Early Wellington

Front Cover

Spine

Back Cover

Title Page

Early Wellington . . Compiled by . .Louis E. Ward Hon. Sec. New Zealand Geographic Board

. . Prefaced by . . The Right Hon. Sir Robert Stout P.C., K.C.M.G., D.C.L., L.L.D., M.L.C. Whitcombe & Tombs Limited, Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Wellington, N.Z., Melbourne, Sydney, and London.

Dedicated to the Memory of the late Sir Robert Donald Douglas Maclean, Knight Bachelor. But one thing most of all on Earth Will serve us best in grief or mirth, A talisman of priceless worth, A loyal friend. Harold Boulton.

Sir Douglas Maclean. Photo by S. P. Andrew

Preface by the Right Hon. Sir Robert Stout P.C., K.C.M.G., D.C.L., Oxon., LL.D. Manchester and Edinburgh, M.L.C.

“I feel honoured by being allowed to introduce to the notice of my fellow Colonists this most interesting book of Mr. Ward's.”

“It contains a mass of information regarding the founding of the City of Wellington and its Pioneers. It was at Wellington that the first settlers brought to New Zealand, by the New Zealand Company, landed, and immigration to our Dominion was inaugurated.”

“The book gives information that, if it can be obtained elsewhere, which is in some cases doubtful, would necessitate great research.”

“It is fortunate for our history that such a book has been published, and to it those anxious to know of the beginnings of our Colonial life must appeal.”

“It is a book that we can pass on to our descendants; they will, on perusing it, appreciate it and feel proud of their descent, and it will inspire them to live for their Country.”

“May we not use the words of an American poet and say:—”

Our slender life runs rippling by, and glides Into the silent hollow of the past, What is there that abides To make the next age better for the last? Is Earth too poor to give us Something to live for here that shall outlive us. Robert Stout.

The Terrace, Wellington

.26-5-1928.

Introduction

This work is an endeavour on my part to compress into one volume, events that occurred in the New Zealand Company's first settlement in New Zealand between the years of 1839 to 1850, with additional chapters containing a few incidents occurring up to the year 1870.

Part II. comprises the origin of place and street names.

The other portions of the book contain a few biographical sketches and general information.

While collecting data and illustrations, and during the progress of the compilation, I have received much assistance from many persons, and thus have formed unexpected friendships, enabling me to accomplish what has been an arduous, but enlightening and fascinating task.

To all these helpers, I tender my heartfelt thanks, especially to Sir R. D. Douglas Maclean,

The writer is grieved to state that Sir Douglas Maclean's death has taken place since the introduction was written.

who by his encouragement and generosity has made it possible to present to the public a volume on Wellington worthy of the city's beautiful surroundings.

I am also indebted to the following for information and photographs:— Sir F. R. Chapman for his kindly interest in the work and for the use of his library; Mr. Elsdon Best for his ready and valuable advice, and for checking the manuscript; Mr. E. G. Pilcher for early records and sketches, etc.; Mr. W. T. Neill, Surveyor-General of New Zealand (1928); and the Lands and Survey Department for use of official records and maps. Mr. W. J. Mc-Eldowney for loan of copper plate blocks which were once used by the “London Illustrated News” in the forties. Lady Maclean, Mrs. W. Simcox (senr.), nee Colenso (Otaki), Mrs. F. H. Spencer (Rotorua), Mrs. A. T. Ward, Miss A. Dorset, Right Hon. Sir Robert Stout, K.C.M.G., Right Hon. Sir F. H. Dillon Bell, Sir James and Lady Wilson, Bishop Sprott, Messrs. R. H. and G. E. Hunter, A. de Bathe Brandon, A. D. Crawford, J. Wm. Marshall (Rangitikei), R. S. Abraham (Palmerston North), Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Helyer, Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Taine, Councillor W. H. Bennett, Messrs. Jas. Cowan, R. K. Lyon, Lindsay T. Buick, J. A. Plimmer, C. J. Freeman, W. J. Halse (Wadestown), E. W. Kane, L. McKenzie, E. D. Cachemaille, A. B. Fitchett (senr.), H. J. W. Mason, G. A. Troup (Mayor), Officers of the City Council and Harbour Board Staffs, Mr. J. C. Andersen (Alexander Turnbull Library), Dr. G. H. Scholefield (General Assembly Library), H. Baillie (Public Library), The Evening Post and Dominion (Wellington), Auckland Weekly (Auckland), Free Lance (Wellington), Canterbury Times and Weekly Press (Christchurch), Messrs. R. P. Furness (Marlborough Express), E. T. Robson and S. P. Andrew, photographers, and to Whitcombes, for the successful manner in which they have prepared old prints and photographs for the illustrations.

I have relied principally on the veracity of published records, and made copious extracts from books and letters written in the 'forties, in an attempt to portray the conditions of life of that period.

Louis E. Ward.

18A Kelburn Parade. Wellington,

20/9/1928.

Fig. 2A—Reproduction of an Emigration Poster published in London, 1839. From the Original in the late Mr. Justice H. S. Chapman's Collection.

Fig. 3—Emigrants’ Departure from Gravesend, London.

Fig. 4—Scene on Board an Emigrant Ship. From an old print published in the Canterbury Jubilee Number, by courtesy of the Weekly Press, Christchurch, N.Z.

Chapter I. The Emigrants Depart From Gravesend. “Adieu! Adieu! My native shore Fades o'er the waters blue; The night-winds sigh, the breakers roar And shrieks the wild sea-mew. Yon sun that sets upon the sea We follow in his flight; Farewell a while to him and Thee My native land—Good night.” —Byron.

In the ship “Birman,” leaving Gravesend about a year after the despatch of the New Zealand Company's first chartered expeditionary ship “Tory” (which is dealt with later in this book) we find a typical example of an emigrant ship, and of the conditions under which intending settlers lived during their lengthy journey to a strange country.

From a letter published in 1848 (No. 257, Vol. 9 of Chamber's Journal) and kindly loaned to the writer by Mr. M. Murton, of Napier, is taken the following arresting sketch of the sailing of the “Birman.”

“The black and lofty hulk of a three-master ship of 800 tons register was lying in the river off Gravesend, waiting for the captain. Its destination was New Zealand, with a small stock of merchandise and 200 emigrants on board.

The scene on deck, to inexperienced landsmen's eyes, was one of inextricable confusion. A heavy shower had fallen about half an hour before; the decks, filthy with mud and mire, brought on board by visitors and lagging emigrants, were crowded and blocked up in all directions with stores of every description, mingled in indescribable disorder, amidst coils of rope and cable links, chairs, spare poles and timber, casks, boxes, bales and packages soddened with rain. Invisible, but imprisoned pigs were mingling their squeals and grunts in testimony of their disapproval, while a few others, either not yet housed, or broken loose, took their chances with the human population, and grunted amongst the cordage for the few vegetables scattered about. Near the entry to the first cabin stood a couple of immense hencoops, cruelly crammed with live occupants, whose ragged and ruffled heads, projecting through the rails, gave token of unusual contact with rough weather and rougher usage.

Aloft in the rigging hung whole quarters of oxen newly slain, and the occasional bleating of sheep, stowed away in some undiscoverable recess, gave proof of the praiseworthy determination to stick to fresh provisions as long as it was possible to do so. Though a sparkling rain was still falling, the deck was populated with emigrants and parties of friends about to be sundered in a few brief moments, many of them probably for ever.

Some were buoyant with hope, and enjoyed the anticipation of employment, and plenty, to which it was too evident they were strangers. Others were downcast and cut a sorry figure to appear courageous; some were weeping bitterly; some were joking with uproarious but forced merriment; some made their way, as well as they could, towards the open hatchway, over piles of packages and through parties of miserable leave-takers, and got down the ladder into the huge belly of the ship.

A few candles glimmered here and there through its enormous length; but the darkness was too great to distinguish anything in the immediate vicinity of the hatchway.

As vision grew accustomed to gloom, we saw scenes of disorder greater than on deck above.

Every kind of receptacle, box, basket, bundle and cask of all shapes and sizes, were scattered on the floor, and amongst them lounged or squatted, as best they could, more than a hundred people of various callings, ages, and of both sexes.

Some had tramped it for miles and were resting in the oblivion of sleep, in spite of the din of voices and the lumbering of heavy articles about and around them.

Others had just arrived, and were busily engaged in the vain attempt to find vacant spaces whereon to settle themselves and their provisions and goods.

Some clamouring to be shown their berths, while others complained of the locality allotted them, far from the hatchway, and in almost total darkness. Crowds of little children who could scarcely walk, tottered about amongst the lumber, prattling and pleased with the novelty; aged men and women sat calm and still amidst the hubbub, waiting for their turn to be disposed of. A grandmother of a large party of self-exiles bound to the Antipodes, sat on a small bundle sucking the end of an empty dudeen; close by sat a pretty and interesting young girl upon a blue, spotless trunk, writing a letter, an upturned cask her table, her inkstand a tea-cup.

Her tears fell faster upon the paper than the words from her pen; which at intervals she laid down to wring her hands and hide her anguished head in her handkerchief.

“Come, old girl,” said a bystander at length, “let me finish it for you; I'll tell our friends how merry we all are”—and he took the pen from her hand and assisted her tenderly up the ladder for a mouthful of fresh air. He then sat down and completed the epistle.

A small recess, about six and a half feet in width and height, formed the whole accommodation for each family for the next four or five months, clean and comfortable as expectations warranted.

Circumstances prevented better accommodation. Having inspected domestic arrangements and deposited their contributions to the marine larder, some pushed aside the curtains that enclosed their compartment, and went for a tour of inspection.

The sun was now shining brightly down the hatchway; some of the lumber was now stored away; many were on deck, but the place was still crowded, and it was a job to make way through groups busy in packing and arranging.

Some of the berths situated far away from the light of day, and visible only by the gleam of a dull candle suspended in a horn lantern, seemed too awfully dismal.

Between the berths, on each side of the vessel, piles of merchandise and ballast, reaching almost breast high, extended nearly the entire length of the interior.

Around the light of a single lantern suspended from a crossbeam, were congregated about a dozen middle-aged men of the class of small tradesmen, singing—“When passing through the waters deep, I ask in faith His promised aid.”

The confused and incessant noises were above and around them as the oldest of the band raised his hand and solemnly said, “Let us pray.”

As his peroration progressed, the perspiration streamed down his channelled features and literally dropped upon his clothes.

It was a scene such as a Rembrandt might have embodied in a glorious picture.

The gleaming light on the face of the suppliant, partially obscured by the shadow of his raised hand, the deep dense darkness of the background, the dim discovered forms of the distant figures of the group; the statue-like motionless physiognomy of the nearer distances contrasted with the supplicating earnestness of the speaker; all together supplied the materials for a composition such as that monarch of the dark masters delighted to portray.

The morning sun was shining on the hills above Gravesend when the black looking hulk, for so many days an object of curiosity and interest, had disappeared from the river.

Anticipations for a fair wind were not realised; seasickness was prevalent as rough weather was encountered. The nights were most miserable and discouraging, and the majority of the passengers were longing to set foot ashore, and regretting having committed themselves to the hateful sea.

The ship had been driven back twice in attempting to start from the Downs, and the passengers were looking forward with horror to a third attempt which was to be made that night. Their apprehensions were groundless, for after a successful attempt they cleared the Downs next day and proceeded onward on a speedy and a prosperous voyage. The ship arrived at the Cape of Good Hope on the last day of the year, and the passengers who had been tossing for weeks on the billows, were delighted with the place. Soft bread and fresh meat, a luxury, were now to be had, and some were fortunate enough to obtain wine at fourpence and sixpence a bottle, and fine mutton and beef at three-halfpence a pound.

Some desired to finish their journey and stay there, as employment was plentiful, provisions were cheap, but rents were high and the weather was as warm there in December as the English summer.

The passengers had parted with seasickness, and now had voracious appetites. Grog was served up on Christmas Day, and they pleasurably anticipated a print of wine on New Year's Day.

Services were conducted on board by the doctor, who officiated as chaplain. Games were initiated by some of the energetic ones, resulting, in most cases, in the formation of friendships that in after life withstood the trials and vicissitudes of an early colonist's life.”

It is necessary at this stage to refer to the state of the country, which the emigrants were approaching with such conflicting emotions; also to the pioneer ship “Tory” already sent to prepare the way for the proposed Colony.

“For a period of more than fifty years after its discovery by Captain Cook, New Zealand continued to be the scene of unceasing savage warfare, and it was left in the exclusive occupation of its aboriginal native race.

The first to land in the country was the Christian missionary; by degrees the South Sea whalers gained confidence to frequent its harbours from time to time, and an escaped convict from New South Wales, or a runaway seaman, took refuge on its shores; and for the protection of our countrymen, a ship of war occasionally made its appearance on the coast. But it was not until the great natural advantages of the country, and its political importance, were prominently brought before the public by the New Zealand Association, that the true value of the New Zealand Islands was fully understood.

A society, with Mr. John Ward as its secretary, was formed in connection with the New Zealand Land Company, consisting

Fig. 5—Maori Whare, Pipitea Pa, 1839. exclusively of heads of families and others intending to settle permanently in New Zealand on lands purchased by the said Company. The society already numbered among its members a considerable body of gentlemen who were determined to emigrate with their families and property. The committee met daily at the offices of the New Zealand Company, No. 1 Adam Street, Adelphi, and received applications for a free passage to the first and principal settlement, from mechanics, gardeners and agricultural labourers, being married, and not exceeding thirty years of age. The first object of the Company was to induce the Government to erect the New Zealand Islands into a British Colony; but, disappointed in their endeavours, the members themselves fitted out and despatched to New Zealand a preliminary expedition for the purpose of making purchases of land from the natives, for selecting suitable localities for the sites of settlements, and to prepare for the reception of emigrants on their arrival. They proceeded at once to offer for sale by lottery in England, the right of selection amongst the lands thus anticipated to be acquired by them; and though the country was at that time almost a byword for barbarism—without law or government—and inhabited by a wild and warlike native race; and though officially warned that their proceedings

Fig. 6—Court House of the First Settlement of New Zealand at Pito-one, 1839. (Blown down in 1847.) From a sketch drawn by Wm. Swainson, Esq., F.R.S. could not be sanctioned by Parliament, the New Zealand Company found purchasers in England to the amount of more than £100,000.

Without waiting to hear what locality had been procured by their agent for the site of a settlement, or whether, indeed, he had succeeded in making the purchase of a single acre of land, it sent out several ships filled with emigrants to be located on that spot, wherever it might be, which on their arrival in the country, they might find to have been procured for that purpose.”

Swainson's New Zealand, p. 74.

Fig. 7—Taupo Pa (Plimmerton Beach, 1840). Showing the Maori Pa where Te Rauparaha was captured.

Fig. 8—Native Potato Ground, Port Nicholson, 1840. From a Sketch by Captain Stanley, H.M.S. Britomart, in the writer's possession. The ground was cleared by setting fire to the underwood. The Crop, when gathered in, was placed on the raised platform (whata), shown in the foreground, thus securing it from the ravages of the rats, which were numerous.

Chapter II

The “Tory” Arrival at Pito-one—The Purchase of Port Nicholson.

“A sturdy ship of English Oak, with spars and rigging taunt— She bravely battled out the storms with canvas spread to vaunt The perils of that long sea-voyage—while mothered in her hold Were precious souls, all British born adventurous and bold. F. Marryatt Norris, 1928.

The selection of an exploring ship was made, and the pioneer ship “Tory,” a vessel of 400 tons, was bought and prepared for the voyage. She was armed with eight guns and smalls arms for all the ship's company; filled with the necessary stores and provision, and goods for barter with the New Zealanders, and manned with a strong and select crew. The ship was commanded by Captain Edmund Mein Chaffers, R.N., who had been acting master of H.M.S. “Beagle.” The passengers were Colonel Wakefield, the Company's agent; Edward Jerningham Wakefield, his nephew and acting secretary; Dr. Ernest Dieffenbach naturalist to the Company; Mr. Charles Heaphy, Company's draughtsman; Mr. John Dorset, who had been promised the appointment of Colonial Surgeon; Nayti, a New Zealand native, to act as interpreter; Mr. Richard Lowry, the chief mate; and Mr. Geo. F. Robinson, the surgeon of the ship.

In the steerage were Robert Doddrey storekeeper and additional interpreter; the second and third mates, and Colonel Wakefield's servant; besides the steward and his cabin boy. Petty officers and foremast hands, among whom were a New Zealander and a native of the Marquesas Islands, made up the total muster roll to 35 souls.

The high land of New Zealand was seen on the 16th August, 1839, about noon.

During the voyage a weekly manuscript newspaper and a debating society were established, and vocabularies of the Maori, or New Zealand, language were also constituted from Nayti's dictation, while lessons in English were given to him. Jerningham Wakefield, in his book, “Adventure in New Zealand,” pp. 49–65, describes thus the “Tory's” entry into Port Nicholson harbour: “We had got on board Barrett (a whaler), and his wife (Rangi) and children, with several attendant natives of both sexes, who formed a sort of colony in our ample 'tween decks. Dicky had long been too fat and heavy to go out himself in the whale boats, and left the affairs of the station in the hands of a clerk during his absence (from Te Awaiti.) We also took over a steady trader named Smith, who knew the natives well, and was to be left in charge at Port Nicholson, should we succeed in purchasing it.

“On the 20th September, 1839, piloted by Dicky Barrett, we advanced up the channel, and were boarded by two canoes containing the two principal chiefs of the tribe living on shore.

“One of mature years,” writes Wakefield, “named Te Puni, advanced with much dignity of manner to greet Barrett as an old friend, and was joined by his nephew, Wharepouri, a fine commanding man of about thirty-five. They were both nearly related to Mrs. Barrett, and had been Dicky's companions in the dangerous wars of Taranaki. The old man was as famous for his wisdom in council as for his former deeds of war. Wharepouri exercised the more immediate direction of the tribe, having acquired a more modern reputation by recent warlike exploits, by his attractive eloquence, and by his perfection in the native accomplishments of canoe and house making, and marshalling his followers in the field.”… . “Te Puni enquired the motive of our visit and expressed the most marked satisfaction on hearing that we wished to buy the place. Wharepouri also expressed his willingness to sell the land, and his desire of seeing white men come to live upon it.”

“The two chiefs passed the night on board.… “They acknowledged that they would be heartily glad to renounce war and cannibalism.” “In the morning of the 21st September, 1839, the two chiefs told Colonel Wakefield to go and look at the land and see how he liked it.”… “A chief named Amahau was appointed to take him up the river (Hutt), and they started, with Barrett and some natives, in a small canoe.

“Several of us landed at a large village opposite our anchorage and witnessed the ceremony of crying over Te Rangi, whom many of her relations had not seen for five years.

“The village lay, as its Maori name (Pito-one, or ‘End of the Sand’) implied, at the western end of the sandy beach,

Locality of Te Puni Street, Pito-one.

which is two miles long. The main river falls into the sea at the eastern end, and is called the Heretaunga.

“A merry brawling stream called the Korokoro or “throat” flows between the village and the Western hills. The valley seems to preserve an average width of two miles to a considerable distance, bounded on either side by wooded hills from 300 to 400 feet in height. It was covered with high forest to within a mile and a half of the beach, when swamps full of flax, and a belt of sand hummocks intervened.

“The tangi, or crying, continued for a long period. The resident natives raised the most discordant whining lamentations streaming at the eyes, nose and mouth, and lacerating every part of their bodies with sharp cockle shells until the blood flowed.

“The native visitors seemed anything but comfortable. They had forgotten the art of producing tears at will, and had a decided objection to spoiling their fine clothes, donned for the occasion, by any blood letting.”

“We found abundance of pigeons, and returned laden to the Pa.”… “We found also one solitary white man, named Joe Robinson, living in a village near the mouth of the river, having taken a native wife from the tribe. We saw proof of his industry and ingenuity in the shape of a boat, the planks for which he had cut with a handsaw; and he had made all the nails himself out of iron hoops. The boat earned many a pound in later times by trading round the coast.…”

“On Sunday, the 22nd (September, 1839), several canoes came off with natives to

Fig. 9—Te Puni, a descendant of Ngati Te Whiti Kotua, Chief of Port Nicholson.

Fig. 10—Wharepouri, Cousin to Te Puni. The Ship Tory in the Offing. Figs. 9 and 10 are reproductions of photos by Mr. Hapi Love, Junior, from the Original Paintings by Mr. C. D. Barraud (1861) hanging in Mr. Hapi Love's Maori Hall in his house (Taumata) on Korokoro Hill, Pito-one.

Fig. 11—Maori War Canoe. This canoe, named “Waiapu,” originally came from the Whanganui river, and was placed in the Dominion Museum. It was formerly used for fishing purposes, but was fitted up as a War Canoe and manned by descendants of the great Maori Chiefs (to demonstrate the Pito-one Natives proceeding to meet the ship Tory in 1839) at the Pageant held during the Prince of Wales visit to Wellington in 1920 (see Dominion Museum Bulletin No. 7, pages 121 and 81). Mr. Hapi Love has named some of the crew, they, reading from left to right, are: 1, Hapi Love, descendant of Jacky Love; 5. Wi Neera (Porirua), descendant of Te Rauparaha; 8. Kainaki (Taranaki); 13. Geo. Love. be present at our church service. One of them, a low skimming-dish thing, without top side planks, filled and turned over, ducking six or seven natives, including a woman, who were passengers. On the 23rd I accompanied Colonel Wakefield and Barrett to Ngauranga, where we found Wharepouri at work, with an adze, on a large canoe. The bottom of this vessel consisted of a single tree hollowed out, and was sixty feet long.

“Wharepouri introduced the matter of the sale, which a chief named Puakawa (Pu-whakaawe) or “Bitter Milk Thistle” rose and opposed with great energy. He spoke for an hour. On the 24th, the discussion was renewed at Pito-one; many chiefs being present from other settlements. After the serious discussion had closed, some of the warlike chiefs amused us, and themselves, by sham fighting, and their exercise with the spear and tomahawk. One, named Kaihaia (Kaeaea), diverted us much by his active menacing gestures and hideous grimaces of defiance; leaping about like a monkey, and bringing a long pointed wooden spear within an inch of our bodies; then retreating with a roar of laughter every time he saw us shrink from the thrust. He was called Taringakuri or Dog's Ear, and professed great hatred for Te Rauparaha, whose name he frequently shouted out as he brandished his hatchet against thin air.”… “On the 25th the goods which Colonel Wakefield intended to give the natives for their land, were got upon deck, in the presence of about a hundred natives. Except incessant chattering, they offered no obstruction or inconvenience to this process. On the 26th, the chiefs came on board accompanied by their sons, and examined and approved of the quality and quantity of the stuff, and on September the 27th, 1839, the distribution on the deck of the goods commenced.”

“Wharepouri superintended it with much formality. A handsome young chief named Wi Tako, who was related to Mrs. Barrett, received the share of his father, the chief of Pipitea and Kumutoto, and he arrayed himself in a good suit of clothes selected from the heap. Old ‘Dog's-ear’ received the share for his settlement, which is called Kai-whara-whara; Te Puni received that for Pito-one; Wharepouri took charge of the Ngauranga portion and despatched a share which had been made purposely smaller to the Pa Te Aro, where a tributary tribe called the Taranaki had its habitation. The sixth share was assigned to Puakawa and his followers.”…. “I had prepared a deed according to Colonel Wakefield's instructions.”… . “The boundaries and native names being inserted from Wharepouri's dictation, it was brought on deck and laid on the capstan. As I read it through, sentence by sentence, in English, Barrett interpreted into Maori.”… “The chiefs then came up in succession to the capstan in order to make their marks. As each one's name was called, I wrote it down and held the pen whilst he made a mark opposite. They all brought their sons with them, to bind the transaction and to prove that they looked forward to the future.

“The boats were then sent away with the goods for the settlements, the chief of each accompanying them and undertaking to distribute them at his own place.

The Purchase of Wellington.

“The first deed of purchase, dated 27th September, 1839, defines the boundary of the land purchased from the natives which included considerably more than Wellington City and suburban area.

Fig. 12—Bird's-eye View of Port Nicholson, New Zealand, drawn and lithographed by T. Allom, from Charts and Drawings made during Colonel Wakefield's survey in 1840, and the property of the N.Z. Coy. Reference numbers are: 1. Pito-one beach; 2. Heretaunga or Hutt river; 3. Nga-uranga; 4. Kaiwhara-whara; 5. Somes Island; 6. Lowry Bay; 7. Pipitea point; 8. Lambton Harbour and site of the Town of Wellington; 9. Oriental Bay; 10. Point Jerningham; 11. Point Halswell; 12. Ward Island: 13. Evans Bay; 14. Para Lake (Burnham Water, now Miramar Tennis Courts); 15. Karaka Bay and Seatoun; 16. Muritai; 17. Lyall Bay; 18. Breaker Bay; 19. Palmer Head; 20. Barrett's Reef; 21. Chaffer's Passage; 22. Pencarrow Head.

