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Issued by the
Nelson Historical Society Inc.
Hardy Street, Nelson.
Nelson Province, 1642–1842
From Discovery to Colonisation
By A. N. Field
The Nelson doings of Tasman, Cook and Durville in their own words; whaling day episodes; the tangled tale of the founding of Nelson and discovery of the Haven; a story packed with interest, never before brought together under one cover, and much of it previously untold.
144 pages with Index
Price 4/- (if posted 4/3)
Produced for the 1942 Centenary, the sale of this book was checked by the onset of the black-out, barbed-wire period of the Pacific War. Its publishers, Messrs A. G. Betts and Son Ltd., Nelson, have generously donated 500 copies to the Nelson Historical Society. The entire proceeds go to the Society's funds.
Get your copy from the N.H.S. Secretary, c/o Messrs Wilkins & Field, Hardy Street, Nelson, and help your Society along.
The Society aims to preserve all early records of Nelson and to this end will appreciate gifts of material such as:—
The Society's Rooms are Now at Isel House, Stoke
Further copies of these Journals may be obtained from Nelson Historical Society Inc. c/o P.O. Box 12, Nelson. Price 3/-.
Vol. 1, No. 5 December, 1961
In this Preface to the present issue of our Bulletin, I wish to briefly mention the progress we have made since the last issue.
With the assistance of the Nelson City Council, we have at long last moved into suitable premises, containing adequate storage space together with reception rooms and other amenities.
This has enabled us to adequately sort out and display our many items of historical interest, and we are very much happier in "Isel", as our new quarters are named.
We have continued to gather, sort out and record a steadily accumulating mass of items of historical value, and the general interest in our society has been well maintained.
During the year progress has been made towards the formation of a Provincial Historical Trust, which would greatly enlarge our present scope, and indications point to this being successfully accomplished.
One of the subjects for discussion during the past year has been "The Origin and History of Nelson Street Names", and much very interesting material has been gathered. While this material is not quite ready for this issue, it will appear in our next Bulletin, as also will an article on early education in Nelson that is at present being "edited" from the notes of the late J. G. (Jim) McKay, who for years before his death diligently gathered and noted a mass of data in connection with this subject.
I trust the present issue of our Bulletin will be as well received as our previous issues.
"Some four years ago Mr Bert Monro, of Marlborough, told me of some 50 odd diaries belonging to his grandfather, David Monro. Sir David Monro played a big part in moulding early Nelson and the diaries were held by Miss Monro, of Palmerston North. After four years of enquiry, we have arrived at the stage whereby the diaries go to the Turnbull Library in trust to come to Nelson under conditions similar to those pertaining to the Bett Collection, and the Kingdon and Budd Silver and relics." That was part of a report presented to the annual meeting of the Nelson Historical Society by the chairman of the Records Committee. Mr J. A. Jenkins.
"During the year a large volume of material has been given to the society. As far as our limited funds permit, books and other material of interest to the society are purchased when available," the report stated.
"It is difficult in this present age to know what will be of importance in a century or so, and in bringing certain highlights to your notice it is possible that the shadow has been placed before the substance.
"The Nelson Office of the Lands and Deeds Department held some 30,000 documents bearing on early provincial settlement. Our society was invited to select any that it considered of interest. This involved a weekly session for three of us for a period of six months, and resulted in the selection of some 329 documents. We concentrated mainly on educational, ecclesiastical and those bearing on certain areas and people of special interest.
"Photographic albums from the late Captain Walker's Estate, the Colt family, and the F. G. Gibbs Estate are an acquisition.
"The Berry family papers were copied and we hold the originals. Our policy has been, and I hope will continue to be, to copy letters and manuscripts of interest, have them bound where necessary, and share the expense with the donor of the documents. They are usually very pleased to have a bound copy of the manuscripts they give to us. The Berry family papers centre round F. T. Berry, who was an early arrival in Nelson, and the correspondence, commencing in 1838 in London, carries on for some 40 years among various members of the family.
"Photographs come in all the time, and sooner or later our detective service, conducted by Messrs Field and Collins, succeeds in identification.
"Articles of great variety are given to us, e.g., a doll dressed in period costume, a stove from the old Spring Grove Methodist Church, some very beautiful Crown Derby, an old cannon ball, etc. We, like the magpie, keep everything. Some day we may be able to set up rooms furnished according to the period. If you visit the Canterbury Museum, you will see what I mean.
