and arrived yesterday morning. He was made as comfortable as circumstances would permit, and if no better is at any rate no worse.

Bay of Plenty Times 2 November 1878

After a long and painful illness Mr Thomas Dale Wrigley, than whom no man was better beloved in Tauranga, passed yesterday morning to "where beyond these voices there is peace." His sufferings, more especially towards the last, were agonising, so that when the end came, it was a blessed release not only for himself, but also for those around him.

Mr Wrigley was born in Manchester about 1828. He sailed for Melbourne in 1853, and, with the exception of a visit home in 1857, remained there till 1871, when he came over to Auckland. For some time after he was in business at Waiwera, and did well there, but getting tired of the place, visited and finally settled at Tauranga in 1874. From that time till the day of the accident Mr Wrigley's first thought seemed to be for the prosperity of the district in which he resided. As a member of the Town Board he was indefatigable, and together with the present Chairman, may be said to have made Tauranga what it is to-day.

In private life Mr Wrigley was greatly esteemed. The best of husbands and the kindest of fathers, a sterling friend, and a jovial boon companion, he will be constantly missed for a long time to come both at home and abroad. In the hour of trouble one could always turn with safety to T D Wrigley... Many a time and oft has he lent a helping hand to men in difficulties, indeed there are some in Tauranga to-day who owe their present position to his kindly aid. Liberal to a degree himself Mr Wrigley had also the faculty of conjuring money out of other's pockets; in fact no one could equal him with a subscription list. At regattas, balls, races, and picnics he seemed a host of himself, and his presence was always eagerly sought.

As a business man, too, his tact and judgement were remarkable, and the mede of success which the Brewery achieved he richly earned. His loss is deeply felt by the whole community. In fact we might almost say "take him for all in all, we ne'er shall look upon his like again."

Bay of Plenty Times 9 November 1878

Finally, a mass grave memorial. According to the war memorials site, this was simple a circle of agapanthus with a concrete marker before 1997.

THIS MASS GRAVE MONUMENT ERECTED IN 1997

IN MEMORY OF 14 MAORI WARRIORS

WHO FOUGHT IN DEFENCE OF THEIR LANDS

AGAINST BRITISH TROOPS IN THE BATTLE OF

TE RANGA ON 21 JUNE 1864.

THESE WARRIORS, ONE OF WHOM IS KNOWN

TO BE TE TEIRA OF NGAITERANGI, WERE

WOUNDED IN BATTLE BUT LATER DIED IN 

HOSPITAL. NO OTHER NAMES OF THOSE WHO 

DIED ARE KNOWN, BUT THOSE WHO FOUGHT

UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF

RAWIRI PUHIRAKE WERE FROM

NGAITERANGI, NGATI RANGINUI, WHAKATOHEA,

TAINUI AND TE ARAWA.

"The Ultimate Sacrifice

So Noble A Cause

Proud And Defiant

You Have Inspired

We Shall Always Remember."

NGA IWI O NGATI RANGINUI,

NGATITERANGI, NGATI PUKENGA.

Advice on fires from Milton, 1896

Mataura Historical Society produce a wonderful newsletter each month.It is among my personal favourites as I compile Keeping in Touch for the NZ Federation of Historical Societies. Spotted in their latest issue, this gem from the 19th century:

The Mataura Borough Council recently wrote to the authorities of other small boroughs for advice as to (the) best scheme to adopt for fire-prevention purposes. The(y) received among others this reply from Milton:

"Your memo, re fire-prevention, was duly received. I regret I can give you no information. Here there is no brigade, water supply or appliances. We are what might be termed a happy-go-lucky people and trust in Providence. From fire we have escaped scot-free; but I expect that a day of reckoning will come, when there will be a shaking up of the dry bones, should enough energy, enterprise and money be left. We had a fire engine once. Goodness knows where it came from, where it went to, and if it were paid for. For many months afterwards, half a dozen men and boys worked as a brigade. Practice was retarded for some time owing to the inability to procure a hose. After we did that, together with a score of buckets nicely painted in red with the letters 'FB', we were stumped owing to the absence of water. We could find none nearer than the river, and that was too far away from any building to be of much use. It proved such a dry and heartless business that the men took to drink, and the brigade burst up. Afterwards the hose was lost, the buckets were appropriated and the engine was taken away by some 'cove' to prevent it from falling to pieces. It is now doing duty as a meat safe in one of our back streets. My advice to you is to insure well, and don't bother."