Fig. 13.—Port Nicholson, showing the Heads in the distance from Lowry Bay.

“The consideration given was: 100 red blankets, 100 muskets. 2 tierces of tobacco, 48 iron pots, 2 cases of soap, 15 following pieces, 21 kegs of gunpowder, 1 cask of ball cartridges, 1 keg of lead slabs, 100 cartouche boxes, 100 tomahawks, 40 pipe tomahawks, 1 case of pipes, 2 dozen spades, 50 steel axes, 1,200 fish-hooks. 12 bullet moulds, 12 dozen shirts, 20 jackets, 20 pairs of trousers, 60 red nightcaps, 300 yards of cotton duck, 200 yards of calico, 100 yards of check, 2 dozen pocket handkerchiefs, 2 dozen slates and 200 pencils, 10 dozen looking-glasses, 10 dozen pocket knives, 10 dozen pairs of scissors, 1 dozen pairs of shoes, 1 dozen umbrellas, 1 dozen hats, 2 pounds of beads, 100 yards of ribbon, 1 gross of jew's harps, 1 dozen razors, 10 dozen dressing combs, 6 dozen hoes, 2 suits of superfine clothes, 1 dozen shaving boxes and brushes, 2 dozen adzes and 1 dozen sticks of sealing wax.”

An article in the Journal of the Early Settlers Association, May, 1913 (Vol. 1, No. 2, p. 58), deals at length with the first purchase of the New Zealand Land Company (Whanga-nui-a-Tara>.

The spelling of the names as corrected by Stowell are used. Vide Journal of Early Settlers, Vol. 1, p. 3.

or Port Nicholson), and gives the signatures of the chiefs as follows:—Matangi, Te Puni, Puakawa, Te Kaeaea alias Taringa-kuri, Kariwa, Kawia, Tuarua, Wi Tako, Tingatoro, Tuati, Wakarudi, Emau, Atuawe Ra, Warihi, Te Wharepouri.

“Next morning” (the 30th), Wakefield continues, “we observed the natives gathering from all parts of the harbour. Canoes and parties on foot, glittering with their lately acquired red blankets and muskets, were all closing in upon the place of rendezvous. Fresh smokes rose every moment on shore as a new oven was prepared for the feast; and Wharepouri and the other chiefs who had slept on board, went on shore early to make the necessary preparations, accompanied by our carpenter, who was to superintend the erection of a small tree which the natives had procured for the purpose, as a flagstaff, close to the Pito-one Pa. In the afternoon, on a signal from the shore, we landed in our boats with all the cabin party, and all the sailors that could be spared, to take part in the rejoicings. We were joyfully received by the assemblage, which consisted of about three hundred men, women and children. Of these, two hundred were men, and had armed themselves with the hundred and twenty muskets they had received from us, spears, tomahawks, pointed sticks, stone and wooden clubs, etc. Even a dozen umbrellas figured in the ranks.”… .“Every one was dressed in some of the new clothes; their heads were neatly arranged, and ornamented with feathers of the albatross or huia; handsome mats hung in unison with the gay petticoats of the women and the new blankets of the warriors; the latter were bedizened with waistcoats and shirts, and belted with cartouche-boxes and shot-belts.”… “A universal spirit of hilarity prevailed among the excited multitude.”

“As we landed, Colonel Wakefield ordered the New Zealand flag to be hoisted at the staff, and the same was done at the main of the “Tory,” which saluted with twenty-one guns, to the great delight of the natives at the noise and smoke.”

“Wharepouri took his station at the head of one of the parties into which the fighting men were divided: “Dog's Ear” having marshalled the other at a little distance.

“Wharepouri was dressed in a large hussar cloak belonging to my uncle, to which he had taken a fancy, and brandished a handsome greenstone mere. His party having seated themselves in ranks, he suddenly rose from the ground and leaped high into the air with a tremendous yell. He was instantly imitated by his party, who sprang out of their clothes as if by magic, and left them in bundles on the ground. They then joined in a measured guttural song recited by their chief, keeping exact time by leaping high at each louder intonation, brandishing their weapons with the right hand, and slapping the thigh with the left as they came heavily upon the ground.

“The war song warmed as it proceeded; though still in perfect unison, they yelled louder and louder, and leaped higher and higher, brandished their weapons more fiercely, and dropped with the smack on the thigh more heavily as they proceeded, till the final spring was accompanied by a concluding whoop which seemed to penetrate one's marrow. After this preparatory stimulant, the two parties ran down to the beach and took up positions facing each other at about two hundred yards distance. They then repeated the dance, and at its conclusion the two parties passed each other at full speed, firing their guns as they ran, and took up a fresh position nearer to each other.

“A small reinforcement was now brought up from Puakawa's village at the mouth of the river to one of the parties, and we were much surprised to see at the head of it Richard Davis, the missionary teacher, dressed in warlike costume, and his head bedecked with the huia feathers.”… “They now for a third time went through the Peruperu, or ‘war dance,’ but dispensed with the sham fighting, as the day was nearing its end.”

“A haka was now performed by about one hundred and fifty men and women. They seated themselves in ranks in one of the courtyards of the Pa, stripped to the waist. An old chieftainess, who moved along the ranks with regular steps brandishing an ornamental spear in time to her movements, now recited the first verse of a song in a monotonous dirge-like measure. This was joined in by the others, who also kept time by quivering their hands and arms, nodding their heads and bending their bodies in accordance with each emphasis and pause. These songs are often made impromptu on various subjects, but those selected for the present occasion were principally ancient legends. At the conclusion of the haka, we were served from the ‘umu’ or Maori oven, with the joints of a pig, which had been sacrificed for the occasion.”… “This disposition continued unabated during the three days more that we remained at this place.”

“Dr. Dieffenbach and Mr. Heaphy engaged some native guides one day to go and look for some birds called huia, which were said to abound in this part of the country.

“They crossed the mouth of the Heretaunga River and ascended a steep ridge of the eastern hills. Among the forests on the top they remained ensconced in the foliage while the natives attracted the birds by imitating the peculiar whistle from which it takes the name of huia. They shot only two or three, which had followed the decoy almost on to the barrels of their guns.”

The “Tory” left Port Nicholson for Port Underwood on the 4th November, 1839.

The “Success,” cutter, arrived from Sydney December 4th, 1839, with Messrs. J. C. Crawford, H. Hesketh, R. Jenkins,

Fig. 14—Britannia (Pito-one) 1840, from a sketch drawn by Capt. W. Mein-Smith, R.A., taken from the Korokoro Hill. Tents and Houses are on the Beach, and Emigrant Ships near Somes Island.

Fig. 15—Te Puni's Pa. Pito-one. Showing Colonel Wakefield's Quarters and the Chapel. The bell used for calling the worshippers was presented by Bishop Selwyn, and sometimes was rung by him before the services. It is in the possession of Mrs. Hapi Love, O.B.E., a descendant of Te Puni. T. Jones, W. Read, R. Tod and family, and Dr. H. Taylor. (N.Z. Gazette 2/5/1840.)

After calling at several places the “Tory” set sail for Kaipara on the 16th December, 1839, and anchored in ten fathoms outside the entrance of that harbour on the 18th. The following morning Dr. Dorset, who was left in charge of affairs during the Colonel's absence up north, announced that the ship was aground, so the usual methods to get her off were taken, but in vain. Captain Chaffers and his crew exerted themselves unceasingly; five guns, three or four anchors and cables, a deck load of spare spars and several other heavy articles were cast over; some heavy mill stones and paving flags were hoisted from the hold and rolled overboard. One of them was carelessly sent through the best whale-boat, which lay at the gangway.

She was hove down on a sandbank at the first spring tide, and the necessary repairs proceeded with. Colonel Wakefield then proceeded overland to the Bay of Islands in order to charter a small vessel to take him to Port Hardy, to meet the first fleets of Emigrant ships.

In the meantime the barque “Cuba,” 273 tons, arrived on January 3rd, 1840 (Captain Newcombe). The passengers were:—Captain W. Mein Smith, R.A.; Messrs. R. D. Hanson, Carrington, R. Park, Stokes, and K. Bethune.

Wakefield in his narrative writes:— “About the middle of January, 1840, the “Guide,” originally a Calcutta pilot brig, of about 150 tons burden, and swarming with cockroaches, arrived, bringing letters from Colonel Wakefield to Dr. Dorset.

Instructions were given to charter the “Guide,” proceed to Taranaki and bring Barrett and Dr. Dieffenbach to Port Nicholson, and if they reached the latter place before the Colonel, they were to get the natives to build plenty of temporary huts in readiness for the emigrants.

On the 20th, just as it fell dark, they rounded Cape Terawhiti with a freshening breeze from the north-west. A fine moon, peeping every now and then through the driving scud, lighted them on their way, and by daylight on the 21st they were beating up within Port Nicholson close to Somes Island.

Some large vessels were at anchor between the island and the main, and white tents and new reed houses along the line of the beach at the foot of the Hutt Valley could be seen as they anchored north of Somes Island, close to a newly arrived emigrant ship. Two others, apparently discharged, also lay in the anchorage. “Landing opposite Pitoone,” states Jerningham Wakefield, “I was delighted to meet Colonel Wakefield, safe and well. He was accompanied by Captain Mein Smith of the Royal Artillery, to whom he introduced me as the Surveyor General of the New Zealand Land Company. We were also greeted by several other gentlemen, whose tents or huts were pitched in the neighbourhood.”

Chapter III.

Arrival of the “Aurora”—“Oriental”—“Duke of Roxburgh”—‘Bengal Merchant’ —Landing at Pito-one.

“Steer, faithful helmsman, steer, By stars beyond the line. You go to found a realm one day, Like England's self to shine. Cheer up! Cheer up! Your course then keep, With dauntless heart and hand; And when you've ploughed a stormy deep, Then plough a smiling land. Thos. Campbell, 1839.

The first four ships, (the “Aurora,” “Oriental,” “Duke of Roxburgh” and “Bengal Merchant”), with their wearied, but expectant passengers, arrived at Pitoone shortly after one another (between 22nd January and 28th February, 1840). Quarters were assigned to them in hastily constructed huts, and the Company's Emigration Barracks; while some were domiciled with friends until their arrangements were completed. The population of Pito-one was now increased by about six hundred European inhabitants, including a number of women and children.

A brief description of the ships and passenger lists is recorded in the order of the ships' arrival.

The “Aurora,” a barque of 550 tons, commanded by Captain Theophilus Heale, left Gravesend on the 18th September, 1839. She had 148 emigrants, and 21 cabin passengers, on board, some of the former coming out under engagement to Messrs. E. Catchpool, W. Deans, Geo. Duppa, Eaton, Hughes, and H. Moreing.

There were 25 married couples, 36 single persons and 40 children. Following is the passenger list:—

Name Age Wife's Age No. of Children Baker, Major R. — — —

Did not embark.

Barnett, David 20 20 1 Barnett, Hannah 18 — — Barrow, Jas. 40 40 4 Barrow, Jas. (jun.) 23 — — Barrow, Chas. 21 — — Barrow, Thomas 19 — — Barry, John 29 — — Barry, Richard 24 — — Barry, Wim. 31 29 1 Boon, Robert 26 — — Brown, Andrew (widower) 41 — — Brown, David 16 — — Brown, John 19 — — Butcher, Sarah 20 — — Carter, Joseph 28 27 4 Cemm, Joseph 28 24 — Child, J. W. — — — Coppin, Job 21 20 — Crowther, Ann 15 — — Crowther, John 30 — — Davis, Edward 28 29 — Davis, Rowland 30 31 3 Deans, Wm. — — — Deighton, J. — — — Deighton, F. — — — Dingeus, J. 26 — — Drake, T.J., lady and child — — — Draper, Sarah 28 — — Draper, Martha 30 — — Edwards, Jas. 30 29 1 Farrance, Jas. 20 18 —

Did not embark.

Farrar, Alf 29 — — Friend, Rich (widower) 33 — 1 Gebbie, John 26 24 1 Glover, Edward 25 23 1 Glover, Maria 19 — — Glover, James 34 27 1 Gratage, Dan 22 — — Groombridge, Margt. 24 — — Hayward, Wm. 30 — — Hicks, Chas. 25 — — Higgins, Robert 25 24 1 Holes, Peter 28 24 2 Houghton, Robert 42 42 6 Hunt, Uriah 23 23 — Langford, John A. 23 20 — Lodge, John 31 27 2 Maxwell, Jas. 20 20 — Maxwell, W. — — — Maxwell, C. — — — McDermot, Deborah 20 — — McGurk, C. — — — Meech, Henry 28 25 — Miles, John Clemt. 21 — — Milland, Richmond 29 29 — Mitchell, Thos. 19 — — Morgan, Miss — — — Morris, Ralph 44 44 — Morris, Daughter 15 — — Morrison, William 23 23 1 Nicholls, Wm. 21 — — Oxenham, John 29 — — Oxenham, Sarah 19 — — Oxenham, Jemima 15 — — Packwood, Edward 22 — — Pain, George — — — Palmer, G. T., ju., and lady — — —

Early Settlers' Journal, Vol. 2, No. 1.

Parke, Mr. R. — — — Parker, Samuel and lady — — — Parker, William 23 — — Parkes, Eliza 45 3 — Parkes, Chas. 20 — — Parkes, Henry 18 — — Parkes, Catherine 15 — —

Present at the Jubilee of 1890.

Petherick, James 33 30 5 Petherick, George 19 — — Prible, James 40 36 5 Prible, Richard 16 — — Prible, Ann 15 — — Pudney, Joseph 23 21 — Read, Henry 27 28 1 Richardson, Jas. 32 — — Roberts, John 29 27 3 Sadler, Jos 21 — — Sawyer, John 24 27 1 Smith, Benjamin 25 24 1 Stafford, Edward 27 22 — Stokes, J. M., Surgeon — — — Stokes, R. — — — Wallace, John Howard 23 — — Wallace, Wm. Ellerslie 25 — — Walton, Ann 27 — 1 Webb, William 33 — — Welch, — 25 28 — Whitewood, Wm. — — — Wilkinson, John H. 23 — —

The names of the passengers who arrived in the Company's vessels were obtained from the N.Z., copies of the ship's registers, by courtesy of the Internal Affairs Department.

The equator was crossed on the 5th of November, when Neptune paid the vessel his customary visit. The voyage was uneventful. The South Island of New Zealand was sighted at 6 p.m. on the 16th of January, and on the following day the anchor was dropped in Port Hardy. There was great excitement among the passengers as they were doubtful what kind of reception they would meet with at the hands of the natives, and every preparation was made to guard against surprise. The Maoris came off in canoes to the vessel and delivered a letter from Colonel Wakefield addressed to the captain of the “Aurora.” Some alarm was felt among the immigrants in consequence of not meeting with the “Tory,” which vessel had arrived some time previously from London. The anchor was weighed, and the vessel, with a fine breeze, passed through Cook Straits, arriving off Port Nicholson Heads on the evening of the 21st. On the following day the vessel beat up the heads against a north-west wind, accompanied by a trading barque called the “Helena,” from Sydney, commanded by Captain W. B. Rhodes, and owned by Messrs. Cooper and Holt. Both vessels came to an anchor under Somes Island on the 22nd.

Mr. J. Howard Wallace, in his extracts from his diary, January 22nd, 1840, states: “We prepared for landing. Richard Samuel Deighton and myself were the first to land, opposite the native village or pa at Petone. We strolled a short distance to the edge of the bush, observing, perched on one of the trees, several wood pigeons. Each of us the same instant shot one of the fine birds. The first great object of attraction was the venerable old chief Te Puni, his interesting and beautiful wife ‘Victoria,’ and his handsome daughter Aena, the princess, together with sons and endless relatives and a pa full of natives who were delighted to greet us with ‘Kapaite-Pakeha,’ Tena-koe, and other expressions of greeting. Our tents were soon pitched, huts were built by the natives, and what we termed the city of ‘Britannia’ formed.”

During the next week, the work of disembarking was carried on. A small jetty had been run out by the surveyors, locations were allotted near the beach for the pitching of tents and temporary huts, in the erection of which the natives assisted, and some wooden houses in frame sent out by the Company for the reception of the labouring emigrants were also set up. The following Sunday (on the 26th) the Rev. J. Buller, a Wesleyan missionary, visited the place and performed divine service on board the “Aurora.”

Captain Heale gave a farewell dinner on board the “Aurora” to the principal settlers on the 26th February, 1840.

The “Oriental.”

The barque “Oriental,” 506 tons, commanded by Captain Wm. Wilson, with Dr. J. Fitzgerald as surgeon superintendent, sailed from London on the 15th September, 1839, and arrived at Port Nicholson on the 31st January, 1840. There were on the Register (the New Zealand copy) 66 married couples, 29 single men, 3 single women, 17 children between nine and fourteen, and 9 between one and nine. There were 8 births and 2 deaths on the voyage. The names of the passengers were:—

Name Age Wife's Age No. of Children Anderson, James 22 23 — Anderson, David 20 — — Anderson, Jas. (widower) 40 — — Anderson, John 24 — — Baker, John 29 27 1

Did not embark.

Bannister, Wm. (See “Bolton”) — — — Barnard, James 26 27 — Betts, Henry 20 — — Binns, Richard 29 28 2

Early Settlers' Journal, Vol. 2, No. 1, p. 9.

Boyton, H. — — — Brooks, Albert 25 21 — Bryant, Uriah, 22, John 17 — — Burgess, W. B. — — — Catchpool, Ed., and lady — — — Clark, George 20 — — Cockburn, James 29 29 3 Constantine, Rob. 26 20 2 Cormacher, Peter 20 — — Crouther, Isaiah 30 36 2 Crump, James 34 — — Dean, Jabez 21 19 1 Detcham, R. 38 — — Detheridge, Henry 25 24 — Downey, John 23 23 1 Draper, Sarah 28 — — Duppa, George — — — Dyer, Joseph 28 25 1 Eaton, R. A. (widower) 53 — 2 Elsdon, William 25 — — Esdale, Andrew 37 29 — Esdale, Thos. 15 — — Esdale, Jas. 21 — — Estaugh, Samuel 21 22 — Everett, Wm. 20 — — Fairbrother, Richard 23 22 — Fardon, Wm. 16 — — Fitzgerald, Dr. J. — — — Foulds, William 25 — — Garner, John 36 29 3 Garrod, Henry 37 23 — Gatley, Chas. 22 23 — Grant, Wm. 20 — — Grigg, George 28 29 1 Grimm, Mary Ann 15 — — Hodges, A. — — — Hodges, Mary Ann 28 — — Holmes, James 26 24 1 Hopper, E. Betts — — — Hornbrook, A. — — — Hort, Abraham — — — Ingram, Samuel 16 — — Isaac, Francis 27 29 2 Johnson, John 30 32 2 Kentish, John 29 29 — Kettle, Chas. Henry 18 — — Ladd, John 25 — — Lenan, Donald 19 — — Levy, Solomon 23 — — Levy, Samuel 21 — — Lewis, David 34 35 — Lewis, J., and Miss — — — Linfoot, Richard 27 26 — Lot, James 23 — — Mantell, W. B. D. — — — Mason, Edward Thos. 21 19 1 McKay, Alexander 26 — — McKenzie, Thos. 20 — — Meech, Henry 28 25 — Molesworth, F. A. — — — Moreing, H. — — — Morris, Thos. 16 — — Morris, Thos. 15 — — Newman, Thos. 25 29 1 O'Brien, John 22 25 — Packwood, Laborne H. 20 20 — Palfrey, John 51 31 — Payne, George 29 22 — Petre, Hon. H. — — — Richardson, James 30 — — Robinson, Wm. 23 — — Rodgers, Charles 29 20 — Salmon, John 20 20 — Sayer, Richd. Burgess 21 — — Seed, Richard 27 25 — Shand, A. W. and lady — — — Sinclair, Dudley — — — Smith, John 31 29 1 Spencer, Abel 27 23 — Spiers, James 27 30 — Sutherland, Alexander 29 28 1 Tarvis, Alexander 24 — — Taylor, William 29 27 — Tucker, Josiah 17 — — Walker, John 26 21 1 Walton, Ann 27 — 1 Webb, Sarah A. 24 — — Welch, W. 33 32 7 Wrigley, Thos. 15 — —

Some of the above were especially recommended by G. T. Palmer (Junr.), J. Phipson, Lord Petre, E. B. Hopper, H. Hughlings, Lord Sandys, Mr. Wakefield, F. A. Molesworth, Sir R. Harland, Jas. B. Gordon, R. Hughes, G. Greenwood and the Hon. H. Petre. Some came out under engagement to Messrs. R. Barton, H. Moreing, J. Palfrey, J. Jackson, Eaton, A. Hodges, D. Sinclair, Dr. Evans, A. Hort, G. Duppa, Dr. Swan, Lieutenant Smith and others.

Some extracts from the log book, received by the owners (Messrs. Barry), and published in the “New Zealand Journal,” p. 176 (1840), are here given:—

“Thurs., Jan. 30. 1840. At 1 p.m.—light breeze—ship steering in towards an opening in the land that appeared to be Port Nicholson.

“Jan. 31st. Col. Wakefield visited the ship at 7th hour—Anchored in 7 fathoms water—From this time to 6 p.m., light variable winds—At 6h. 15m. anchored in 8 fathoms—The ‘Aurora’ and ‘Cuba’ saluted us with eleven guns each.

“Tues. 4th. Feb.—John Horst, Peter Crow, Ed. Lawrence and Chas. Hammond deserted from the boat.

“Wed. 5. Horst returned about 8 a.m.

Frid. 7th and Sat. Discharging the cargo and landing it at the settlement on the banks of the river distant from 4 to 5 miles from where the ship is anchored and set to work on the erection of tents and houses.

“Mon. Feb. 10th. Strong breeze from Southward—no cargo discharged—principal part of the emigrants are confined on board from same cause—issued a day's allowance of Pork.

“Sat. 15 Feb., 1840. Landing cargo and pasengers' luggage on the beach. The whole of the cabin passengers left the ship this morning.

“Sat. March 7th. The “Adelaide” and “Glenbervie” anchored during the night—Received Mr. Barry's letter per “Glenbervie,” dated London, 5/10/39.”

A testimony in favour of Captain Wilson dated 19th March was signed by the cabin passengers on board the “Oriental,” and presented to the captain.

The following is an extract from a letter written by George Duppa to his father, Baldwin Duppa Duppa Esq., of Kent, and dated 26th February, 1840:—

“Port Nicholson

“Some of the natives are very good looking, tall, strong looking fellows. They are most of them tattooed, but as they see the Pachias (Pakehas), as they call the whites, never adopt that practice, it is beginning to go out of fashion. I sent a maury (native), as they call themselves, out with my gun today to shoot pigeons, and gave him four charges of powder and shot. About three o'clock in the afternoon he returned with two pigeons and a large parrot, and one barrel charged.… .

“I call my tent ‘Oriental Tent’ because I made it myself in my cabin (ship ‘Oriental’), on my way out. The Council is called together today for the first time. We are to meet at 11 o'clock this morning, 2nd of March. It is now ten o'clock and I have to dress and walk about three miles.”—(“N.Z. Journal,” 12th September, 1840, p. 221.)

Arrival of the Barque “Duke of Roxburgh.”

The barque, “Duke of Roxburgh,” 417 tons, commanded by Capt. James Thomson, with Dr. Francis Healy as surgeon superintendent, sailed from Plymouth on the 5th October, 1839, and arrived at the Port on the 8th February, 1840. There were 25 married couples, 12 single men, 16 single women, 10 children between nine and fourteen, 29 between one and nine and 9 under one year. Following is the passenger list:—

Name Age Wife's Age No. of Children Baker, Henry 24 19 — Bassett, William 28 26 1

Early Settlers' Journal, Vol. 2, No. 1, p. 9.