"Two estates have recently brought in a large amount of material.
"(1) The Hector Walker Estate centres mainly round farming and timber milling in the Inangahua and Buller area. Records are very complete in detail, and some day will provide useful reference for the period. Sport, S.P.C.A. and Kennel Club are also features.
"(2) The second estate is that of J. G. McKay. He had been a collector all his life. The Nelson College Old Boys' Association has at present a mass of College historical data that he had gathered together over the years. But in addition to this there was material that has kept me busy for weeks sorting
"Much of the material is in the form of rough notes. Additions have been made from time to time as further information became available. These notes now await the hand of someone knowledgeable in history and skilled in writing if we are to obtain the maximum benefit. Mr McKay would jot down notes on a subject and at intervals add further memoranda and data. His enquiring mind led him to then weigh up pros and cons as to the accuracy of data collected and at times there is conflict. I have selected one item in which he was especially interested and which I think he himself was satisfied as being reasonably correct."
The hamlet of Stoke, originally known as "Brook Green", was given the name it bears today by William Songer, who arrived in Nelson in November, 1841, as personal attendant to Captain Wakefield. Mr Songer was Stoke's first settler and he named the place after his native Stoke-by-Nayland in England. (The Rev. C. M. Torlesse preached the farewell sermon to the Expedition. He was Rector of Stoke-by-Nayland and later sent out a bell for the church.)
There are two theories as to how this valley received its name. The first one is that in the very early days of the province a number of assisted immigrants arrived and some eighty of them were temporarily settled in Poorman's Valley. Here they built themselves cottages, possibly of stone, and it is believed that the piles of stones to be seen in the valley today are the remains of this occupation. These immigrants were drawn from the poorer classes, and conditions in the valley were exceedingly hard, with the result that the settlers themselves called the place "Poorman's Valley". (The 1845 Census mentions "Poorman's Valley".)
An alternative theory is that during the early part of the Maori Wars a number of refugees came to Nelson from Taranaki, and some were placed in the valley. There seems no doubt that, whether the settlers were immigrants or refugees, they found conditions most unpleasant and, indeed, were close to starvation. It is on record that the people of Nelson were disturbed at their plight, and a considerable sum of money was collected to assist them. For some reason, this money, or very little of it, was used for the purpose for which it was intended and it was finally used at a much later date for the purchase of Trafalgar Park. (Actually the name was well established before the Taranaki refugees came down in 1860.)
This road derived its name from the fact that a cattle quarantine station was situated at the bottom of the road, where the aerodrome now is. In the early days there was a deep channel right up to the Quarantine Station, and this continued right up behind the sandhills at Tahuna, across what is now the children's paddling pool. One of the main users of this quarantine station was Sir Edward Stafford, of Stoke, who used to
The first boats to bring men to the new settlement of Nelson were the Whitby, Will Watch and Arrow, and they landed in November, 1841. Three months later, in February, 1842, the men were followed by the first immigrants.
Among the men in the first contingent there were several who became the earliest settlers in Stoke. Included among them were William Songer, Charles Torlesse (his father was Rector of Stoke in England), who came out as a member of the survey staff; James Bradley, James T. Smith, an early school master at the Stoke School and also a charter member of the Foresters' Lodge; and Richard Ching.
Few of the many Nelsonians who were prominent in the early history of New Zealand lived at Stoke, but claim can be laid to Sir Edward Stafford, first Superintendent of Nelson Province, who lived at what is now known as Annesbrook—on top of the rise. Early rumour suggests that he was able to persuade the Government to bring the railway through his property instead of taking an easier grade in a slightly different place.
In the very early days, too, there lived at Stoke, Mr Richard Reeves, M.L.C. His residence was the house now owned by Mr Stead, which was originally built by a Mr Holland.
It is recorded that Poorman's Valley Stream did not always pursue its present course. Its original course lay across (what was, in 1949) the Cawthron Institute land, past the old sawmill, then across Songer Street and the Ranui Subdivision, crossing the Main Road in the vicinity of Ryrie's Store. It then wound across Strawbridge's land, across the old racecourse, down Songer Street, through Wearing's and Chisnall's, and finally emptied itself into the main estuary on the south side of what is now known as Monaco.
