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EARLIEST NEW ZEALAND.
THE JOURNALS AND CORRESPONDENCE
of the REV. JOHN BUTLER
Compiled by R. J. BARTON.
1927,
MASTERTON, N.Z.
Printed by Palamontain & Petherick, General Printers.
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[DEDICATION]
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The Journals and Correspondence
OF THE
Rev. John Butler
WHO WAS THE FIRST ORDAINED CLERGYMAN IN NEW ZEALAND.
1819 to 1824 and 1840.
The compilation of this work has extended over a period of fifteen years, being from that day that my father first decided to have the original Journals typed, until the day that the Early Church Missionary Records of the C.M.S., London, were copied from the 'Hocken' Library. A depressing reply from the London Society, that it did not possess the old Records, portended a depleted product, until referencee in the Turnbull Library, Wellington, to the fact that there were two letters of Butler's in the 'Hocken' Library, Dunedin, upon enquiry, elicited the exulting fact that the late Dr. Hocken had, with munificent foresight, secured these treasured relics of our earliest pioneers for his magnificent 'Collection.'
I should like specially to thank Mrs. R. W. Macdonald, of that Library, for her most valuable assistance; also Mr. J. C. Andersen, of the Turnbull Library, and his courteous staff; Mr. Cecil Kemp; Mr. A. C. Clemas; and Mr. H. C. L. Robinson, of Masterton; Mr. N. J. Bennington, of Wellington; and my brother, Wilfred.
WITH FILIAL LOVE AND VENERATION
I AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATE THIS COMPILATION
TO MY FATHER, JOHN BARTON,
GRANDSON
OF THE
REV. JOHN GARE BUTLER,
To whose careful custody of old family papers, this work is possible.
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[INTRODUCTION]
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Introduction.
And as he passes turn,
And bid fair peace be to my sable shroud.
In discussing with friends the possibility of public interest in the ensuing narrative, an occasional remark has been made: What does it matter? let the dead past bury its dead! Had this been observed by delving historians concerning the earlier period of New Zealand's history, portion of the material in this publication might have been deleted.
It has lately been suggested that sentiment is only worth what you are prepared to pay for it, and that sentiment, therefore, lies no deeper than one's pocket; surely the spirit of kinsmanship entails something of a more exacting nature than a mere reduction to a £:s:d basis? Statements which reflect upon the character of a progenitor should not, and cannot, be lightly waft aside with the query, "What does it matter?" I therefore make no apology for a compilation which is a labour of love, a theme of duty, and a debt due to the memory of an English gentleman.
The character of the Rev. John Butler has been repeatedly slighted, unintentionally and unwittingly, I would hasten to add, but, nevertheless, in such a manner that his descendents cannot permit the imputations to be promulgated without a protest. The publishing of denials is unconvincive and inadequate. A clear enumeration of the circumstances of his disagreement with Mr. Marsden, from authentic sources, that the reading and thinking community may contemplate the whole with lucid vision, appears to be the only efficacious method of removing the aspersions and exposing the injustice.
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The design of the compiler is to, throughout the Journal, avoid more comment than is absolutely necessary; to narrate the diurnal occurrences in their sequence, interpolating the correspondence as closely as it is practicable, in accordance with the date thereon, and, where comment or reference is essential, to merely place the material points before the reader.
The spelling of Maori names has been left in accordance with the original phonetics as interpreted by Butler.
In some words, gradual evolution towards the present orthography can be discerned.
[CONTENTS]
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Contents.
CHAPTER I.
Leaves England.--Convicts.--Death stalks among them.--Van Dieman's Land.--New South Wales.--New Zealand.
CHAPTER II.
Description of Mission Localities.--Foreword.--Butler's Didimus Potestatem.--Kendall also a Magistrate.--Pratt.--Marsden.--The "Active."--Shepherd.
CHAPTER III.