Bell — — — Bryant, James 27 24 — Clark, Emma 23 — — Connor, Kitty 30 — — Cunday, Chas. 23 23 — Davis, —— — — — Farrar, —— — — — Fowler, John 30 29 1 Gilbert, Wm. 35 26 2 Gomm, and Lady — — — Goswell, John 20 — — Greenwood, J. — — — Hartley, Stephen 47 45 — Hartley, Jane, 16; Mary 15 — — Hawke, William 32 36 2 Healy, and Lady — — 5 Hebden, M. Jane 20 — — Hight, and Lady — — — Hunter, George (6 daughters and 4 sons.) — — 10 Hunter, Barbara 42 — — Jackson, and Lady — — — Jeffery, Joseph 25 29 1 Knight, Wm. 33 32 5 Lloyd, Fred A. 19 — — Lyon, William — — — May, James 29 20 — Monteith, A. — — — Parnell, and Lady — — — Pierce, and Lady — — — Poad, Thos. 28 29 2 Prouse, R. 42 44 3 Prouse, May, 20; Sarah 18 — — Prouse, William 15 — — Reading, J. Brown 26 27 2 Reynolds, Jane 22 — — Roberts, Phillip 36 34 3 Rule, James 27 22 1 Scott, and Lady — — — Smith, Frdk. 49 50 1 Smith, Dan Thos. 25 — — Smith, Thos, 19; Sam 17 — — Smith, Mary 15 — — Stephen, Wm. 50 — — Thomas, Wm. 33 28 4 Tucker, Josiah 36 38 4 Turtley, Arthur 26 30 3 Udy, Hart 31 27 4 Uren, Thomas. — — — Williams, Jas. 42 40 4 Williams, Isabella 22 — — Williams, Richard 20 — — Williams, Mary Ann 18 — — Williams, Elizabeth 15 — — Woodward, S. (Junr.) 27 17 —

Some of the passengers were recommended by Sir Wm. Molesworth, Jas. Furneaux, and John S. Savery.

(Signed) Francis Healy, Surgeon, and Robert St. John, Commander.

On the 7th February, Colonel Wakefield went out to the heads in the “Cuba,” and brought in the “Duke of Roxburgh,” the third ship, whose captain had been lost overboard accidentally in a gale of wind off Stephen's Island.

Arrival of the “Bengal Merchant.”

The “Bengal Merchant” was chartered by the New Zealand Company, and left Glasgow on the 30th October, 1839, weighing anchor on the Clyde on the 31st under the auspices of the Company. The departure of this ship was viewed in Scotland as an historical occasion; shortly before she left, the Lord Provost of Glasgow, with a large party, went on board and addressed the passengers. The Rev. John Macfarlane, the minister to the colonists, began his duties on board, and every Sabbath Day the passengers and crew assembled for worship. After the first service, he distributed copies of a pastoral address.

Mr. Alexander Marjoribank of Marjoribank, was the historian of the voyage, and Dr. Logan was the naturalist. After a tedious voyage of 113 days the ship touched at D'Urville Island on the 10th February, 1840, after a four months diet without fresh meat or vegetables. Mr. Macfarlane offered a prize for the best poem composed on board ship, but mention is not made of the successful poet.

In Mr. Marjoribank's “New Zealand” will be found one of the poems, written by him, “On board the Bengal Merchant, at ten o'clock at night, off D'Urville Island, Cook's Straits, N.Z., 11/2/1840;” it commences:

“The bell tolls four, the knell of parting day— The night watch sings, ‘Let lights extinguished be’ “—

In another verse he refers to Mr. R. R. Strang, late solicitor in Glasgow, who used to drill the passengers, to be ready for battle in case of being attacked by the New Zealanders:—

“Once more the gallant lawyer mounts his guard, Prepared for fight in yonder savage land.”

There were 30 married couples, 23 single men, 6 single women, 16 children under nine, 4 between nine and fifteen, and 13 under one year. One birth and one death occurred on the voyage.

A certificate of correct list of all those on board, when off the Clock lighthouse, dated 31st October, 1839, at one o'clock was signed by Dr. F. Logan, surgeon superintendent, and T. Hemery, commander. Following are the names of the passengers who arrived at Port Nicholson on the 20th February, 1840:—

Name Age Wife's Age No. of Children Anderson, A. — — —

The age of some not shown on the Register.

Branks, John 31 27 — Branks, Robert — — — Brown, Adam 23 — — Brown, Peter 27 21 1 Brown, Malcolm 20 — — Brash, William 39 28 1 Bryce, John 33 — —2 Buchanan, W. T. — — — Burnett, Samuel 28 28 2 Campbell, James 24 — — Colville, J. — — — Cook, Mathew 35 35 3 Cook, William 17 — — Crawford, George 27 — — Cullen, James 20 — — Dick, David and Robt. 22 24 3

Spelt Doreen in Bretts, p. XII.

Dorrain, Peter (senr.) 49 49 — Dorrain, Thomas 19 17 — Dorrain, Peter (Junr.) 24 19 — Dorsey, Dr., and wife — — 2 Drummond, Don 28 22 — Dugald, Elizabeth 19 — — Duncan, A. (Junr.), and wife — — 2 Eckford, Thos. 28 — — Forbes, Ann 22 — — Galloway, David 20 18 — Garuth, John and Rebt. — — — Gilbert, James 22 24 — Golder, William 29 26 4 Hay, Mr., and wife — — — Johnson, David and Jas. — — —

Did not embark.

Kelly, Chas. 34 27 3 Landsdale, James 31 20 1 Leckie, William 23 24 — Lockhart, Isabella 21 — — Logan, Dr. Francis, wife and F. H. — — 1 Macfarlane, Rev. John — — — Marjoribanks, Alexander — — — McBeth, J. 27 27 1 McBeth, Jane 17 — — McBeth, Daughter, born on Board, 29/12/'39 — — — McDowall, Wife and children — — 2 McEwan, Andrew 45 47 — McEwen, David 21 20 1 McGechean, John 20 20 — McLaggan, John 29 25 — McLatchie, George 20 — — Millar, Mrs. (widow) 57 — — Mitchell, James 23 — — Murray, Job A. 25 — — Murray, William 21 19 — Neilson, James 27 27 — Nisbet, John 40 36 — Nisbet, Thos. 31 — — Pollock, Thos. 21 20 — Rankin, Mary 22 — — Reid, Mr., Wife and Daughter — — — Reid, David 39 — — Riddle, James 27 — — Rowand, Andrew 22 — — Scott, Alexander 30 — — Scullers, Henry, 25 22 — Simpson, Thos. 21 — — Strang, Robt. Rog., and Lady — — — Strang, Miss — — — Tannahill, Wm. 20 — — Telford, John — — — Todd, Arch, and G. — — — Turner, John 19 19 — Turner, Andrew 20 — — Wallace, George — — — Webster, W. — — — Wilson, James 39 32 5 Yule, J. — — — Yule, Alexander 32 28 3 Yule, Moses 24 — —

On the 10th March, 1840, in the midst of the bustle attendant on the disembarkation from these three vessels, some alarm was produced among the newcomers by the report of a native attack. A smart firing of muskets was heard in the evening on the ridge of hills east of the valley, near the native village at the mouth of the Hutt, occupied by Puakawa (Te Pu-wha-kaawe) and his people.

Colonel Wakefield started along the beach for the scene of action. Natives and white men came running to him, with arms in their hands, seeking guidance from him, and the women and children screamed in chorus. On arriving at Waiwhetu, or “Star-river,” as the village was called, after the stream which flows under the eastern hills, he heard that the firing proceeded from our own natives up among the hills in search of Puakawa, whose protracted absence at night had raised the fears of his sons, who, upon searching for him, had found only a pool of blood. They had returned for the other men of the Pa, and these, firing their muskets at random in their usual way when excited, as they went up the hill, caused the alarm.

Colonel Wakefield returned to the Pa at Pito-one, issued forty stands of arms to the men on the beach, and appointed a rendezvous in case of need. Late in the evening, armed boats landed from the ships, ready to assist, and anxious to hear the news. At daylight, Colonel Wakefield returned to Waiwhetu with Te Puni and Wharepouri, and a large party of natives started up the hill to renew the search. About a mile from the Pa, Puakawa's body was found in the potato ground. His head had been cut off and his heart taken out. The woman and slave boy who had accompanied him were not to be seen, and were supposed to be captives. They wrapped the mutilated corpse in his red blanket, and bore it, lashed to a tree, in procession to the village, where the usual Tangi took place, after it had been deposited in the Wahitapu, or “sacred ground.” Colonel Wakefield tried to console the widow and children, and then returned to Pito-one with the chiefs. They seemed inclined to believe that the murderers came from the neighbourhood of Kapiti.

No sooner had the settlers disembarked than the want of authority for the preservation of order amongst them began to be felt. Ignorant of the difficulties of the enterprise in which they had hastily engaged, the New Zealand Company had made it their boast that they had undertaken the colonization of New Zealand in direct defiance of the authority of the Crown, but their first body of colonists soon found that, whatever may be its form, some governing power is the first necessity of the social state. Before leaving England the emigrants had entered into a formal compact amongst themselves that, when they reached their adopted country, every offender should be punished in the same manner as if the offence had been committed against the law and within the realm of England; that certain members of the colonizing body should constitute a Council of Government; and that in all criminal proceedings, an umpire, assisted by assessors, should decide on the guilt or innocence of the party accused.

Provisional Constitution.

A Committee was formed, comprising the following:—Colonel Wakefield; Geo. Samuel Evans; Hon. W. H. Petre; Dudley Sinclair, Esq.; F. A. Molesworth, Esq.; Capt. Edward Daniell; Lieut. W. M. Smith, the Company's Surveyor General; Messrs. R. D. Hanson, E. B. Hopper; Geo. Duppa; George Hunter; H. Moreing; H. St. Hill; Thos. Partridge; and Major Durie. Colonel Wakefield was first President. Dr. Evans, first Umpire, was to state the punishment if a party should be declared guilty. The Committee and Umpire were authorised to make rules, and the former were to direct the calling out of the armed inhabitants. Colonel Wakefield was to have the highest authority in directing the armed inhabitants when called out, with assistance from such persons as were chosen by the Committee. The Committee were to have power to make regulations for preserving the peace of the settlement, levy rates and duties necessary to defray all expenses attending the management of the affairs of the Colony and the administration of justice.

This constitution was taken on board the fleet of emigrant ships, when preparing to sail from the Thames, by some of the Directors of the Company; and the adhesion of the whole Colony was obtained to its enforcement.

It was in accordance with this agreement that the first meeting of the Committee took place on the 2nd March, 1840, in a wooden frame house belonging to Captain Smith, which was then situated in the sand-hummocks about half a mile east of Pito-one. Nothing was done beyond preparatory measures for obtaining the sanction of the chiefs, many members of the Committee being yet absent.

On the 2nd of March, 1840, at dusk, a report was brought to Pito-one that the Hutt River was overflowing its banks in many places. An attempt to ascend the river, in order to give assistance, proved ineffectual, owing to the force of the current swollen by the rains.

Colonel Wakefield went up the valley next morning and found as much as eight inches of water in some of the houses on the river-bank.

That afternoon the “Cuba” arrived from Kawhia, and anchored in Lambton Harbour, conveying Mr. Richard Davies Hanson, who was appointed agent of the New Zealand Land Company, for the purchase of lands.

On the 4th at noon the gale ceased, the weather cleared up, and the sun shone out bright and warm. The people at the Hutt joked about the fright which the flood had caused them and appeared to treat it as a picnic casualty, and no colds were complained of.

Fig. 16—Moreing's Creek, Pito-one. The Hon. H. Petre's Residence is shown in the distance.

Fig. 17—Banks of the Hutt River, near Molesworth's Farm. [Figs. 16 and 17 by courtesy Mr, R. H. Hunter.

About thirty or forty people, chiefly followers of Mr. Molesworth from Cornwall, erected a long row of reed and flax cottages on an elevated shingly ridge to seaward of the small creek at the south end of the bivouac, and christened it Cornish Row.

On the 5th the boiler of a steam engine was towed up the river, the different vents having been first plugged so as to make it float. On the beach a speculator from Sydney attempted to sell some goods by auction in the open air, and collected a goodly throng of gaping emigrants; but he wanted an advance of 50 per cent, on Sydney prices for bad things and could find no buyers.

Colonel Wakefield's room in the storehouse built by Te Puni, in the pa at Pito-one and which faced the south-east, was anything but warm during a heavy south-east gale, which threw a heavy surf on to the beach and tried the strength of several of the tent-ropes.

The only window to the room was a piece of canvas, and the door a rickety and badly fitted one from a ship-cabin. A large dresser along one side of this room, which was about eight feet broad and twenty long, served for table and writing desk. At the end furthest from the door, a “bunk,” or wooden shelf, supported the Colonel's bed. His nephew's (Edward JerninghaMcs), cot was placed on the top of a pile of musket cases and soap boxes against the partition.

The floor consisted of the natural grey shingle which formed the beach; and the roof, which was luckily water-proof, bent and yielded to every puff of wind. The plan of tying everything together with flax made these Maori houses so elastic that no wind could blow them down. The thatched walls were highly airy, and a copious ventilation circulated through them in every direction. They had plenty of thick blankets and slept well. A sea bath was close to the door, and wonders were done in the cooking by Saturday, a Rotuma man, who officiated as Jack-of-all-trades until the return of the Colonel's servant in the “Tory.”

Mr. Henry Moreing's tent was close by. This was a double tent, perfect as to order and comfort.

Next to Mr. Moreing's tents was the camp of Mr. J. C. Crawford, who had been one of the first overlanders from New South Wales and was dwelling in a hut. About this time he bought, for 1300 guineas, five land orders from Mr. Dudley Sinclair. These land-orders were each an authority from the Company to their agent to allow the owner to select one town acre and one hundred country acres according to the number which he had obtained in the lottery.

A brig arrived from Sydney with thirty head of cattle, said to have been chartered by a Company formed in Sydney with a large capital to buy land and occupy it. The agent on board laid claim to a large tract of land nearly opposite the island of Mana, bought from some former purchaser; but the operations of the agent had been stopped by a proclamation made at Sydney on the 14th of January, against any further purchasing of land in New Zealand.

The agent asked from £30 to £40 per head for his cows, but found no purchasers.

Chapter IV.

Landing at Pito-one—Church Service on the Beach.

“A land whose beauties importune The Briton to its bowers; To sow but plenteous seeds and prune Luxuriant fruits and flowers. Cheer up! Cheer up! Your course then keep With dauntless heart and hand; And when you've ploughed a stormy deep Then plough a smiling land. —Thos. Campbell, 1839.

The ship “Adelaide,” 640 tons register, commanded by Capt. William Campbell, left the river (London) on 18th September, 1839, and arrived at Port Nicholson on 7th March, 1840. There were 37 cabin and 144 steerage passengers on board. Five births occurred during the voyage, totalling the number of passengers to 186.

The names of the adult passengers and children over fifteen years of age comprised the following:—

Name Age Wife's Age No. of Children Alzdorf, Charles 24 — — Andrews, George — — — Bradey, Francis 45 38 5 Brady, Emma 20 — — Beaumont, Robert 30 26 1 Beckers, Eliza 19 — — Bell, Charles Frater 27 30 — Bennett, Charlotte 22 — 1 Boyle, Catherine 30 — — Boyle, Rachael 30 — — Bradford, Robert 34 31 2 Brown, J. W. Henry 25 26 1 Buchanan, James M (Schoolteacher) 55 — — Burcham, James 33 33 — Buxton, H. B. 39 33 4 Campbell, Robert 16 — — Cole, G. S. & H. — — — Constable, Edward 24 25 — Constable, John — — — Clarke, George 25 — — Cook, H. and T. W. — — — Cooke, E. — — — Daniell, Cap. Edward — — — de Oliveira, Leocadia — — — Durie, D. Stark (Major) — — — Ellerm, Edward (Senr.) 35 34 3 Ellerm, Edward (Junr.) — — — Evans, Caroline — — — Evans, Dr. G. S. Lady and Child — — — Evans, J. E. 24 20 — Evans, John — — — Fox, John 22 24 — Galpin, William 24 29 1 Galpin, C. and C. M. — — — Guthrie, Thomas 26 24 1 Harris, John 31 31 4 Henderson, D. 28 24 — Hewitt, A. and R. 28 26 1 Hunt, Charles 51 44 1 Hunt, Maria 24 — — Hunt, Emily 20 — — Hunt, Fanny 17 — — Johnson, F. J. & W. — — — Jones, Clara Elizabeth 18 — — Kemble, R. — — — Kimpton, Thomas 29 — — Knight, W. (?) — — — Knight, Thomas 28 — — Laurance, Joseph 21 — — Longmore, Thomas 20 — — Luscombe, J. H. — — — Luxford, William 39 39 6 Luxford, C. E. and G. H. — — — Luxford, W. N. — — — Marshall, Sampson 24 22 — McKenzie, Mrs. 35 — — McKenzie, Thos. 20 — — McKenzie, Thomas W. — — — McKew, Peter 34 36 4 McKew, Mary Ann 15 — — McNally, James 36 35 — Miller, M. — — — Minifie, John 24 23 1 Minifie, Elizabeth W. 44 — 1 Minifie, Matilda 15 — — Minifie, Thomas 22 — — Minifie, Joseph 17 — — Montague, Lydia 19 — — Natrass, J. — — — Oliver, Miss. — — — Partridge, T. N. — — — Pike, Mary Elizabeth 20 — — Reid, James (Brewer) 39 — — Revans, Samuel — — — Riddiford D., Lady and Miss — — – Roe, Charles Ed. & E. — — — Rutler, Samuel 20 — — Shannon, Florence Mr. Shannon arrived by “Cuba.” 32— — — Simpson, Joseph 26 27 — Smith-Mein, Mrs. W. — — 3 St. Hill H. and Lady — — — Stoddard, Mr. and Mrs 25 25 — Swann, James 38 39 5 Taine, J. J. — — — Thomas, Cap. J. — — — Thomas, J. — — — Ticehurst, Edwin 27 27 3 Tilke, Ann, c/o Mrs. Evans — — — Turnbull, William 24 — — Turner, Ann 20 — — Waddell, J. — — — Ward, Edward 18 — — Ward, James 32 27 — Weston, Frayton 19 — — Whiteman, William 15 — — Williams, Eliza 35 — — Wright, James 25 — — Wright, William 29 — — Yates, F. Thomas 22 — —

Certified while under weigh for New Zealand about 4 o'clock 18th September, 1839.

(Signed) William Johnston, Surgeon.

About four in the afternoon of the 7th March, 1840, Colonel Wakefield and his nephew Jerningham were sitting outside Mr. Moreing's tent, enjoying a cigar and the genial weather, when they saw three large vessels at once at the entrance of the harbour. One was recognised as the “Tory.” The others were the “Adelaide” and “Glenbervie.” A sudden storm of southerly wind, lightning and rain made them retreat under the tent as the squadron emerged from behind Somes Island under full sail.

They had not been long under shelter when Dr. Evans, one of the earliest members of the Association of 1837, burst into the tent, soaked through, but apparently wild with excitement and pleasure at having at length landed on the shores of the country in which he had been so long interested. He had arrived, with his family and several of the principal Colonists, in the “Adelaide.” The other ship, the “Glenbervie,” carried the Manager, Clerks, and well-lined safe of a branch of the Union Bank of Australia.

In the morning a grand salute was fired by all the ships, which lay at anchor in an extended line between the beach and Somes Island. The weather was delicious, and a large concourse of those on shore assembled to gaze on the imposing sight.

The six large ships, that had arrived previously, decked with colours, above which the New Zealand flag floated supreme, were thundering away. The natives shared in the general excitement, and proposed to take Colonel Wakefield in their canoes round the fleet. They started in three large war-canoes, racing under the stern of each ship in succession, while the salute continued. The place of honour was assigned to Colonel Wakefield, who was in Te Puni's canoe. The other canoes were commanded by Wharepouri and Tuarau. They shouted their war song most vigorously as they passed close to each astonished poop-load of passengers, and completed the circle of vessels at full speed without a single pause. Moe, or “Sleep,” a brother of Te Puni, caused much amusement by his grimaces as he plied his paddle at the bow of Te Puni's canoe, which got back first to the beach.

During the next few days the passengers of the “Adelaide” made themselves acquainted with the respective merits of the two sites for the town (Pito-one and Thorndon), and gave their decisions almost unanimously in favour of Thorndon. It was, therefore, decided to commence the survey of that district.

Some delay was caused by the change, as the time already spent in cutting lines and laying out the streets in the valley of the Hutt became almost useless!

Wakefield's Adventure in New Zealand, p. 158.

The following is an extract from a letter written by a passenger of the “Adelaide” on the 21st December, 1839.

“We left Teneriffe on the 16th of October and crossed the line on the 14th of November. We are all well and in good spirits and have lost only two or three children, and a man who fell overboard. Mrs. Miller gave birth to an infant, and Mrs. Riddiford had a daughter on board on the 28th November. Some quarrels have occurred; one cause of difference was the putting into Table Bay on the 19th December, under the impression that the delay would swell to a month at least.”—“N.Z. Journal,” 1840, p. 42.

A passenger on the “Adelaide” related some of his experiences, which were published in Bishop's Guide to Wellington, 1883, kindly lent to the writer by Mr. Hamilton Bannister, and from which a few extracts are here given:—

“On the 7th March, 1840, I arrived in the harbour of Port Nicholson, in the ship ‘Adelaide,’ after a protracted passage of six months. The voyage was rather an eventful one. In crossing the Bay of Biscay we encountered a severe gale, with a high tumultuous sea, and it was with great difficulty that the Captain saved the masts. After crossing the Bay we put into Santa Cruz, Teneriffe. We lay there three days, and took on board some live stock, and a large supply of fruit… . Previous to crossing the line, a dispute arose amongst the passengers, occasioned, no doubt by the ‘strength’ of the bilge water (?) which could only be settled by an interchange of civilities on shore. This necessitated the calling at Cape Town, very much to the annoyance of our Captain, as it would considerably protract the voyage. On arriving at Cape Town, the belligerents landed, and arrangements were made to settle their differences. After stepping off the usual number of paces, and the seconds placing their men, one of the principals refused to fight. He was willing enough for his opponent to fire at him, but positively refused to return the fire. The seconds, of course, could not allow this to be done, and so the matter ended in the Law Courts. The result was that the Captain and one of his principals were bound over to keep the peace, and thus ended this bloodless affair. After a detention of about a fortnight at the Cape, we again set sail for New Zealand, and arrived here as above, having previously called at Port Hardy for instructions.”

“The settlers from the first five vessels—‘Aurora,’ ‘Oriental,’ ‘Duke of Roxburgh,’ ‘Bengal Merchant,’ and ‘Adelaide’—landed at Pito-one, and the ships lay at anchor under the lee of Somes Island. On my first landing, a mere lad, I was delighted with the novelty of the scenes that met my view, and the bustle and activity going on around me so occupied my thoughts as to leave no room for gloomy anticipations of the future. There was one scene, however, that was more deeply impressed on my mind than any other, and that has never been effaced during the vicissitudes of a Colonial life. I allude to the first Sabbath service I attended after my arrival in New Zealand.”

Church Service at Pito-One, 1840.

“It was a beautiful calm day, not a cloud to be seen in the sky, and the sun shone forth in its meridian splendour. The magnificent harbour of Port Nicholson lay before us, but not a breath of wind to ruffle the surface of its waters; and the laving of the tide upon the beach was the only sound heard in that direction, to break the stillness of the peaceful scene. To the left might be seen, anchored off Somes Island, the vessels which had been for months the temporary homes of the settlers, and which had brought them in safety across the mighty deep, with the British Ensign hanging at their peak. To the right, and about a quarter of a mile distant, was the bush with its various and beautiful foliage. The Nikau palm and the Tree fern being conspicuous in their beauty; and the woods were musical with the song of birds. The back ground consisting of tall flax and the feathery toi toi (toetoe), which was then in full bloom. Adjoining, and a short distance from Petone Beach there was a small clump of Karaka trees, under the shade of which the settlers assembled to worship God. There was no Sabbath bell to call the congregation together, but the song of the bell bird could be distinctly heard above all the songsters of the grove. There were about thirty or forty persons, among whom I remember Mr. Robert Roger Strang, Mr. George Hunter (afterwards the first Mayor), Mr. Wm. Lyon, Mr. K. Bethune, Mr. J. Telford, Mr. Francis Yates, Mr. Robert Kemble, Mr. Buchanan, and many whose names I have forgotten.

“The greeting was most cordial as friends met and briefly related their several experiences to each other, since leaving the Mother Country.…

“The Rev. John Macfarlane, the only clergyman who accompanied the first expedition, officiated. He was then in the vigour of manhood, was of medium height, and formed a prominent feature in the group. When the Rev. gentleman said ‘Let us worship God,’ every head was reverently uncovered and the small company joined with all earnestness in singing the C. Psalm: ‘All People that on Earth do Dwell.’ He then read a portion of Scripture, after which he offered up a prayer. And there, with the canopy of heaven for a covering, did they pour forth their thanksgiving to God for bringing them in safety across the mighty deep to their desired haven.… Then was sung ‘O God of Bethel, by whose hand,’ etc. After a short sermon the XXIII. Psalm was sung: ‘The Lord's my shepherd; I'll not want,’ etc. And here I may mention that Sabbath services were afterwards regularly held in Bethune and Hunter's store on the banks of the Hutt, and sometimes at Colonel Wake-field's house at Pito-one. What a contrast the previous week had been to this peaceful and holy Sabbath.”

