Riverton, Southland, New Zealand

HISTORY OF WALLACE.

[By Aparima.]

Chapter V

In these difficult days when sugar duties have such a grievous effect upon the cost of living, it is interesting to think of the good old days, when no inquisitive customs officer inquired into the dutiable goods brought into New Zealand by Capt. Howell's returning whalers. This beneficent immunity from impost duties must have rendered the trading concerns of our settler-captain highly lucrative ventures; and this fact combined with the pressing need for careful supervision of his growing shore domains, induced the sailor to forsake the restless "realms of Moby Dick" for the more secure yet less adventurous broad acres.

The reader will remember that Captain Howell's first decision to become a Maori Chief had brought him considerable wealth in the shape of shore possessions; and no doubt his shrewd brain had quite early discovered the future wealth of Murihiku's land. At any rate, he soon became the owner of an area that would in these days bring him within Mr Holland's black list of land aggregators. He held some 50,000 acres of land, stretching from Fairfax on to Wreys Bush and including Nightcaps. At Flint's Bush, probably a pre-emptive right on account of his other large areas, Captain Howell erected a fine house which, after his native town, he named "Eastbourne."

Even in those early days the mineral wealth of Nightcaps district, which in the shape of fine coal is to-day a wealthy source of income to that area, was well-known to the shepherds who went the rounds of Captain Howell's station. The cold, huts were always well supplied with this fuel, and the bullock wagons which conveyed the stores to these outposts used to "backload" coal to run the blacksmith's shop which in those days a Mr Armstrong used to have in Riverton. It is highly interesting to note in passing that some of our earlier maps give ample proof of the early mark made upon the west by Captain Howell and his relatives. In the Bank of New Zealand in Riverton any chance investor or more frequent mendicant may verify this by a casual glance at the fine map which hangs on the wall in the general office. Here may be seen marked Howell's Roads, Howell's Point, Howell's Bush, Paulin's Bush, Steven's Bush; and, indeed, one is led to suppose that Flint's Bush, Wild Bush, Spar Bush, Wright's Bush, and the many other districts, whose names to-day are all that remain to tell the curious that they were once endowed with goodly native trees, owe their names, to some extent, to the contemporaries of Howell, Paulin and Stevens, in the forties and early fifties, when these landmarks were given place names in honour of the more prominent pioneers.

That Captain Howell quite early realised the coming importance of the agricultural and pastoral possibilities of Southland, is quite evident from his extensive early purchases already mentioned. To these might be added Burwood Station, even now a comparative "terra incognito" to the majority of Southlanders. Comprising many thousands of acres, Burwood, situated on the south-east side of the Mavora and extending into the little known ??? towards the Mavora Lake, must have been a very choice area in Captain Howell's days, before the now ubiquitous rabbit was inadvertently introduced. These broad acres, however, were by no means sufficient, for he next secured Fairlight Station, south of Kingston. This he intended for his homestead, with the Flint's Bush house as a country residence.

Having practically forsaken the sea by this time on account of the necessity of personal supervision of his many and scattered runs, Captain Howell left the control of his fleet to his worthy lieutenants, Captain Gilroy, who was in charge of the "Postboy," and Captain Thos. Brown, of Codfish Island fame, on the quarter-deck of the "Eliza," the old flagship. These worthies continued to do yeoman service in the straits and plied a very successful trade.

Captain "Paddy" Gilroy, indeed, must have been an enterprising and determined character, to judge alone by the reference to his initiative vouched for by no less a teller of sea tales than Frank T. Bullen in his "Cruise of the Cachalot." By the way, this book, which gives quite an insight into the varied and arduous life of a South Pacific whaler in the early part of last century, makes interesting reference to the Foveaux Straits and their environs. Port William and Jacobs River, Ruggedy and a few other interesting whaling stations are described in Bullen's work. Capt. Paddy Gilroy it is who displays the necessary daring and doggedness to run the gauntlet of the tortuous Ruggedy Race at Stewart Island, in the teeth of a rising gale that forced the Yankee whalers on the "grounds" to leave their valuable "prizes" and flee for shelter. Not so Gilroy, who safely negotiated the dangerous passage without sacrificing his two whales. Had those early days possessed a Robert Francis, a Shaun O'Sullivan, or a rhymer who could have sung of such an epic deed in fitting stanzas, then our early history should have been immortalised as in the story of the French patriot's ready skill which saved Damfreville's Fleet in "Herve Riel."