Marsden Exploring Hokianga.--Tree Planting.--A Whale Ashore.--Gunpowder Explosion.--Maori Disturbance.--Rafting Logs.--The First Xmas at Kerikeri.--Saltmakers Robbed.--Brickmaking.--The 'Dromedary.'--Horses.--The 'Haweis.'--The First Plough.--Natives Troublesome.--Wheat.--Waimate.--The First Burial.--Omapere.--Marsden Returns from the Waikato.--Nicholson to Bigge.--Skinner to Macquarie.--Marsden to Pratt.--The 'General Gates.'--Hannen. Store Accounts and List of Purchasers.--C.M.S. re Kendall's Visit to London.
CHAPTER IV.
Journeys South.--The Thames.--Mokoia.--Hinaki.--Manakau First Seen.--Muriwai.--Kapua.--Kaipara.--Aldridge Killed.--Harvest.--Runaway Convicts.--Native Pilfering.--Tareha.--Hari Hongi.--Tohi.--Kendall Returns from England.--Taiwhanga Speared.--Tohi Tapu.--Teterre.---Hongi Troublesome.--War.
CHAPTER V.
Marsden's Cattle.--Agriculture.--Butler Comments upon dishonoured timber Draft.--Hongi Disgruntled.--Mrs. King Ill.--Native Troubles.--Hongi Prepares for Thames War.--Boyle Robbed.--Society's Instructions; Butler Replies.--Marsden's Edicts.--Hall appointed Storekeeper.--A School.--Butler goes to Sydney.
CHAPTER VI.
Butler to Marsden.--Cowell.--Butler to Governor Brisbane.--To Pratt, re Marsden.--Marsden to N.Z. Committee.--Missing Goods.--Parramatta Seminary.--Marsden to Kendall.--His Reply.
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CHAPTER VII.
Butler Returns to N.Z.--War.--Hinaki's Head.--More War.--The Aftermath.--A Starving Slave.--Sick Natives.--Tahitian Mission.--Five Men Drowned.--Artisans Leave for Sydney.--Ploughing.--Thomas Tooi.--Ill Health.--Thirty Maoris Drowned.-- Te Haere.--The Vansittarts. --The Leighs.-- Butler's Daughter Ill.--Natives Troublesome.--The 'St. Michael!'--Dr. Cribben.--Wattarou.--Mr. F. Hall Retires.--Thames Natives Seek Peace with Hongi.--Takou.-- Te Tohi Regains his Son.--A Harvest Home.
CHAPTER VIII.
Marsden to Pratt.--Methodist Goods Arrive.--Atowa.--Omapere.--Oruru.--The 'Cossack' Wrecked.--Leigh to Butler.--The Latter Assists to Establish the Wesleyan Mission.--Hongi Returns from War.--Whangarei.--Whangaroa Decided Upon.--Leigh to Butler.--Butler's Son Nearly Drowned.--The 'Brampton' Arrives.--White to Butler.--Leigh very Ill.--Leaves for Sydney.--Wrecked.--Strachan's Account. Hongi Returns from Rotorua.--Marsden Induces Butler to Leave N.Z.
CHAPTER IX.
Butler Agrees to Leave.--The 'Dragon.'--Marsden to Pratt.--More regulations.--Marsden versus Butler.--The Accusation.--Parramatta.--Rev. Lawry Returns.--James Spencer.--Butler's Statement.
CHAPTER X.
Suspension.--The Seminary.--Comments.--Affidavits.--J. D. Lang on the Mission.--The Earliest White Children.--Earliest Settlers and Artisans.--Census of Chiefs.--The First Maori Prayers.
CHAPTER XI.
At Parramatta.--La Coquille.--On the 'Midas' for England.--Storms.--Sydney Again.--Botany Bay.--Capt. Dawson and Crew Killed.--Salt Junk.--Home in England Once More.
CHAPTER XII.
Butler to Coates.--To Woodd.--Lawry Writes.--Butler Addresses Meetings.--Philip King.--Samuel to his Father.--De Thierry.--Various Letters.--Canada.--The N.Z. Association.--The 'Bolton.'--The Voyage.--D'Urville Island.--Port Nicholson.--Wakefield.--Britannia.--Aurora Lost.--Capt. Smith.--D. Riddiford.--Hobson Petitioned.--Eight Drowned at Pitone.--'Martha' and 'London' Arrive.
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