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Historic Poverty Bay and the East Coast, N.I., N.Z.

Other Early Traders on Coast

Other Early Traders on Coast

A Spaniard (born in America) was among the earliest traders in the Waiapu district. His name was Manuel, and he was known to the natives as “Manuera” and to his fellow-pakehas as “Charlie the Spaniard.” He had deserted from an American whaler. In 1850, Porourangi treated him as head among the Waiapu traders. His principal wife was Tapitu. Their daughter Peti married a Portuguese trader named Lima. In 1874, Manuel lived at Port Awanui and had a branch store near the Waiapu River. Charles Christian, another Portuguese, was known as “Poriki” by the natives. He lived sometimes at East Cape and, at others, in the Waiapu district. Ani Kanara, his wife, was reputed to be ninety-seven years old when she died at Gisborne on 18 November, 1925.

Born at Liverpool in 1822, Charles George Goldsmith (Hori Korimete) gained the distinction of becoming the father of more children than any other early trader. He had served on a trading vessel on the east coast of South America before he appeared in the Waiapu district in the early 1840's. For some years, he engaged in whaling at Cape Runaway and elsewhere on the East Coast. In 1851 he kept a store at Waipiro Bay, where he had been preceded by James Fedarb (Hemi Purehua), who, in turn, had been followed by David Bristow (Rewi Pereto), Edward Deacon (Neri) and John Hayes (Hone Heihi). No rent was demanded from Goldsmith or his predecessors, but their native protectors expected, and appreciated, gifts from time to time.

Moving to Poverty Bay, Goldsmith opened a store at Kairoro. In 1865 it was plundered by the Hauhaus. He was on active service both in 1865 and 1868. On the morning of the massacre, he was in Turanganui, page 137 but two of his children, who were at Kairoro, were slain, and his store was burnt down. In 1873 he was in charge of Kaiti native school. Some years later, he kept an hotel at Muriwai. He then became a licensed interpreter. His first wife was Harete and children of the union were: Robert (born in 1848), Sam (1850) and Maria (1852). His next wife was Makere, a sister of Harete. Issue of this union were: Edward and Caroline (who became the wife of the Rev. Mohi Turei). Both of these children were also born on the East Coast. Frederick William (1860) and Albert Edward (1864) were born in Poverty Bay. The wife of the final marriage was a native of Wales. This union was blessed with twelve children. He died on 20 September, 1894.

James Fedarb, the first trader at Purehua (Waipiro Bay), was trading-master of the schooner Mercury when he assisted the Rev. J. Stack to obtain signatures to the Treaty of Waitangi in May and June, 1840. To his copy of the Treaty, he appended the following note: “The chiefs of Opotiki expressed a wish to have it signified who were pikopos (Roman Catholics) and who were not, which I did by placing a crucifix to those who are as above, and at which they seemed perfectly satisfied.” In 1884, he petitioned Parliament for compensation for the trouble he had been put to.

Captain Henry J. Sturley first visited New Zealand in the whaler Essex in 1821. His second whaling cruise to southern waters was in 1829. In 1837 he was master of the Trent, which was in the Sydney-New Zealand trade. On one occasion, whilst he was at Mahia, he was visited by Hapuku and his father-in-law (Puhara) of Hawke's Bay. They made a practice of trying to terrorise the masters of visiting ships. To teach them a sharp lesson, he carried them off to sea. He became a trader at Tuparoa in 1840, but returned to the sea for varying periods. In the early 1850's he was master of the Antelope, which was on the Auckland-East Coast run, and, as late as 1865, he was in command of the cutter Aquila.

William Scott Greene (born at Kingstown, Dublin) had a store at Waipiro Bay in 1852. Three years later, he settled in Poverty Bay, where some property had been made over to children of his first wife (Erena Kuwha). Subsequently he married Sarah Jane, a daughter of Thomas U'Ren, senior. In 1868 he kept a store at Kaiariki. He was the first settler to run stock on Okahuatiu (1870). In the rôle of auctioneer he then became a prominent figure in Gisborne business circles. On 21 September, 1893, some time after he had made his home at Waitangi (near Tuparoa) he was drowned whilst attempting to ride across the flooded Waiapu River.

Edward Deacon opened the first store at Te Puka (Tokomaru Bay). Moses Yule was next and then came George Babbington. Wi Potae (born in 1855) told the Native Land Court that the elders had informed him that Deacon paid rent in calico and shirts. Deacon kept a store at Waipiro Bay in the 1840's. He then settled in Poverty Bay. Captain Harris told the Crown Grants Commission in 1869 that Deacon had left him a small property, subject to payment by him of a legacy of £10 to a native woman with whom he had lived.