From the foregoing articles it can readily be seen that in Murihiku's early days, Captain Howell played a large part, and that he was not selfish in his success is testified by the interest he displayed in local affairs. His own progress, too, meant the progress of the district and too much stress cannot be laid upon the importance of the many-sided character ol this adventurer whom chance sent to Jacob's Riser in 1834. Apropos of this, it is interesting to note the remark made by one of the splendid old pioneers who viewed the efforts of our modern ploughmen at the last Drummond ploughing match. In a reminiscent vein one old gentleman recounted the history of probably the first Southland ploughing match, held at Flint's Bush in 1865. Amongst the competitors at this early contest was the late James Hamilton, of Flint's Bush, whose reliable team of two bullocks did excellent work. At the subsequent dinner Captain Howell, who presided, is reported to have said, in his characteristic brief sailor fashion, "I do not know much about ploughing the land, but I can plough the sea." With these introductory remarks, the jovial Captain bade his guests go ahead, and it is needless to relate that the evening was a memorable one. With song and story, punctuated with liberal potations of "Wallace" whiskey, which in those days was legally manufactured in the district, our pioneer agriculturalists marked their first official recognition of the importance of good workmanship on the land.

In my next article I intend to give an account of early politics in Southland, when in the stormy sessions which resulted in the financial surrender to Otago, Captain Howell was an important member of the first Provincial Council - a form of petty . government, the outcome of the hastily drafted constitution of 1852.

All this while Riverton was slowly being established, the thick bush of North Riverton was being cut down to make way for dwellings that have now mostly disappeared to give place to the modern town. There are amongst us still, those who will remember a European cemetery on the flagstaff corner of which now stands the Carrier's Arms Hotel. About 1844 Jacob's River was visited by a virulent epidemic, which carried off Mrs Paulin and three of her children. These victims were interred by their sorrowful townsmen in the cemetery above mentioned, as also was Capt. Wm. Stevens' eldest son, William who was burned to death at that time. At her death Mrs Paulin left five children, one of whom, Mrs Jas. R. Stuck, late of Otaitai Bush, and now of Invercargill, is claimed to be the first European born in the South Island. Mr Wm. Paulin, late of Queenstown, and now of Invercargill, was also a member this early Riverton family.

Source: Western Star, 24 July 1923, Page 3.

Chapter VI

The chapter outlines the introduction of Christianity to Southland by the missionaries. Only one paragraph mentions Captain Howell.

During the period of the introduction of Christianity Captain Howell's whaling industry continued merrily, and such an ardent lover of the natives must have rejoiced at the new element which made for a higher standard of civilisation amongst his adopted people.

Source: Western Star, 31 July 1923, Page 3.

