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Historical Records of New Zealand South

New River (Koreti)

New River (Koreti).

The name originally was Koreto, which signifies "trickling down." The river at Invercargill is, geologically speaking an expiring fiiord or estuary, which, at certain states of the tide, forms a succession of pools and trickling streams. In 1839 a shipping disaster occurred at or near the mouth, which exercised prejudicial effects on the trade. A 500-ton barque, the Lynx, had loaded a first cargo of oil and bone at the two newly-erected stations. No record is given of the quantity supplied. We learn from other sources the joint produce of these stations amounted to 120 tuns oil and 25cwt of whalebone. In all probability these figures represent the cargo loss, as we have it on record the Lynx was to fill up at Preservation. Being caught in light winds and strong currents, she was driven on shore, and became a total wreck. An old waterman named Doig, in Sydney Harbour, related, in connection with the mishap, that it was purely the result of bad management, consequent upon drunkenness. He was present at the scene of the accident. At that time New River had the reputation of a place of excessive drunkenness. Besides the usual trade supplies from Sydney, an Irishman named Owen M'Shane, together with another person, had erected a large whisky still at Oue, near the junction of the Oreti, so named in respect of the variety of flax it grew. They were in the habit of supplying the whale stations and settlements along the coast, as far as Waikawa on the one side, and Preservation on the other. P——and his Maori woman were noted for making long trips with the grog, and, it is understood, he accumulated a large sum of money. Being the first cargo that left New River, an extra amount of grog was consumed. A week or so prior to the vessel's departure, all hands Were in a state of intoxication. Being an inferior spirit, some of them went absolutely mad. In that state the anchor page 166was hove, and before long the vessel ran into difficulties. All hands managed to struggle on shore, but otherwise the wreck was most disastrous. Owen M'Shane, described as a middle-aged man, was an escaped convict from Hobart Town, who subsequently deserted from a Foveaux Strait whaler, and it was reported, presumably at his own instigation, he had been killed and devoured by the natives. His proper name was Rae, and he is understood to have been a daring fellow. His mate at that time was a young man, and, although he could take liquor, was not by any means a heavy drinker. He had shown considerable benevolence to a couple of half-caste children left destitute, and, while known as a sharper, his kindness to the children atoned for other faults. He grew one or two patches of potatoes, and was noted for his ability in driving hard bargains. The Lynx had been many years in the New Zealand trade. As early as 1823, in charge of one Seddon, she did considerable traffic in elephant oil with the Macquaries.

A flaxdresser named Williams, acting on behalf of Sydney merchants, visited New Zealand, per Perseverance, in 1813, landing at the Bluff, and penetrating some distance inland. He furnished Sydney Gazette, September, 1813, with the following information:—"The natives attend to cultivation of the potato with as much diligence and care as I have ever seen. A field of considerably more than 100 acres presented one well-cultivated bed, filled with rising crops of various ages, some of which were ready for digging, while others had been but newly planted. Dried fish and potatoes form their chief support."

[The foregoing is the first mention made of potato culture in Southern New Zealand. It could only have been recently introduced, and it may seem strange it should have been grown on such an extensive scale. We must keep in mind the natives were acquainted with the cultivation of the kumara, and the one being a duplicate copy of the other, they may have had no great difficulty in adapting themselves to the new species.]