Rusty relic from past a reminder of rescue

ROCHELLE WESTrochelle.west@tnl.co.nz - Taranaki Saturday, 19 May 2007 ARCHAEOLOGISTS have unearthed what could be a significant remnant of South Taranaki history while surveying the Kupe onshore gas production station at Ohawe.
A 3kg cannonball, believed to have been fired from the British battleship HMS Alligator during an attempt to rescue a European family from the grasp of local Maori in 1834, has been dug up.
Auckland-based Russell Gibb, from contract archaeological company Geo-metria, said yesterday that the cannonball discovery was an exciting find.
"It was a real surprise to find it. It creates a connection between an event that's quite famous and an area that's removed from that," Mr Gibb said. "We think that by the size of the cannonball it fits what we know about the type of guns that were on the Alligator. But until we do further research on it we can't be sure."
According to Puke Ariki researchers, on April 29, 1834, the barque Harriet wrecked on a beach near Rahotu. On board was John (Jacky) and Elizabeth (Betty) Guard and their two young children, who were returning from Sydney to their Cook Strait whaling station, along with crew.
On making it to shore, several of the crew were killed by local Maori. Betty and her two children were dragged to Te Namu pa at Opunake.
Jacky and the sailors got away, bringing back the HMS Alligator with a detachment of 60 troops. These soldiers were the first British troops to come into armed combat with Maori.
Betty and her baby daughter, Louisa, were located at Te Namu pa. Three-year-old John junior had been moved on to Waimate pa, at the mouth of the Kapuni River, north of Ohawe.
The Alligator bombarded Waimate with cannon fire for three hours before landing on October 8 to rescue John junior.
"We are not sure if the cannonball was carried (to Ohawe) from further away or if it did manage to be shot there. That's one of the things we will try to work out. We'll look at the projection and the distance and see if it could travel that far," Mr Gibb said.
Puke Ariki senior researcher Ron Lambert said a number of cannonballs from the Alligator had been found near the mouth of the Kapuni River.
"I wouldn't be surprised if they lobbed a few at some other settlements along the coast," Mr Lambert said.
The Ohawe cannonball, which was found during a scrape-down of top soil at the production site, has been taken to Geometria's laboratory, where it will be conserved before being given back to Origin Energy, the field's operator.
Along with the cannonball, three kumara pits and other evidence of Maori occupation, including fireplaces and rubbish deposits complete with bird and fish bones, as well as egg shells, have been unearthed on the site. The items are to be carbon dated.
Two representatives from local hapu are on site to keep an eye on the treasures being uncovered.
"The midden (rubbish) we dug up is quite good because it will give us a lot of information about what local Maori were eating and when they were there," Mr Gibb said.
A full archaeological report is expected in a year.
For more information on the HMS Alligator and the Guard family's story, search for The Harriet Incident at www.pukeariki.com, or the Harriet Affair at www.nzhistory.net.nz.