It appears that the New Zealand Company brought men out to New Zealand to work on certain schemes, but owing to a depression these failed to eventuate, and in desperation the men were put to work on straightening the stream, and they dug what was known as the Company's ditch. This ditch was originally so narrow that it could easily be stepped across, and it is merely the passing of the years that has resulted in the stream bed as we know it today. As a result of these straightening operations the stream was caused to empty itself into the second estuary, as it still does, that is, on the northern side of Monaco.
Both Mr E. Chisnall and Mr D. Giblin had vivid memories of the opening of the railway in 1873. It was obviously a day which called for great celebrations and from what can be gathered the opportunity was not allowed to pass. There may have been other freight on the train, but all that seems to linger in the memory of the beholders is that there were barrels aboard, and there seems little doubt that they were returned empty.
The first sod for the railway was turned in Saxton's paddock, and the work was then carried back towards the town. The first train merely ran from Nelson to Saxton's road, where a siding had been put in. Nelson to Saxton's Road was one of the separate contracts let for the construction of the railway.
Local memory cannot tell us who made the speeches on the great occasion, but it seems probable that it was an official connected with the Nelson Provincial Council, which was then the governing body.
For a number of years the Nelson Jockey Club's racecourse was at Stoke. It lay between Nayland Road and the Main Road, and was bounded on the northern side by Songer Street. In many places the rounded fence can still be seen. On the Songer Street side, where Thorne's house is now situated, was the grandstand—quite a large affair for those days, and capable of seating two or three hundred people. The putting through of the railway really sounded the course's death-knell, although for two or three years after its advent races
With the proceeds the Jockey Club received from the sale of the Stoke property to Alfred Allport, they purchased the ground at Richmond which is still in use, but due to financial troubles they were later compelled to sell it to the A. & P. Association.
As was to be expected, the horses entered were mostly the property of local enthusiasts, although a few outside entries were not uncommon. Prominent among the early owners were Messrs Redwood, Nicholson and Sir Edward Stafford.
One of Stoke's oldest residents, Mr E. Chisnall, claimed the honour of being the only Nelsonian to breed a winner of the Grand National. This horse was Umslopagass, which won the race in 1896. He was not then owned by Mr Chisnall, who had sold him to a Mr Banks, of Wellington. He was, however, raced by Mr Chisnall in Nelson on four occasions. Twice he won and twice he was second.
The first Stoke School was situated on Mr Marsden's property, opposite what is now the residence of Major Lorimer, that is, on the eastern side of the main road and the northern side of Poorman's Valley Stream. It was later shifted from this site, as Mr Marsden objected to seeing it in front of his house.
From the memories of the oldest living residents, and from the stories handed down from the pioneers, it seems that the Stoke land was devoid of any areas of native bush except in the gullies. A large part of the area in the vicinity of Saxton's Road was flax and raupo swamp, and it is recorded that the land between Wakatu and Maitlands was referred to as fern flats. The flax was finally cleared out and most of it was sent to Rutherford's Mill at Brightwater. In Poorman's Valley, tutu, manuka and fern are said to have abounded.
An interesting point is that, although there seems to have been no big timber in the Stoke area in comparatively modern times, there is unmistakable evidence that at some time in its history, parts at least were very heavily wooded. Mr Chisnall reports that, when digging a well recently in his Nayland Road property, he found it necessary to cut through a buried log which was fully four feet thick. Mr E. Saxton also reports that one of his paddocks, on the right hand side of Saxton's Road going up, has never been able to be ploughed owing to the huge logs which are lying just under the surface.
However, all this was long before 1842, because the early settlers had to cart their wood from as far away as Foxhill. Nelson, too, had to depend on the country area for its firewood, and sometimes as many as thirty wood carts would be halted at the foot of the hill, so that the horses could be spelled before attempting the ascent.
There were no flax mills or other industries started in Stoke and the people, in the main, made their living by tilling the soil after it had been cleared of flax and scrub.