Chapter VII

In last week's, account of the early missionary endeavour in our area, I might not have made it sufficiently clear that from Maori converts came many of the apostles who carried the story of Christianity throughout the scattered settlements of the South. Reference to this frequently occur in Rev. Wohlers' Memoirs; and there are many in Riverton, who will remember the proselytising zeal of Horomona Pukuhete (Solomon), the first Maori preacher to be baptised at Jacob's River in 1845. Of this fine old chief, Commissioner Mantell says, in reference to his first visit to the South: "When I visited Riverton 1844 he (Horomona Pukuhete (Solomon) walked over from Colac Bay to assure me that he was a Wesleyan, and that Mr Creed had brought the Light and the Holy Spirit to him." Rev. Chas. Creed was the Wesleyan successor to Rev. Watkin, who went to Wellington. A very active and energetic missionary, Creed from his headquarters at Waikouaiti, made many southern journeys accomplishing fine work in the Foveaux Straits field, a perusal of the Church baptismal records shows. Subsequently, however, this field was left to Rev. J. F. Wohlers, who continued to labour in this arduous field until his death in 1885. It is not to be wondered at that the Wesleyans made great use of their Maori converts, for one of the chief characteristics of Methodism is to utilise its laity to the full; and the records of the advance of Christianity in the South contain the names of many eager and successful native teachers where new evangel led them to discard their picturesque Maori names for the higher sounding Biblical titles of the Old Testament. We thus find Solomon, Elijah, David, Joseph, Josiah and Matthew forsaking the customary work of the tribe and carrying on as "Fishers of men."

A most interesting picture of early Riverton life in the stirring days of 1810-1850 is depicted by Mr Geo. Howell, of Longwood, the eldest son, of the late Captain Howell, whose adventures we have recently been following.

After the death of Koi Koi, the first wife of Captain Howell, little George, then three years old, and his sister, the late Mrs Wm. Cameron, of Centre Island - or to give it its significant Maori name, Raratonga - lived with their aunt, Mrs Paulin, who, it will be remembered, lived in the first house built in Riverton. It was situated where Mr Fahey's Carriers' Arm Hotel is now placed, and its surrounding bush - now, of course, all gone - made it a happy hunting around for the young Howells. The Paulin children, then two in number - Mary and Ann, little Amelia Johnstone, Nancy Lennard (the late Nancy Thomas and mother of Mr E. J. Stevens, Hekeia), Anne Williams, the late Mrs George Pauley, a half-caste boy called "Johnny" formed the younger portion of the happy household at Mrs Paulin's. That such a varied family lived happily, and that the few surviving members still remember with pride the mother's love which guided its changing fortunes, is a fine tribute to the aunt and mother, Mrs Paulin.

The chief delight of the youngsters was to disport themselves on a fine hill, situated where the railway goods shed now stands. It was about twice as high as the Presbyterian Church, well grassed, and with an abrupt slope which extended right down to the soft sand of the beach. Astride a favourite flax-root with a substantial knob to act as a toboggan, away each would shoot on his adventurous career, sometimes to reach the sand goal in safety, but more frequently to strike trouble in the shape of a perspiring opponent returning to the "take-off" or to be dislodged at some well-known difficulty. Many a quarrel ensued over the respective merits of favourite slides, and very often the question of ownership of a slide or toboggan led to youthful encounters. Even the elders, at first only amused onlookers at the children's games, caught the spirit of adventure, and the game soon possessed interest for old and young alike. At length, tired of their strenuous morning's exertions on the hill, the young people would repair to their native orchard, along the foreshore from the railway station to where the rowing sheds now stand.

On this strip, there grew in abundance the mic mic, moko and the tuku tuku, native shrubs whose luscious berries were shaken on to an old table cloth spread beneath the tree. The tempting bunches of tutu, which could be found in plenty, especially along the old roadway which ran along past where Mr Cassels now lives, were not for the children, for they well understood the poisonous properties of this plant, against which they had been carefully cautioned by their elders. The tutu, however, was carefully gathered when ripe, and after being squeezed through cloth, the juice was bottled as a beverage. Romping and playing the livelong day, the children had little to do but bring in the cows from the surrounding pastures. Their entertainment was not, however, neglected, for in those days, at frequent intervals, pakeha and Maori, old and young, would repair to a large lecture hall situated beyond the present Aparima Bowling Club's pretty grounds, just about where Mr Turner now lives. The hall was seventy feet long, was built of durable totara, thatched with wae-wae, and lined with pokaka reeds. To heat the hall were two fires, the smoke from which was not at all troublesome, as it escaped from two holes in the roof. The lectures consisted of traditions, ghost stories and tribal history and full advantage was taken by everyone to hear the popular entertainers of those days. One can well imagine the audience - all seated on mats on the rush floor - as some particularly gruesome tale was being recorded; Mr Howell still remembers his boyish dread on returning home after listening to some ghost tale. The very bushes on the road side would seem to have taken the shape of characters of the late story as Mrs Paulin and her young folk were making their homeward way. Clutching fearfully at the good lady's voluminous skirts, as each eerie sound broke the stillness, the children at last thankfully reached the safety of their home.