Southland Standard, February 1896

Totara by the Auckland Central Library

I must have passed  this tree on the way to the library in Lorne Street thousands of times since I first worked in the city back in 1986. Twenty-five years of dodging traffic zooming around corners from Rutland Street to get to my favourite part of the city. And I didn't notice the tree for what it is, and its significance.

This is a totara. Well, it's a totara that's grown there since 1975 (36 years), and I don't think it's doing all that well in that position. This is a totara:

Image from Wikipedia.

Anyway ... the library's totara is in commemoration for Ronald Alison Kells Mason, better known as RAK Mason, one of this country's finest talents in literature and journalism. Apparently recently uncovered from the layers of bark chips and leaves -- this was what I spotted yesterday. It brought me to a screeching halt, and had me whip out the camera again.

THIS TOTARA TREE

WAS PLANTED BY THE

AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL

THE HONOUR THE MEMORY OF

RONALD ALISON KELLS MASON

POET

AND NATIVE SON OF THIS CITY

1905-1971

The only possible excuse I have for not spotting this earlier is -- maybe the plaque was covered over for a long, long time. Then again, I probably didn't expect to see something at that corner.

According to Rachel Barrowman in her book Mason: the life of R.A.K. Mason, the matter of a memorial to Mason came to Council notice at the end of 1971. Allen Curnow had a go at the Council for not noting one of our finest poets, and suggested "a simple stone pedastal with a broze plaque in Albert Park." Four years later, the Council went with Colin McCahon's idea of the totara outside the library. Mason apparently had a cynicism about stone or bronze monuments. Barrowman felt he might have been pleased with the totara choice for a monument.

Perhaps -- but it would have been better, perhaps, in Albert Park. The bronze plaque might get nicked, but the tree would have had a bit more space.

Mission Cemetery, Tauranga (Part 1)

Tauranga's Mission Cemetery is at the end of another bit of a climb. 

At the top, you can have a bit of a breather thanks to"Cath's Seat".  This is what the plaque says:

CATH'S SEAT

Catherine E Smith 

27.04.1928-20.08.2006

LOYAL CITIZEN OF TAURANGA SINCE 1970

After visiting many countries where she and Bob received 

much kindness,

she believed in making visitors welcome to our city.

Rest here a while, in view of the Kaimai Range,

Her favourite tramping place.

I took up the invitation, sat down, and took a shot of the view. Not a lot of the Kaimais, but not too bad, I suppose. Great for catching the breath, though. Thanks, Cath.

An old-fashioned wooden latch gate is your access to the Mission Cemetery, also recorded as a military cemetery due to the number of war graves here from the Land Wars of the 19th century, and its veterans who passed away afterwards.

What does get me, though, is that this is the site of a major massacre of local Maori at the pa in the 1820s, so human remains are probably strewn all over this ground, and were so when the missionaries started the cemetery, and when the soldiers were buried here as well. It's a peaceful place -- but if you want the feeling that you are walking amidst layer on layer of generations of strife, violent death and great suffering, this is definitely the place. They do need to change the sign -- there are Land War casualties here beyond just 1864-1865.

James Thomas Morrison lies buried here, with his three children who never made it beyond infancy.

DEATH OF MR JAMES THOMAS MORRISON, OF OHINEMUTU.

We regret to have to record the death of Mr James Thomas Morrison, which took place yesterday morning at his residence) at Ohinemutu, after a lingering illness. His name is familiar to the people of this district, by many of whom ho was well known during his residence here and at Ohinemutu, extending over fifteen years. As a member of the first Tauranga County Council and Distributor to the Rotorua Riding (which latter office he filled till the time of his death), he proved himself an efficient public servant, discharging his duties with zeal and ability. He arrived here with the Waikato Regiment in 1864, and subsequently started as hotelkeeper, doing a considerable business in this line. About five years ago, he removed to Ohinemutu, where he conducted the business of the Rotorua Hotel, of which he was proprietor, and his courteous and affable manner made him a universal favourite with the tourists visiting the Lakes. Though he had been ailing for the last three months, his death was unexpected by a large number of his friends, who believed that, with his vigorous constitution, he would soon rally from the attack. Mr. Morrison was held in the highest esteem by the people of this district, and the announcement of his death has evoked a feeling of the deepest regret. The lamented gentleman has passed away from his labours at the early age of forty-three. He leaves a wife and three.children. The remains will arrive in Tauranga this evening, and will be removed from Mr Wrigley's, Harington-street, at 2 p.m. tomorrow for interment in the cemetery .We understand that the Masons in town have made arrangements for doing honor to their deceased brother by giving him a Masonic funeral.