Nelson was first, and practically the only, hop-growing area in New Zealand, and as a natural sequence had the first brewery. Some of the first hop-growers in the Stoke area were:—
Mr Harley (below the bank in Nayland Road), Sir Edward Stafford, the Orphanage Farm, Mr Saxton, Mr John Bradley (the old hop-kiln on Mr Manson's property is a relic of these days), Mr Alf Bradley, Mr E. Chisnall, Mr W. Roil and Mr Jellyman.
Other crops grown at that time were oats, wheat, barley and potatoes.
The fruit-growing industry, which was to become the main occupation of settlers in Stoke, did not commence until about the middle 1890's, when Mr Miller and Mr Hale planted about five acres each along Nayland Road, Mr Miller's property being where Harman's is now, and Mr Hale's where Palmer's house now stands (1949).
Pleasure at the Nelson City Council's action in going ahead with the purchase of Isel Homestead and the adjoining ground was expressed at the 1960 annual meeting of the Nelson Historical Society by the president, Mr L. E. H. Baigent. "At long last we have in sight a suitable resting place for the treasures which the Society has," added Mr Baigent.
He went on to explain that, for the exhibition of ordinary material such as old photographs, old maps, old implements and the like, the masonry section of the Isel home would be quite suitable with a small amount of alteration, while the purchase of the adjoining two acres would round out the site and make it more attractive, in addition to its value for historical use.
However, he wished to point out that it had all along been recognised that, for the safe custody of such treasures as the Bett Collection and Miss Julie Tomlinson's silver, a damp-proof and fire-proof building was necessary.
It would also have to be internally lighted, have no windows and be specially ventilated. No building in Nelson at present would meet those conditions.
Such a building would be constructed alongside Isel and in such a position that it would in no way spoil the view of the present homestead or the park.
In answer to a question by Mr J. Newman about the other four acres in the prospective purchase, Mr Baigent said he understood that the City Council intended to subdivide that area into quarter-acre building sections, but he did not think this would mar Isel or the park. He did not feel that, in 25 or 40 years' time, it would be said that there was not enough room because the council had gone ahead with the plan to sell these four acres for building sections.
A brief discussion also took place about roading. It was explained that there would most likely be a road leading in from the present main road entrance (as now) and out by a road joining up with Marsden Road. Mr Baigent said he was unaware of any proposal to join up with the Ridgeway.
Dealing with the proposed formation of a National Historical Trust on a provincial basis as the controlling and administering body for such a museum of Nelson history, Mr Baigent said that it was hoped all local bodies in the district would be partners. All those approached had agreed in principle with the scheme except the Motueka Borough Council, which had replied that it preferred all Motueka historical material to remain in Motueka. He hoped that such a view would be subject to revision in the light of further information given and that there would be one centre of history for the province.
The Mayor of Nelson, Mr S. I. Russell, had, said Mr Baigent, agreed to call a public meeting of all interested to discuss the formation of a Nelson Historical Trust as soon as the draft of a trust bill now being prepared by the Town Clerk was ready. That was the position they had now reached.
The annual report (sections of which have already been published) and the balance sheet were adopted. Membership last year reached 140.
Mr Baigent, who presided over an attendance of 23 members, explained that all officers of the association worked in an honorary capacity and the limited funds available were devoted to the development of the society's activities.
"The Nelson Historical Society was not formed a day too soon," said Mr Baigent. "Indeed, it was formed too late to gather much of Nelson's history, especially that relating to Maori occupation."
Mr J. A. Jenkins, chairman of the Records Committee, paid a tribute to the work being done by those in charge of different sections: Mr T. R. Jameson, who had been carrying on with the work of cross-indexing since the death of Mr J. G. McKay; Miss A. M. Jenkins and Dr K. Curtis, who were classifying the
Mr Jenkins said the present temporary premises in the building of the A. & N.Z. Bank, which were full to the doors, would not be available to the Society for much longer. He would like to make it known, however, that extra assistance with the work in hand would be much appreciated.
A paragraph in the Annual Report paid tribute to the invaluable services rendered to the Society by the late Mr J. G. McKay. The President (Mr Baigent) enlarged on this and Mr Jenkins spoke to the meeting on some of Mr McKay's researches into early education in Nelson, reading a paper on that subject which Mr McKay had prepared.
Archdeacon H. F. Ault, in thanking Mr Jenkins, told how helpful Mr McKay had been to him when he was writing "The Nelson Narrative". He went over those portions of the book dealing with early education in Nelson with very great care; he even corrected my grammar here and there," remarked the Archdeacon amid laughter.