The writer of the above then refers to the murder of Poukawa, a Ngatiawa chief, and continues:—“In order to make reprisals, an expedition of over 300 warriors was raised to secure ‘utu’ (or blood for blood payment), and had departed with threats of direful vengeance.

“It was in the interim that the ‘First Sabbath service,’ as above recorded, was held.”

The “Glenbervie.”

The store ship “Glenbervie,” 387 tons commanded by Capt. Wm. Black, left London on October 2nd, 1839, and arrived at the Port on the 7th March, 1840. There were five cabin and two steerage passengers. The names of the former were Messrs. J. Smith, R. Inglis, R. Heaver, Mr. Watt and lady, and Mr. and Mrs. Northwood.

Early Settlers' Journal, Vol. 2., No. 1., p. 10.

Lady readers will be interested to learn how the passengers were provided with suitable clothes for the voyage and Colonial life, with which they were supplied at the prices quoted hereunder:—

Outfit for Emigrant Labourers. Female. 2 Gowns, 18 yds. print cotton 9/- 2 Petticoats, 6 yds. Col. calico 3/- 2 Petticoats, flannel 6 yds 6/- 12 Shifts, 30 yds., long cloth 15/- 6 Caps, 3 yds. of muslin 3/- 6 Aprons, 6 yds. calico 3/- 6 Handerchiefs 3/- 6 Neckerchiefs 4/6 6 Towels 3/- 1 Pair Stays 5/- 6 Pair black worsted stockings 7/6 2 Pair shoes 8/- 1 Bonnet 3/- Needles, pins, tapes, etc. 5/- 2 Ibs. soap 3/- 2 Ibs. starch — Male. 2 Fustian jackets 15/- 2 Pair trousers 12/- 2 Pair duck trousers 5/- 2 Round frocks 5/- 12 Cotton shirts £1/7/- 6 Pair worsted stockings 9/- 2 Scotch caps 3/- 6 Handkerchiefs 3/- 6 Coarse towels 3/- 1 Pair boots 10/- 1 Pair shoes 6/- 4 Ibs. of soap 2/- 1 Pair blankets 10/- 2 Pair sheets 10/- Sum required for Married Couple £10/-/-.

The barque “Bolton,” 540 tons, commanded by Capt. J. P. Robinson, with Dr. R. Godfrey Lowe as Surgeon Superintendent, sailed on the 1st November, 1839, and arrived April 21st 1840. There were 66 married couples, 23 single men, 13 single women, 23 children from nine fourteen, 60 children from one to nine, and 8 under one year.

The “Bolton,” described as the “October” ship, had, against the name of each emigrant, the names of the following persons who recommended them, and summarised thus:—Lord Petre, Revds. Butler and J. F. Churton, Messrs. H. Shafto, Harrison, Jas. Gordon, Hulke, T. Woolcombe, Geo. Whiting, Collet, J. Coverdale, J. Minet, B. E. Duppa, E. Cherry, Jos. Somes, J. Phipson, Ashton, W. E. Wallace, Mears, and Gracechurch.

Enquiries respecting Agricultural Labourers were noted on the back of the Register. These apparently emanated from J. Raymond Barker, Esq., Fairfield Park, Glostershire, and Captain Raymond, Gravesend, C/o Lewis Gilson, Esq., Star Office, Fresh Wharf, London Bridge.

The passenger list is as follows:—

Name No. of Children

Did not embark.

Annear, James and Ann — Atkinson, Mary Ann — Avery, Thos. and Eliza 6 Bannister, William and Mary 2 Bannister, John, Wm. (Junr.) — Barnes, Charles — Bowdler, John and Hannah 3 Broggraf, Jas. and Eliza — Butler, Rev. J. Gare and >Hannah — Butler, Thos. Chas. and Louisa 1 Carter, Thos. and Mary Ann 2 Castle, John and Maria 4 Catley, Zachariah and Sarah 4 Chapman, Sarah — Cherry, Edward and Ann 3 Churton, Rev. J. F. and Mary 5 Clark, Stephen 5 Clarke, Wm. (widower) 2 Clarkson, Wm. and Sarah 4 Clover, Harriet and Thos — Cockram, Thos. and Maria — Collett, Jas. Ed. — Collett, Rachael Teresa — Cowdry, Susan — Cox, John — Craven, Thomas — Creamer, James — Cross, John and George — Curry, — Davis, W. F. and Sarah Ann — Duffield, Geo. and Martha — Dykes, Wm. and Betsy — Dykes, George — Eastwood, Wm. and Mary 3 Edwards, James — Falivasser, Sarah — Farmer, John and Mary 4 Florance, John and Jane — Goldsworthy, John and Eliz. 3 Goodhew, Wm. and Matilda 1 Goward, John (Pilcher's Nephew) — Green, Elizabeth — Griffiths, Louis and Ann 5 Hales, George and Ann 4 Hargreaves, Eliza — Harris, Abraham and Sarah 5 Harris, Diana — Harrison, — 3 Harrison, Henry Shafto 3 Harrison, Henrietta 3 Harrison, Rob. J. 20, Isabella 2 Harryman, James 4 Harvey, James and Mary 1 Heywood, Wm. Jas. and Eliza — Honey, Thos. — Hook, Bennett (widow) — Houghton, Nat. George — Hughes, Geo. and Eliza 4 Hunt, Wm. and Hannah 6 Hurst, Wm. and Mary Ann 6 Ingram, George — Jones, John and Ellen 5 Jones, Mary — Judd, William — Kelly, Chas. — Knight, William — King, James and Susan — King, John and Frances — Lancaster, John — Lane, Edward — Lane, Mary — Larken, John 1 Lewis, Elizabeth — Lockwood, John and Daniel — Lockyer, George — Long, John and Elizabeth 2 Lovelock, Isaac and Elizabeth 4 Lowe, R. Godfrey, M.D. — Madden, — — Maddox, Sam and Sarah — Mason, Jas. and Rachael — Midgley, Henry — Millgate, — — Minet, Joseph and Amie A. 4 Moore, J. O'Malley 2 Morgan, — — Nash, Jas. H. and Ann 3 Nankivell, Robert 5 Nankivell, William — Packman, William 4 Packman, Mary and Wm. (Junr.) — Payne, Wm. and Eliza — Penfold, Jos. and Mary 3 Peters, — — Pilcher, Stephen (Widower) 2 Pilcher, George and Susan — Pratt, Thomas and Maria 5 Price, Elizabeth 3 Rawson, John and M. Ann 5 Relf, Robt. and Anne 6 Rumball, Jas. and Mary 2 Rumble, Jas. and Sarah 2 Russell, Elizabeth — Scott, Elizabéth — Scott, George and Mary 4 Shuter, Sam and Maria 5 Spackman, Geo. and Mary — Spinner, Robert — St. Hill, Ashton (15 yrs.) — Sutton, Henry — Swallow, Ed. and Ann — Sykes, — — Terrey, James — Trevarton, Wm. and Eliza 3 Trist, Jane — Tyler, James — Wadeson, Sam — Waggon, Ed. (widower) — Walsh, Ed. and Mary Ann 6 Walter, Wm. and Sarah 2 Whitley, Wm. and Mary 3 Wibley, Wm. and Anne Lane 3 Williams, Wm. Dorothy 3 Winnell, Mary — Wood, Geo. and Eliza 3 Woodman, Thos. and Mary 4 Zilwood, Jos. and Eliza 2

When the New Zealand Company sent out their exploring expedition, they explained to Colonel Wakefield that there was probably some one part of New Zealand better suited than any other to become the centre of its trade. The shores of safe and commodious harbours, the sheltered emboucheres of an extensive river communicating with a fertile country, were the situations to which his attention was directed, and he was especially instructed to make purchases of land on the shores of that harbour which should appear to offer the greatest facilities as a general trading depot, and port of export and import for all parts of the Islands. But closely followed, unfortunately, by several hundred intending settlers, Colonel Wakefield had no time to spare in selecting a site for their location. Many harbours were already occupied by claimants still earlier in the field, and in the selection of a site for their first and principal settlement, the New Zealand Company was confined to unoccupied localities.

On visiting Thorndon, the level piece of land at the south west extremity of the harbour, on which he had intended to place the town, Colonel Wakefield was well received by the natives of that part. More than one competitor for land had paid a visit since the Colonel's departure for the North, and had attempted to buy patches of land over the agent's head. One of these was a Mr. R. Tod, who had been fortunate enough to discover an inferior chief named Moturoa, who was absent during the Port Nicholson purchase in September, and who had agreed to sell him three or four acres on the most promising part of the beach, near Pipitea Point and Pa (corner of Mulgrave and Pipitea Street). Mr. Tod appeared resolved to maintain this transaction by every possible means, but Moturoa very soon showed a disposition to assent to the large sale of Port Nicholson, and receive some utu from Colonel Wakefield for his rights and claims, which Wharepouri and Te Puni both described as very insignificant.

Two acres of land, adjoining section 600 and Pipitea Pa, with a frontage to the beach, were granted to the Church Missionary Society in the names of the Rev. Henry Williams and Richard Davis, in lieu of their claim.

The sand hummocks at the back of the long beach at Pito-one were dotted with tents of all sizes and shapes, and native built huts in various stages of construction, while heaps of goods lay about anywhere between high-water mark and the houses. Ploughs, bricks, millstones, tent poles, saucepans, crockery, iron, pothooks, triangles, casks of all sizes, bales of all sorts were distributed about. The greatest good humour prevailed among the owners of these multifarious articles. The novelty and excitement of their employment appeared to give them high spirits and courage. They pitched their tents and piled up their goods in rude order, while the natives, equally pleased and excited, sung Maori songs to them from the tops of the whares or huts where they sat tying the rafters and thatch together with flaxen bands. At the back of the tavern, whither a flagstaff and a New Zealand flag invited the sailors, a rough and newly made track struck off to the settlement on the riverbank, across a miry swamp. About a quarter of a mile beyond this swamp, at the junction of a small creek with the Hutt, was the beginning of a little village of tents and huts, among the low scrubby coppice wood which covered this part of the valley. A rough path had been cleared by the surveyors along the bank, and on either side of this the Colonists had been allowed to squat on allotted portions until the survey of the Town should be completed.

Captain Smith had preferred the lower part of the valley of the Hutt to Thorndon and its neighbourhood for the site of the town, as the whole eleven hundred acres, with sufficient reserves, for promenades and other public purposes, could be laid out on level ground in the alluvial valley. He had neglected the instructions given by Colonel Wakefield to the man (another Mr. Smith), left behind by the “Tory” in September, 1839, to have the town laid out at Thorndon, and had proceeded with the survey of the Hutt banks. The dense forest and swampy ground impeded the rapid progress of the survey.

The squatters on the Hutt were no less busy and merry than their fellows on the beach. Mr. Edward Betts Hopper, of Dover, Mr. Henry William Petre, and Mr. Francis Alexander Molesworth had formed themselves into a commercial firm, and had brought with them the complete machinery of a steam-engine of twenty horse power, adapted for sawing or flour mills.

They were as busy as the rest, landing and arranging their goods. At high water, the ship's long-boats and private cargo-boats brought quantities of goods up to the owners' locations. The labourers and masters worked altogether at the casks, bales, and other heavy things; the natives lent their willing aid, being very handy in the water and then returned, either to a job at hut-building, or to hawk about their pigs and potatoes, which they brought in canoes to this quick market.

Each capitalist appeared to have a following of labourers from his own part of the country. Cornish miners and agricultural labourers had pitched their tents near Mr. Molesworth; Kentish men dwelt near Mr. George Duppa, a little higher up; and many of the Scotch-people were collected near a point between two reaches of the river, where Mr. Dudley Sinclair and Mr. Barton were erecting their dwellings. At the latter place Mr. Sinclair's English cow was browsing on the shrubs of her newly-adopted country.

Small patches for gardens were already being cleared in various spots; ruddy flaxen-haired children were playing about near the doors; and the whole thing made an impression of cheerfulness and contentment.

Then the mildness of the climate, the good preparations made before leaving England, and the hearty good-feeling existing among the Colonists themselves as well as between them and the natives, all tended to give the extensive bivouac the air of a picnic on a large scale, rather than a specimen of the hardships of a Colony.

For, although all were often wet in the numerous boat excursions and fording of streams and creeks, or occasional showers of rain, no one felt any injury to his health; master and man toiled with equal energy and good-will; and both enjoyed a good meal, often served up with all the comforts of civilised life. Thus, in a little, cramped, but weather-tight tent, you found a capitalist in shirt-sleeves, taking a hasty meal of preserved meat and good vegetables (the latter grown from the seeds that were left with Smith), and drinking good beer or wine. Each English family had got a native or two particularly attached to them. They supplied their guests with potatoes and firewood, and with an occasional pig; shared in the toils and meals of the family; delighted at the novelty of every article unpacked, and were very quick at learning the use of the new tools and inventions; chattered incessantly in Maori and broken English; and devoted themselves, each to his own Pakeha, with the greatest good-breeding, patience and kind attention.

“Wakefield's Adventure,” p. 148.

Te Puni had attached himself especially to Colonel Wakefield. The stores were placed entirely under his care, of which he was not a little proud. He and his people were engaged in a good sized house near the store-house for the Colonel. Another Pito-one man built a house for Jerningham Wakefield, which the latter made over to Dr. Dorset, who had taken shelter at first under the roof of an old friend of his, a passenger in the “Aurora.”

A few wanderers from Australia and elsewhere arrived in small schooners and cutters about this time. A grog shop

Fig. 18—Pito-one Beach, where the first settlers landed. Copied by Mr. Basil R. Ward, A.R.I.B.A. (Rangoon), from a pencilled sketch drawn by Betts-Hopper, Esq., from on board the Oriental (seen in the forefront) in 1840. “The village lay, as it's Maori name (‘Pito-one,’ or ‘End of the Sand’) implied, at the Western end of the sandy beach, which is two miles long… The valley seems to preserve an average width of two miles to a considerable distance, bounded on either side by wooded hills from 300 to 400 ft. in height. It was covered with high forest to within a mile and a half of the beach, when swamps full of flax and a belt of sand hummocks intervened.” (Wakefield's Adventure in N.Z., p. 54). This picture depicts the few tents and huts on the beach. The original of this sketch is in a book of sketches in the possession of Mr. E. G. Pilcher. The book (over a hundred years old) contains sketches of old English scenery, and the hills near Port Nicholson, drawn by Mr. Hopper as the Oriental sailed slowly into the Harbour.

Fig. 19—Hon. Francis Molesworth's Residence at the Hutt, 1841. was established half-way along the beach, where a disorderly assemblage of sailors, stray whalers, and bad characters from the different whaling stations, had become accustomed to meet, and caused some annoyance to the quiet settlers by their drunkenness and wild orgies.

Colonel Wakefield's warning to the tavern keeper against a continuance of these disturbances, was treated with contempt. Upon this he explained his views to Te Puni and Wharepouri, and they, with several other chiefs of authority, accompanied him, with their arms and mats of state, to the den in question, and confirmed the Colonel's statement that he had acted by their authority. This demonstration had the desired effect.

Chapter V.

Mail Day at Pito-one. “A highway o'er the mountain waves, that plunge in mad commotion., Is opened up for commerce, and we welcome every sail Which brings us news of loving friends we left beyond the ocean; Our hearts beat quick with hope and fear whilst waiting for the mail.” —Thos. Bracken.

The following are extracts from letters written by Colonists, and published in the New Zealand Journal, London, 1840. The first was written on the 10th March by Miss Riddiford to Mrs. Ramsey, Old Brompton, England.

Port Nicholson

, 10/3/1840.

“The beach is covered with little wooden houses and tents… Colonel Wakefield lives in a nice one made by the natives… The town lots are not yet chosen… Those who came by the ‘Oriental’ are settled four miles up the country… We intend occupying a small house on the beach, near to Colonel Wakefield's, facing the sea… Major Baker and several others have had very nice ones built, consisting of four rooms each, for which they pay four blankets… Do not think of bringing a house… the window frames, doors, bolts, bars, etc., may be of use. Dr. Evans, Colonel Wakefield, and others have gone down the harbour to a part called Thorndon, four miles off, which is described as a second Italy, and a most picturesque spot.”

Letter from Mr. T. M. Partridge:—

Port Nicholson

, 18th March, 1840.

“A vast number of houses have been built and are in the course of erection. Native houses chiefly, of poles and well thatched. About 300 natives are in the Bay, and all very useful… I am living in a tent which I have bought, for the house is not yet landed; and I am well contented that I have not yet been obliged to sleep with an umbrella over my head, as most others have done… My tent is full of goods, furniture, pots and kettles, and all sorts of bedevilment. I shall have to build a store, which will cost me, I suppose, £40. I like what I have seen of Wakefield very much; he is a straightforward, courageous fellow, and has great influence with the natives, who are a jovial, laughing, fighting, good-natured, pork-eating set of savages.

“Molesworth, Sinclair and Petrie and the aristocracy are setting a good example.

“Fustian coats and thick shoes are very fashionable, and you would laugh to see officers, doctors and dandies digging, thatching and chopping with great frenzy.

Fig. 20—Mr. Molesworth's Farm at the Hutt, 1841.

Fig. 21—Aglionby Arms (Burchams) River Hutt, 1841.

Fig. 22—Canoe used for carrying the mail from the ships to the Beach in 1840. This canoe, now rests on the flat roof of Mrs. Mantell's residence, 111 Sydney Street. The climate is glorious, and the country like a Paradise…

“I carpenterise, and carry logs, and cook, and go to council without detriment to my gentility.”

29th March, 1840.

“P.S.—Revan's paper will be out in 10 days, but we have had printing some time in the Colony.

New Zealand Journal, 29th Aug., 1840, p. 209.

”

S. M. Partridge.”

Letter from Mr. R. R. Strang (grandfather on the maternal side to Sir Douglas Maclean).

Port Nicholson

, April 6th, 1840.

“We are now in all the bustle and confusion of putting up a house… It is situate about 600 yards from the beach, commanding a most delightful view of perhaps as fine a bay as there is in the world, and the ground is so rich and productive, that although somewhat gravelly, peas which were sown last week were, in six days, above ground, and this is the last month of their autumn, and the seed was injured by immersion in the sea. The climate is indeed salubrious and delightful… The natives are perfectly quiet, civil and obliging. I have had two of them employed with my own servants in building my house, and such is the confidence we have in them, that although some natives slept round a fire at the end of our house, we felt no fear, although we have neither door nor windows… On arrival at Port Hardy, the passengers were much disappointed in not finding either ships or instructions as to their rendezvous. After arrival at Port Nicholson, they had about 10 days almost continual rain, which dampened their spirits a good deal, but the weather had cleared up about the beginning of April and things had begun to assume a more cheering aspect.

“N.Z. Journal,” 12th Sept., 1840.

”

Letter from Rev. John Macfarlane:—

Clyde Terrace, Port Nicholson, N.Z.

,April 6th, 1840.

“I am busy getting up my home, though you would think it rather a strange one, for there is not a single stone in it. It is built of wood, thatched with reeds—28 feet long, 18 feet wide, roof 8 feet high. It contains a good parlour, bedroom, and kitchen. The parlour window looks towards the sea, so that I can see a distance of 12 miles, with every ship that passes in and out.

“Nothing can be more delightful than the singing of innumerable birds. At six every morning I can distinctly hear the mocking bird, imitating now one note, now another.”

‘N.Z. Journal,’ 1841, p. 311.

Mr. John Pierce, who arrived in the “Duke of Roxburgh,” writes thus on the 6th April, 1840:—

“Port Nicholson is twelve miles from the mouth of the harbour to the beach, which is three miles. To-day we go to Thorndon. Thorndon bay is a delightful place; it is 8 miles across the harbour, and forms a complete amphitheatre, bounded on three sides by the sea, good anchorage and safe shelter for any number of ships. Excellent water, good clay and, it is said, plenty of coal, iron and limestone. Vegetation seems constantly to be going on. In our garden parsley grows in abundance down nearly to low water mark. The natives never think about the seasons. They never dig, but take a piece of wood and root up the ground and turn over the soil, and if there are eight potatoes they take up seven and just cover the one over and leave it to grow. We finally left the ship on the 6th March, Colonel Wakefield lending me a tent for a shed. On Saturday I gave three yards of calico for a pig 40lb. weight. The part I sold brought me 12/-. On Saturday night it rained tremendously, and we were as badly off as if we were in the open air. I sat three hours with Mrs. Pierce, after which we rolled ourselves up in our blankets and slept soundly. The next morning we were as gay as possible and we felt no cold. People here do not take cold as in England.

“I commenced business on Monday the 9th, and now have the wooden house up and am very comfortable. It is the first house in town. The Bank is to open on Thursday.

“One town acre sold this morning for £300. Prices are hardly yet settled; flour 6d. per lb.

“I had the first bullock consigned to me and sold him at 1/- per lb, tea 5d., coffee 2/-, wine and spirits cheap, ale and porter 2/- per bottle. Clothes and shoes will be very dear, but there is hardly any saying what will be the settled price, as there is not a day passes but that some one or two ships arrive from Sydney with general cargo. On Saturday the first horses were landed, which had a prodigious effect on the natives. There is likely to be abundance of labour. Capital seems flowing in from all parts. Already we have one ship from Port Philip, one from Launceston, one from Hobart Town, one from Adelaide, eight or ten from Sydney, and schooners and coasters in lots.

“There are no reptiles or venomous things of any kind, and there is abundance of the finest fish in the world; so that anyone may live as cheaply as he wishes. There is no corroding care; the natives are pleased.”

When the first site of the new town was partially laid off, it was named “Britannia;” and the village of “Aglionby” was situated on the Hutt River.

Mr. W. B. D. Mantell, in a letter dated Britannia, April 6th, 1840, writes of Lambton Harbour as the destined site of Britannia.

The following is a copy (verbatim) of a letter from Te Nayti, a New Zealander, to a gentleman with whom he resided many months in England:—

“

Port Nicholson

, April 16th, 1840. My dear Sir,

I hope you quite well, all your family. I'm very glad if you soon come out to New Zealand. I hope you pleased I give you mat. Give my kind remembrances to Mr. Church. I no forget you, and think of you often. I am very much obliged to you for your letter Mr. St. Hill gave me. Many fine houses in Port Nicholson, like Sydney. I hope you come to New Zealand. I have been quite well, and remain, my dear friend,

NAYTI.”

Letter from J. Murray (“Bengal Merchant”). Clyde Terrace,

Port Nicholson, N.Z.

, 17th May, 1840.

“Mr. Hunter, the resident partner of the London firm of Arthur Willis and Co., introduced me to Colonel Wakefield; by which means I got temporary employment in Colonel Wakefield's office. Mr. Hunter offered me the superintendentship of one of his extensive stores here, which I have accepted. For the first three or four weeks all parties were busy erecting dwellings on the beach near the river Hutt. The houses are built of spars cut from the forest and roofed with long flax-grass and a kind of flexible cane called supplejack.

“We are in Clyde Terrace, and the dwellings are the best in the Colony. The minister lives opposite where I live. Messrs. Strang, Banks, Hay, Yule and Logan are among the families.

“Mr. Macfarlane has divine service on the beach every Sabbath; also a Mr. Butler, of the Church of England. The Maoris pronounce my name O'Mare, which signifies ‘a bad cold.’ Colonel Wakefield they call ‘Wideawake.’”

Letter from Mr. J. Pierce to T. C. Salt, Esq.

Britannia Hotel and Stores, Port Nicholson

, 28th June, 1840.

“I was very anxious to tread the land, which I soon accomplished by means of one of the natives, who took me in his canoe.

“Mr. Lyon accompanied me… When darkness came on, we had nowhere to sleep… We found a shed which had been put up for the Company's stores, where I found a coil of rope and an anvil for a pillow, and there I slept as soundly as possible. When I rose I found that I had lost my companion, who had crept unobserved into a corner. I had walked out to see the goodliness of the land. It was enchantment…

“On turning aside twenty yards from the road at the seaside, the most delightful melody fell upon my ear; thousands of songsters of all notes and keys strove to outvie each other; while I inhaled the sweet fragrance of the wild flowers, my companion joined me, and on our return we were invited by the ‘chief’ to breakfast in a ‘warry,’ or native house.

“On the 7th of March we landed and borrowed a shed from Colonel Wakefield, as our house was inundated by an overflow from the river Hutt.”