The titles of the lectures to be delivered were always known beforehand, and if a popular lecturer was "starred," or if it were known that a "wild-west" story was to be told the hall would be packed. The favourite ghost story of those days was about the white woman with the wooden leg. This unfortunate pakeha female was supposed to live on a great hill somewhere west of the Waiau, and was reputed to spend her days tending great numbers of tame native birds which daily came to her call. Her long golden hair reached almost to her feet, and such was her "mana" that the old Maoris of those days took her for a goddess. The tale of this lonely lady of the west did not include any reference to other white people, but it was widely held by the old Maoris that on the south-west coast there lived a tribe that had a white strain. In the very early days it is said that a Maori tribe called the Hawais lived at the mouth of the Waiau: but on account of an attack by the Ngatamoemoe, these Hawais fled westward to the Sounds. Old whaling records, and indeed Captain Cook's diaries make frequent references to the "Indians" in this region, and Maori references to the "lost tribes" of the west are not confined to the Aparima people. Mr Howell, of Longwood, inclines to believe that the romantic west did contain this mixed tribe, and distinctly remembers the sensation caused when Abraham, the Maori, brought a girl of 18 from Thompson's Sound. This girl later became the first wife of the late Jas. Weevel, of Wakatipu. Old Abraham and another Maori companion used to leave Jacob's River secretly new and again, but as to their secret haunts no one could find any clue. It was commonly supposed that they were members of this western tribe, whose whereabouts they would not reveal.

Source: Western Star, 7 August 1923, Page 3.

Chapter VIII

One is inclined to consider that the young folk of 1840-50 passed their halcyon days tobogganing on the old North Hill or picking mic mic berries by day, and feverishly drinking in the superstitious tales of old days at the lecture hall by night. Such, however, is by no means the case, for even long before white men came to New Zealand a primitive form of education was considered necessary by the Maoris, and its importance was net overlooked in the days of Pakeha-Maoridom in Riverton. One side of our present day education — physical drill — occupied an important place in the formative period of the young citizen's training, and war-dancers, taught under the skilful guidance of some Maori "returned soldier" were daily performed on the beach beside the lecture hall. The proper use of the spear was included in the instruction of these young folk, no political anti-militarist theories being prevalent in those times and the role of the conscientious objector being most unpopular. The school - for such it really was - was considered the place fully to prepare these young citizens to take the place later of the trained defenders or hearths and homes. It is therefore not surprising that spear throwing, wrestling, war dancing and the other arts of self defence found an important place in the curriculum of the Education Act of those days. One can well imagine the excitement of the youthful scholars, when, the whalers having returned to base, a detachment of Maoris would perform a war dance in which their fierce martial cries and ferocious gestures, gave new impetus to the flagging exercises of yesterday. In these adult exhibitions, strict care was taken to exclude any of the performers whose return from an enforced period of temperance at sea had prompted him to over-indulge in a beverage that would work too fiercely upon primitive instincts roused by the psychological effect of the war dance.