Bay of Plenty Times, 16 October 1879

Dun Eistein is the ancient stronghold of Clan Morrison.

Poor Percy Stainforth Brabant -- unlisted amongst the known children of his father, Resident Magistrate and Native Land Court judge Herbert William Brabant (1838-1919).

Herbert William Brabant was born on 19 March 1838 at Curzon Street, Mayfair, London, England. He was the son of William Hughes Brabant and Emillia Stainforth. He married Rosetta Johnston, daughter of William Johnston and Mereaina Te Rapopo, in 1868 at New Zealand. He died on 25 May 1919 at age 81 at Lincoln Road, Napier, New Zealand. He was buried at Old Cemetery, Napier, New Zealand. Herbert William Brabant was educated at Cambridge University, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England. He emigrated to New Zealand arriving on 1859 on board the Joseph Fletcher. He held the office of Judge of the Native Land Court of New Zealand. He lived in 1891 at St. John's, Wanganui, New Zealand.

At the age of 17, Frederick Gill's end was brutal and violent.

Some of the Tauranga troop here on leave state that when the Hauhaus first made their appearance at Opepe, the half-caste of the cavalry at once pronounced them to be Hauhaus, but Mr. Frederick Gill asserted that they were Arawas, and he knew some of them, He advanced and shook hands with some (of) them, and the rest of he troops came out in their blankets to speak to them. One of the natives, watching his opportunity, fired his revolver at young Gill but the ball missed. Mr. Gill grappled with the would-be murderer, when a general battle ensued, and the other poor fellows already named were slaughtered. Sergeant Slattery fought like a lion, cutting right and left with his sword until at last he fell a victim. When his body was found his eyes were starting out of his head, and his teeth clenched.

Southern Cross, 23 June 1869

Young Mr. Gill nearly escaped into the bush, but was discovered, dragged out, tomahawked, and more frightfully disfigured than any of the others. Bugler McGillop, of the Opotiki troop, suspecting from the first the designs of the visitors, and believing that they were Hauhaus, and not loyal natives, ran into the bush, but afterwards returned and induced his friend Lockwood to escape with him, which friendly act cost the poor fellow his life, for Look wood escaped and poor McGillop was shot down in the bush. … The face of poor young Gill was cut nearly off.

Southern Cross 5 July 1869

I'd say the bit at the top was, at one point, a map showing the location of the battle of Opepe where Gill fell. Or some other document relevant to the young man and his death. Time, of course, along with water damage, has put paid to any chance to see what it was.

At 11.10 last evening there passed away the last of the band of early Maori missionaries sent out from England by the Church Missionary Society in the person of the Rev Canon Goodyear. The reverend gentleman had been in failing health for some time and had latterly been confined to his bed, passing away peacefully last evening. He was born in Luton, Hertfordshire, England, in 1850. In 1875 he entered college for training for missionary work in New Zealand. He arrived in the Colony in 1878 and was first stationed at Wairoa. Hawke's Bay. In 1883 Mr Goodyear was moved to Maketu and remained there till 1896, when he was moved to Tauranga as Superintending Maori Missioner for the whole of the Bay of Plenty District, including Rotorua. Since being sent out by the Church Missionary Society thirty-live years ago Mr Goodyear has been maintained by that organisation and is the last of the band of Church workers sent out by them to New Zealand. A few months ago at Napier Mr Goodyear was created a Canon of the Church. By his death the Church has lost an earnest worker and our Maori brethren a firm friend and loving pastor, and the sympathy of all those members of both races who knew the late Canon will go out to the relatives in their great bereavement. Deceased leaves a widow and two sons and seven daughters. The funeral will leave the residence of the late Canon at 9.45 am tomorrow for the Military Cemetery.

Bay of Plenty Times 19 January 1914

Captain John Fane Charles Hamilton fell at the battle of Gate Pa.

John Fane Charles Hamilton is son, we believe (says Byrne's "Naval Biography "), of Colonel Hamilton and Charlotte, daughter of John Fane, Esq., of Wormsloy, LL.D., an eminent agriculturist, and many years M.P. for Oxford. His uncle, Rear-Admiral Francis William Fane, died 28th March, 1811. This officer entered the navy 28th August, 1835; and in 1841-42, while attached to the ' Blonde,' 42, Captain Thomas Bourchier was present, either in the boats or on shore, at the taking of Amoy, the storming of Chinghae, the attack on the Chinese entrenched camp on the heights of Segoan, the capture of Chapoo, and the engagement with the enemy's batteries at Woosung. He also, on the 10th March, 1842, served in the boats, under Captain George Goldsmith, at the destruction of ten fire vessels with which the Chinese had attempted to annihilate the British shipping and transports at their anchorage off Chinghae.

