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Chapter II.
Morrell Visits Molyneux In 1830

The next detailed reference of any importance is contained in “The Narrative of Four Voyages,” written by Captain Benjamin Morrell and printed in New York in 1832. The following entry is dated January, 1830:—

“Molyneux Harbour.—Instead of a deep and spacious harbour, as reported by its discoverer, we found nothing but a small bend in the land between two low points, about three miles across and one mile deep.

“We soon had a friendly visit from about 50 Natives. They gave me a pressing invitation to visit their little village at the foot of a valley near the head of the bay…

“The village at the head of Molyneux's Harbour, which is called by the Natives Tavaimoo, contains 28 huts of miserable accommodations. The best among them are shaped like our barns, being about 10ft High, 30ft in length, and 12 or 15ft in breadth. The inside is strongly constructed and well fastened together with osiers or supple vines. They are painted, generally with red sides and black roofs, using the same kind of material as they daub their faces. At one end is a small hole, just large enough to admit one person stooping low; this serves as a door, while another hole, considerably smaller, answers the double purpose of chimney and window.

“Few of their habitations, however, are constructed in this laborious manner. The most of them are less than half this size, and are seldom more than four or five feet in height. They are framed of young trees and thatched with long, coarse grass. Their household furniture consists of a few small bags, in which they deposit their fishing gear and other trifles.”

With that fine disregard of spelling proper names, so evident in old records, “Molineux” becomes “Molyneux,” and has remained so ever since.

The Maori called the river Mata–au (“the surface current”), which has been shortened to Matau. The branch running down the southern side of Inchclutha was known as the Koau (the Shag). A Maori rendering of Molyneux is Maranuku, and that is the name sometimes given to the present Native Reserve north of Karoro Creek.

Morrell's observations on the village and the houses are of real value. But it should be pointed out that the “miserable accommodation” noted is an observation based on pakeha standards. The houses and their furnishings were of the standard type used by all native New Zealanders, and could not have been expected to compare with the comforts of Europeans.