The most important news from the Mother Country was the formation of a Church Society there, which undertook to negotiate for the appointment of a separate Bishop for the Colony, and the endowment of churches and clergymen. The New Zealand Company had engaged to present the Society with 2,000 acres of land for these purposes.

The New Zealand Journal, London, published a number of letters from the Port Nicholson colonists. Some of them are mentioned, and extracts from others are given as under:—

(1) From J. A. and H. Longford, 26/1/1840; (2) John Lodge, 27/1/1840; (3) B. Exeter, 1840, suggesting the name of “Victoria” for the new settlement at Port Nicholson; (4) E. J. Wakefield to his father, dated 2nd March, 1840.

5. Letter from Samuel Revans to H. S. Chapman, Esq. (Aug., 1840):—

“We have two excellent sites for the town. We are located on the beach opposite Lambton, and away from it about five miles. I live at Captain Smith's in a large tent. This tent is our office in the day. I am putting up a wooden house lent me by the Company for the ‘Gazette,’ and I hope the second number will appear Saturday 11th.

The first number was published in London, 6/9/1839.

It would have been out sooner, but I have only this day got the wood work from the ‘Glenbervie.’

“Our own wooden house is landing, but we are storing it away until we get the town acre. We have got a small native house called a ‘warree.’ The Council sat to-day for the first time under the Constitution. The Bank is in operation, and I believe a local bank will soon be opened. I like Colonel Wake-field very much.” (S.R., 6/4/40.)

Letter from Dr. Dorset 21/11/1840.

6. “We have now settled down into a regular community, and I suspect my adventures are over. Enclosed I send you the second number of the New Zealand newspaper published here, in which you will see better than I can tell your our flourishing state and prospects.

“The 8th pt. No. 20 Town Acre only, held by Mr. Shand, has been sold for £100.

“Sir George Sinclair's son, a few days after his arrival, sold five sections for thirteen hundred guineas; and he is now heartily sorry for the sale, the buyers of them declaring they are worth £10,000, as they are mostly low numbers. Sections below No. 10 are not to be bought for £1,000.”

Letter from Mr. Wm. Gilbert, C/o Mr. Molesworth, 23/6/1840.

7. “We could get a large pig for an old gown. Elizabeth purchased a quantity of potatoes for two large spoonfuls of brown sugar. Mary Anne has got a very good place with a gentleman, her wages £10 per annum. This is a high place for wages. Servant girls now get £12 and £15 per annum. I am sawing, and I and my partner average £3 each per week.”

Letter from J. and S.W., 5/6/1841.

8. “There are plenty of shops here of all description. Ships keep coming in every day. We have always three or four lying in the harbour.

“The ‘Mauris’ are very civil, but you must think nothing of seeing them going about stark naked.”

Letter from Mr. E. Dieffenbach, 15/1/'41.

9. “I have lately returned from a short journey up the valley of the ‘Eritonga,’ or river Hutt.

“I started with my party on the 30th July, 1840, and followed the lines which have been cut by Mr. Deans along the western chain of hills.”

Letter from Mr. W. Bannister, 27/11/1841.

10. “We reached Port Nicholson on the 21st, being Easter Tuesday. I sent my wife to Monteith, a distance of ten miles, on the opposite side of the Port,

Probably Oriental Bay. Mr. Bannister resided there later.

where the Town was first to be fixed. Next day we left the ship and took up our dwelling in the new house.

“The second day it began to rain, and so continued for eight or ten days most tremendously. At night our bed clothes were completely soaked.

“I suppose you have heard from William that Eaton's son Richard was speared by the natives, and died. It was his own fault, as I am informed. His father never looked up after, and died in October last. Pierce, of Birmingham, was drowned with eight others. Hughes died on the passage out. I expect my land in six months, but I do not intend going on it myself at present. Tell William to bring James Bishop with him. A watchmaker came here a month ago; he is now making two or three pounds a day. He is the only one, except a drunkard.”

Letter from Mr. Thos. Parker, 2/10/1841.

11. “You are not aware of the hardships that accompany New Zealand; but young men must not mind about the hardships they would have to undergo. I have myself been in the greatest distress, not for want of money, or victuals, but from the want of a cover to shelter me from the storms and rain, which flows in torrents. Some of my comrades and I have slept for nights under nothing but a bush, but now, thank God, I am comfortable. I have £3 per week, but can save nothing to speak of at present, for I am under the care of the doctors. I hope you will drink my health in a bumper of old English ale.”

Letter from T. and S. Barber, 2/10/1841.

12. “We had a good voyage and landed at New Zealand on the Sunday week before Xmas Day. The Company has wooden houses for the emigrants, where they stay till they build themselves houses or till another ship comes in.

“Some houses are made of wood and some of sticks plastered inside and outside with mud, thatched with bark of trees and covered with rushes. The price of ‘Ki Ki’ (bread) is 8d. for 2lbs., butter 2/6, fresh butter 4/- or 5/- per lb., cheese 2/6, beef and mutton 1/-, pork 7d., beer 1/- quart, gin, wine and rum 6d. a quartern, bacon 1/7, etc.”

Letter from Mr. A. Allom, 11/2/1842.

13. “What will please you most to hear is that I have found out Mr. and Mrs. and Dr. Stokes… Mrs. Stokes was alone and did not recognise me for a moment or two… Mr. Stokes has left the surveying staff, and is in business for himself. He has a great deal of land cleared and plenty of vegetables growing.

“Mr. Brees and I dined with him yesterday… I have taken the parcel to Mr. Hunter and am very friendly with him. I have not yet been to Dr. Evans nor to Mr. Burgess.” (A. Allom, 11/2/1842.)

Letter from Miss Emily Wakefield to Mrs. Allom.

14. “Mrs. Wills arrived out here after all, before we did. She has taken a very nice house and is anxiously expecting her son's return.

“I have seen Mr. Brees, Mr. Wylie and your Mr. Charlton—I met them at Mrs. Wills'. I suppose Francis Bell told you he came on board at the Downs to see me. Papa has got a horse and has sent to Sydney for a horse for me.

“I have a most beautiful large New-foundland dog given me….”

First Newspaper.

The “New Zealand Gazette,” second number, was published by Samuel Revans for the first time at Britannia (Pito-one) on the 18th April, 1840. Hereunder are some of the items.

Provisional Constitution.

“We, the undersigned, intending to inhabit the New Zealand Land Company's first and principal settlement, with the view to provide for the peace and order thereof, do hereby agree amongst ourselves and pledge our honour to submit ourselves to the following regulations and to enforce them, that is to say: That all the persons and parties to this agreement shall submit to be mustered and drilled.”… “Any offence committed shall be liable to be punished, and a committee shall decide any dispute.” Here follow the names of the Committee referred to on another page. Regulations, Ratification and extension of the above contract by the Sovereign Chiefs of Port Nicholson.

The officers of the New Zealand Company comprised the following:—Colonel Wm. Wakefield, principal agent; Captain W. Mein Smith, R.A., Surveyor General; W. Carrington, 1st Assistant Surveyor; Robert Stokes, R. Park, Assistant Surveyors; Captain E. M. Chaffers, Harbour Master; J. P. Fitzgerald, M.D., Consulting Physician to the Infirmary; John Dorset, Surgeon to the Infirmary; George Hunter, Storekeeper General; John Nelson Burcham, Assistant; Daniel Riddiford, Agent for Emigrants; R. Doddrey, Superintendent of Company's Works; Richard Barrett, Agent for Natives and Interpreter; James Heberley, Pilot; George S. Evans, D.C.L., Umpire; Samuel Revans, Secretary; Major Richard Baker, Magistrate; Henry Cole and James Smith, District Constables.

The first business places advertised were:—The New Zealand Company; J. Ward, Secretary, London, Union Bank of Australia, New Zealand Branch; H. Moreing and Taylor, General Agents; Surveyor General's Department (re claims against the Department); William Lyon; Willis and Co.; K. Bethune and George Hunter; J. Pierce; J. Telford; Robert Tod and Andrew Duncan; T. M. Partridge; Samuel McDonnell (last tent); Wallace, White and Wallace; and Fredk. Dunsford.

A person (in the “Wanteds”) was required to cut in metal or wood a plan of the Harbour of Port Nicholson, and to enquire at the “Gazette” office for particulars. In another column, a classified list appeared of immigrants brought out at the expense of the Colony in the “Cuba,” viz.:—

2 Blacksmiths.

2 Bricklayers.

1 Butcher.

1 Carpenter.

1 Gamekeeper.

3 Gardeners.

4 Labourers.

1 Miner.

2 Sawyers.

1 Seedsman.

1 Servant.

1 Timber Cutter.

1 Wheelwright.

The number of artisans who arrived by the “Oriental,” “Duke of Roxburgh,” “Bengal Merchant” and “Adelaide” was also mentioned.

An advertisement announced the business of Henry Meech and Oxenham, shipwrights, on the left side of the river Hutt.

Amongst the advertisements from London firms were those of Edward Chance, hardware and general, and Manning's Portable Colonial Cottages.

The same number of the “Gazette” (No. 2) contains a report of the Committee of Colonists, at which the following resolutions were passed:—

“That one district constable do reside this end (Pito-one) and the other at Thorndon.”

“That Mr. A. Hort be elected to fill the vacancy caused on the Committee by the retirement of Captain Smith, and that Mr. R. D. Hanson be elected Vice-President.”

At the meeting of the Council (N.Z. Gaz., 25th April) Dr. Evans asked if some arrangement could be made for a public building to serve as a Police Court and Town Hall.

An announcement appeared in the N.Z. Gazette of Saturday, 16th May, 1840, to the effect that a Grand Fete and Public Ball was contemplated, and that a public meeting would be held at Thorndon to inspect the Surveyor General's plan and to determine on the future name to be given to the town. Voluntary subscriptions were invited from “all gentlemen in the Colony” in aid of the amusement fund. The committee comprised Messrs. Dorset, Durie, Watt, Duppa, Molesworth, Strang, White, St. Hill, Barrett, Doddrey, Dr. Johnston and Major Baker.

The following summarised items appeared in the same number of the Gazette, viz.:—

That road contracts for cutting roads 6ft. wide up the valley were taken by George White and Mr. Deans; that the Pickwick Club had been formed and meetings were to be held at Elsdon's Commercial Inn and Tavern.

The arrival of the “Jewess” on the 17th May with Mr. C. Cohen as passenger.

That the Port Nicholson Tavern and Coffee House had commenced business, and that Mr. T. Roskell's store, at the west end of the beach, was opened.

That a game of cricket had been arranged between the gentlemen of Thorndon and members of the Pickwick Club.

Cornish Row Fire.

On the night of the 25th May, 1840, the line of cottages described as “Cornish Row” was burnt down, the inflammable nature of the roofs and walls having overcome all the efforts of the settlers of all classes, who had hurried from their beds to the scene, on the first alarm. No lives were lost. The houseless families were received, some by their neighbours and some in the Company's emigrant houses, and a ready subscription replaced the burnt clothes and other effects belonging to those, who being poor, could ill afford even so small a loss.

The blaze had hardly subsided, when the sleepers were again aroused by the shock of an earthquake. Some amusement was caused by some of the settlers who ran out in scanty clothing and fired their muskets and pistols, under the idea that a troop of natives were trying to pull the huts down. To add to their discomfort, the Hutt River was overflowing its banks on the 30th. This was for the second time since the formation of the settlement.

Militia.

On the 30th of May, Colonel Wakefield, as President of the Council, issued a notice to the inhabitants between the ages of 18 and 60, requiring them to form themselves into a militia under his direction. The intention was to occupy no more than one hour in each week in this muster of armed inhabitants, the object of which was to assure the minds of all persons of the existence of an adequate force for the preservation of order and protection of life and property, and to uphold the power and authority of the British race. They were asked to make it a point of honour to attend and answer their names when called upon the muster roll, with such arms as they might be in possession of. The employers were expected not to make any deduction in the men's wages for the time employed in such an important duty. The natives had been apprised of the scheme and expressed unfeigned satisfaction. It was proposed that they would be induced to train and that the chiefs be instructed to become officers.

Proclamation of the Queen's Sovereignty.

An agent from the British Government arrived in the Harbour at this time, and these provisional measures were at an end. A boat from Thorndon brought the news to Pito-one at night, that the “Integrity” had returned with Lieutenant Shortland, the Colonial Secretary, a detachment of thirty soldiers and some supernumeraries, consisting of “mounted police,” and constables. A rumour had been circulated that the inhabitants of Port Nicholson were establishing a republic, and they were reported at the Bay of Islands as “a turbulent set of rebels.” The news was carried by Jerningham Wakefield to the Hutt, and merry and loud were the jokes that rang through the tents. Early next morning Constable Cole performed the task of pulling down all the New Zealand flags which were hoisted at Pito-one, including the rather ragged one on the flagstaff near Colonel Wakefield's house, and some adorning the grog shops along the beach, furtively watched by a few people in their night caps.

Next day, the 4th June, Lieutenant Shortland disembarked at Thorndon, to hoist the Union Jack and read the proclamation of the sovereignty of the Queen of England over New Zealand.

A large number of Colonists, including Colonel Wakefield and most of the Council, joined in the proceedings in a loyal manner. The soldiers landed and encamped in tents at one end of Thorndon; and Lieut. Shortland, with his suite, ensconced themselves in some half finished houses at that place. The other Government officers were Lieut. Smart of the 28th Regiment, in command of the few policemen, Lieut. Best, with thirty men of the 80th, and a clerk of the bench, who also assumed the duty of postmaster. The days of the Council were only remembered as a time of happy freedom from lawlessness. It was a proud boast, however, for this community that nearly 1,500 English people and 400 untutored savages had lived for five months without a serious breach. The few prisoners who had been committed for trial by Major Baker were handed over to the lawful authorities.

They had been confined in one of the Company's wooden houses at Pito-one, which was appropriated as a lock-up, and a boatful of “mounted police” came over to convey them to a thatched house at Thorndon, which had been selected for a jail. The Englishman found at Waiwhetu Pa, had been at a wedding a few days before, and during a bout of drunken merrymaking, had assaulted a man who lay badly wounded in the adjoining house, which was the Company's infirmary. The prisoner, owing to his hurts, was moved down to the boat with some difficulty, and display and jingling of handcuffs, carbines and sabres, which accompanied the whole proceeding.

Visit from a Man-o-war.

H.M.S. “Herald” visited Port Nicholson on the 20th June, 1840, with Major Bunbury on board. On the 21st the frigate sailed all round the harbour, and Major Bunbury landed and was introduced to some of the settlers at Captain Smith's house. It was reported that the “Herald” was to take soldiers to Mana, in order to settle a dispute over a whaler's property. Representations were made to him that Rangihaeata and other chiefs had got possession of a considerable part of the property. The frigate sailed away on her return to the Bay of Islands the same evening, beating out in the dark against a fresh south-east breeze, with her boats holding lights on the extremities of the reefs.

Barretts.

On the 25th June, 1840, the barque “Brougham” arrived from England with a supply of flour and provisions. She was lying opposite Colonel Wakefield's house, and landed her cargo at the Pito-one stores.

Education.

One of the early pioneers, Mr. Jabez Allen, who had opened a general store among the sand hills, wishing to have his girls' education attended to, secured the services of a youthful Miss Annie Maria Smith, who had recently arrived by the “Oriental,” as governess to his children.

Presently some of the other settlers

Fig. 23—Hutt Road, taken at the Gorge, looking towards Wellington.

Fig. 24—Hutt Settlement, 1840. Copied by Mr. B. R. Ward, A.R.I.B.A., from the original sketch by Betts Hopper, Esq., in Mr. E. G. Pilcher's possession. were invited to send their girls to Mr. Allen's house to be instructed with his own children. This arrangement continued until the settlers were transferred to the shores of Lambton Harbour.

Arrival of the “Martha Ridgway.”

The “Martha Ridgway,” 621 tons, sailed from England on the 3rd March, 1840, and arrived on the 8th July, with 80 married couples, 19 single men, 17 single women, 47 boys and 34 girls under fourteen, and 2 children under one.

6 births and 5 deaths occurred on board. The register was signed by Mr. Daniel Riddiford, Emigration Agent.

A list of the passengers is given as under:—

Name. Age. Wife's Age No. of Child. Anderson, T. 21 — — Ashley, Mary 17 — — Bennett, W. and Hannah 38 38 4

Did not embark.

Blundell, W. and Maria 28 25 — Bolton, James 23 — — Bottomley, Wm. Henry 28 — 1 Bottomley, Charlotte — 38 — Brittain, William 20 — — Brooks, Stephen 39 — 3 Brooks, Sarah 37 — — Brooks, Caroline 16 — — Brosnahan, Patrick 20 — — Brown, Chas. 29 — 1 Brown, Anne 25 — (infant born on board) Browne, Thomas 20 — 1 Browne, Annie — 21 — Butler John and Sarah 21 20 — Campbell, Jane 24 — — Canning, Joseph 28 — — Canning, Mary — 21 — Cannon, William 27 — — Clark, Jane 20 — — Crowhurst, John 18 — — Curtis, George 34 — 5 Curtis, Priscilla — 34 — Dallison, Jos. Bond 19 — — Day, John and Jane 48 38 6 Duncan, Arthur Wm. 17 — — Gannon, M. and Cath. 38 35 5 Goldie, John and Barbara 21 21 — Goodens, Len and Mary 40 38 2

or Goodin.

Goodens, Ann 19, Phil 17, Ellice 15 Harfield, Dan 15 — — Harley, Sam and Harriet 28 27 1 Harvey, Rich, and Mary 23 23 1 Harvey, John 19 — — Harvey, Elizabeth 20 — — Harvey, Thos. and Mary A 29 26 2 Head, Ed. and Sarah 26 23 — Hobman, Jas. and Jane 40 35 1 House, Ann 35 — — Howe, Ed. and Eliza 35 32 2 Howell, Th. and Eliza 34 30 2 Howland, Sarah 20 — — Hudgell, Jos 21 — — Hughey, Wm. 37 — 5 Hughey, Marianne — 31 — Hunt, Thos. and Eliza 48 47 4 Jones, Jos. and Elizabeth 21 19 1 Judd, Wm. and Anne 38 30 3 Kelt, James 28 — — Mason, Wm. and Elizabeth 40 38 4 Maxwell, John B. 24 — — Medhurst, Charles 31 — — Medhurst, Mary Ann — 34 — McGregor, Joseph 26 — — McGregor, Ellen — 30 — McLelland, Ann 25 — — Milliner, Sarah 14 — — Mitchell, Francis 17 — — Moloney, John 24 — 1 Moloney, Ellen — 20 — Moloney, Mary 22 — — Mount, Chas. and Mary 35 32 1 Murphy, Mary 20 — — Murphy, Pat and Catherine 26 24 1 Newbury, Wm. 18 — — Parks, Sam 50 — — Pike, James 50 — — Pope, Samuel George 30 — — Pope, Eliza — 34 — Porter, John and Jane 30 28 4 Pratt, Thos. Dennis 31 — — Pratt, Sarah Ann — 29 — Rea, Thos. and Margaret 38 34 3 Reed, Jas. and Mary 34 26 2 Renall. Alf Wm. and Emma 26 29 2 Robinson, John and Mary 39 38 1 Saywell, Geo. and Susan 35 30 6 Seed, John and Anne 39 37 2 Sellers, John and Mary 36 27 — Sharpe, Margaret 26 — — Small, Chas. and Margt. 37 33 6 Smith, Thos. 15 — — Stent, Edm. and Ann 26 22 — Sutton, Wm. 30 — — Taylor, Wm. and wife 44 39 5 Thresher, Edmond 28 — 1 Thresher, Louisa — 29 — Walker, John and Elizabeth 24 29 — Walter, Richard 24 — — West, Daniel 16 — — Whitley, Wm. and Mary 30 29 3 Wilhelmi, C. Debrick 29 — 3 Wilhelmi, Mary — 28 — Wouldham, Hen. Wm. 30 — 2 Wouldham, Ann — 35 — Wraight, Jas and Hannah 23 19 1

Mr. Joseph Hudgell came on board at the Downs.

Ship arrived 8th July, 1840.

(Sgd.) Daniel Riddiford, Agent.

Chapter VI. Land Operations. “The Colonist came not with swords and spears— Those glittering harbingers of blood and tears— Although he loved his dear old native land She gave him nothing but a willing hand; And bold courageous heart; with these, in twain He burst cold poverty's oppressive claim, And crossed the ocean to this southern strand, Where hope enthroned held out a golden wand, And pointed to a future, where Intelligence received its rightful share Of Heaven's gifts: where labour led the van And built a home for every honest man.” —(Bracken's Musings in Maoriland, p. 202.)

The following is a letter from the Company's Surveyor General, Captain Mein Smith, published in the N.Z. Gazette, June 20th, is indicative of impatience on the part of the land owners of Port Nicholson.

“

Port Nicholson

, 18/6/40.

“Sir,—I have been frequently asked, “When are the town acres to be given out,” which, though a very natural question, I have found it very difficult to answer. But I have now proceeded so far with my operations that I beg to inform the landowners and settlers, through the medium of your valuable paper, that unless some serious cause arises which I cannot forsee or provide against, I think I may safely say that I shall have my plan of the Town ready for public inspection on Monday, first of July. I will give further notice as to the time and place at which the plan will be exhibited. I have the honour to be, your obedient servant,

W. M. Smith, Capt. Royal Artillery, Surveyor-General.”

The following day an announcement appeared in the same journal that the local Bank would go into operation as soon after the delivery of the Town lands as possible.

Mr. R. R. Strang, the Company's solicitor, advertised on the 27th of June, 1840, several lots of town and country sections for sale by private contract. The applicants were to apply to him at his residence, No. 4 Clyde Terrace, or to Mr. Telford. Several of the lots would be subdivided by arrangement.

This was followed by another announcement signed by Colonel Wakefield, dated the 15th July, that an inspection of the Town plan would be held on Monday, 20th July, 1840, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Captain Smith's house, Thorndon, and remain open until the 27th, when the registration of the choices and allotments of the Town sections would be commenced.

The Area.

The Town as originally surveyed was composed of 1,100 sections of an acre each, interlaced with about 30 miles of streets and roads, which probably occupied 150 acres. To this area of 1,250 acres, made up of sections and streets, must be added 1,100 acres of Town Belt and other reserves; making the total area for the original Town as laid out in 1840, 2,350 acres.

Reserves as originally laid out by the New Zealand Company, 1839–1840, and Numbers 1 to 16 are shown on Brees' Map.

On the 28th the selection of the town-lands commenced, after a little delay arising from protests and objections by some of the numerous selectors. Many of the original buyers in London had confided to agents among the Colonists the task of selection. The meeting for this purpose took place in a large unfinished wooden building which Dr. Evans had brought with him, and which Dicky Barrett had bought and erected on the beach for an hotel (Hotel Cecil site). A table was placed on that part of the ground-floor which was floored, to support the map of the town and the books of the principal selectors. The most interested or most querulous settlers were gathered round Mr. Hanson, Captain Smith and his assistants, asking questions; while those who had but late choice, or others who were spectators, stood talking in the windows of the long room, or explored the skeleton upper storey of the embryo hotel. On the 31st, some mistake in the plan was discovered, and the further selection was postponed to the 10th August, remaining uncompleted until the 14th.

Ample reserves for public purposes appeared on the plan; one acre was reserved for the Company, as a site for the immigration buildings, and the Native Reserves, consisting of 100 sections of one acre each, were selected by Captain Smith. The section on which the hotel was building fell to the lot of the natives. Two acres adjoining each other were also excluded from the general choice in accordance with an arrangement made between the Rev. Henry Williams and Colonel Wakefield. The choice of the town sections were concluded on the 14th August, 1840. (“Wakefield's Adventure in New Zealand,” p. 258.)

On the 4th of August, intelligence was received from Sydney which produced great agitation among the settlers at Port Nicholson. The views of Sir George Gipps, Governor of New South Wales, with regard to land claims in New Zealand, had been embodied in a measure called the New Zealand Bill, and this had passed the Legislative Council.

The Bill commenced by declaring that the aboriginal inhabitants of New Zealand had no right to confer any permanent interest in their lands on any individual not a member of their tribes, because they could only be considered to hold these lands in trust for their future descendants. It therefore declared null and void any title to lands in New Zealand not derived from the Crown. All claims to such lands were to be addressed within six months to the Colonial Secretary of New South Wales, in order that he might refer them to a Board of Commissioners.

Town Acres.

The following extracts are from a letter written by Mr. Francis Bradey to his son, Henry, in England:—

“

Port Nicholson, N.Z.

, Aug. 16th, 1840.

