Haair-raising settlement tales

ASIMPLE plaque at Wellers Rock marks thelanding place on theOtago Peninsula of theWeller brothers,whalerswho founded theregion’sfirst European settlementatŌtākou in 1831

There wasasignificant history of European colonisation here long beforeour God-fearing Scottish forebearsoff the John Wickliffe and Philip Laing set foot on Port Chalmers soil in 1848 Those early whalers who preceded them tend to be all butforgotten now, apart from colourful characters like the whaler andlandbaron, Johnny Jones, of Waikouaiti, who continuedtobeadominating presence throughthe defining years of theinfantprovince

Although little recognition hasbeenaccorded them in thehistory books, theWellers contributedmuchtothe developmentofOtago andleft behinda villagethatwas not only oneofthe mostimportant whalingsettlements in New Zealand, but is thelongest continuously occupied European settlementinOtago

The taleofthe pioneering Wellers—Edwardand Joseph, their brotherGeorge, who directedthe family's fortunes andbusinessconcerns from Sydney —and thewhalers whoaccompaniedthemacross theTasman, is oneofhigh adventure, disasters,triumphs andhair-raisingconfrontations with localMāori

Joseph was27and Edward 10 yearsyounger when they arrivedfrom Australiaonthe company barque, the Lucy Ann, in September1831, to setup thefamilyenterprise, whichalso includedtradingin flax andtimber. George wasayear youngerthanJoseph.

The whalingsettlementburnt to theground thefollowing year.Rebuildingbeganalmost immediately.

Laterthatyear, Edward Weller waskidnapped.Stories abounded aboutthe incident. Onewas that he escapedbeingeaten after his captor drew lots andafriendly chief wonand spared hislife.

Joseph wasalsoseized at one stage, whileinthe NorthIsland andwas rescued by missionaries.

By 1834 relationswith500 or so KāiTahuheadedbyChief

Taiaroa, buoyed by bloody raidsatCloudy BayinMarlborough,tooka dramaticturnfor theworse.

The Lucy Ann wasboarded,its crew barely escaping massacre and, fearing for their lives, theincreasinglybeleaguered whalerspreparedtoabandon thesettlementand return to Australia.

Aletterwritten to George Weller by CaptainHeyward of Ōtākou,on September29, 1834, waspublishedin the Sydney Herald on October16thatyear.

Extracts follow:

‘‘ .They make no hesitation in tellingusthattheywillmurder us alland divide ourproperty amongthem. Sincetheir return from Cloudy Baytheyhave been so much emboldened by their successin plunderingthe whitepeoplethere andthey takefrom us whatever takes their fancy, such as ourclothing andfood off ourveryplates— help themselves to oilinsuch quantities as they requirefrom ourpots.

‘‘ They say white people areafraidofthem, forgreat numbersofvessels have been takenand plunderedbythem andwhite menkilled and Europeans dare notcomeand punish them for so doing.

‘‘We asked them whythey wishedtokillus? Theyanswer with as much indifference as a butcherwould do

‘‘We areunder constant apprehensionofbeingburnt in ourbedsevery night,and of the nativesrobbing andshooting thosethatremain, as they attempttoescape.

‘‘Once or twice Taiaroa, who is oneof theworst disposed of thechiefsand ahorrid cannibal, came up withhis mob with that intention, armed, butwas persuadedtodesist by therelatives of thosechiefsin Sydney,until thearrivalof the Lucy Ann

‘‘ Thenewsthattwo shipsof war were comingtoNew Zealand to seek revenge for themurder of people of the Harriet,surprised them a little,but when they heard the small number of men(nearly 60) theylaughed ...Inmy opinion,thatverycircumstance has saved the Joseph Weller from being taken andall of us from being massacred thenight after her arrival.

‘‘ Weput greathopes in the statementswhichhaveappeared in the Sydneypapers, that two men-of-warwereonthe coastand in all probabilitytheywill visit this place.Iftheydonot come here after having told thenatives they wouldand seekrevenge our fateswillthenbecertain.

‘‘However,weare allprepared for the worst andweare determined to die like menand notgive up theghost withouta struggle.Weare allwell-armed andare determined to sell our livesasdearlyaspossible.

‘‘We have petitioned the Government forassistance, butIamfearful that it will arrive toolatetorescueusfrom destruction

‘‘If youshouldget this letter, send down anothervesselwellarmedwiththe Lucy Ann. ‘‘...IhavedespatchedMr Snowden, in hopesthathe mayarrive in time to make arrangements forsendingdown twovessels to bringupall our property;asthe wholeofus intend to abandonthe place shouldour livesbespared.’’

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