22. The First NZ Homestead. The store business had now grown and the timber operations here in full swing, so Mr. Wrathall decided to turn his attention for awhile to the cattle ranch that was being run by John from Taipa. He got Pawai to go with him to see if there would be a chance of getting the natives to work clearing the site he had chosen on which to establish the homestead so that a portion could be laid down in English grasses. Pawai arrived with the canoe which was soon loaded with building timber for the homestead for John. This was landed on the banks of the tidal river at the bottom end of the holding and then carried by the natives on to piece of rising ground, a few chains back from the river, where the homestead site had been chosen. Mr. Wrathall supplied the natives with axes and slash hooks and an area was soon cleared on which to stack the timber. While the natives were getting the timber up to the site, Mr. Wrathall pointed out the area that he desired to have cleared for a start, an area of about two hundred acres, and offered Pawai a quantity of goods for the job. Pawai accepted the offer and the natives commenced the next day to build their camps. Wrathall landed their tools and supplies for the job, all of which were brought up by Pawais men in their canoes. Stephen was left in charge of the store while Mr. Wrathall and his son John shifted their domicile to Oruru. They lived in a tent for a start until they had built a small building which was later used for an implement shed, and in this they spent several months while stockyards, a cowshed, outbuildings, and, eventually, a four-roomed house, was built. This formed the nucleus of the first white mans homestead in New Zealand. The natives soon had their clearing contract completed and Mr. Wrathall then gave them No.2. contract, draining off the low lying land and he so layed out these drains that they formed an embankment on which he eventually erected his subdivision fences, forming his area into paddocks of about twenty acres. 23. An Invitation to a Chiefly Meeting. Pawai and his interpreter made a special trip out to Oruru to inform Wrathall that the meeting of Chiefs that they had previously intimated would be held in Mangonui, but which had been postponed, now was definitely to be held in two weeks time. He had received instructions to prepare for it and also to extend an invitation to Mr. Wrathall and his son Stephen to be present as the Chiefs wished to meet them. Wrathall was at a loss to know what was in the wind. However, he told Pawai that he and his son would certainly accept the invitation and be present. Pawai told them that the function would last about a week and, as there would be a large gathering of natives to provide for, he would have to take back with him these natives who were working at Oruru to assist in the preliminary preparations. Tons of fish, pipis and kumeras would be required so that he would want al his men to assemble at once, but, so as not to dislocate the pitsawing, he would leave those natives who were working in the timber business at Taipa. For that Mr. Wrathall thanked Pawai for his consideration as he did not want the pitsawing to be hung up during the period of the meeting and the preparations attached thereto. Moko, who had become very attached to John and was his right hand man, was allowed to stay on the ranch. Moko, by this time, could ride as well as John and they both attended to the stock. The next day, as the weather was suitable, Wrathall decided to fire the bush that had been fallen by the natives, but before doing so he had the whole of the stock removed back to a grass bush valley behind the first range for safety, in case the fire spread. The stock comprised one hundred and fifty cows and calves, eight bulls, ten brood mares with foals, a sire and the two stock hacks. When this had been done, the fire was lit and it resulted in a perfect burn against the wind from the inner green standing belt out to the tidal river which acted as a fire break. Within a week, the whole area was surface sown in English grasses, the seed of which has been landed from the Mary Ann on her last trip, in readiness for the occasion. John went round the stock occasionally and found they were doing all right as there was plenty of good rough feed in the bushes. They were looking well so he decided that he would allow them to graze in the bush until the feed came up on the burn. Mr. Wrathall now set out to lay off a ditch and embankment to form a fence line surrounding the whole of the area enclosed so that when the stock ere brought back to graze at the homestead they would be held on the grassed area with safety. 