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Chapter II.
Leaving Home.

as a fitting prelude to this chapter, we shall give here a condensed account of the first efforts made to form a Missionary Settlement in New Zealand, and also an Association for its colonization. Minute details are given in the "Picturesque Atlas," and also in "Brett's History" of this time; but we shall not do more than sketch the outlines of this far-back history, as detailed by the two above-named authorities, that we may more clearly understand what the condition of New Zealand was when the first brave-hearted pioneers arrived in the country.

In 1807 the Rev. Samuel Marsden, who had been Senior Chaplain at Port Jackson, enlisted the aid of the Church Missionary Society to establish a mission station in New Zealand. In 1810 he got two lay catechists ready to help the natives to learn civilization and useful crafts. Owing to the massacre of the crew and passengers of the ship "Boyd," bound to England from Port Jackson, some years delay was caused. This ill-fated ship touched, in passing, at Whangaroa. The natives seized the voyagers, killed and ate them; four only out of between 70 and 80 persons page 23escaped, viz., a woman, two girls, and a cabin-boy, belonging to New South Wales, who after terrible experiences got into a more peaceful part of the coast, and ultimately reached Sydney. The "Boyd" was burned by the natives. The missionaries waited in Parramatta till it was deemed safe to land in New Zealand. In 1814 Governor McQuarrie (of New South Wales) gave Mr. Marsden leave to go and begin, provided he found the natives peaceful. The brig "Active" was despatched to the Bay of Islands to find out. The report being satisfactory, Mr. Marsden started on a three months' leave of absence, accompanied by Catechists King, Hall, Nicholson, and Kendall (the latter afterwards was appointed Magistrate in Bay of Islands. On landing', Mr. Marsden preached from the text—" Be hold I bring you glad tidings of great joy." The natives were much impressed by his manner, though they knew not what he said. They afterwards danced their war-dance as a ritualistic ceremony of their own. Mr. Marsden left the Catechists there, but he visited them in 1819.

The brig "active" (which was purchased by Mr. Marsden) was kept running between Port Jackson and Bay of Islands, so the Catechists were not left quite forlorn Whale vessels, too, gave protection occasionally. Acting under Governor McQuarrie's instructions, Mr. Marsden explored in the northern parts of New Zealand. He was the first European who published a description of the Hokianga River. He went again in H.M. store-ship "Dromedary," sent thither to get spars for top-masts for the navy. He remained some months exploring Thames, Tamaki, Kaipara, &c.

In 1825 the first New Zealand Association was formed in London. The ship "Rosanna" was fitted out to explore New Zealand coasts and convey settlers there under command of Captain Herd, a good seaman, who knew the coast page 24of New Zealand well. The expedition arrived in Hauraki Gulf in 1826, reached Bay of Islands next, and then proceeded to Hokianga, where Captain Herd purchased some land from the natives, which is known as "Herd's Point" to this day. A war-dance at one of the places so frightened the emigrants that all, except four men, insisted on being conveyed back to England, it having been stipulated that they could do so if they wished. The four who remained were Messrs. McLean, Nimmo, Gillies, and Nesbet—if we may judge by their names, all Scotchmen. The "Rosanna" returned to Sydney, where the stores of the expedition were sold by auction, thence they returned to England. The cost of this failure of an expedition was £20,000.

Through the influence of missionaries who were anxious to see some authority established, thirteen Bay of Island Chiefs applied in 1831 to King William IV. for British protection, as the Governors of New South Wales, after the regime of Governor McQuarrie, no longer regarded New Zealand as one of the dependencies of the colony, while an Act of George III. stated New Zealand to be a place "not within His Majesty's dominions." The Governor of New South Wales suggested to the Imperial authorities the appointment of a British Resident, and the following year Lord Ripon despatched Mr. James Busby, a Civil Engineer of New South Wales, who was then in England, to fill the position. H.M.S. "Imogene" was employed to bring him out to his Residency, where he arrived in May, 1833, and stationed himself at Waitangi, Bay of Islands, near the Paihia Mission Station. Here he remained until 1837, when he was recalled. In 1837 Captain Hobson was at Sydney in command of H.M.S. "Rattlesnake." A war was then raging amongst the Bay of Islands tribes, and Captain Hobson was sent then to page 25protect British interests and report on the condition of the country. He proposed that factories be established, as in the early trading companies between the English and Dutch, and recommended that a treaty be made with the New Zealand chiefs for recognition of the industries and protection of British subjects and property. This was called the "Treaty of Waitangi."