“The survey of the town is completed and the whole of the town acres are delivered out according to the plan of the Company. I have been employed all the week looking out my three town acres, and a quarter of an acre. For the latter I gave £60 shortly after my arrival and it proved to be in a good position (locality of the Hutt County Council Office, Lambton Quay). I have been offered £200 for it since. When the Government approves of a title it will be worth £500 as it has a frontage to the bay; but we seriously apprehend the Government will not acknowledge the Company's title; and if that is the case, it will ruin me, as well as a great many others, as I have bought altogether, better than 400 acres.… .

“The Company's territory of Port Nicholson is said to have the best Harbour, the best position, with more available and better land than any other part of New Zealand, and must eventually become the seat of Government.… . Colonel Wakefield is decidedly one of the most kind-hearted men in the world and gives universal satisfaction; he is greatly beloved by the natives as well as his own countrymen and no man can be better qualified for so great an undertaking as the Company's principal agent for New Zealand. Give my kind love to all my friends in the temperance cause… . . I forgot to tell you we had the British flag flying in our Port, and British soldiers here to protect us. The Surveyor General and his officers have commenced surveying the country.”

N.Z. Journal, 10/4/1841 and 21/8/42.

Messrs. Hanson and Alzdorf, writing to a client on the 30th December, 1840, stated:—

“Up to the present time we have agreed to let Sec. No. 509 on the map of the town for No. 103 (choice), for 10 years in two half lots at £30 per annum. No. 49 we have let a quarter of an acre for 7 years at £30 per annum for the first three years and £34 for the next four years. No. 569 at £12 per annum for three years. No. 222 for £80 per annum for 14 years. Section 225 we expect to let at £200 per annum.

“We have also let a small piece of ground 15ft. frontage by 20ft. in depth, part of Sec. 485 for one year at £10; and No. 614 for £20 per annum for 3 years after a valuation.”

Captain Smith again writes on the 30th January, 1841 thus:—

“The plan of the present town was worked out under every species of disadvantage and inconvenience. By the time it was commenced, a large body of settlers had arrived in the “Aurora,” ‘Oriental,’ ‘Bengal Merchant,’ ‘Duke of Roxburgh,’ ‘Glenbervie,’ and ‘Adelaide.’ Their importunities were increasing and a great interruption. They had expected to find the town ready for them on their arrival, and I was urged towards giving out the town sections with more speed than I thought prudent. At first my tent was my office and drawing room, Colonel Wakefield not wishing to put up an office for me till a proper site should be decided on.

“The winter was rapidly advancing and I was soon driven out of the tent. I retired to a ‘Mauri’ hut, which I had purchased as a private residence temporarily till the sections should be given out and I could bring my wife and family and house over from Petoni, where I had left them.

“This hut, though dry, was very dark; the little light that was admitted finding its way through a low doorway, close to which I was obliged to keep my table for drawing, but frequently in bad weather I was obliged to close up the door and work all day by candle light… The town sections were all chosen by the 14th August (1840), after which I proceeded with the country sections.”

Land Claims.

Mr. Spain, Commissioner of Land Claims, opened his Court on the 16th May, 1842. The investigation became at once a matter of length and intricacy. One question which promised to encumber the inquiry, was that of whether Wharepouri and the other chiefs who had agreed to sell the district of Port Nicholson, in 1839, had a right to do so. Numerous natives from Te Aro and Pipitea now claimed an equal ownership.

Wakefield writes:—

“The scene gave one more the idea of the progress of a long nurtured, vindictive family law-suit, than that of a fair investigation into the real merits of a treaty between a colonizing body and the aborigines. The public got weary listenting to the same dull questions and answers. During the first week the Court had been crowded with spectators, both native and European, but after that, scarcely anyone attended, except the people who were paid for their attendance.

“Dull rumours sometimes reached the public that Moihi (“Moses”), or Aperahama (“Abraham”) had been giving evidence for three days, and people wondered what their evidence could have to do with the affair.

“By the middle of July the public ceased to take any more interest in the progress of the claims, the Court was almost deserted and the affair was treated as a burlesque by the Counsel and spectators.”

On New Year's day, 1843, the concluding selection of preliminary country sections took place. These were of the Upper Hutt villages, near Porirua and Manawatu. The different maps were laid on a long table in the open air outside the survey office, and the crowd of bustling agents and tormented surveyors' assistants formed a gay scene

Land Orders.

The following is a memorandum of an agreement entered into on 16th September 1848, between the New Zealand Company and the resident purchasers and holders of Land Orders from and under it.

Extract.—“It is agreed, subject to the sanction of the Governor in Chief, as follows:—‘That all resident holders of Land Orders shall be at liberty to throw up, or abandon such sections as have heretofore been chosen in respect of such land orders and re-select other land in lieu thereof out of the districts hereinafter mentioned. That the value of each land order is to be considered as assessed at the value or equivalent of 100 acres, excepting however, the land orders in respect whereof sections have been chosen in either of the districts of Porirua or Wellington. That resident holders of land orders shall decide among themselves, either at a general meeting or in a Committee to be appointed at a general meeting what parties shall be entitled to compensation with reference to:—

Ist

Original purchasers who still hold their land orders.

2nd

Purchasers who bought unexecuted land orders or became owners previous to selection.

3rd

Purchasers of land at the market value subsequent to selection either here or in England.

4th

Purchasers who have had beneficial possession or occupation of any land.

5th

Purchasers who have already made beneficial changes.

6th

Original or derivative purchasers who have only recently sold their land orders or selections.

“That all selections, whether for land abandoned, or land in compensation, shall be made in every district to be provided and surveyed for that purpose within 6 months after the survey of the district shall be completed.… .” “Decision shall be determined by a committee of reference, to be appointed by the holders of land orders solely, if to any point, or matter, or interest, concerning the holders of land orders, and the Company, then by Isaac Earl Featherston on the part of the holders of land orders and on the part of the Company and such third person as the Governor in Chief may appoint; the decision of any two of them to be conclusive and final; as witness the said hands of the said parties.”

Signed Geo. Moore. Signed Samuel Revans Signed W. Mein Smith Signed Per N. Levin. Signed Jas. Parker. Signed A. W. Shand. Signed Abraham Hort, senr. Signed Wm. Bushell. Signed H. W. Petre. Signed F. Logan. Signed R. Barton. Signed – Cameron, per Angus Cameron. Signed T. F. Drake. Signed Edward Catchpool. Signed Francis Bradey. Signed Robert Glasgow. Signed D. S. Durie. Signed Geo. Compton. Signed H. St. Hill. Signed F. A. Weld. Signed C. Clifford (per F. A. Weld). Signed Jas. Boddington. Signed H. S. Harrison. Signed Ken. Mathieson. Signed per N. Levin. Signed Edward Daniell. Signed Ridgway, Hickson and Co. Signed Charles Sharp. Signed Thos. Northwood. Signed Robert Stokes. Signed Kenneth Bethune. Signed R. J. Deighton. Signed Richard Baker. Signed George Hunter. Signed A. Hornbrook. Signed Robert Park. Signed James Blyth. Signed A. de Bathe Brandon. Signed W. B. Rhodes. Signed Robert Roger Strang. Signed Nat. Sutherland. Signed Wm. Swainson, F.R.S. Signed Wm. Fitzherbert. Signed I. E. Featherston. Signed J. H. Wallace. Signed Robert Waitt. Signed John Dorset. Signed Wm. Dorset. N.Z. Journal, 21/2/1849, p. 40.

Many letters touching on land matters were written by the settlers to the Editor of the “N.Z. Journal” and other publications. Extracts from one are given as follows:—

“I have seen the Chief Land Commissioner, who informs me the only available land near this is at Wanganui.… I was introduced to Mr. Tollemache, who is one of the largest landowners in New Zealand, both in the Northern Island and the Wairau, and he tells me that he has visited every district in New Zealand and knows them well, and that he gives the preference to Otago.”

Governor Hobson.

“On the 1st of July, 1840,” states E. J. Wakefield, “a public meeting was held for the purpose of voting an address to Lieut.Governor Hobson. Colonel Wakefield had presided and was asked to proceed to the Bay of Islands for the purpose of presenting the address to His Excellency.”

The Address was couched in the most loyal terms, but continues Wakefield, “appealed against the imputation upon their allegiance displayed by Lieut. Shortland's proceedings. It humbly expressed the hope of the settlers that His Excellency would decide upon fixing the seat of Government at a spot so admirably adapted for it as Port Nicholson, and among the great body of the respectable colonists from England.”

“The ‘Platina,’ which had brought Governor Hobson's wooden house, and some more stores for the Company, arrived on the 6th. Colonel Wakefield had therefore to obtain the instructions of the Lieut. Governor as to the destination of his residence. It was hoped that in answer to the concluding paragraph of the Address, His Excellency would send back word to have it erected in Wellington in readiness for his arrival amongst us. The “Platina” brought

Fig. 30A.—“Pahautanui.” Reproduction of a Certificate of Selection or Land Order, dated 1st August, 1839. news of the assemblage of some thousands of emigrants in England. in readiness to embark as soon as they should hear the first account of the arrival and proceedings of the “Tory” and other matters concerning the Company.”

On the 19th of August, 1840 a public meeting was held at Barrett's unfinished hotel, to receive the answer of Captain Hobson to the Address of the Colonists.

Colonel Wakefield stated the results of of his mission of which a brief summary will suffice.

The assurance of Governor Hobson's friendly feelings towards the settlers, and praise for their expressions of loyalty and support; his refusal to reside at Port Nicholson on account of his sense of public duty inducing him to select “a more central position”, and one more adapted for internal communication.

Speeches were made at the meeting expressive of the great pleasure at the reply of the Lieut-Governor, and thanking Colonel Wakefield for his energetic advocacy of their interests.

A series of resolutions was passed, stating their grievances, and it was agreed that a memorial embodying these resolutions should be prepared and presented to the Governor of New South Wales by a deputation, to consist of Dr. Evans, Mr. Hanson and Mr. Moreing. The meeting also recommended the appointment of Mr. E. Gibbon Wakefield as agent in England for the body of Colonists, and that a requisition to that effect be prepared and signed by the Colonists.

Meanwhile, the little village of Britannia was growing.

The Engineering and mill-wright business of Betts-Hopper, Molesworth and Petre commenced operations on the 3rd July, 1840. They were prepared to repair ship and boat ironwork, stoves, grates, ovens, and also to make the latter articles. Their place of business was next to the Maori Pa at Britannia.

The Lieut-Governor.

Mr. Willoughby Shortland heard twenty Police cases between June 11th and July 7th. Nine were for assault, four for drunkenness, two for felony and the balance for breaches of the peace.

Also about this time a society called the Union Benefit Society was formed, the second meeting being held on the 13th July, 1840.

Arrangements were made for a Post Office Mail to be made up for the first time on Monday the 13th July, at 8 a.m. from Thorndon, and a return mail from Britannia to Thorndon at 1 p.m. Rates were 2d. per letter and one penny for newspapers. Mr. Paton was in charge at Thorndon, and Mr. Hunter at Britannia. When unfavourable weather prevented the delivery of mail by boat, it was to be despatched on foot.

Boat Accidents.

One day Messrs. A. Hort and Charles Heaphy launched a boat and started from Thorndon to beat up to Lambton Harbour. They were warned by several onlookers that the boat was unfit for service. After proceeding for about 300 yards, the boat was upset and the occuplants were submerged. Mr. Watt and a party launched the former's boat and rescued them.

Shortly after this (25th August, 1840), a fatal accident occurred at Pito-one, when a boat party of twelve persons were within a hundred yards of the beach. The boat was upset, and though they were in less than seven feet of water, only three survived the accident.

These were Mr. Francis Bradey, Mr. Fowler and the steersman. Those

Fig. 25—Te Puni's New Pa (Te Tatau-o-te-po) behind the Pito-one Pa.

Fig.26—A settler's House, Pito-one Flat, near the Korokoro Stream and Mill, and near the scene of the boat accident of 1840. Figs. 25 and 26 are from sketches by William Swainson, Esq., F.R.S. drowned were Messrs. J. Pierce; W. Elsdon; R. Hight; Lancaster; Josiah Tucker; Martin, a sailor belonging to the boat and lately of the “Jewess”; Griffin, late steward of the “Cuba; Rogers, a thatcher; and a person known as “Colonial Bill.”

Mr. Allen's boat had arrived at the same time, and passed the surf in safety, on the same day.

Coglan's boat was upset at the end of the beach, nearly two miles from the shore.

Mr. Collett launched his boat successfully and after great excertions, rescued the sufferers, who were insensible at the time.

The boats were all under sail, running before a strong south-east wind, which occasioned a very heavy surf on the beach.

Natives assisted the Europeans in bringing the bodies to the shore. The names of the natives were Ma Hau, Te Wanga, Te Puke, Te Ware, Te Puni of the male sex; the females were Te Tutu, Te Wa and Te Wi

“N.Z. Gazette,” 29th August, 1840.

A large concourse of people attended the funeral on the 27th, at which the Revs. John Macfarlane and J. G. Butler officiated.

The bodies were interred at the east end of Pinto-one Pa, near the beach.

A fenced enclosure, within the Gear Company's grounds, planted with shrubs and flowers, and well kept by the employees of the Gear Meat Company, marks the spot.

Wharepouri, the fighting chief of Ngauranga and relation of Te Puni, was later buried in the enclosure, but his canoe memorial was erected at Ngauranga.

This is depicted in Brees' sketch of Ngauranga. The Writer visited the Petone (Pito-one) enclosure early in January, 1929, and was informed by some of the men employed there, that an agreement was made by the purchasers of the land, that no building would be erected on the sacred spot.

The Pickwick Club held a meeting to consider the erection of a Tombstone in memory of members Elsdon, Pierce, Lancaster and Hight.

The sad event cast a gloom over the community, and the Council meetings were postponed until October.

Arrival of the “Coromandel.”

A few more settlers arrived in the “Coromandel,” 780 tons, commanded by Captain French, due to leave Gravesend on the 13th December, 1839. and arrived in August, 1840.

The following names appeared on the ship's register:——J. and A. Annear; T. C. Butler; E. Cherry

The names marked with an asterisk were crossed out.

: — Green; B. Hook; J. and M. Pawton; Stephen Pilcher; Susan Pilcher; E. and A. Swallow; and E. A. Walsh.2

Brett's Early History of New Zealand and “N.Z. Journal,” 27/2/1841, quoted other names, viz:—Major Baker; Dr. Beardmore; Messrs. Crawford Minet, Bligh, Walker, and the Hon. H. Petre; Messrs. Boles, G. B. Earp, Jas. R. Foster, Wm. Guyton, Isaac Ridgway, and Jas. Smith. One death occurred on Board.

The “Coromandel” called at Sydney and brought 200 sheep, 20 bullocks, and 4 horses from Australia.

Major Baker had been on a visit to Sydney to appear in an action brought against him by Captain Pearson, of the “Integrity,” for his imprisonment of the latter while Police Magistrate under the provisional Government.

Death of Mr. Betts Hopper.

Another sad fatality occurred, casting a gloom over the settlement, when Mr. Edward Betts-Hopper was drowned in the Hutt river on Thursday, 17th September, 1840. Mr. Hopper, Mr. Petre and some workmen were getting timber and were descending the river with a boat load, when the boat struck against an unseen snag. Mr. Hopper was standing in the bow of the boat and was thrown into the river. There was reason to believe that he was stunned in falling into the water, as he made no attempt to catch hold of the oars and other things thrown to him. Dr. Stokes was early in attendance as soon as the body was recovered, but Mr. Hopper was beyond all aid. He was one of the earliest and most zealous members of the associations formed to colonise New Zealand, a Director of the Bank, and a large landed proprietor who was universally respected, and his untimely fate was severely felt and deeply regretted.

Mr. Edward Catchpool, a nephew of Mr. Hopper, writing from Britannia to a relative in England, describes the conditions prevailing at the Port on Nov. 6th, 1840, thus:—“It is impossible to describe the delight we experience, even in winter; the sun is then so powerful that it strikes quite warm; while the beauty of the bay, surrounded, or nearly so, on all sides by high hills down to the water's edge, covered with perpetual verdure, the trees and shrubs growing so closely as to render it difficult to ascend, conspire to banish every feeling but that of pleasure from the mind.

“Boats are sailing majestically over the bay, while those anchored off ride proudly on the water. A mighty roar is heard, and you look towards the direction of the entrance of the harbour, whence the sound appears to proceed, and you literally see the wind bending the trees on the mountain sides and tearing up the waves in its strength, while at the same time the water is smooth near you, and not a breath of wind fans your face; but the noise is warning enough. The sails in every boat are taken in with the utmost rapidity and every exertion is made to reach the land as quickly as possible. Sometimes it reaches the boats before they can secure themselves on shore, and they have then to pass through a dangerous surf which threatens to dash the boat in pieces.

“This wind will perhaps last for two or three days, tearing the roof of some of the houses, or, owing to the want of bricks, blowing the flames of the fires to the rush walls, and in a few minutes the building is levelled to the ground.

“There has been one fire (Cornish Row) in which about 14 houses were burnt in the space of twenty minutes.

“We have our fire detached from our dwelling. It was well we took the precaution, as we have had our cooking hut twice burnt down. But experience makes us all the wiser, and we line all round the fireplace with the stiffest clay we can procure, and find that the most effectual remedy.

“We have a few hours more of calm, and the wind as suddenly rises from the N. W. but, as we are partly protected by the thick forest in which we reside, the wind is not so much felt by us. The soil is luxuriant in the extreme, and the denseness of the forest is such that you cannot penetrate it, except by cutting your way through it. We had to pass the winter in only temporary dwellings, and as there was a great deal of rain, and the river overflowed several times, we were up to our knees in water for some hours, and it was not till the Firm* erected a large house they brought out with them and raised it on piles, that we were safe from the floods.

“These floods will eventually be put a stop to when the land is given out, as steps will be taken to bank up the river where necessary and cut channels, with flood gates to allow the water to pass off.

“The river has one of the most picturesque appearances you can imagine, winding' through the valley, its banks overhanging with shrubs and trees which are evergreen.

“The river is not easily navigable, as, in consequence of the floods, immense trees are lodged in its bed, sometimes reaching entirely across, and thus stopping its course, and after heavy rains forcing the water over the banks. The river abounds with fine eels and other fish. The natives around us do not feel any jealousy at our clearing the ground, but will assist, for a trifle, to raise our houses, and as they have been uniformly treated with kindness by us, neither Ann nor myself can pass by them, even at a distance, without their either running after us to shake hands with us and calling after us in their language, ‘Nuce, nuce kapai wyhena an tarna Catchpool’ (‘Very, very good man Catchpool and his wife’).

“Indeed, such is the faith we have in them that we hesitate not to leave them to take care of our house in our absence for fear the ‘Kakmo Packakas’ (‘bad white man’) may rob us.

“Here is a lesson for us. While we cannot trust our fellow countrymen, we rely with confidence in the good faith of savages, so called, who have, undoubtedly, at one time been cannibals.

“Nearly all the emigrants have treated them well. It is principally from the runaway sailors that they experience any annoyances.

“In consequence of the site of the town (of Britannia) being changed to the opposite side of the bay (Thorndon), owing to the floods, the natives endeavour by all the arguments they can to induce us to remain, and some of the females even cry at the idea of Ann and myself leaving them.

“They promise us ground to cultivate and will give us potatoes and pork if we will but remain. But, at present, I cannot decide, as circumstances must sway me, as you will learn below from the melancholy recital. I have now to inform you that as Uncle Hopper was bringing some sawn timber down the river, the boat struck against a piece of sunken timber, and as he was standing in the bow of the boat, he was thrown forward, and though Mr. Petre and two men were in the boat, and every exertion made to rescue him, it was too late, his body was in the water nearly a quarter of an hour before taken out; though medical assistance and stimulants were applied, his life had fled.

“An inquest was held by the magistrate, Mr. Murphy, who was also requested to inspect Uncle Edward's papers, and after considerable trouble we found a copy of his will, by which Thomas Pilcher and Thos. Turner of Sittingbourne are appointed executors. You may better imagine the loneliness of our situation than I can describe it. We are strangers in the land and have no one to whom we can look for support and consolation; but we must patiently submit to the Divine dispensation. It is most probable the partnership will be dissolved between Mr. Petre and Molesworth, and I am not certain as to what steps I shall have to pursue.

“I have directed the letter to Pilcher to you, as I thought it not improbable that he might have moved.… I sent a letter some time back to Sydney by a person going there, for Abraham Davy, but have had no answer, though vessels are continually arriving from that place.”

Chapter VII.

Removal from Pito-one to Thorndon—A Quarrel at Te Aro—Bullock Driving on Lambton Quay—Schools—Hotels—Small Pox—Naming the Town—Arrival of the “London.”

Before you lies the future, clear and vast; Builders of Empires in the Golden Chimes, Oh! learn a lesson from the perished past— 'Tis yours, to shape and mould the coming times. Thos. Bracken, 1890.

The pioneers of the Port Nicholson settlement were nothing if not thorough; and when they discovered that they had made a mistake, they made it their first business to correct it. Thus they landed first at Pito-one; and at Pito-one, in the teeth of wind and weather and all possibilities of the extravagance of both, it was decided to form the settlement. Here, accordingly, Captain Smith and his assistants of the “Cuba” laid off the township. Here, too, that honourable corporation, the Union Bank of Australia, first opened its doors in New Zealand. But it was speedily, and for obvious reasons, decided that Pito-one was not the proper place of settlement, and a move was made over the harbour. With due solemnity the bank safe was floated over on a raft. Again those gallant pioneers went to work. They had strong faith in their fortunes and their own right arms, and they decided at once that Britannia was to be a town of import. Later the whole urban area of Wellington was carefully surveyed and plans were drawn.

The New Zealand Gazette (19/9/40) refers thus to the move to Thorndon:— “Our fellow colonists are now busily engaged in removing to ‘Britannia’ and building and enclosing land there, and we are convinced their labours will not prove unprofitable. We hope are long they will have some of their time at command, and we are sure they will not be slow to undertake the several measures of a public kind which ought to be brought into active operation. Among them we would mention the Library, School, Savings Bank and Temperance Society as entitled to their earliest attention.”

Trouble with Natives at Te Aro.

Since the arrival of the Government authorities the natives of the Te Aro and Pipitea Pas had become more and more suspicious and distant towards the colonists. It was on the 26th of August, 1840, that this feeling first produced any outbreak. Captain Edward Daniell, who had lived, up to the time of the selection, with his wife and family in a ragged but

Fig. 27—Pipitea Pa 1841. Reference Numbers: 1. Native Chief's House; 2. British Flag (Proclamation read 4/6/1840); 3. N.Z. Coy's houses for Emigrants; 4. Bellsize (Pipitea) Point.

Fig. 28—Pipitea Point 1840.

Fig. 29—Britannia (Thorndon), 1840. From a sketch by Captain Stanley, H.M.S. Britomart, in the writer's collection. on the beach at Thorndon, had begun to erect a wooden house on one of the town acres which he had chosen. As this happened to be on a deserted garden of the Te Aro people, they had obstructed his proceedings in some way, and a quarrel had ensued. A report got about that Captain Daniell had been struck down by a blow from a tomahawk; and all who heard the report rushed to the spot with their arms in readiness for any emergency. The difference was amicably settled soon after the muster of the settlers. Their readiness to support in his supposed danger, a member of the community, who was known as well for his kindness of heart as for his courage, appeared to alarm the Colonial Secretary, for on the 27th a printed notice was circulated about the setlement, couched in these terms:—

“Whereas certain persons residing at Port Nicholson, N.Z., part of the dominions of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, did, on the evening of yesterday, assemble with arms at a native pah named Tarinaki.

“Now, therefore, I Willoughby Shortland, a Magistrate and Colonial Secretary of N.Z., do caution all persons from assembling under arms on any pretence whatever, without being duly authorised so to do, upon the allegiance they owe to Her Majesty Queen Victoria.

“Given under my hand, at Port Nicholson, this 27th day of August, 1840.

Willoughby Shortland, Colon. Sec. and Chief Magistrate.”

This, as well as other matters, did not serve to increase the Colonial Secretary's popularity, and the following extract from a letter written to England by one of the leading men of the Port, shows that Lieut. Shortland had not spared the attempt to injure the settlement more seriously.

Wakefield writes: — “Mr Shortland, during the short time he has been here, has made himself universally disliked by a sort of quarter-deck assumption of authority, which does not go down with the class of people residing here; but he is still more disliked on account of many covert attempts to entice away the labourers of this place. Thanks to our exertions and those of the Colonel, he has been almost entirely unsuccessful, except in one solitary instance.”

Frequent Fines.