Having passed his examination 10th November 1841, and been further employed as mate in the ' Warspite,' 50, Captain Provo William Parry Wallis, and ‘St. Vincent,' 120, flag ship of Sir Charles Rowley, on the Lisbon and Portsmouth stations, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, 8th March 1844, and subsequently appointed 24th May and 1st August 1841 to the 'America,' 50, and ' Racer,' 16, Captains Ilon. John Gordon and Archibald Reed, both on the South American station. He left the latter vessel in the summer of 1846. He afterwards became senior lieutenant of the ' Leander,' and was further promoted for his services while on the Naval Brigade at the siege of Sebastopol. On the 26th February 1858 he received his post rank.

Captain Hamilton wore several momentoes of his gallantry, and the last and fatal act which distinguishes him as a gallant officer cannot be better described than in the words of our special correspondent — "The General, who was in the advanced trench of his position, ordered up the supports almost immediately after the storming party rushed the breach; and the second division of blue-jackets and the gallant 43rd, led by Captain Hamilton, of the ' Esk,' advanced with a ringing cheer to the support of the forlorn hope. They arrived at a critical moment; the storming party exposed to a murderous fire on all sides, and from hidden assailants beneath, and without an officer left to lead them, were wavering; part were outside the pa. Captain Hamilton sprung upon the parapet, and shouting 'follow me, men!' dashed into the fight. That moment was his last. He fell dead, pierced through the brain by a bullet, and many of his officers shared the same fate."

Southern Cross 3 May 1864

Commander Edward Hay, served as midshipman in the Havannah when on the New Zealand station in 1849, in command of Captain, now Rear Admiral (Red), John Elphinstone Erskine. In 1855, as mate of the Agamemnon, he received; a medal and foreign decoration; was made Commander on the 22nd March, 1858, and appointed to the Harrier (ordered home) on the 12th November, 1863. 

Hawke's Bay Herald 7 May 1864

He was wounded in the abdomen and later died.

Lt. Charles Hill had been the senior surviving officer of the ill-fated HMS Orpheus. You could say that he was, perhaps, fated to die here, one way or another. More here on the naval officers and men who died during the Land Wars. Below, Lt. Hill's grave. Note the anchor at the end.

An interesting gravestone for Lt. Patrick Falcon Leonard of the 18th Irish Regiment. I haven't found out how he died at the moment.

Private William McAuley drowned at Tauranga in August 1865.

Another drowning at Judea, a month earlier.

More in part 2.

The anchorage of Tauranga Moana

Once rail reached Tauranga (and it took until 1925),  it was a great route until passenger services finally ceased in 2001. Thankfully, freight still uses the lines.

Once the roads were fully formed and sealed, this took the place of rail as the main means to get people in and out of Tauranga. The Tauranga Harbour Bridge was opened in 1988, while the newer Tauranga Harbour Link was opened in 2009.

At the time of the road redesign for the new harbour link two years ago, a monument to even earlier means of transport to Tauranga was erected on land at the crossroads.

As traffic flowed around the completed Harbour Link project for the first time this morning, a ceremony was held acknowledging the history of the area. In the space where the roundabout at the bottom of the old bridge used to be, now lies a courtyard symbolising the history of Tauranga ... An anchor stone representing the anchorage of Tauranga Moana sits in the middle of the circular courtyard, surrounded by pouwhenua representing the waka of Takitimu, Tokomaru, Tainui, Mataatua, Te Arawa, Aotea and Kurahaupo ... The site is the original landing of the Takitimu canoe.

 Bay of Plenty Times, 18 December 2009

The anchor stone.

Takitimu. "Kaihautu Tamatea Arikinui stands atop the pou, and is accompanied by Ruawharo, the tohunga (spritual guide)." The carver was Damien Kohu. Local iwi Ngati Ranginui trace ancestry back to the Takitimu waka.

Mataatua. "Toroa, the kaihautu, guided Mataatua to a landing place in the eastern Bay of Plenty. The story is told of Wairaka, a young girl "acting like a man" -- Whakatane -- to stop the waka from being carried out to sea." Ngaiterangi trace descent from this waka. Carver: James Tapiata.

Above: Te Arawa. "With Tamatekapua as kaihautu, Te Arawa landed at Maketu. The tohunga, Ngatoroirangi, is associated with bringing volcanic fire to the central North Island." Te Arawa are centred around Rotorua. The carver was Robert Turner.