24. The Meeting Convenes. The opening day of this great meeting had now been reached. All the Chiefs and tribal leaders had arrived with their followers, and as each tribe marched into Mangonui, the traditional Haka of welcome by the local tribe was waft in such volume that it echoed across the still waters of Doubtless Bay and was heard quite distinctly as far along the coastline as Taipa. As each sub tribe arrived, the Hakas of welcome increased in volume, as the numbers were over swelling, all of who joined in the welcome, until in the end the sounds were like a musical roll of thunder. By the end of the opening day, about two thousand natives had assembled at Mangonui. A large Nikau Hui house had been created for the occasion and Pawai directed the lay out with perfect efficiency: every department was the last word in perfection with absolutely no overlapping and he was to be congratulated upon his organisation and control of this great gathering. The first three days of the meeting was confined to the Chiefs, Elders and Elders of the sub tribes, the business dealt with being presumably tribal matters. When these collaborations were nearing an end, Pawai despatched his canoe to Taipa to bring Mr. Wrathall and Stephen to the meeting. On receiving this message and knowing there was a great crowd to provide for, Mr. Wrathall, for diplomatic reasons, took with him in this canoe ten bags of sugar, fifty pounds of tea, twenty kegs of corned beef, two kegs of butter and two large cases of biscuits. These he donated to Pawai on arrival for which he was thanked in a very eulogistic manner. Mr. Wrathall and his son were then taken to the great meeting house and provided with seats in a prominent position. The Chiefs were then brought in very ceremoniously leg by Pawai, who took the control seat where a huge primitive table had been erected with a Maori carved front board. Three Chiefs sat on either side of Pawai and the forms at the back of the seats were occupied by the Leaders and Elders of the subtribes. This presented a rather impressive appearance resembling, in Mr. Wrathalls opinion, an important tribunal setting such as may be expected in the English Supreme Courts with a jury empanelled to adjudicate upon an important affiliation case or a great murder trial. The rank and file were now streaming in and taking their seats on the Maori flax mats that covered the whole of the body of the meeting house leaving only a narrow passage way for the messengers to have ingress and egress to and from the Chiefs Table. With these arrangements completed and the floor crowded with natives, Pawai rose and asked the interpreter to translate into the white mans language all that he had to say, as the matter with which he was about to deal concerned these new white brothers that they, the natives, were about to initiate into the tribes as comrades and friends of the Maori people. He then officially opened his address which was as follows: To my colleagues, the Chiefs of the Ngapuhi Hapus and leaders and elders of our great tribe. I find it a great pleasure to introduce to you this great man with his sons who have come to our shores to help us to develop our lands and to assist in the pioneering process by teaching our people the art of industry that is known to exist in distant lands beyond the sea. Already he has opened our eyes by establishing a series of sawpits, by which he is able to convert our standingtimbers into sawn boards with which habitable homes can be built to house our people and has shown us that he has found an overseas market for us and in the carrying out of this industry we are now having a regular double service from distant shores: two boats now running regularly to our land, each one bringing foodstuffs for our peoples use. Our standard of living has been entirely changed: we are now daily consuming products such as tea, sugar, flour, meat, butter and other articles we never dreamed of prior to his arrival. 25. Pawai Offers Maraes Hand in Marriage To my colleagues, the chiefs of the Ngapuhi Hapus & leaders & elders of our great tribe, I find it a great pleasure to introduce to you this great man with his sons who have come to our shores to help us to develop our lands & to assist in the pioneering process by teaching our people the art of industry that is known to exist in distant lands beyond the sea. Already he has opened our eyes by establishing a series of sawpits , by which he is able to convert our standing timbers into sawn boards with which habitable homes can be built to house our people & he has shown us that he has found an overseas market for us & in the carrying out of this industry we are now having a regular double service from distant shores: 2 boats now running regularly to our land, each one bringing foodstuffs for our peoples use. Our standard of living has been entirely changed: we are now daily consuming products such as tea, sugar, flour, meat, butter & other articles we never dreamed of prior to his arrival. This great transformation has been brought about by these people. The first day they arrived in these waters I feared they were unwelcome intruders & consequently I offered them no encouragement to land on these shores, but the next morning when I bourded their boat, I then learnt that they had come on quite a reasonable & welcome mission. Mr Wrathall expressed sentiments in general terms that reached my heart; he stressed the point very ernestly that he desired to see a conciliation arrived at between the 2 peoples so sincere in nature that it would ultimately result in an intermingling of both races. That sentiment