The importance of instruction in the three R's was not forgotten amidst the far more popular - at any rate from the point of view of scholars - physical side, and very soon Captain Howell was making endeavours to secure a competent "Dominie." In his advocacy of a school being established, he was ably assisted by his sister, Mrs Paulin, and before long they had chosen Mr John Lydard — sometimes called Leynard — grandfather of Mr E. Stevens, Hekeia. Established ashore - he had been employed previously on Captain Howell's own ship - Leynard set up his little school in a dwelling house just about where Densham's old house now stands. The first Dominie's scholastic equipment would in these days of grading marks and teachers' certificates be considered as slender, but in his "noisy mansion" with his roll number of eight pupils, he resolutely set their little feet securely upon the ever widening paths to knowledge. Not over troubled by the insecurity of the Education vote, he was content with a home, his food and occasional grants from parents who recognised his well meant efforts. Unfortunately, an epidemic which carried off Mrs Paulin and some of her children was the end of the first efforts at Education in Riverton, for shortly afterwards the school was closed, largely no doubt on account of the unfortunate early death of the main member of the self-constituted Education Board.

These early days were remarkable for the true socialist spirit which marked the settlement, and there can be no doubt that many of the problems which to-day are by no means a credit to our boasted twentieth century civilisation were conspicuous by their absence. The old people did not require the pittance of an old age pension, for they were, rightly, well cared for, each old couple having a home to themselves, and it was considered a work of love on the part of the younger people to attend to them.

There was no shortage of food in the "good old days," and the now flounder could be readily speared in the estuary day or night. It was a common sight then to see as many as 60 or 70 flax torches dotted along the beaches or sandbanks and marking the industrious flounder spearer collecting the next day's provisions. To-day, the acetylene lantern or the more portable electric lamp takes the place of the quondam flax torch; but the fisher of to-day, well equipped as he is, is forced frequently to return empty-handed from those "fields" which in former days yielded bounteous and sure rewards to 1840 prototype.

It was not only from the sea, however, that food was supplied in plenty, for the pastures, not yet ravaged by the rabbit pest, assured a rich return from the herds which, having been brought from Sydney by Captain Howell, were, then a most profitable possession. Mrs Paulin, in her "Home" days, had been well instructed in the domestic arts, and the healthful products of her dairy found a ready and profitable market on the whaling ships, while some of it even went to Sydney, for she soon had a goodly herd. The popular domestic quadruped "the gentleman that pays the rent" in Ireland, was to be found in goodly numbers, and Mr Paulin's well-cured bacon - he had been a butcher in London - was much sought after by the shipmasters. Under the guidance of Mr Stevens, and with such able assistants as Mrs Paulin and her husband, the farming ventures of the new settlement were eminently successful, and soon a thriving trade was being carried on with the whalers, the surplus always being easily disposed of in Sydney, and that too without tariff and Customs regulations about grading and weights. Soap and candles were two articles which were manufactured by these enterprising pioneers, these supplying a very great need both ashore and afloat.

The potato, the universal popularity of which is due no doubt to the prescience of that ill-fated yet picturesque Englishman of Elizabethan times, Sir Walter Raleigh, was grown locally with profitable results, and, untroubled then by fear of blights and other disease pests, Maori and pakeha alike, looked upon this as the staple vegetable and derived much profit from their surplus stocks. The unreliability of a flour supply from Sydney, it was that prompted the settlers to grow their own wheat. From the primitive means at the disposal of the growers of this difficult cereal crop, it was surprising that they achieved any successful results at all. No artificial manures were used, no ploughs were available, and only small areas could be undertaken, as all the wheat had to be chipped in with hoes and adzes after being liberally scattered on the ground. The average area was about half an acre, but the communal spirit that worked out so well in the care of the old people, was brought into use at wheat sowing time. Men, women and children at this time were organised into a common force, the fields having been arranged in order of precedence, and work went ahead merrily until all the wheat was sown. Singing, joking or laughing, as they worked, the wheat sowers made a happy band, and one can well imagine what a "tangi" there would be when the fields were all in.