Referring to cases of misdemeanour, Jerningham Wakefield, in his Adventure in N.Z., p. 264, writes in his amusing fashion:—

“The Bench of Magistrates had been particularly remarkable for its summary infliction of large fines in almost every case brought before them.

Five or ten pounds were very often required in cases of common assault, and from three to five pounds for drunkenness and breach of the peace.

Complaints of the arbitrary nature of the proceedings were often made; but then, no one knew how to get them investigated, and money was plentiful in those early days.

One man, a drunken, foul-mouthed bullock driver from a neighbouring Colony, was a frequent contributor to the public revenues. He was an excellent hand at his profession (a flourishing one then) and made good money, which he spent in drinking large doses of ardent spirits.

His predilection was interfered with by the magistrates and constables; he paid his fines regularly, but the manner of inflicting them seemed to offend him, and he took his own means of revenging himself. His team of bullocks were soon christened “Shortland,” “Smart,” “Best” and “Cole;” and he used to apply the coarsest epithets to them as he flogged them along. One day the Colonial Secretary, stately and pompous as usual, happened to pass the dray which they were dragging over the beach (Lambton Quay). Brutal threats to “cut Shortland's tail off if he didn't move on;” or to “whip his skin off” startled him in his promenade; and on turning suddenly round he beheld old “Sam” “whacking” his team.

To the surprise of the spectators, the Chief Magistrate asked the bullock driver whether “he applied those expressions to him?”

Sam answered with an innocent grin, “I wasn't a speakin' to you; I'm a driving my bullocks; that's my business;” and the Colonial Secretary retreated from the scene, amid a loud repetition of the most frightful imprecations, threats and mockery of the bullocks by their driver. A crowd of the lower classes roared with laughter during the whole scene.

He changed the names of his bullocks according to those of the magistrates who fined him. “Colonel,” “Murphy,” “Halswell,” etc., were subsequently substituted for the first offenders, as fresh magistrates sat on the bench.” (“Wakefield's Adventures in N.Z.,” p. 264.)

Te Aro Pa Agreement.

An agreement with the natives of the Pa Taranaki (Te Aro) was completed at this time, to assign over, and yield up to the Colonial Secretary all rights, titles and interest in certain lands situated in the bay, in the harbour of Port Nicholson, on which the town had been laid out by the New Zealand Company.

The “N.Z. Gazette,” 29/8/1840, gives the names of the principal signatories:—“Ngaponga, Teawitu, Parai Paipe, Ponike, Rarauke, Tewata, Pukahu, Tangihaera, Terangaianho, Ohiro, Taku Tekuwau, Tetapi, Tuware. Signed: Willoughby Shortland, Colonial Secretary; Thos. Paton, witness; H. D. Smart, J.P.; Henry Cole, Chief Constable, and Richard Barrett, Interpreter.”

Restrictions.

The newspapers now published various restrictions, which were being enforced in the settlement, for the colonists were warned, by an announcement appearing in the Gazette of the 5th September, 1840, that firing guns about the beach (Lambton Quay) was prohibited, the penalty for doing so being a fine of £5 imposed on the offenders.

Another notice was issued on the 19th September, 1840, ordering keepers of licensed public houses to erect signs and lamp-posts upon, and in front, of them.

Reference was also made to the inconvenience caused to persons settling in various parts of the town, by the fact that the streets were not being permanently named.

Wakefield Club.

A club named the Wakefield Club, in honour of Colonel Wakefield, was formed. The original members were about twenty in number; a small house to meet in was bought from a settler who had squatted in a nook among the hills overlooking the town soon after erecting it on his town section close to the water's edge. The entrance fee was £25 and the yearly subscription £5.

Early Schools.

Miss Tilke, who arrived by the “Adelaide” under the care of Mrs. Evans, wife of Dr. Evans, has the honour of being the first to open and conduct a regular school in the Port Nicholson settlement. This was held in a long clay-built house with thatched roof, a little to the west of the corner of Mulgrave and Pipitea Streets. Her pupils were the young children of the early Thorndon settlers.

Within 6 weeks of his arrival from Sydney, Mr. Charles Grace, who arrived by the “Lady Lilford,” March 16th, 1840, and who was the first male teacher of the Port Nicholson Settlement, advertised in the N.Z. Gazette his intention of opening a school. This school was opened on Monday, October 5th, in one of the wooden buildings belonging to the N.Z. Company on Thorndon Flat.

Early Taverns.

Inn keepers were doing a thriving trade at this period, for there were no less than five situated at Britannia (Thorndon) and the same number at Pito-one, to assuage the intense thirst of some of the inhabitants.

This list of licensed hotels appeared in the “N.Z. Gazette” and “Britannia Spectator” 10th October, 1840:—

Those at Britannia (Thorndon) were:

“Barrett's Hotel” (Hotel Cecil site), Britannia.

“Durham Arms.”

“George Inn.”

“Thistle Inn.”

“Queen's Head.”

“New Zealander” (R. Jenkins).

“Lambton Tavern.”

Those situated at Pito-one were:—

“Britannia Hotel.”

“Caledonian Tavern.”

“Plough Inn.”

“Australian Inn.”

“Port Nicholson Hotel and Tavern.”

Timber Destruction.

On the 12th October Mr. Murphy issued a prohibition against the cutting of wood by sawyers without the permission of the owner of the land. This partial recognition of the title of the settlers, so necessary to prevent the great devastation which was now progressing in all the timbered lands within a few miles from the town, had been steadily refused by the Colonial Secretary, who used to tell the applicants “that they were all squatters—that they had no more right to the timber than the sawyers, until the Crown had granted a title to the land, and that he expected shortly to receive orders to eject them from the Crown lands.”

During the building of the town, so great had been the demand for sawn timber, and so high the price paid in consequence, that the sawyers, paying nothing for their logs, used to earn enough in two days to remain idle and drunk the other five. Reckless in their destruction of the forest, they cut down only the best trees, and often left a log untouched after it was felled, in order to take some other which would fall in a more convenient position. They lived a wild life on the outskirts of the settlement, and their forest huts afforded shelter to the sailors who deserted their ships and to many worse characters.

Opening of Barrett's Hotel.

The New Zealand Gazette and Britannia Spectator, dated 24th October, 1840, gives a detailed account of a great event, i.e., the opening of Barrett's Hotel (Hotel Cecil site). The following persons were present:—Mr. George Hunter, chairman; Messrs. J. Wade and D. Riddiford, croupiers; Captain Hodges, Major Hornbrook, Dr. Johnston, Dr. Taylor, Captain Williams, Messrs. Guyton, Smith, J. and G. Wade, Lyon, Wadeson, Hair and others. Many were the speeches made, and following is the toast list:—

Queen Victoria, Mr. George Hunter.

Prince Albert, Mr. John Wade.

Her Majesty's Ministers, Mr. S. Revans.

Army and Navy, Mr. Hunter (Air: “Rule Britanina). Lieut. Governor and prosperity to N.Z. (Song: “Home, Sweet Home”).

Health to Col. Wakefield and success to the New Zealand Company (drunk 3 times 3 and “one cheer more.” (Song: “Merry Month of May”), John Wade.

The Land of our Fathers, Mr. Guyton (loud cheers and “Auld Lang Syne” with harp accompaniment).

Dr. Taylor proposed the health of Mr. George Hunter (Musical honours and loud applause, and song (“The fine old English Gentleman”).

Sir Geo. Gipps and Australia, Mr. Revans (Cheers).

Michael Murphy, prop. by Captain Hodges (cheers, followed by song “Safely Follow Him.”)

10.

Commercial and Agricultural Interests of N. Z., Mr. Guyton (3 times 3 loud cheers).

11.

Richard Barrett and Family (Loud cheers). Dr. Taylor, at the request of Mr. Barrett, returned thanks. Song, “Rory O'More,” Cap. le Grand.

12.

Pretty Maids, Merry Wives and Buxom Widows of Port Nicholson, Mr. Geo. Hunter, followed by a glee “Here's a health to all good lassies.”

13.

Whaling and Marine Interests of N.Z. Song: “Light of other Days,” Captain le Grand.

14.

Press of Port Nicholson, Mr. D. Riddiford (cheers). Mr. Revans returned thanks and proposed the compositors. Mr. Yates acknowledged.

15.

The Croupiers, Mr. Bethune.

16.

Dr. Evans and E. G. Wakefield (Loud cheers).

17.

Te Puni and Chiefs, Mr. Geo. Hunter.

18.

Captains of the vessels in Port, Mr. Hair.

Other toasts followed, and the party broke up, highly delighted with the unanimity of feeling which had been manifested. The dinner was laid out with great taste by Mr. Barrett's deputy, Thos. Elvidge.

The inhabitants of the settlement received a shock about a month after the jollification at Barrett's, when it was discovered that one of the passengers of an incoming emigrant ship was ill with smallpox. A quarantine-tent was erected on the East side of the harbour (Oriental Bay), the necessary precautions were taken, the sick one was cured by the Company's surgeon, and the disease spread no further.

Naming of Wellington.

The Directors of the Company signified to their principal agent their earnest wish that the town founded on the shores of Lambton Harbour might be named after the Duke of Wellington, in order to commemorate the important support which His Grace had lent to the cause of colonization in general… and by his strenuous and successful defence against its enemies of the measure for colonizing South Australia. The settlers took up the view of the Directors with great cordiality, and the new name was at once adopted.

The newspaper now took the final title of the “New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator.” With reference to the

Fig. 30—Plan of the Town of Wellington in 1840. Surveyed by Capt. W. Mein-Smith, N.Z., 1st Surveyor-general to the N.Z. Company, and drawn by William Bannister, Surveyor. The figures above the section numbers denote the order of choice at the Ballot in England in 1839. change of the name of “Britannia” to Wellington, the following leader appeared in the above named paper, dated 28th November, 1840:—

“We appear for the second time written a few months under a modified title, but we trust our friends will not consider it typical of our character. When we first issued our journal, the name and the site of the town were alike uncertain, we therefore abstained from using a special designation. The time arrived when the site of the town was surveyed and its name declared, and we adopted the one and rescinded the other at our earliest convenience.”

The First Scotch Thistle.

The anniversary of St. Andrew's Day was commemorated by a picnic held at Glenlyon, Mr. William Lyon's farm, Pito-one, on the 30th of November, 1840, During the day a Scotch thistle seed was sown on the property, and in the evening a celebration was held at Barrett's Hotel, when Mr. George Hunter presided.

Arrival of the Ship “London.”

On the 12th December, 1840, the ship “London” arrived from England with 200 passengers. Among the latter was Mr. Frederick Alonzo Carrington, who held the appointment of Chief Surveyor to the Plymouth Company.

The ship “London,” 700 tons, commanded by Captain H. Shuttleworth, sailed from Gravesend on the 13th August, 1840, and arrived in January, 1841, with 119 adults, 68 children under fourteen, and 10 under the age of one.

Six births and four deaths occurred on board.

The passenger list is as follows:—

Name No. of Children Attenbury, Martha — Baird, James — Barber, Thomas and Susannah 3 Berry, Fred T. and E. Jane — Birrell, John — Blyth, James and Isabella — Brown, Frances — Burt, Fenny W. and Ann 2 Chetham, Wm. and Sarah — Collett, Henry and Eliza — Cummerfield, J. and Mary 4 Curtis, Geo. and Priscilla 5 Dean, William — Dolan, Margaret — Downing, Ellen — Duffy, John — Emery, Wm. and Martha 1 Fell, Wm. and Elizabeth 4 Fox, Matthew — Giddings, Richard and Jane 2 Gilberd, Wm. Foale and J. 3 Gough, Timothy and Mary — Gough, Margaret — Grettan, Thomas H. 2 Hales, John — Hay, Wm. and Eliza — Henderson, Thos. and Cath. —

Did not embark.

Howe, Mary 1 Howell, Sim and Elizabeth — Jarvis, Henry — Kelt, James and Elizabeth — King, John and Katherine 1 Levet, Gardener — Light, John H. and Mary 1 Lowrie, Joseph — Marks, Catherine — McFarlane, Henry — McFarlane, Mary — McIntosh, J. and Mary — McIntosh, Alex and Marg. 7 Miller, Chas and Ann — Minnihan, Jeremy and M. Ann — Morris, Cornelius and Mary — Morris, Ellen, 16; and Anne, 14 — Nairne, Chas. Joseph — Neil, Wm. and Bridget — Neil, Ellen, 14; Edward — Nunn, Ann — Overend, Hen. and Elizabeth — Parker, Wm. and Harriet — Parks, Ann, 25 — Perrin, Rhoda, 26 — Pilkington, Michael and Ann — Pringle, Alex, 17 — Ryan, Michael and M. Ann — Scott, Wm. and Margaret — Seymour, John, 28 — Seymour, James and Frances 2 Signall, Wm. and Deborah 3 Sindles, Stephen, 17 — Stanton, Margaret 1 Symons, John and Mary 4 Tomlinson, Richard. 18 — Turner, Mary — Wakefield, Eliza — Wakefield, Susan and Isabella — Ward, James, 27 — Welch, Henry and Mary — Welch, Edward, 18; and Francis, 15 — Welch, Elizabeth Delahey (widow) 3 Williams, Susannah, 18 — Youlton, James, 14; J., 27 — Births.— To Mrs. Welch, 2nd October. To Mrs. Geddings, 22nd October. To Mrs. Howell, 28th October. To Mrs. Emery, 1st. November. To Mrs. Parker, 19th November. To Mrs. Overend, 28th November. Deaths.— Henderson, 20th September. Hay, 24th September. Fell, 29th September. Howe, 1st. November.

Year's End Festivities.

Christmas Day, 1840, was celebrated in the good old English style. Fat bullocks were slaughtered and dressed with evergreens, and festivities were held.

Monseigneur Pompalier, the Roman Catholic Bishop of New Zealand, visited Wellington and performed Mass.

On Thursday, 31st December, a public meeting was held at the Queen's Hotel to establish a Working Men's Association for the purpose of acquiring useful knowledge by the means of a library, discussions, and lectures. The members of the committee were Messrs. Rowland Davis, W. Annear, Kentish, Baltrass, Canning, R. Barry, Stafford, Swallow, Walker and Heywood. Mr. Jonas Woodward was appointed secretary.

Shipping Arrivals.

During the year a number of ships carrying passengers and cargo arrived in the harbour.

The names of some of these were obtained from various sources, such as the newspapers and almanacs of the day, Brett's Early N.Z., Cyclopedia of N.Z., Vol. 1, and from autobiographical notes. In some cases the information is incomplete, so the writer does not vouch for its full authenticity.

“David” (Capt. Robinson), Messrs. Daniell, Archdeacon Stock, Jas. Smith, M. Couper.

“Delhi” (Capt. Herbert). Capt. Simpson, Messrs. Lett, Whittaker, Middlecroft, Jameson, Moore, Mr. and Mrs. Hall, Mr. Dalzell, Monsieur Pettit, Misses Wilson (2), Mr. Walpole, Mrs. Strauneas, Mr. Faunt, Mr. and Mrs. Crow, Mrs. Mahew, Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. and Mrs. Miles, Mr. and Mrs. Howe, Mr. Hart, Mr. and Mrs. Swainson, Mrs. Earlgrave, Mrs. Townsend.

“Hannah” (90 tons). Mr. Machattie.

“Helena” (Capt. W. B. Rhodes). G. H. Coglan.

“Lady Lilford.” Dr. Campbell, Mrs. Smith, Mr. Mclnnes, Messrs. Grace and James Watt.

“Hope.” Mr. C. R. Bidwill. The “Hope” went aground off Ward Island.

“Integrity” (220 tons). Messrs. Brown, G. and J. Wade, and Mrs. McLiver.

“Middlesex” (564 tons). Messrs. Hair, Rawson, Riley, Thompson, Dr. Shaw, and two stockmen.

“Navarino” (Capt. Naylor). Messrs. Symonds, White, Brown and ten steerage passengers.

“Nimrod.” Capt. Hay and lady, Messrs. Heather and family, McDonnell, Roberts, Roskell and Wilson.

“Royal Merchant.” Messrs. A. Duncan senr. and junr., and W. McDowall.

The passengers arriving by the “Brougham” in 1840 were Messrs. S. M. Scroggs, R. Shepherd, F. Shepherd, E. Norman, A. Wylie and A. Wills.

CHAPTER VIII.

First Anniversay Celebrations—Regatta—Horse Racing—Arrival of the “Slains Castle”—Governor Hobson—Cricket—Arrival of the “Lady Nugent”—Exchange— Court Scenes—Municipal Corporation—Arrival of the “Lord William Bentinck” and “Olympus.”

“Know'st thau an Island on the misty ocean, Green, green with fern, and many an ancient tree Whose waving tops, with soft perpetual motion Repeat the same primeval melody? “The Rata with the red pine interlaces, And lights the forest with a scarlet gleam. The sunshine on the hills the shadow chases; The fern-tree bends in silence o'er the stream.” Lady Wilson, Rangitikei, 1889.

The New Year of 1841 was saluted by the ringing of bells, firing of cannon, and hoisting of flags. One of the attractions that day was an invitation to the general public given by Wade brothers, to journey to Evans Bay and attend a cattle sale at their stock yards. A good many people availed themselves of the opportunity, and partook of the cold collation served up at noon.

It was determined towards the end of the year to celebrate the first arrival of the settlers, on the 22nd January, by an anniversary fete. So favourable was the state of affairs in the settlement, and so bright were prospects for the future, that everybody joined heartily in this idea. The harvest was in progress in the Hutt Valley, consisting chiefly of potatoes, as a good cleaning crop for the newly-cleared land. The samples of wheat and barley produced in some small cleared patches promised an equally good return under a grain crop.

The rapid improvement of the condition of sheep and cattle on the natural pasturage of the hills south and southeast of the town, was no less remarkable. The fern, through which the settlers used to ride up to the knees of the horses, had been trodden down in many places, and grasses had sprung up in its place.

During the year 119 vessels had entered and 112 vessels had left the Port. The white population already amounted to 2,500 persons; and there were nearly 200 houses erected in a town of which the inhabitants had been in possession but four months.

18,000 acres of rural land had been selected by the end of the year. Out of the whole community only 25 men were on the Company's hands, pursuant to their engagement to employ labouring emigrants until they found service; these were receiving 25/- per week besides their rations, which might fairly be counted as seven shillings more.

The prosperous state of the working-classes did not fail to show itself by their very obstinate, but inoffensive, determination to have a share in the arrangement of the forthcoming festival.

The democracy and aristocracy of the Port could not agree about the persons to be appointed as a committee of management for the celebrations, so, after many days' good-humoured dispute, it was decided to hold two festivals on different days, to be called the “Popular” and the “Select” fete.

The “Selects” gave a subscription ball at Barrett's Hotel on the night of the 22nd; the stormy weather having prevented any out-door amusements. On Saturday, the 23rd, a rowing match took place in the harbour under their auspices, but a sailing match was abandoned in consequence of an accident to Mr. George Duppa's boat.

The “Populars” presented an extensive bill of fare for Monday, the 25th. The weather was fine. A spirited race between two whale boats round the vessels at anchor started the proceedings.

Then came a hurdle race by four horses over some level ground at the back of Te Aro Pa (Taranaki St.) for a purse of fifteen guineas, and the name of “Calmuck Tartar,” ridden by Mr. Henry Petre, deserves to be recorded as the winner of the first race in New Zealand. Other horses running were “Currency Lass” (George Wade), “Black Billy” (Mr. Watt), and “Sulky” (Capt. Hodges). A sailing match, won by Mr. Duppa, followed; the “Sand Fly” entered for this. A rifle match for five pounds and entrances was won by G. Crawford, Pito-one.

Ten entered for this event. Diversions such as jumping in sacks, wheeling barrows blindfolded, climbing a greasy pole, finished the day in a right merry manner.

A “Popular” ball, joined by most of the aristocrats, was given in the evening at one of the large wooden stores being erected on Te Aro beach. Flags waved over many houses and the masts of the shipping, also over houses at the head of the bay, while over the room fitted up for the ball, a large white banner with the words “Popular Fete” was inscribed.

The natives had not been forgotten. An ample feast of rice and sugar, which was a dainty dish with them, had been provided, and a prize in money was held out as an inducement for a canoe race, which did not eventuate.

Wakefield's Adventure in N.Z. and N.Z. Gazette.

Arrival of the “Slains Castle.”

The “Slains Castle,” commanded by Captain James Petre, left Deal on the 18th September, 1840, and arrived on the 29th January, 1841, with 41 married couples, 24 single men, 21 single women, 42 children under fourteen, 34 under seven and 15 under one. 5 births and 4 deaths occurred on board.

The passenger list is as follows:—

Name Age Wife's Age No. of Children Allen, John (widower) 35 — 1

Did not embark.

Ashworth, Thos. and Mary 20 28 1 Baron, Geo. and Helen 40 41 3 Baron, Geo., Junior 19 — — Barrow, Louiza 20 — — Binns, Chas. and Sarah 35 35 — Blake, Geo. and Sarah 38 35 6 Boysen, Peter and Jane 29 37 2 Brungar, Geo. 24 — 1 Brungar, Mary — 22 — Burkett, Benjamen 38 — 3 Burkett, Mary — 35 — Butler, Jas. Henry 24 — 1 Butler, Martha — 25 — Carley, Ann Maria 29 — — Chisholm, Adam 30 — —

Did not embark.

Clarke, Stephen and wife 33 28 3 Cochran, Thomas 26 — — Cochran, Maria — 26 — Collins, Jas. and Ann 30 30 4 Cormack, John 21 — — Crouther, Thos. 31 — 4 Crouther, Judith — 30 — Cruikshank, Marg. 30 — 1 Cutting, H. House 25 — 1 Cutting, Hannah — 23 — Day, William 20 — — Dingle, James 22 — — Downie, Jane 19 — — Dyer, Rob and Eliza — 32 — Eglington, Benza 32 — 4 Eglington, Eliza — 32 — Fairbrass, Thos. 21 — 1 Fairbrass, Ann — 21 — Fairbrass, Mary 20 — — Fellingham, Geo. 23 — 1 Fellingham, Rebecca — 25 — Fisher, Jas. and Harriet 39 38 4 Floyd, Thos. and Caroline 23 20 1 Forbes, Rob and Mary 35 30 6 Goodwin, Hen. and Eliz. 49 43 4 Goodwin, Elizabeth 18, Jas. 21 — — Grant, Jas. and Janet 28 26 1 Greenwood, William 33 — 3 Greenwood, Martha — 32 — Hair, Wm. and Margt. 40 28 3 Hammersdorff 26 — — Harris, Eleanor 21 — — Harris, Samuel 24 — — Heese, A. A. (Albert) 27 — — Heese, Pauline — 23 — Hickman, J. and Eliza 25 27 1 Hodge, John 26 — — Hood, Augustus 20 — — Jackson, J. and Martha 22 24 — Jones, Thos. and Mary 38 37 2 Keiller, Jas. and Mary 31 21 2 Kerney, John and Ellen 30 28 2 Kilgour, Alexander 45 — 4 Kilgour, Margaret — 35 — Kilgour, Infant, died 1/10/'40 — — — Kilgour, John 18 — — Lakeman, William 29 — — Lakeman, Martha — 29 — Leathart, Chas. 34 — — Leathart, Claudia — 33 — Lockett, Jonas and wife 23 23 1 Lockett, Infant, died off Gravesend, 12/9/'40 — — — Lockett, Eliza 17 — — Marshall, Henry 25 — — McIntosh, Isabella 20 — — Medwin, William 37 — — Menzies, John and Grace 28 26 — Merrix, H. and Martha 26 29 — Miller, Jas. and Ann 43 44 5 Minzies, Alex. 41 — — Mortimer, Jas. Andrew 20 — — Mortimer, Caroline 18 — — Nathan, Heny. and Jane 26 25 1 Neil, Caroline 19 — — Norton, Chas. James 27 — 3 Norton, Ann — 24 — Osborne, Mary 21 — — Palmer, Richd. and Eliza 27 27 — Parker, Thomas 21 — — Pote, Wm. and Betsy 27 27 — Ramsbottom, Thos 31 — 1 Ramsbottom, Ann — 32 — Richards, Jos. Manuel 27 — 2 Richards, Ann — 27 — Riley, John and Cath 29 37 3 Roche, Thos. and Eliza 27 27 1 Roots, John and Mary 40 36 1 Schmidt, J. (widower) 58 — — Schmidt, Sarah, 24; Mary 22 — — Schmidt, Martha 20 — — Seear, Wm. J. and Mary 25 25 1 Sharpe, Mary 21 — — Sharpe, Harriet 16 — — Squib, Chas. Henry 39 — 3 Squib, Elizabeth — 37 — Squib, Elizabeth Harriet 19 — — Squib, Ann Sophia 15 — — Squib, Margaret 14 — — Stevens, Jas. and Mary 25 26 — Stewart, John 25 — — Susans, Thomas 48 — 5 Susans, Elizabeth — 40 — Sutton, Wm. and Ann 37 30 — Teague, Samuel 25 — — Turner, Robert 21 — 1 Turner, Agnes — 24 — Vincent, Wm. Ed. 17 — — Walker, George 23 — — Walters, John 29 — 3 Walters, Marion — 24 2 Warburton, Thomas 21 — — “Not here,” recorded against name. Westwood, James 20 — Wheeler, Robert 34 — 1 Wheeler, Sarah — 23 — Wight, David and Mary 24 27 3 Willmore, Thos. 39 — 4 Willmore, Susannah — 26 — Willmore, Thos. (Junr.) 16 — —

Adolph Hammersdorf was put ashore at Deal, off Beachy Head, on the 17th September, as his thigh bone was fractured on the 16th.