New members elected were: Miss G. A. Bisley, Mr G. J. H. Reid and Mr and Mrs C. V. Neale.
The following officers were eected to the executive committee: Messrs L. E. H. Baigent, J. A. Jenkins, B. E. Dickinson, H. C. Collins, W. J. Glasgow, G. Gould, P. B. Griffin, L. W. Field, J. E. R. Paterson, T. R. Jameson, J. N. W. Newport and Archdeacon H. F. Ault.
Mr Griffin was re-elected honorary treasurer and Mr J. R. Oliver honorary auditor.
The incoming president and secretary are to be elected by the executive committee.
Two factors that are sometimes overlooked in the discussion of early education were very early established—the Literary and Scientific Institution, the forerunner of the Nelson Institute, which, besides maintaining a stock of literature otherwise unobtainable by the many, was actually envisaged as a teaching body, and the Nelson Examiner, an organ for public discussion and dissemination of both news and knowledge (see opening number). Their influence was great.
The strong religious sense in the community had the effect of starting Sunday Schools among the poorer classes, a notable one being in Bolton Square (so named because it was squatted on by immigrants off the "Bolton"; it was characterised by rude huts of raupo and toi-toi). It is said that this Sunday School began as early as March 27, 1842.
Another noticeable effect is that there was in the community a definite feeling that religion and education should go hand in hand. We see this in the first elementary school started under the aegis of Capt. Wakefield in 1842, in Bishop Selwyn's Anglican Schools from 1842, in the Campbell Schools from 1844, in the Father Garin's schools from 1850 and in the secondary school started by the trustees of the Nelson Trust Funds. The Wesleyan Schools and the Lutheran ones may also be cited.
There has been much jumbling of early education history, e.g., confusion between Eelpond Schools, references to British and Foreign Schools Society, pre-arrival mention of Matthew Campbell.
If we confine ourselves to what we may call day school elementary education, we find in the diary of T. S. Thompson that in March, 1842. Capt. Wakefield, Richardson, Thompson. England, Domett and others were moving in the matter of providing schooling for the immigrants' children "who were running wild in the fern". There was a sequence of public and committee meetings, public subscriptions were raised, the Nelson Examiner lent its aid, and by September 12, 1842, a school was in being on Town Acre 20 (208 J.A.J.) in Bridge Street near the Eelpond. William Moore, who had stated publicly that he would like to start a school and to whom a requisition signed by 80 parents had been sent, on May 7, 1842, accepted the headmastership and the project seemed well afloat. There was a healthy quarterly report just before the Wairau episode and expansion seemed assured, but by December, 1843, Moore had resigned. No reason has been stated for this, but it is generally thought that the loss of so many of the country's leaders created confusion. Wakefield and England had both been trustees of the school. Tuckett, another trustee, was still alive but in the embarrassing position of being forced to pick up the threads of government. Whatever the cause, apparently the school was not reopened in 1844. We find in April, 1844, T. S. Ferrers, a Roman Catholic, opening a school in the building.
Bishop Selwyn was much concerned with the establishing of a system of education focussing on the central point of St. John's College. When he brought the Rev. C. L. Reay to Nelson in August, 1842, he arranged for the setting up of a small school, but when his plans were matured he visited Nelson again with a deacon trained for the purpose of supervising education, and established an elementary church school, open to the public, and a Grammar School with foundation scholars. This was the beginning of the Bishop's Schools, opening on January 21, 1844, under H. F. Butt.
