In Early Days.

SOME INCIDENT’S IN THE LIFE OF AN OTAGO PIONEER.

(Specially written for the Clutha Leader.)

By Kowhai.

Antonio Joseph, of Taieri Beach, a name familiar to most early settlers of Otago, and a familiar figure at the various reunions of pioneers and descendants held in Balclutha, Milton, and elsewhere for some time past, has, notwithstanding his burden of almost 83 years, a remarkably clear memory, and the writer has obtained for the Leader a glimpse into his eventful life.

The veteran pioneer, now perforce resting quietly in the evening of life, is typical of the old-time whalers, and a somewhat rugged exterior indicates the possession of that determination and daring one naturally associates with the people we

affectionately call “our pioneers.”

Born in Flores, in the Western Islands of Europe, Mr Joseph, when 17 years of age, ran away from home and joined a whaling vessel, the American barque “Favourite,” Capt. Young. For several years the Favourite was engaged in the whaling industry, and the veteran can speak of many exciting experiences in the course of the long cruises undertaken by the vessel. A rather unpleasant incident so far as he was concerned has not yet been forgotten, and serves to show the recklessness that obtained among the old-time whaling crews, who of course participated in the profits of the industry. Mr Joseph states that on one occasion in the early forties they had made fast to a whale, and while the rope was running at lightning speed through the boat’s hawse-pipe a bend of the rope bounded over his head and encircled his legs, dragging him overboard. So intent were the boat’s crew in the pursuit of the valuable whale that the fact of one of their party being in distress was of little moment, and it was not for over an hour’s time that the crew saw fit to effect the rescue of their comrade, who, being a good swimmer, managed, though injured, to remain afloat.

In 1847 the Favourite called at Preservation Inlet for fresh water and an addition to the larder in the shape of native game, which there abounded. Pigeons, kakas, etc., were so quiet that great numbers were knocked over with sticks. Crayfish were also in plenty, and needless to say the vessel’s crew dined right royally for some time afterwards. The birds were hung up in the rigging, and the crew subsequently had to throw the remainder overboard. The vessel also called at Chalky Inlet, and after again putting to sea a sensational experience took place, the vessel striking a whale and badly damaging her rudder. Captain Young decided to make for Otakou to endeavour to have repairs effected, and thus in 1847 Mr Joseph saw for the first time the port of the province where he was destined to make his

home. The Favourite anchored at the Heads, where there were a great number of natives, and the captain took a boat up to where Port Chalmers now is. Bush covered the steep hillsides to the water’s edge, and the sight was indeed a grand one, though the loneliness of the place forced itself upon one. A shelving shingly beach served as a boat landing. The whaler captain found but one house in the locality, fashioned out of clay and thatch—the wellknown material “architects” of the early days made use of. Mr and Mrs Wyllie, and Mr and Mrs McKay occupied the house, and a schooner lay at anchor put in the bay. It was the Scotia, owned by Mr John Jones, and the little vessel had just recently arrived from Sydney, having on board the first horses for Otago—four draughts. The Favourite, having effected repairs with the aid of a blacksmith’s forge at the Heads, put to sea after a three weeks’ stay, and returned to Otago the first week in March, 1848. The vessel sailed again minus several members of her crew, among the number being Mr Joseph. The latter’s first experience of colonial life was in the bush near the Heads with a party of sawyers—Messrs Chas. Hopkinson, David Carey, Jack Logan and James Bell—who were engaged sawing timber “on spec” with the old-fashioned pit-saws. The “head of the river,” as the site of Dunedin was best known by, was practically an unknown quantity save to the natives and to the first surveyors. However, the Heads at that time (about three weeks before the arrival of the Philip Laing with the first immigrants) was a scene of life, visits of American whaling ships being not uncommon, and many quaint characters and many a lively “shindy” the veteran can throw on the screen of memory. Whales were caught in numbers in Blueskin (Waitati) Bay, and even in the harbour itself, and it can well be imagined the natives did a profitable barter business with the whaling ships’ crews. Of course the staple foodstuffs the Maoris produced were pigs and potatoes, and they received in exchange blankets, clothing, axes, knives, etc. The smart

appearance of the Yankee sailors in red shirts and white pants appealed to the imitative tastes of the natives, and Mr Joseph can remember many ludicrous pictures of the in pakeha garb with the additional adornment of shark’s teeth and greenstone curios piercing the ears.

