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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

[introduction]

Settlement in New Zealand was begun almost simultaneously in several parts. This was probably not a wise way for civilization to attack a country possessed by numerous savage tribes, and it is more than probable that the massacres and bloodshed which marked the first thirty years of systematic colonization would have been entirely avoided if the newcomers had acted upon the adage—which must, even then, have been an adage—” Union is strength.” In the opinion of many, decentralization—which is nowhere so perfect as in New Zealand—is still a very great drawback to the Colony. This, however, is debatable, and therefore unsuited to the pages of a Cyclopedia.

The settlements soon became provinces, and though provincial government has been abolished for nearly twenty years, the old provinces have been retained as provincial districts, though it is not clear that any necessity for such distinction exists, or that any benefits are derived therefrom, except the convenience of departmental land management. The county divisions and electoral boundaries are entirely independent of each other and of the provincial boundaries. The old provincial clannishness still exists, however, and it is interesting in statistical matters to compare figures relating to the several parts of the Colony as originally distinguished.

Wellington claims the honour due to the first-born, and dates its foundation from the 22nd of January, 1840; but Auckland held her by the heel, and, like the original supplanter, wrested from the elder her birthright, though she kept the mess of pottage for herself. Auckland, with the assistance of Governor Hobson, declared herself the capital, and maintained the position for a quarter of a century. As a site for the capital, Auckland lacked but one thing—accessibility—but that one thing was fatal, a fact amply proved by the manner in which the change was made. Speaking of the seat of Government, the Official Year-book page 194 says:—“Up to the year 1865 the seat of Government of New Zealand was at Auckland. Several attempts were made by members of Parliament, by motions in the Legislative Council and the House of Representatives, to have it removed to some more central place; but it was not until November, 1863, that Mr. Domett (the then ex-Premier) was successful in carrying resolutions in the House of Representatives that steps should be taken for appointing some place in Cook Strait as the permanent seat of Government
Photo by A. Martin, Wanganui On The Wanganui River.

Photo by A. Martin, Wanganui
On The Wanganui River.

in the Colony. The resolutions adopted were: ‘(1) That it has become necessary that the seat of Government in the Colony should be transferred to some suitable locality in Cook Strait; (2) That, in order to promote the accomplishment of this object, it is desirable that the selection of the particular site in Cook Strait should be left to the arbitrament of an impartial tribunal; (3) That, with this view, a Bill should be introduced to give effect to the above resolutions’ On the 25th of November page 195 an address was presented to the Governor, Sir George Grey, K.C.B., by the Commons of New Zealand, requesting that the Governors of the Colonies of New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, might each be asked to appoint one Commissioner for the purpose of determining the best site in Cook Strait. Accordingly, the Hon. Joseph Docker, M.L.C., New South Wales; the Hon. Sir Francis Murphy, Speaker of the Legislative Council, Victoria; and R. C. Gunn, Esq., Tasmania, were appointed Commissioners. These gentlemen, having made a personal inspection of all suitable places, arrived at the unanimous decision that Wellington, in Port Nicholson, was the site upon the shores of Cook Strait which presented the greatest advantages for the administration of the Government of the Colony. The seat of Government was, therefore, in accordance with the recommendations of Commissioners, removed to Wellington in February, 1865.”

The Colony is now divided into nine provincial districts, namely :—Auckland (25,746 square miles), Taranaki (3,308), Hawkes Bay (4,410), Wellington (10,312), Marlborough (4,753), Nelson (10,269), Westland (4,641), Canterbury (14,040), and Otago (25,487). The population is about equally dense in Wellington and Canterbury, where there are ten inhabitants to every square mile of territory. Taranaki and Hawkes Bav come next with seven to each square mile; Otago follows with six-and-a-half; then Auckland with five-and-a-half; Westland and Nelson with nearly four; and Marlborough with three. Nothing further need be said to show that this fair Colony is most sparsely populated.