Chapter III.

Barrett and the whalers—Attack on the Sugar-loaf Islands—Capture of Mrs. Guard—Shelling of Waimate pa.

The First European Occupation of this coast took place in 1839, when "Dicky" Barrett and others established a whaling station at the Sugar-loaf Islands, which was still flourishing when the first English immigrants arrived in 1841, These courageous whalers found a small number of Ngamotu natives living about the Sugar-loaf Islands when they arrived and formed their settlement, which was situated round about where the Freezing Works are now built. It was while living there, in February, 1832, that the resident Maoris, by aid of the whalers, repulsed the formidable attack made on their settlement by the full strength of the Waikato tribes, who arrived there flushed with victory, after having taken the celebrated pa of Puke-rangiora, on the Waitara River. But the old-fashioned carronades and muskets of the whalers were too much for Waikato, and they were obliged to retreat to their own homes humbled and dispirited.

In 1834 occurred the wreck of the "Harriett" near Cape Egmont, and in the quarrels that ensued between rival tribes, several of the crew were killed, and Mrs. Guard (the Captain's wife) and her children taken away captive to Waimate Pa, situated on the coast three miles south east of the present township of Manaia. This incident led to the shelling of that pa on the 1st of October, 1834, by H.M.S. "Alligator" and the giving up of Mrs. Guard. This event is noticeable From the fact of its being the first occasion in which H.M. Troops were employed in New Zealand, a detachment of the 50th Regiment under the command of Lieut Gunter, having accompanied the "Alligator" from Sydney.