Even the careful sowing and harvesting of the wheat would have been useless but for the initiative displayed by Mr Paulin in purchasing from Sydney a hand flour-mill with which to grind the wheat. Finding the hand process too slow, he erected a wind-mill on a small hill situated just in front of where Mr De Clifford's Railway Hotel is now situated, and by an ingenious device, he contrived to utilise the prevailing winds to the advantage of the community. The wind mill had three big arms, and from the hill it must have been a well-known land mark. Acting the part of the jolly miller, Mr Paulin ground all the wheat in the district, and even though that "all" was not much, still his spirit of progress was a good thing for the young settlement. Besides tending his flour mill and carrying out the multifarious duties connected with his mixed farm, Mr Paulin had a fine garden which extended from the dwelling where the Carriers' Arms Hotel now stands right over to Robinson's tinsmith shop, and including all the area up past Mrs Mclvor's.

The meat supply of those days was provided for by Captain Howell's slaughter-yard which was situated just where Mr Leary's cow-byre is now. In a hollow thereabouts there once ran a small creek out to the beach across the land over which the railway now runs. Five or six bullocks were slaughtered each week, those who required meat coming to the yards to make their purchases.

Source: Western Star, 14 August 1923, Page 2.

Chapter IX

Published on 21 August 1923, this chapter had no reference to the Howell family or Captain Howell.

Chapter X

Chapter X has some content about the Howell family and Captain Howell. Three of the eight paragraphs in the article are reproduced.

In 1839, when the Stevens family was brought over from Sydney by Captain Howell, the vessel, in coming round to the east of Stewart Island, on account of bad weather, called at Ruapuke Island in order to get some green fodder for the stock on board. It happened that some six bags of oysters brought from Twofold Bay, were rather in the way on the deck, and it is also possible that their keeping properties were being over taxed by the lengthy voyage; at any rate, these sacks were jettisoned in the straits south of Ruapuke. Anyone who to-day is able to appreciate the flavour of the popular succulent bivalve brought in from these same straits, can well realise the reluctance of the crew to throw them overboard; but they took comfort in the fact that later they might be able to utilise the same area as an oyster fishing ground. One hesitates to put this incident down as the beginning of the now lucrative Foveaux Straits oyster beds, but old hands were under no illusion about it, and quite confidently asserted the importance of the event.

In the earlier days, the people, Pakeha and Maori alike, very reverently observed the Sunday, and if they were to return, a la Conan Doyle's beliefs, they would be considerably surprised at the Continental Sunday system in vogue now. So strict were the Maoris about observing the Sunday that they refrained from carrying even their pipes into service, leaving these cherished possessions either at home or secreting them the while in temporary hiding places under the thatch of the meeting house. Just under Tall's Point was the first place of worship, but latterly another larger hall was erected in the Kaik near where Mr Turner now lives. Carrying their hymn-books, and dressed in their best, all repaired on Sunday to the Church, where lusty community singing formed the chief portion of the service. When Captain Howell was present they were sure to sing, "Pull for the Shore, Sailor," and the worthy captain would lustily join, for this one he accounted his favourite.

At Captain Howell's home at "Eastbourne," Sunday was observed with equal solemnity, the people gathering at the homestead each week for service. Again, singing formed the chief portion of the service, but if there was present anyone who could read, an opportunity was always given to that person to read a portion of the Scriptures.

Source: Western Star, 28 August 1923, Page 3.

Chapter XI

Published on 4 September 1923, this chapter had no reference to the Howell family or Captain Howell.

Chapter XII

Those who recollect my earlier articles will remember the reference I made to Captain Howell's visit to California in 1849, at the time of the famous Pacific rush. Incidentally, it is interesting to remember that those who participated in this dash to California were known subsequently, on account of the date of their advent, as forty-niners, a term that is known to meet of us, occurring as it does-in the well known ditty, "Clementine." On the eve of departure from Aparima, Captain Howell's crew was agog with excitement, for the wonder lust derived from historic Hawaiki days when the famous Takitimo canoe brought the bold dusky pioneers to Aeo-te-a-roa, still lured the Maori crew to essay new fields. The new land, however, with its eager and, I fear, unscrupulous gold seekers, soon disillusioned the Captain's eager crew, and after working their claims successfully for some time, they begged their leader to take them back to their native haunts with its flax and manuka, and with no desperadoes obeying only the rule of might. It was by no means the failure to strike gold that hurried the departure of the Captain and his adventurous crew, but rather that their success led less fortunate neighbours to become covetous, with the result that the mate was murdered and his portion of the gold stolen.

