Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-23

sails OF KIND OF mating, made Its appear
ance on the bay. 1t turned out that once
year the natives of Waitangi visited the
group of islands which Captain Pitt had an
nexed to obtain a peculiar kind of sea bird,
which is found there in countless hocks
in the fall of the year, when it is exceedingly
fat, and which, being cured in its own
grease and packed in baskets Or pots, forms
the staple article OF winter diet of the popu-
lation of Waitangi and other places. These
people told Captain Pitt that there were
whites at Waitangi, women as we'll as men,
and gave him such an account Of the place
that he resolved to visit it. He found it in
habited by natives like those who had come
with him and who received hearty well
come. He found there, too, whaling sta
ton occupied by family of very rough Gus
toners indeed. Rough or smooth, however,
they were white and some of them were fe-
males. The captain chose the strongest and
least homely of the latter, and having urged
his suit in his own authoritative way, made
her Mrs. Pitt according to the ritual he had
himself established, and carried her back to
his island together with boatload of stores,
implements and other things which he badly
wanted.
he WENT INTO BUSINESS.
From that time forward Pitts Island be-
came known by repute among the South Sea
whalers, and once in two or three years
ship would call there. Pitt himself organ
ized whaling crew and a trying-down es-
tablishment and often got great many fish,
so that whenever he received a visit from
vessel he always had something to sell. or
rather to barter for goods. He soon learned
that Wsitangi was the native name Of the
group which the great clrcumnavigator,
Captain Cook, had named the Chatham
T.. H. fkar ftna1 1ofsrr
lam Pitt, Earl of Chatham, a circumstance
which caused him intense pride and delight;
and that his OWE islands as well as the
Chathams were included in the boundaries
of the newly acquired British colony of New
Zealand, though separated from it by 500
miles OF stormy ocean. Pitt, however, reso-
lutely declined to acknowledge the authority
of the Governor of New Zealand. He was
willing to acknowledge the supremacy of
Queen Victoria, but neither the Queen nor
the Governor of New Zealand ever heard of
his existence.
His island, as years rolled on, and the
South Seas became the resort of freebooters
and adventures of all kinds, was looked
upon as a coveted prize for the concealment
Of plunder, or for refuge from justice. By
that time, however, Pitt had contrived to
put his little domain in thorough state of
defense. He had a couple of cannon
mounted on tiny fort in front of his house.
He also had an armory of 30 muskets and a
number of cutlasses and pixies, and as his
people, including IL or 10 young Pitts and
motley band of halfcastes now made up
quite a small army, he was able to give the
enemy a warm reception. In one of these
conflicts no fewer than 10 were killed or
wounded on both sides, and of the assail-
ants having fallen into his hands, Pitt tried
them for high treason, convicted them him
self, and hanged them on his own flagstaff.
Sometimes, however, he instituted reprisals
or did little freebooting on his own ac-
count.
IN TROUBLE WITH NEW ZEALAND.
In course oftime, when New Zealand had
become populous and prosperous British
colony, with slsrge import and export trade,
both the Chatham Islands and Pitts Island
got an evil name for smuggling. This was
a most profitable business and not very dam
gerous when carried out by men like Pitt
and his people, who were almost amphibious
and perfectly free from scruples of every
sort. They added to it, however, traffic
which nearly got them into serious trouble,
and resulted in their practically losing their
independence.
The Government of New Zealand was
then engaged in a desperate struggle with
the Maoris, and law had been passed
making it capital offense to sell arms or
ammunition to any native. The immediate
effect of this was to place the enemy in such
straits that they were driven to use marbles
and even balls of hard wood instead Of
bullets, and lucifer matches instead of per-
cussion caps. They had plenty of money,
however, and anyone who chose to run the
risk could get any amount for rifle and
w
Pitts opportunity. The natives of the
Chathams and of Pitts Island are called
Morioris, and, though distinct race, are so
like Maoris in appearance that they easily
pass for them among casual observers. They
also speak dialect of the same language.
What was simpler, therefore, than for
American whalers and other strangers to
land
A FEW CASES OF RIFLES
and ammunition at Pitts Island, and for
Captain Pitt to run across with them to
New Zealand and send his Morioris with
them to the Maori settlements? The money
always came back all right In the course
of time, however, suspicious were aroused
and an officer was sent to the Chatham
Islands as resident magistrate and collector
of customs, with almost unlimited jurisdic-
ton and powers. One of the first things
where, being a man of sense and resolution,
he soon came to terms with the Captain. 1t
was agreed that no officer of the government
should be placed on Pitts Island, but that
the islanders should be left in sole possession
under the patriarchal rule of their old COM
mander, who was literally the father of his
people to a very large extent. On the other
hand, Captain Pitt was to be made justice
of the peace, and was to take an oath to
obey and enforce the laws OF New Zealand.
This compact was faithfully fulfilled on both
sides, and to this day Pitts Island enjoys
home rule, while the commissioner of Gus
toms at Wellington has never had any
further cause for complaint.
A PLEASANT PLACE TO LIVE.
When was at Pitts Island, some years
ago, the captain was still alive, though con-
siderably over 80, and treated me with the
utmost hospitality. The deck house of the
original Orion had been carefully pre-
served, and had the honor of sleeping in
it, but much larger and more commodious
dwelling had been added to it to accommo-
date the captains rapidly increasing family.
who then numbered 25 or 30 souls. The
whole population of the island did not ex-
ceed 80, the Pitts having crowded most of
the others out; and there was not single
one among them who was not related to all
the others. Every inch of available land
was carefully cultivated, and wonderful
crops of grain and vegetables and fruits
were produced, while the neatness and
beauty of the place passed all description.
AS for Captain Pitt himself, he spoke with
the utmost pride of his career. After some
days he put it to me seriously whether it
would not be we'll for me to make up my
mind to stay there for good; and, indeed, it
has often occurred TO me during my wan
in ntiar Of tho .rnrld thnt j