The Kellys paid occasional visits to Charles in Onehunga, where they enjoyed family picnics on the beach and fishing from the wharf. Wiremu joined the family on one such outing, at Kelly’s invitation. It was just a short train trip south from Newmarket Station across the isthmus to Auckland’s western port on the Manukau Harbour. They disembarked at the Onehunga Station next to the sprawling ironworks and from there back from the waterfront to Charles’ home on Princes Street. Charles was the proud owner of a new, solid kauri house right in the town. “Not that I actually own it yet,” he explained. “It’s rent to own at a fixed, below market price. A company perk.”
With preparations for the day, the family made their way back to the waterfront. There was a ship berthed at the port, loading kauri timber, and the town was busy with industry: the Manukau Steam Sawmill, the Bycroft flour and biscuit factory, and the woollen mill. And the towering brick chimney of the New Zealand Iron and Steel Company, with its plume of black smoke, could be seen from anywhere in the town.
Annie and Imogen settled on a rug on the black sand of the beach. It was the miles of black iron sand along the west coast that fed the blast furnaces of the ironworks. The men carried on to the wharf with their fishing gear. Kelly sat contentedly, with rod in hand, gazing at the sea and Māngere Mountain in the distance. It was like a scene from the past, with Charles and Wiremu at his side.
A couple of hours of patient fishing produced only a few small snapper. “They say the fishing used to be much better here,” Charles said. “I fish here with a friend from church sometimes. He’s lived here for years and he says there’s not so many fish in the harbour because the water’s getting polluted from all the industry.”
“I’ve heard that too,” Wiremu said. “The local iwi used to get a lot of kaimoana from the harbour. The Māori who still live here have complained to the Borough Council about the pollution of their fishing grounds. They say most of it’s coming from the ironworks. And it’ll only get worse. They’re planning to build ten new furnaces and a rolling mill.”
“What does the Council say about it?” Kelly asked.
“They say their inspector monitors the factory and the water quality, and it’s all within safe limits,” Wiremu said.
“That’s exactly right,” Charles said. “My fishing mate, Henry, works for the Council, in the Rates Department, and the inspector, Mr Sowry, is one of his colleagues. Sowry is catching fish all right, going out in the harbour in his new boat. I’m pretty sure he’s collecting bribes from the ironworks manager to doctor his reports.”
“We suspected something of the sort,” Wiremu said.
“Who’s we?” Kelly and Charles both asked.
“When the iwi were fobbed off by the Council, they contacted Te Kotahitanga to try to get legal action,” Wiremu said. “It’s a breach of the Treaty of Waitangi. The Treaty guarantees protection of customary fishing grounds.”
“Right, and you work for Kotahitanga,” Charles said.
“In an advisory capacity.”
“I see a conflict of interests here,” Kelly said. “Onehunga Borough Council is one of your employer’s main clients. Do you think Russell and Campbell will want to prosecute the Council? And Wesley Steadman is the Operations Manager of the ironworks. Do you want to prosecute Eliza’s father-in-law?”
“Can you get proof of the false inspection reports?” Wiremu asked Charles.
“Maybe,” Charles said, doubtfully.
“I just want to know if we have the option to prosecute,” Wiremu said. “The threat may be sufficient.”
“The Council needs a shake up from what I hear,” Charles said. “And Henry would have the backing of the mayor. Mr Sowry is one of the councillors always obstructing the mayor.”
“Elizabeth Yates,” Kelly said. “Annie knows her. She’s the only female mayor in the British Empire. Some of the councillors resigned in protest when she was elected.”
“Ma knows her? Small world,” Charles said.
“Small colony,” said Wiremu.