Watson, the mate, had been left by Captain Howell in charge of operations at the claim, and all would have gone well there but for the presence in the camp of a ticket-of-leave European from Tasmania. Meeting, it is supposed, with some of his former companions, the ex-convict laid a careful plan to rob the whole party; but though these plans resulted in Watson's death and the loss of a portion of the hard-won earnings, the major part was saved by the suspicious Maoris, who had divided the gold amongst the members of the party and now hastily repaired to the ship.

Nothing would now induce the once eager gold seekers to return to the Alsatia from which they had fortunately escaped; for daily robbings and murders had created a most sinister impression on the whole band. Their eighteen months absence from home, too, made an additional reason for a return, and accordingly, the Captain acceding to their requests, they were soon bound for Sydney. Here they kept the jewelers busy making rings and trinkets for coy "wahines" at home, for the gold had been divided, and each man was the proud possessor of a bag of the precious metal. Mr Geo. Howell, who vouches for the authenticity of the Californian expedition, tells me that until recently he himself had possession of one massive ring which his father, Captain Howell, had brought home from the trip. One of the rings, Mr Howell thinks, is still in the possession of Mrs Blair Stewart, of Gore, youngest daughter of Mrs Theo. Daniel.

Whatever had been the fears and misgivings that prompted the hasty departure from the lucrative fields on the Pacific Slope, there was no hint on the crews' return to Jacob's River, and the erstwhile diggers were a nine days' wonder in their native town, "swanking" about with Panama hats at a rakish angle and displaying their new wealth in personal ornaments with an ostentation that is peculiar to the Maori.

"Why," said one of the Maori when Californian days began to dampen the ardour of the gold-seekers, "have you come all this way to get that stuff? (meaning gold). There is plenty in our own land." "Can you find it though?" said the cautious and credulous Captain, for gold was not known at that time in New Zealand. "You take, us back skipper, and we show you where to find plenty," said the Maori.

This burst of confidence, inspired no doubt by the desire to get away from the undesirable Yankee danger zone, did not materialise upon return to Aparima; but undoubtedly the Ngaitahu and Ngatamoemoe knew of the existence of gold in the Western ranges, but as they did not value this metal in their primitive days, it is little wonder that they neglected it.

It was not long, however, before the white man was to locate the royal metal, and by 1861 the great news of the Central Otago discovery brought men from all parts to Now Zealand. Quickly following upon the Central discovery came the rush to Wakatipu, in which latter place we find the truth of the early Maori boast to Captain Howell. I shall have much to say of the early gold seeking days in Wallace, for there was in early times, and there still persists, a belief that the auriferous lands to the west of the Aparima contain great wealth in their numerous quartz veins which everywhere even yet attract the "hatter" and at times raise tho hopes of the speculator.

The following three paragraphs are not transcribed, not being about the Howell family.

Source: Western Star, 11 September 1923, Page 3.

Chapter XIII

Published on 18 September 1923, Chapter XIII had no reference to the Howell family or Captain Howell.

Chapter XIV

Chapter XIII describes the establishment of the Southland Provincial Council in 1861 until its dissolution 9 years later in 1870. Two paragraphs refer to the involvement of Captain Howell in the Provincial Council. He was a member from 22 October 1862 until 1869.