Matthew Campbell arrived in the settlement on October 25, 1842. He found that a body of men known to history as the Nelson United Christians had developed a Sunday School started
Being of unusually strong religious convictions, with a dominant character and having, so one gathers from his friendship with Dr Renwick and Mr A. G. Jenkins, some erudition, Campbell seems soon to have allied himself with this movement and to have become superintendent of the Sunday and day schools. We do not know who actually did the secular teaching. In a few months the owners of the building, Ebenezer Chapel, used for religious services as well as Sunday School and day school, left the district and Campbell, business manager as well as superintendent of the schools, found himself paying rent for an unsuitable building. He and his friends were nonconformists and held strongly to the view that Sunday Schools and day schools be associated. They evidently did not approve of Moore's School, opened under the patronage of the gentry, nor of the Anglican system of Bishop Selwyn. At any rate, they formed themselves into a committee of management and set about working out their own ideas for the control of education in the settlement, with the result that the Nelson Schools Society was formed in February, 1844, and a brick school was built near the Eelpond in Bridge Street and opened April 7, 1844, the headmaster being Mr J. P. Robinson, later Superintendent of the Province. This was the beginning of the system sometimes known as Campbell's Schools. These schools in most cases opened first as Sunday Schools and developed associated day schools thereafter. Butchers, at p. 141 in his book, "Young New Zealand", says: "Until the day school was commenced in any given locality the children received secular as well as religious instruction at the Sunday School." I do not know what his authority was for the statement, though the following may be relevant. In the January, 1843. report of Moore's School Committee it says: "It is gratifying to know that there is another public school (i.e., Campbell's) connected with the Nelson United Christians where we believe a large number of children are taught.…. There are three Sunday Schools numerously attended which afford opportunity of learning to those whose parents cannot spare them through the week."
The Nelson School Society or Matthew Campbell system ran for 12 years. 1844–1855, and while it had its several limitations it was certainly a very praiseworthy one in that it offered the only opportunity to acquire an education that was available to the general run of the children of the settlement. The Bishop's School ran for the same period then went into recess (to reopen later. 1860).
From 1842 there were a few private schools sparsely attended.
(*This should be 208. Broad, p. 155. J.A.J.)
When the Nelson Settlement was formed the adult population consisted of the landbuyers, a well-educated section, and the landless, most of whom were assisted immigrants. Amongst the latter were some very keen minds. There were many children, and some sort of education 'was definitely needed. Captain Wakefield realised this, and we find it stated in the diary of T. S. Thompson against the date March 9, 1842, that Capt. Wakefield said: "Now, you chaps, roll up, we're going to have a meeting to start a school. These children will be taught to read and write." The gentry got behind him and a subscription list was opened at a public meeting and Wakefield offered a subsidy of 50/50, also a site on Town Acre 203 (208). T. S. Thompson says that "at the meetings feeling ran so high in religion that we thought that there would be no school. Things cooled down a bit and it was agreed to read the Bible every day without comment." He ends up thus: "Never shall it be said that a New Zealand child cannot read or write." We learn from the Examiner that a suggestion from the Quaker, Fredk. Tuckett, was accepted that the system of the British and Foreign School Association should be followed. Things going favourably, a school was opened on September 12, 1842, with William Moore
In April, 1844, the school building was leased by a Roman Catholic, Ferrers, who moved his scholars into it.
In 1845 the remaining trustees, Tuckett and McDonald, handed over the empty building to the Nelson School Society with the proviso that a similar religious system should be followed by N.S.S. The building was moved to Spring Grove and became one of the N.S.S. Sunday and day school places. The site on Town Acre 203 (208) was a leasehold only and reverted to the Company.
It seems remarkable that a school starting auspiciously should so suddenly fade out, while in the same period of bewilderment and calamity a new one should spring up. Perhaps William Moore lacked the capacity to foster and maintain a young school while strong religious fervour coupled with initiative and drive enabled Matthew Campbell to do so. He was aided by his adoption of the plan of leaning on the Sunday School.
Resolution at public meeting of subscribers to Moore's School—
"That the immediate design of the subscribers is the establishment of an elementary school which shall be open to the chidren of all without regard to the religious opinions of their parents in which no sectarian views whatever shall be taught and that the Bible when read shall be read without note or comment."
Early in 1852. three young men (Bachelor, Carter and Thorn), on a hunting expedition in the Dun Mountain area, found an ore that aroused their curiosity (1). They showed this to Mr Walter Long Wrey, a mining surveyor in Nelson, who stated that it was a copper ore. Mr Wrey visited the area and in May, 1852, in company with Mr W. T. L. Travers and Mr W. Wells, made further investigation and obtained a lease of the area (2).
After favourable reports on the area by Dr E. Davy, Government Analyst at Adelaide, the prospectus of the Cook Strait Mining Company was issued in October, 1852, with £56.000 capital in £1 shares, with Mr D. Sclanders, of Messrs Morrison and Sclanders, Mr E. W. Stafford and Mr W. R. Nicholson, merchant of Nelson, as honorary and provincial trustees (2).