In the same year—1837—the "New Zealand Association was formed, Mr. Francis Baring being chairman. Mr. Ed. Gibbon Wakefield and Lord Glenelg discussed in Parliament ways and means. It was not carried out for some time after, during which time Mr. Wakefield was not idle. After its partial collapse in 1837 he had been with Lord Durham to Canada, but, returning to England with his chief, formed a New Zealand Land Company, of which Lord Durham was Governor and Mr. Joseph Some Deputy-Governor. The Company was formed for the purpose of employing capital in the purchase and re-sale of lands in New Zealand, and the promotion of colonization or emigration to that country. The capital was £400,000, in 4,000 shares of £100 each, with a deposit of £10 per share. The shareholders drew lots for sections unknowns of lands which the Company was about to seek. The "Tory," a vessel of 400 tons burden, sailed in May, 1839, with Colonel Wakefield and a company of surveyors on board; arrived after a passage of 96 days, "and after wandering about Cook's Straits on land-purchasing expeditions, on the last day of September, 1839, took formal possession of Port Nicholson.

As we have said, it was in Mr. and Mrs. John Hay's house in Glasgow that Agnes and Ebenezer became engaged. Ebenezer went to assist his brother in business as a grain and provision merchant, and after John's death remained to carry on the business. He had previously page 26had some training in his brother-in-law's—Mr. Rayburn's—place of business in Glasgow, and his prospects were fairly good; but to one of his tastes and habits the murky atmosphere of the city was not conducive to health or happiness. It was not a good locality, nor were the people at all desirable to live amongst, having no sense of honour or honesty, so that Argus-eyes would have been required to prevent pilfering. He had to hide his money in unlikely places to secure its safety, fire or thief-proof safes being in those days unknown. Once, on returning from a necessary but short absence from the store, he found an eager noisy crowd round the entrance dividing the spoils they had managed to abstract, or rather quarrelling ever their division. A hurried rush through the crowd, a rapid dip deep into a bag of barley scattered his worst fears, for there his money was safe! In his exultation he could not resist holding up before the clamorous crowd his bag of money, and telling them they had "missed their booty," whereupon they cheered him tumultuously, and testified their respect for him by never again repeating the offence. Two years of this uncongenial life told upon his health, for, after an attack of inflammation of the lungs, the doctor ordered his removal to a warmer climate without delay. He accordingly sold out at once, and began his preparations to obey the doctor's mandate. Just then the proposed settlements in New Zealand, under the New Zealand Land Company, were being talked of, and Dr. Logan, a surgeon in the Royal Navy, was largely consulted as to its climate and desirability, he having just returned from a sojourn in that country. Mrs. Logan, who was a native of Ayrshire, was even then known to the Hays and Orrs, and from that date began the long warm friendship of their lives. Dr. Logan had been sent by the British Government some time previously to Sydney in charge of a batch of convicts. On the return voyage their vessel called at Hokianga. Bay page 27of Islands, for a load of spars for navy ships. The tall straight forest trees of this district were so well adapted for this purpose that the place had become comparatively well known. This entailed their lying in Hokianga River for three months, while the spars were cut and the ship loaded. During this time the doctor made good use of his opportunities. Being fond of botanizing, he collected many native seeds and plants. He acquired a considerable amount of information about the climate, &c, from the Wesleyan missionaries who were then stationed there. These missionaries were the Revs. Woon, Turner, and Buller; the latter was then stationed at Kaipara, and hearing that a doctor was at Hokianga, he brought his wife and child to get advice. The child is the Sir Walter Buller of today, who has a European reputation as an ornithologist, and represents the Colony at the Imperial Institute. He was knighted in recognition of his scientific services, and of his famous book descriptive of the birds of New Zealand, which is a beautifully illustrated and most exhaustive work. Descendants of the other missionaries at present live at Wanganui and Christchurch.