WHALLING.

The American barque Favourite, Captain Young, a vessel of some 400 tons, was engaged in whaling in New Zealand waters for some years. She was owned in New Bedford, U.S.A., from which port, after calling at the Azores group of islands, the vessel came direct to New Zealand. She circumnavigated New Zealand in the course of her first cruise, and “worked” besides the whaling grounds in the vicinity of the Chatham, Auckland, and Macquarie Islands. Whales abounded in these waters in the forties, and Mr .Joseph can tell of many a combat with those monsters of the deep. The carcases were, “tried out” on board the ship, and the process of converting an average sized whale into oil occupied about three days. Both sperm and black whales were plentiful in New Zealand waters, the former of course being the more valuable. A large whale would turn out about 120

barrels of oil (32 gallons in a barrel), and the Favourite had accommodation for some 2,800 barrels. It may be stated that the Americans calculated by barrel measurement, while the English reckoned by tuns.

Off the West Coast of the South Island in 1847 four ships were busily “engaged” at the same time among a school of whales. The Favourite, two other American ships, and a Britisher (the “Flying Childers,” of Hobart) ; each lowered four boats, and all “got fast.” The Britisher had the misfortune to lose one whale through the capsizing of a boat, but each American boat secured a prize, and thus Uncle Sam was victorious over John Bull. A total of 15 was the result of the capture from the “school,” and Mr Joseph says the sight was one not easily forgotten—the whole sea, it seemed, being alive with spouting whales, resembling a great expanse water-spouts. The Favourite’s catch turned out 30 barrels each, the whales being small, but it was not uncommon to secure a prize that would try out 120 barrels, and a good sperm whale was valued at something like £500.

DESERTING SAILORS.

Captain Young, of the Favourite, had good cause to remember his first voyage to New Zealand, for upon his second visit to Otago he lost many of his crew through desertions. When anchored off Port William, Stewart’s Island, one morning, the mate reported the loss of a whaleboat, which had been left in the water over night astern of the ship. It turned out that the fourth mate (Harper), a boat-steerer (a man who could ill be spared), and a boat’s crew, had gone ashore in the whaleboat, which was recovered minus the crew. In Otakou two others—Clarkson and Joseph—forsook the sea at the beckoning call of the new and fair land of the south. In the latter instance Captain Young resorted to subterfuge to endeavour to recapture the two delinquents, who had the satisfaction one morning of seeing (from their hiding place in the bush) the Favourite make sail and put to sea. They noticed the vessel standing off and on, and became curious. They came to the edge of the bush, where a Maori garden was roughly fenced with fallen trees, and before they could make further investigation they got a great fright at seeing the first mate of the whaler jumping over the fence and making towards them. The two exploring sailors decamped with surprising speed, and successfully eluded their would-be captor, who later reported to his chief that “the devil himself wouldn’t catch them.”

Alter leaving Otakou the Favourite became an unlucky ship, for at Akaroa the crew had to be practically replaced on account of desertions, and the vessel besides lost both anchors and many fathoms of chain, necessitating the reshipping of a fresh crew drawn from a mixed lot of whalers at that port, and a trip to Port Nicholson to refit. However, shortly afterwards the tide turned, and a three months’ cruise to the Chatham Islands and neighbourhood proved a profitable venture. The vessel again returned to Otakou to ship spare spars and a boat previously left, after which she sailed, homeward bound; and that was the last Mr Josoph saw of the good old Favourite. Capt. Young returned to New Zealand six years later in a vessel called the St. Peter. Mr Joseph met his quondam master in Dunedin, who enquired after his welfare, and offered him 10 tons of tobacco if he cared to go on board the vessel for the same, which for, obvious reasons anchored outside the Heads. The offer was declined, as the sailor’s friends advised him to be watchful of the cute Yankees. And watchful he decided to be. (To be continued.)