He then made his way to New Zealand, and
fought as a common soldier through the Heki war. Captain Patterson,
of the schooner 'Eagle', met him at a New Zealand port. He was
wearing a long, ragged old coat, such as soldiers wore, was out of
employment, and in a state of starvation. The captain took pity on
him, brought him back to Port Albert, and he became a shepherd on a
station near Bairnsdale. While he was fighting the Maoris his
brother had gone home, and had sent to Sydney money to pay his
passage to England. But he could not be found, and the money was
returned to London. At length Captain Bentley found out where he
was, took him to Sydney, gave him an outfit, and paid his passage to
England. Long Mason, honest man that he was, sent back the passage
money, was ordained priest, obtained a living near London, and roamed
no more.
He had a younger brother named Leonard Mason, who lived with Coady
Buckley at Prospect, near the Ninety-Mile, and became a good bushman.
In 1844 Leonard took up a station in North Gippsland adjoining the
McLeod's run, but the Highlanders tried to drive him away by taking
his cattle a long distance to a pound which had been established at
Stratford. The McLeods and their men were too many for Leonard. He
went to Melbourne to try if the law or the Government would give him
any redress, but he could obtain no satisfaction.
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