After further investigations and reports, Mr Wrey was sent to England, arriving there in March, 1854, just at the time England had declared war on Russia. After consultation with Mr Alexander Morrison (the Company agent) and others in London, it was decided to raise £10,000 for preliminary expenditure and, owing to the dearth of experienced miners in Nelson, to send 26 officers and men out from London under Mr
The 24 men consisted of navvies, smiths and carpenters, plus four miners, obtained with the assistance of a Cornish gentleman. After being entertained by the promotors at a farewell lunch at the Falcon Hotel, Gravesend, the party sailed for Nelson in the ship Sir Allen McNab, arriving here on August 8, 1855, and bringing with them the necessary gear and plant for starting operations. On arrival in Nelson they found that Travers and Wells had gone on with the development of the mine.
Some concern was felt in London in 1856 when one of the miners, returning to England, stated that the leads at the summit on the Dun were quite worthless. However, several tons of copper were sent to England, and other reports being sufficiently favourable, the Dun Mountain Copper Mining Company Limited was formed in London in March. 1857, with a capital of £75,000. of which £6000 in unpaid shares was allotted to the original promotors, the Cook Strait Mining Company (2).
By November 9, 1857. Mr T. R. Hacket, sent out as manager of the undertaking, reported in his first letter: "It was disappointing to find not so much as a single ton of copper ore in sight on the surface anywhere." and in Nelson he stated "the report of masses of ore, all moonshine".
On March 3, 1858, he reported that, despite the absence of copper, the chrome ore "holds down in four places where we have worked on it and is more than 12 feet wide… I cannot but condemn the copper mine entirely."
It is interesting to record that Mr George Duppa had spent a considerable time on the mineral belt prior to this and was responsible for the discovery of chrome ore (2 & 3).
In a circular issued in London in 1858, the company stated: "Our engineer has discovered in considerable quantities a rich vein of mineral known as chromate of iron, of which large quantities can be shipped. At Liverpool it is worth about £8/15/- a ton, and from about 1000 to 2000 tons can be readily sold," adding that "it is extensively used in this country in manufacturing into chrome and bichromate of potash and colours, and consumption is kept down by the difficulty of obtaining a free supply of the raw material."
Turning its attention from copper to chromate, the Dun Mountain Mining Company continued to develop and on July 17, 1860, two engineers arrived in Nelson to build the Dun Mountain railway line. They were both highly competent men who later had distinguished careers, Mr W. T. Doyne and Mr A. Fitzgibbon, who was his assistant. Before coming to Nelson they had just constructed the well-known railway from Colombo to Kandy in Ceylon. Mr Doyne had previously been engaged in railway construction in India, and Mr Fitzgibbon in the United States and Canada. Mr Doyne spent the rest of his life being called in to advise in practically all the Colonial Govern-in Australia and New Zealand, ment's important works, and Mr Fitzgibbon, after remaining in Nelson for a year in charge of the Dun Mountain operations, was appointed Engineer-in-Chief for Queensland and laid down its railway system.
In "The Examiner" of February 9, 1861, the following particulars
Gauge 3 ft; 14 bridges; frequent curves of 1½ chain roads: at a cost not exceeding £2500 a mile.
On September 12, 1861, "The Examiner" reported that the earth work and bridging had been completed and on the opening of the line on February 3, 1862, Mr Fitzgibbon stated that the work had been accomplished within the means of the company.
"The Handbook of New Zealand Mines" gives the following tonnage of extracted chrome ore, most of which came from the Dun:
The demand for chrome had been greatly stimulated in the 1850's when Sir William Perkins, an eminent English chemist, used it to produce a new colour, mauve. This first synthetic dye immediately came into great demand.
Unfortunately for Nelson chrome mining, the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861 stopped the export of cotton from the United States to Britain, closed down most of the Lancashire cotton mills and thus, for the time being, destroyed the demand for chrome ore. However, it appears that the Dun Mountain deposits of chrome ore were by no means as extensive as first supposed. The Geological Survey Report on the Dun Mountain (Bulletin 12) issued in 1911 says of the chrome deposits there, that "the quantity mined there was by no means great and very little now remains" (4).
(To be continued)