Above: Tainui. "The arrival of Hoturoa on the Tainui waka at the entrance to Te Awanui a Tamatea Arikinui (Tauranga harbour) is depicted on this pouwhenua. Hoturoa is shown sacrificing Wahinerua to gain access to the inner harbour ... Ballast from Tainui was thrown overboard at the shallowest part of the harbour to reduce the draught and allow the waka to proceed to the northern entrance. The pile of ballast stones can be seen today at Ratihi Rock, Mataka Island." Tainui descendants are today most readily identified with the Waikato district, although they also have had impact in neighbouring Auckland. The carver was James Tapiata.

Above: Aotea. "Turi, the kaihautu, is portrayed holding the toki (ceremonial adze) named 'Te Awhiorangi' (the encircler of heaven)." Descendants settled in South Taranaki, Whanganui and Ohakune. The carver was Guy Kakau. 

Above: Kurahaupo. "This pou tells the story of two waka named Kurahaupo. The first, which arrived about 1150 AD, had Whatonga as kaihautu and Mahutonga as tohunga. This group eventually settled in Whanganui a Tara (Wellington), Porirua, Kapiti Island and Mana Island ... The second Kurahaupo came at the time of the great migration. The people settled in Waitara and North Taranaki." The carver was Simon Madgwick.

Finally, Tokomaru. "The pou represents Manaia, kaihautu of Tokomaru waka. Te Ati Awa of Northland and Taranaki trace their descent from those who came on this waka." Carver: Maurice Wharekawa.

A very disapproving will

I was in Archives New Zealand yesterday, looking at deeds indexes and the like, when from the other end of the readers table came an exclamation from another researcher, viewing a will she had asked for. When she read out aloud the following, another researcher and I were just as intrigued.

Helen Hannah Harker (c.1843-1926), wife of James Harker (c.1820-1904) of Hamilton was quite disapproving of her son and daughter, and said so in no uncertain terms in her last will and testament (BCDG 4420/111/2190):

... AND  I DECLARE that my reason for not making any further provision for my said daughter Hannah Elizabeth Hayter is that during my lifetime I have contributed large sums to the support of my said daughter and her family and that by reason of my said daughter's addiction to liquor any provision made for her or any legacy left to her under this my will will be dissipated AND I FURTHER DECLARE that my reason for not making any further provision than is herein made for my said son Simon John William Harker is that during my lifetime I have contributed considerable sums to his support and to the commencement and upkeep of Certain jewellery and watchmaking businesses in Hamilton and Cambridge undertaken and embarked upon by my said son and that by reason of my said son Simon John William Harker's addiction to liquor the said businesses were not attended to and ultimately had to be closed and the principal part of the money invested therein was lost and I am of the opinion that if I made any further provision for my said son or left him any legacy by this my Will then by reason of the said addiction any money or any portion of my said estate so left will be dissipated.

James Harker appears in the Waikato Times in 1880 as a member of a coronial jury. He was apparently a cattle farmer. Hannah Harker made a bit of a splash in the same paper later that year after an argument with another woman.

Assault. Anne Quinn was charged with having, on the 17th inst. at Frankton, assaulted one Hannah Harker, by beating, kicking, and otherwise maltreating her. Mr O'Neil appeared for the prosecution, and Mr W. M. Hay for the defence. From the evidence, which was of a very voluminous nature, it appealed that the complainant was stopped on her road home and ill-used by defendant. It was proved that the former used some very bad language, though she must have been suffering under great provocation. There was a cross summons, in which Mrs Quinn charged Mrs Harker with using abusive language. The evidence in this case was somewhat similar to that in the preceding. His Worship, after commenting on the principal features of the case, find Mrs Quinn £2 and costs, and bound her over to keep the peace for six months, in three sureties amounting to £40. The case against Mrs Harker was dismissed, the Bench administering a caution to the defendant.

29 July 1880

Mrs Harker used some choice language against a Mr Jolly in 1882, but the court then dismissed the case through lack of evidence.

As for Simon John William Harker, the son who his mother said had let business slip through too much of a liking for the demon booze -- it seems, according to the BDM records, that he died, aged 93, in 1960.

Update 11 December 2011: Recently found in land titles of Helen Hannah Harker's land, it appears that despite their mother's will, Simon and his sister Hannah did obtain a third share each in Mrs Harker's central Hamilton property. Perhaps the courts felt that Mrs Harker went a bit too much over the top with her disapproval.