So impressed was Dr. Logan with the climate and capabilities of New Zealand as a field of enterprise, that he determined to return to it if he could persuade his wife to acquiesce in his plans; and already, before Mr. Hay's first interview with him, had arranged to carry out this intention. So it may be imagined that when his friends sought his advice his recommendation of the distant land would be all the stronger that he himself elected it as his future home. He took an active part in assisting the New Zealand Land Company's colonization projects, and through his agency several others of his friends made up their minds to join in this—at that time—somewhat adventurous expedition, New Zealand being, except for a few page 28isolated missionaries and whalers, a land of untamed savages, whose cannibal tastes were not yet eradicated.

Notwithstanding much opposition from his family, Mr. Hay quickly made up his mind, after hearing all he could about the proposed colony, to try his fortune in it. All that remained was to get Agnes' consent. When and where this was gained we already know, and can well understand that to them that day, much more absorbingly interesting than the brilliant spectacle they witnessed, was this most momentous decision of their lives. The decision being made, no time was lost in the preparations, the trousseau was begun in earnest, for in one short month they were to sail. Great opposition was shown by old Mr. Orr, who was sorely against his favourite daughter leaving her native land. The thought of them going to a wild country to be the prey, most likely, of cannibal savages, would obtrude itself on the mind of the broken-hearted old man, who mourned as for one dead, barely eating or sleeping during those last sad weeks. His character, stern and strong as it was, underwent a complete change, and he utterly broke down, beseeching her to "bide at hame." His simple-minded wife, contrary to her wont, was a tower of strength to him; she became his counsellor and comforter, urging him to bear it bravely. She would say," It's no' for us to say them nay, when they loe ane anither;" to which his constant answer was, "Woman, ye kenna what ye say; we'll never see her face again in this world." How hard it was for the brave girl we can hardly realise, to answer as she did, "Father, I have promised, you will not make me break my word."

Hearing how sorely she was pressed, Ebe went to ask her if she had "ta'en the rue," to which she answered," No, Ebe, I have not ta'en the rue; I have given you my promise, and I will keep it." Can we not believe that in page 29her heart was an echo of the faithful Ruth's words? "Entreat me not to leave thee, nor to return from following after thee, for whither thou goest I will go, and where thou lodgest I will lodge; thy people, shall be my people, and thy God my God; where thou diest I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me." To quote yet one more verse, so touching in its meaning for her: "When they saw she was steadfastly minded to go with him, they left speaking unto her."

But, oh, the sadness of that time! Ebe also had to combat the opposition and displeasure of his own family, who disapproved of the whole proceedings, marriage and all. His strong-minded sisters gave him a hard time of it, with the exception of Mrs. Raeburn, who ever sympathised with and assisted him through those trying weeks. These domestic difficulties tended to make the leaving home doubly trying to the young couple. Busy hands, however, relieved full hearts, and it was well the time was short.

In a month from the Tournament day all was ready; the great boxes were packed with a well assorted "plenishing" —home-spun blankets and napery, clothing in abundance to suit a varied climate, webs of calico, silk, merino, flannel, tweeds; haberdashery of all descriptions; besides a generous supply of every conceivable household utensil likely to be needed in their distant home. They took with them a large supply of groceries, two large casks each of sugar, oatmeal, and molasses: these casks were afterwards cut in half and used for washtubs for many years; one was kept for scalding the wild pigs and pickling the pork. Mrs. Raeburn's parting gift to them was a generous and useful one—a large crate of crockery of all kinds, so well packed that it arrived at its destination intact, not a cup broken.