James Cooper and James Weanell were taken on board at Blackwell at Mr. Alton's request.

Letter to J. Pirie and Co.:—

“I am happy to inform you of the safe arrival here on the 25th inst., of the “Slains Castle”—all well—having only lost four infants under twelve months old and having five births.”

(Signed) Capt. Petrie,

“Slains Castle,” Port Nicholson

, 29/1/'41.

An estimate of the native character is given by Mr. William Hay, who writes thus from Port Nicholson, February 11th, 1841:—

…“I have got one quarter of an acre of ground, for which I pay £7.… The natives throw European people into the shade, both for honour, honesty and religion. Every morning, as duly as the sun rises, they assemble at their chapel, and we are generally awakened with the sound of hymn singing, and on Sabbath they attend the Missionary chapel from morning till night.…”

Lieut.-Governor Hobson.

On Monday, 15th February, 1841, an important meeting took place at Barrett's Hotel. Mr. Geo. Butler Earp was voted to the chair. After his address, explanatory of the objects of the meeting, Captain Edward Daniell proposed:—

“That Lieut.-Governor Hobson has systematically neglected his duty to Her Majesty's subjects settled at Port Nicholson.

“That His Excellency's recent attempt to deprive this settlement of its skilled labour by inducing mechanics and artificers to leave it and enter into the employment of the Government at Auckland, is calculated to inflict serious injury upon the settlement.

“That the annexed petition to the Queen be forwarded to England, and presented to Her Majesty, stating the above-mentioned grievances, and praying Her Majesty for protection and the recall of the Lieutenant-Governor.”

These motions were seconded by Mr. James Coutts Crawford.

Mr. Hanson appeared at the head of a more moderate party, and read an address in the form of a petition to both Houses of Parliament, praying for redress. Amongst such an assemblage, there could be but little doubt of the result, and the original motion was finally carried with acclamation.

“N.Z. Journal,” October 16th, 1841, p. 258.

The causes which led to the meeting are briefly summarised as follows:—

The removal of the army of thirty soldiers. The alleged crimping methods to induce newly arrived emigrants to proceed to Auckland for work. The issue of an official notice warning persons not to settle or occupy land at Taranaki or Whanganui under land orders from the N.Z. Company, as such had not been conveyed by the Crown; and other matters relating to Auckland and the Bay of Islands. The petition, with numerous signatures attached to it. was forwarded to Valparaiso by the “Cuba” on the second of March.

At the end of February the “Chelydra” sailed for Auckland with the troops and the crimped mechanics, who were allowed a free passage among other inducements. Mr. Dudley Sinclair, attracted by the prospect of speculation in town lots at the proposed capital, also left Wellington in this ship.

Formation of a Cricket Club.

Cricket enthusiasts now got into action, for the “N.Z. Gazette and Wellington Spectator” announced the formation of a cricket club in their issue of the 20th February, 1841. Games were played at Thorndon Flat.

Arrival of the “Blenheim.”

The “Blenheim,” commanded by Captain Moses Campbell, left London on the 25th August, 1840, and arrived at Port Nicholson February, 1841, with 18 married couples, 87 single persons and 39 children under fourteen. Dr Neill Campbell was the surgeon superintendent, and Robert Watt, Surveyor of Shipping to the N.Z. Company, signed the certificate on the 25th August.

Name Age Age Brown, James 28 — Brown, Mary — 30 Brown, Sarah, 9; James 71/2 — Brown, George, 5; Elizabeth 11/2 — Cameron, John 49 — Cameron, Janet — 44 Cameron, J., 26; A., 24; C., 20 D. 17 — Cameron, A., 15; Ann, 12; A., 9; D., 7; M. 5 — Cameron, Alex 35 — Cameron, Janet — 30 Cameron, J., 19; H., 17;

Did not embark.

D., 30; A. 21 — Cameron, C., 45; M., 15; C 17 — Cameron, Alex 30 — Cameron, Isabella — 25 Cameron Allan — — Campbell, Cap Moses — — Campbell, Wife — — Campbell, J., 8; C., 6; L., 5; S., 1; Isa. 1 — Campbell, Neil — — Chisholm, John 40 — Drummond, James 15 — Dunnit, Matthew 36 — Dunnit, Margaret — 33 Dunnit, John, 71/2; Janet 4 — Easton, Geo. 22 — Easton, Mary — 21 Ferguson, Donald 36 — Ferguson, Mary — 35 Ferguson, Marion, 9; Donald 7 — Frazer, Duncan 40 — Frazer, Margaret — 36 Frazer, J., 17; C., 16; Is., 15; M. 14 — Frazer, E., 14; A., 12; Al., 8; J., 7; D. 4 — Frazer, Jane 20 — Grant, Alexander 30 — Harvie, Wm., 15 — Keith, Alex 24 — MacEachnie, M., 36 — Mackay, John, 52; John 28 — Mackay, D., 25; S., 19; L., 16; H., 14; Colin 6 — McColstry, Dan 27 — McConnell, Wm. 22 — McConnell, Elizabeth — 21 McDonald, Allan 22 — McDonald, Donald and Mrs. — — McDonald, C, 16; D., 15; A., 14; F., 12; A. 11 — McDonald, C., 9; Thos. 5 — McFarlance, John — — McGregor, Gregor 21 — McKenzie, Hugh 50 — McKenzie Catherine — 46 McKenzie, J., 24; P., 21; M. 17 — McKenzie, F., 15; J., 12; John 10 — McKinnis, Lachlan 21 — McKinnon, John 20 — McLachlan, Dugald 40 — McLachlan, Jane — 32 McLachlan, C., 15; A., 11; H., 10; P. 4 — McLeod, John 29 — McLellan, Archibald 30 — McMaster, Angus 36 — McMillan, Ewen 35 — McMillan, D., 29; J., 27; M., 37; C. 32 — McNaughton, Ewen 28 — McNaughton, Janet, 25; Angus 3 — McQuarrie, Donald 54 — McQuarrie, Margaret — 53 McQuarrie, R., 27; J., 25; A., 23; J. 19 — McQuarrie, Alex 17 — McQueen, Archibald 21 — Mitchell, James 29 — Mitchell, Janet — 28 Mitchell, Marion, 5; Jane 3 — Morrison, Hugh 50 — Morrison, Ann — 40 Morrison, H., 18; D., 16; A., 14; J. 12 — Morrison, M, 10; Mary 8; Colin 6 — Murray, John 24 — Nicholl, Wm. 47 — Nicholl, Janet 35 — Nicholl, J., 18; W., 16; C., 13; T., 10; Janet 8 — Rankin, James 21 — Ross, George 21 — Shank, George — — Sinclair, Francis 42 — Sinclair, Eliza — 45 Sinclair, J., 20; G., 15; J., 14; Jane 12 — Sinclair, H., 10; F., 6; Ann 1 — Smith, Mary 19 — Sutherland, Dr. Sinclair — — Thompson, Alex 28 — Thompson, Helen — 26 Turner, Isabella 28 — Turner, John 20 —

A Distinguished Lady Visitor.

The H.M.S. “Favourite” again entered the harbour on the 3rd March, 1841, having on board as passengers, Lady Franklin, the wife of the Governor of Van Dieman's Land, and her suite. Lady Franklin was completing her tour of the Australasian Colonies by a visit to the different settlements in New Zealand. She resided, during her short stay here, in the house of Colonel Wakefield (old site of the Vice-Regal residence), which was by this time fitted up with some degree of comfort. She also made a trip to see the farms on the Hutt.

Before her departure, a congratulatory address was presented to her Ladyship by a deputation from the settlers, with allusions to her literary and scientific acquirements, and to the friendly feeling displayed towards the settlers by Sir John.

The sloop made the passage from Hobart Town to Port Nicholson in ten days.

Arrival of “The Lady Nugent.”

The “Lady Nugent,” 600 tons, commanded by Captain Martin, sailed from Gravesend October, 1840, and arrived in March, 1841, with 41 married couples, 29 single men, 16 single women, 49 children under fourteen, 5 under seven. 6 births and 21 deaths occurred on board.

The Passenger List is as follows:—

Name Age Wife's Age No. of Children Baker, Geo. and Susan 24 25 2 Beachen, George and Fanny 24 22 1 Bevan, Thos. and Mary 39 39 5 Bevan, Geo., 17; Ed. 15 — —

Did not embark.

Bluett, Thos. and Mary 21 25 2 Bolton, Frdk. and Eliz. 33 30 4 Bowman, David and Janet 31 28 3 Bruce, Peter and Helen 23 22 1 Bruce, Barbara 22 — — Brungar, Jas. and Soph. 27 24 3 Campbell, John and Jane 37 32 5 Campbell, Sarah 19 — — Chipperfield, Wm. Rich. 34 — 3 Chipperfield, Susannah — 37 — Cockram, Thomas and Maria 26 26 — Collier, Geo. and Eliza 34 30 — Cross, Henry 27 — — Cruikshank, Mary 30 — 1 Dodds, John — — 1 Dodds, Wm, 14; Mary A., 16; James 20 — — Duncan, Robt. and Ann 33 28 3 Duthie, Alexander 25 — — Evans, Thos. and Ann 27 23 1 Fairweather, D. and C. 25 26 — Fairweather, Robert and Barbara 32 25 3 Finnamore, Wm. and Anna 39 24 1 Futter, Jas. and Frances 40 32 6 Futter, Susan 16 — — Gentle, G. E. and Car. S. 23 22 — Giddend, Thos. 20 — Giddend, Hannah 25 — — Gillard, Jos 17 — — Gray, Mary 21 — — Gunn, John and Mary 31 28 — Harvey, Thomas and Mary A. 29 26 — Jefferson, Ben and Sarah 45 37 4 Johnston, D. and Amelia 23 21 1 Jones, Edward John 21 — — Kennedy, Thomas and Mary 25 25 — Kieller, Jas. and Mary 31 21 1 Kilminster, J. & Frances 32 30 4 Lewis, Michael and Elizabeth C. 43 28 1 Martin, Edward 20 — 4 Martin, Jan, 25; John 18 — — Martin, Martin Thos. 16; Sarah 14 — — Martin, Robt. (widower) 29 — 3 McDonald, Alex and Mary 30 30 5 McHardie, David and Elizabeth 38 39 2 McHardie, David (Junr.) 15 — — McHardie, Alex and Marg. 26 24 2 Milne, William 16 — — Morton, David and Grace 32 34 3 Mummery, Chas. and Mary 39 38 — Oliver, James — — 1 Paul, Elizabeth 19 — — Phelps, Jas. and Mary Ann 35 23 2 Pimble, J. and Ann 31 29 — Preston, Henry and Sarah 32 36 2 Prince, Ed. and Mary 35 35 5 Prince, John (died 12th December.) Rhodes, Richard 29 — — Robertson, Alf. and Emma 23 20 — Robertson, George 23 — — Robinson, Robert and Ann 40 29 4 Robinson, John 18 — — Robinson, Richard 16 — — Savage, Elizabeth 50 — — Seear, W. James and Susan 25 25 — Sellar, Jas. and Sophia 30 37 3 Sellar, John 17 — — Seymour, Frances 40 — — Shepherd, George 25 — — Shillton, William 31 — — Southee, John and Sophia 40 37 6 Stewart, Alex. 19 — — Stewart, Jessie 19 — — Stoodley, John and Eliza 34 34 4 Stratton, Thomas and Eliza 45 35 2 Sturgeon, Rob 30 — — Smith, David and Agnes 31 33 4 Smith, Jas. and Amy 40 32 5 Smith, James (Junr.) 14 — —

Did not embark.

Tanner, Mary 23 — — Thorby, Ezekiel and M. Ann 30 27 4 Turnell, Martha 17 — — Walker, Geo. and Sarah 30 31 2 Watt, Ann, 17; Peter 16 — — Watterson, John and Mary 36 36 4 Watterson, Mary 14 — — Webb, Thomas 35 — — Wilkie, Mrs. 60 — — Wilkie, George and Ann 36 36 — Wilkie, Elizabeth 14 — — Wilkie, James 22 — — Wood, Eliza 22 — —

Deaths recorded on the New Zealand copy of the Register:—

Two children of Mr. and Mrs. Bevan.

One child of Mr. and Mrs. Bolton.

One child of Mr. and Mrs. Bowman.

One child of Mr. and Mrs. Brungar.

Jane Campbell died of Typhus fever on Christmas Eve.

Maria Cockram died of Typhus fever, 25th November.

Eliza Collier died of Marasmus, 9th December.

Mary Gray died 14th January, 1841.

One child of Mr. and Mrs. Keiller.

One child of Mr. and Mrs. D. McHardie.

One child of Mr. and Mrs. Alex McHardie.

John Prince, 12th December, 1840.

Amongst the passengers was Mr. Edmund Storr Halswell, who had been appointed by the Company's Commissioner to the management of the Native Reserves and Protector of Aborigines.

The Exchange.

A wooden building of some pretensions in point of architecture was erected at Te Aro in 1841, and used as an Exchange and Library, and new stores, houses and fences were springing up in every direction. The clinking of the hammers and the sudden apparition of new habitations still went on day after day with unceasing activity.

The steam mill company erected their mill upon an acre of Mr. Riddiford's, adjoining the acre upon which the store of Messrs. Rhodes and Co. and the Gazette office stood. Captain Rhodes erected a wharf in front of his store in the rear of Manners Street (about Cuba St.). This was the first wharf built in Wellington, was substantial and had four feet at low and nine feet at high water. The public used it free of expense.

Messrs. Waitt and Tinline, in conjunction with Messrs. Partridge and Co., ran a jetty out from their stores in Old Customhouse Street. Another wharf was to be erected in front of Barrett's Hotel at the expense of several enterprising residents of Thorndon Flat.

Protection from the Police.

On Monday, 21st March. 1841, a public meeting was held at Barrett's Hotel, in order to take steps necessary to protect the public from the outrages of the Police establishment. Mr. Earp was in the chair, and Messrs. Wade, Waitt, G. F. Moore and Rhodes spoke at the meeting.

Complaints had been made of the use of pistols and handcuffs, and ruffianly dragging to the lock-up, on unfounded charges, by the police constables.

About this time four gentlemen were appointed Magistrates of the Territory. These were Colonel Wakefield, Mr. Geo. Hunter, Mr. Henry St. Hill and Captain Edward Daniell. The three gentlemen who had composed the deputation to Sir George Gipps had been placed in the commission of the peace some time before. The aggrieved parties had determined on requesting Dr. Evans and Mr. Hanson (Mr. Moreing being absent) to take their places on the Bench of Magistrates. Dr. Evans had acceded to the request, notwithstanding the petulant display of temper made by Mr. Murphy on the occasion of his first acting upon this resolution. The hitherto unrestrained potentate declared, in the Police Court, that he would not sit on the Bench while Dr. Evans did, except in cases which, by law, required the presence of two magistrates.

In connection with this affair a report appeared in the “New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator” of the 3rd May, 1841:—

“Dr. Evans took his seat in the bench on Wednesday last, when the following conversation, we understand, took place between the learned doctor and Mr. Murphy.

“‘Is it your intention to sit here in your Magisterial capacity?’

“Dr. Evans: ‘Such is my intention.’

“Mr. Murphy: ‘Then, sir, in consequence of the proceedings of a public meeting and a letter used in the paper last week, I shall be compelled to leave my seat.’

“Dr. Evans: ‘You can do as you please, sir. It is my intention to sit here for the purpose of administering to the best of my ability, justice to the people.’

“Mr. Murphy then made the remarks quoted above.”

The Institute.

The public were now informed that temporary rooms of the Institute were at the store of Mr. Rob. Waitt, where the latest English, Australian and American newspapers and magazines would be found. The subscription was £2 2s. per annum. Mr. G. B. Earp's name was appended to the announcement.

Also at this time a public dinner, to mark the welcome accorded the separation of the Colony from New South Wales, was held at Barrett's Hotel on the 9th April, 1841.

Colonel Wakefield presided. Amongst those present were Messrs. R. Hanson, Geo. Hunter, Rev. Davy, Dr. Evans, Mr. J. P. W. Guyton, Rev. John Macfarlane, Messrs. McDonald. Jas. Smith (Union Bank), Captain Mein-Smith, Messrs. H. St. Hill, G. Duppa, W. Johnston, Major Baker, Major Durie, W. V. Brewer, R. R. Strang, A. de B. Brandon, S. Revans, W. B. Rhodes, Santry, Sinclair, R. Waitt. Ludlam, J. Smyth, Tyser, Hillier, McHattie, Wallace, Brown, and others.

Two days later (the 21st of April, 1841) a very severe gale from the northwest was experienced. No damage occurred to the vessels in the excellent harbour. But the schooner “Jewess,” on her way to Whanganui, full of settlers and goods, was driven away from her anchorage at Kapiti, and totally wrecked on the beach near Pari Pari, after being cast on her beam ends in the attempt to make an offing. Two lives were lost. George Wade, of the two brothers who had been among the earliest to bring cattle and horses from Hobart-Town, and whose energy and perseverance had contributed much to the progress of the settlement in its younger days, was one of those lost. The other was the native chief “Wide-awake!”

Wheat Grown at the Hutt.

Mr. H. S. Chapman, Farrans Building, Temple, London, was the recipient of numerous letters from the Colonists. Some of the correspondence was circulated in London and elsewhere by the medium of his excellent periodical, the “New Zealand Journal.” Mr. T. Partridge writes to him thus:—“Port Nicholson, 30/4/41. I send you herewith a fair sample of wheat grown at the Hutt. When you have looked at it, pray send it to Miss Partridge, Beaconsfield Bucks, to be given to old John Rolfe the farmer. He was Burke's steward and I promised to send him word what New Zealand would produce. Revans will tell you that he hopes to have found coal on his section near the town. I believe there is slate too. Your Journal is looked for here with great interest by everybody and I believe is felt to be of the greatest service to New Zealand generally. I trust you will believe that we have in our community a class of person who can appreciate the subjects. Our Colony is a very happy one. There is a good deal of kindness and active sympathy with misfortune, though little has existed.”

Municipal Corporation.

The inhabitants of Wellington, anxious to secure the advantages of a Municipal Corporation, as proposed to be granted them by Sir George Gipps, determined to meet and consult upon the course to be pursued, and upon the details of a measure, such as they could approve, and which they might after mature deliberation submit to Governor Hobson as the basis of such an arrangement. The working men claimed and obtained, the right in the deliberations. The formation of a committee occupied a considerable space of time, but the observer could not fail to be struck by the fixed determination of the Colonists of all ranks to obtain the power of managing their own local affairs.

The New Roads.

The Kaiwharawhara road was completed by the Company's labourers on the 20th March, 1841. Sam Phelps was the first to drive his bullock-dray over it to Pito-one. A bridle-road from Kaiwharawhara to Porirua was also in progress, as well as one from the town into an elevated valley of some extent, called Karori, situated a mile to the south-west.

Horses were now plentiful, and the new roads afforded delightful rides, a curious contrast being presented by the neat macadamised causeway, and the groups of workmen and wheelbarrows, among the primeval forest and wild scenery which they penetrated. At the Hutt, the cultivations and clearings looked cheerful and promising. From sixty to a hundred families were now permanently settled there. Neat cottages and luxuriant gardens appeared along the banks; the rich crop had induced many a doubting settler to clear some land, and the axe-men had begun to be a large and important class.

Cattle driving, too, on the pasture hills afforded exercise and excitement. Wakefield writes: “Owners of cattle brand their herd and let them run loose over the hills, and then drive them at a gallop into

Fig. 31—Pito-one Road, showing Wellington in the distance. the stock yard when they are wanted. The cattle get exceedingly wild and fast, so that it requires bold and hard riding in some instances to head them. The stock whip, a very necessary instrument for this work requires some description for English readers. A stout wooden handle a foot in length is attached to a heavy thong of plaited hide, about fifteen feet long, from the handle to the end of the lash. The whip is whirled two or three times round the head, and cracked with a report as loud as a pistol in the face of a stubborn animal. The wildest cattle when charging you will turn from it, if it be used with skill; but an inexperienced hand is very apt to slice his own face or injure his horse severely, without at all alarming the cattle.”

Arrival of the “Lord William Bentinck.”

The periodical stream of arrivals into Port Nicholson brightened the lives of friends, relatives and bystanders on the beach. Anxious eyes were concentrated on the ships as they disgorged their living freight. Tender embraces, fond hand clasps, and eager and endless enquiries assailed the newcomers. The latest ship to arrive was the “Lord William Bentinck, 444 tons, commanded by Capt. Crow, which left Gravesend on the 8th January, 1841, and arrived 24th May, with 39 married couples, 24 single men, 15 single women, 51 children under fourteen, and 52 under seven. Five births and nine deaths occurred on board. The register was signed by Mr. Daniel Riddiford, Emmigration Agent. Five of the crew deserted the ship on its arrival at Port Nicholson. The names of the passengers were as follows:—

Name Age Wife's Age No. of Children

Did not embark.

Adams, Eliza 22 — — Alexander, Don and wife 22 27 3 Anderson, John 30 — — Anderson, Mary — 28 — Bezeek, George 35 — — Bould, Robert, 32 — 3 Bould, Anne — 27 — Brown, Chas. 23 — — Brown, Daniel 29 — 4 Brown, Amelia — 27 — Bruce, Alexander 35 35 4 Buroughs, Wm. 39 38 2 Butler, Thos. 30 — 2 Butler, Elizabeth — 27 — Caines, Wm. 27 — 3 Caines, Mary — 26 — Clifton, Richard 39 — 6 Clifton, Margaret — 32 — Clout, John, 27 — 4 Clout, Mary — 29 — Cooper, Samuel 40 35 4 Cornford, Joseph 42 — 1 Cornford, Mary — 36 — Cornford, Car., 19; Thos., 15; E. 17 — — Cottle, Chas. 30 36 2 Christie, Wm. 37 27 2 Craighead, Wm. 29 — — Craighead, Susan Miller — 28 — Crosbie, Thos. 29 — 2 Crosbie, Isabella — — — Cumming, David 24 — — Dew, William 34 — 7 Dew, Anne —38 — Dew, Anne 15 — — Dimond, John 39 — 5 Dimond, Judith — 37 — Farmer, Alexander 53 — 2 Farmer, Euphemia — 45 — Farmer, Eliz., 18; Geo. 15 — — Farmer, Alexander (Jun.) 22 — 1 Farmer, Elizabeth — 23 — Farrow, Sam 27 — 1 Farrow, Harriett — 28 — Fisher, James 39 — 4 Fisher, Harriett — 38 — Forrester, Wm. 27 — — Forrester, Elizabeth — 24 — Francis, John 35 — — Francis, Frances — 36 — Francis, Jas. Swan, 18; Mary 15 — — Francis, Stephen Swan 21 — — Franklyn, Edmund 28 — 1 Franklyn, Eliza — 24 — Gengoe, George 19 — — Green, Henry 40 38 — Green, J., 17; F., 15; S., 29; and L. 17 — — Greenacre, Wm. 39 — — Greenacre, Sarah — 28 — Grimaldi, Henry 26 21 — Heffer, Worthington 28 27 3 Hopton, Robert 32 — 5 Hopton, Charlotte — 29 — Hornsley, Wm. 28 26 4 Howell, John 37 — 5 Howell, Ann — 29 — Hubbard, Wm. 36 — — Malcolm, Jane, 19; Isab. 21 — — Maxted, Geo. 34 — 5 Maxted, Elizabeth — 30 — McHardie, Alex. 33 — —

Did not embark.

Melvin, Robert 49 48 3 Membury, Wm. 35 — 6 Membury, Eliza — 35 — Membury, Wm. June, 16; Mary 14 — — Neighbours, — 21 — — Nelson, Wm. Lunn 35 34 5 Nelson, Benjamin 14 — — Parnacott, Joseph