appealed to me very much, so I decided to try him out in practice & then see if there was practical sincerity in him, so I set to work to observe all his movements & acts since his arrival & have come to the conclusion that he harbour slived up to these grand sentiments he expressed & has proved himself to be a very welcome visitor indeed. I now take this opportunity, Mr Wrathall, in the presence of my co- chiefs & the assembled members of my tribe, to extend to you our heartiest appreciation for the meny kindnesses you have extended to my people & fir the many donations of food you have supplied to us & also for the great gift you have made this day by the donation of provisions for this gathering. I would like also to personally thank you for the honour you have conferred on me in the letter yoiu sent me on the morning of your departure with your first load of timber that you took back to your homeland across the sea. I refer to the confidence you placed in me when you asked me to act as your sons guardian during your absence. That action clinched my conviction that you were sincere in the sentiments you expressed regarding the mixing of the 2 races. I am proud to know that you regarded me as one capable of being left as custodian of so great a concern as you are controlling here. We want now, to show our appreciation of your actions, both to myself personally & to my people as a whole, by offering the hand of one of our great & noble women to your son, Stephen, that they may be joined in the holy bonds of matrimony, which will lead to the mingling of our 2 races. We feel that ours is a great gift as it is an absolute departure from our traditional custom. The one we have chosen to offer your son is Marae Te Inototo, the only daughter of the Chief of a southern tribe, with whom we are about to unite for the purpose of a cessation of tribal hostilities which have existed over a long period of years resulting in recurring tribal wars & consequently preventing internal progress. If reconciliation can be acheived between these 2 tribes, it will be to a large extent the forerunner to a conservation of the 2 dominant tribes of this land. In questions of matrimony as affecting our royalty, the perties concerned are not allowed to choose their life partners; that is a matter for the chiefs to decide, as we would not tolerate a blue blood marrying a commoner; the only instance of a breach of this custom was when Tutanekai eloped with Hinemoa. That was a very unfortunate happening from our viewpoint, & it is recorded in the annals of our records as a breach for which both those parties were disinherited of their royal birth rights & were reduced to the status of commoners. The noble way in which you have won your way into the hearts of the natives has dictated our course of action today in offering your son the hand of one of our noble women. It is now for you to decide & as we are now adjourning for lunch we would like you to confer with your son during the interval & give a definate reply when the gathering reassembles in about an hours time. 26. The Wrathalls Consider the Offer During the interval Mr Wrathall discussed the situation with Stephen & found that his son was quite prepared to leave the matter to the better judgement of his father, who however, inpressed upon Stephen the nessessity of deciding for himself, as it was a perting of the ways for him, & that, on his decision, rested the future destiny of both himself & his offsprings who were to follow him. He told Stephen that then was the time to take the long view & try & visualise where that step may lead him in after years. Stephen said that he had viewed it from that angle & in view of the stubborn fact that NZ was now his home of adoption & his father had involved himself in such a large ammount of capital to establish John & he there, & further that there were no white women in the country he thought he had better decide in the affirmative. 27. The Maoris Entertain The Wrathalls 28. Wrathall Praises His Hosts 29. Wrathall Accepts Maraes Hand for Stephen 30. Wedding Preparations Begin 31. Preparing The Bridal House 32. Stephen and Marae Wed 33. Stephen and Maraes Married Life Begins At the conclusion of the days programme Stephen & his bride were taken in the Mary Ann to their new home at Taipa where this native woman soon adapted herself to her new environment of European civilisation & became a very capable domestic wife. She set out to learn the language of her husband & within 12 months time had accomplished it in a very masterly manner. Both parties became very attached to each other & the union grew into a love rather than a betrothal association, which delighted all concerned as Mr Wrathall Senr had feared that, not previously knowing eash other, there was that possible chance that their sentiments may not harmonise & that is the advantage in lifes romance of a courtship prior to marriage which could not be made to apply in this case. However, everything moved on smoothly until the Mary Ann took the news of the event to Australia in a letter to Mrs Wrathall informing her of Stephens marriage to this NZ Native woman.