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What wealth of forethought was expended in the filling of those boxes! One large "chest" (trunk, pronounced "kist") was notably a family one. It held in its spacious depths beds and bedding to supply the new home, besides numberless articles, ranging from a needle to an anchor; and in after years was frequently used as a reserve bed for a child or two in times of need! This huge box was so heavy that on arrival in New Zealand it could not be put into the ship's boats to land it, and therefore had to be attached to the boat and towed ashore. It was submerged by the salt sea-waves for more than half an hour, but when unpacked it was found that all its contents were dry and uninjured; being surrounded by dozens of blankets, etc., the inside goods were in perfect order, while the blankets and bedding were not damaged by the sea-water, hardly even damp—the best of all tests for the soundness of the "kist." A fellow passenger slily remarked, "No wonder it's heavy; it's all Orr" (ore). The rich black silk dress which was packed in it—in the piece—was not made up for many years, and lasted half a lifetime when it was! Scraps of it are still extant, made into housewives and needle cases, etc., for the sake of the history connected with the remnants. Apropos of this "kist," a passage at arms occurred between "Midbuiston" and "Annandale" (in other words, Mr. Robert Hay and Mr. Orr) which is worth relating. It was the bride's part in those days to provide all the house linen, blankets, bedding, etc. In the term "plenishing," at once so expressive and so comprehensive, all those articles are included. The large box, therefore, was packed at Annandale, but Mr; Orr contrived to manage so that Mr. Hay should send his dray and horses to convey it and all the boxes into Glasgow. He—Mr. Orr—sent them on to Midbuiston, where, after a few additional articles were packed in, they were to be finally closed down. With the jolting of the few miles, the contents page 31were so shaken down that it was found the "kist" would hold more. Mr. Orr drew attention to this fact, remarking to Mr. Hay, "Man, it's no fu' yet;" to which Mr. Hay queried, "Weel, what wye is't no fu'?" Mr. Orr then remarked, "It'll haud a pair o' blankets." Mr. Hay needed no further hint, but got the blankets. Still there was room. "It'll haud anither pair yet, man," said Mr. Orr, energetically treading it down, and again and again were its contents thus augmented, much to Mr. Orr's satisfaction, who enjoyed the unwonted sensation of generosity—at someone else's expense! The younger man was no match in diplomacy for his "pawky" old neighbour. Moreover, his good heart held no limitations, as to gifts to his well-beloved brother.

On October 27th, 1839, the young couple were married in Annandale, and on the 29th they went on board their ship the "Bengal Merchant," then lying at the "Tail of the Bank," Greenock. It was very dismal wet weather, which added to the dreary misery of those last sad days. A large party of friends and relatives came to see them off, amongst them Agnes's father and three sisters, Mary, Ann, Julia, and uncle Robert. The parting was a specially hard one for all; there was so little hope of an earthly re-union, and so many fears regarding their safety in the unknown land whither they were bound. The scene was deeply impressed on the sorrowing friends left behind, who retained for long years the heart-ache of that life-long parting, and whose graphic descriptions of it gave to the future generation a keen realisation of its pain. True to their Scottish character, those brave young hearts bore up with heroic calm, their mutual love and trust nerving them to face the unknown dangers together. From that day, though not expressed in actual words, their life's motto page 32was: "Trust in God, and do the right;" and throughout their lives they acted upon it.

After the farewells were said, and the tug—or "tender" boat—was returning to shore, filled with the grief-worn friends of the voyagers, an accident happened to the machinery, and the tug broke down. For a time there was considerable danger, and no little consternation amongst the numerous passengers, for the boat was crowded, and the thick misty night was upon them. However, the danger was soon overcome, and happily the ship was already so far off in the darkness that all on board remained in ignorance of any threatened peril to their dear ones. Uncle Robert in after years used to relate, with a twinkle in his eye, an incident connected with that episode, which, notwithstanding the sad surroundings, must have touched a comical vein in his kindly nature. He was then a bachelor, something over forty, genial, jocular, a favourite with old and young. "Aunt Mary" was a sprightly maiden of thirty-six or so, who, with her fresh country bloom, looked ten years younger. With the buoyancy natural to her, she had maintained a well-nourished hope of "maybe some day" "gettin' a man." Though they were too good friends to take foolish "notions" about each other, yet it must be confessed they were a likely couple; consequently they were frequently teased by their friends, and themselves indulged in many jokes at each other's expense, which is a true phase of "Scotch folk's wooin'." In the sudden alarm on board the tug-boat Aunt Mary clutched Uncle Robert, and held him fast, exclaining Sink or soom, Robert, I'll cling to thee which she spasmodically did, to the embarrassment of the douce bachelor, who was not accustomed to being embraced nolens volens—worst of all—" afore folk." Her fears were were too real, however, for anything but the most kindly soothing, which we do not doubt he gave her.

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After long years, when an old man, Uncle Robert gave to some of their children a tender and touching description of his last glimpse of the young couple as they stood out at the stern of the poop, "link it the gither, puir Agnes greetin, waving their farewells, until darkness and distance severed them from all they had known and loved on earth.