During the nine years' period of activity of the Provincial Council, its personnel changed frequently, but no more outspoken member ever keenly represented his district than the pioneer of Aparima, Captain Howell. Keen to advance his electorate, Jacob's River, the old whaler early saw the need of establishing Riverton as a good harbour. This he advocated by the construction of an ingenious breakwater, the estimated cost to be something in the vicinity of £10,000; but despite his continued advocacy there were opponents who supported a rival port at Mokomoko, at the New River Heads. This rival scheme ultimately, to Captain Howell's unfeigned disgust, found favour with the Council, which authorised the work. Accordingly, some of Mr Heale's valuable time was expended in carefully surveying the now almost forgotten town of Stanley on the south side of the New River Heads, while a branch line from the newly constructed Bluff railway line was run out over a veritable morass of some 2 miles to the new wharf of Stanley. The whole experiment cost £30,000, but like so many other scheme which read well on paper, the ambitious turned out a complete failure on account of the treacherous sand bars at the entrance to the Estuary. Few vessels berthed at Stanley's quays, the railway was soon overgrown and rotting, and the little town, surveyed with such hopes as the capital of the South, is completely forgotten and is now indeed unknown except by the chance fisherman who drags the nearby beach for flounders or perchance by the settler who wonders at the wild gooseberry bushes or the odds and ends of rubbish that seem quaintly out of place in this otherwise wild promontory. Had, indeed, Captain Howell's advice been followed, the town of Riverton would have been a very different one from the tourist resort it is to-day.

Though Captain Howell was unsuccessful in his advocacy of a provincial capital port, to be constructed cheaply at Riverton, nevertheless he was responsible to a large degree for the grants which meant the construction of arterial roads in his electorate; but, disgruntled by the scant courtesy accorded his harbour scheme, he determined to let his fellow representatives "rot in their own malice," and returned to his country home at "Eastbourne" with its joys and its worries, leaving the depths and shallows of political life to be sounded by others who could more easily control their feelings when an eager member's schemes were set aside, for lack of funding or more frequently because vested interests somewhere else supplied the necessary stimulus.

Source: Western Star, 25 September 1923, Page 3.

Chapters XV and XVI

Published on 9 and 16 October 1923, these chapter had no reference to the Howell family or Captain Howell, apart from chapter XVI mentioning the dates of Captain Howell's membership of the Southland Provincial Council, 1862-1869.

Chapter XVII

Chapter XVII has three paragraphs that report on achievements of Captain Howell while a member of the Southland Provincial Council. The other paragraphs are not reproduced.

Having completed this long digression on Waianawa, we shall return for the general consideration of the Provincial Government and the deliberations of that august assembly at least so far as they affected Wallace. At a time when grants for roads were eagerly fought for by all representatives, it was accounted a great victory for Captain Howell to get a vote for a road from where the hospital now stands across the then shaking bog to the present site of the Aparima factory. This road Captain Howell characterised as a veritable necessity, for it was a very round-about road that settlers had to follow on their way to Captain Raymond's at Mt. Pleasant, to Nightcaps, or to any place to the north. The old route followed the terraces from the present cemetery right up to Thornbury to what was known as the Upper Ford, where the Thornbury bridge is now.

At last, however, the Herculean task of making the road across the swamp was commenced. Boats and punts of all descriptions were employed taking stone and metal up the river, and quite a large number of men was employed in breaking the stone for at that time the stone crusher was unknown, but work went on briskly for money was plentiful and there was no lack of labour. With fascines placed as a foundation and covered with the material taken from two big ditches the formation was set up, and then the stone was placed on top of this to complete the highway. Despite floods and heavy traffic of all descriptions this road still remains a memorial to the good work of the early contractors.

At that same time amongst many other Aparima public works being undertaken, there was being built a jetty on the north side of the river. Indeed the present traffic bridge, the days of which are numbered, was later built over the site of the old jetty.

Source: Western Star, 26 October 1923, Page 3

Chapters XVIII to XXIII

Chapters XVIII-XXIII published between 2 November and 7 December 1923 have no additional reference to the Howell family of genealogical significance.