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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

[introduction]

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Wellington's founders had great hopes from the first that their town would be chosen for the Capital. Lieutenant-Governor Hobson had scarcely left the shores of England when Colonel William Wakefield had purchased all the lands surrounding Port Nicholson; and before the Lieutenant-Governor had moved his staff from the Bay of Islands to Auckland, Wellington was laid out, its streets all named, and eleven hundred town acres allotted to as many purchasers of country lands.

Local Government was brought out by the colonists themselves, for they all signed a “Constitution,” vesting the power of government in a Council; and on the 2nd of March, 1840, the first meeting of the Council was held, and steps were taken to secure the co-operation of the Maori chiefs for the ratification of the Constitution. These steps were thoroughly successful, and Local Government was soon in full swing, with assumed powers necessarily far beyond those of the present City Council.

The Constitution, so called, gave the Council power: (1) To muster and drill the colonists; (2) to punish offenders against the laws of England in accordance with English customs; (3) to settle disputes; (4) to appoint Colonel Wakefield president of everything, and Mr. Samuel Revans the first secretary to the Council; (5) to make rules, appoint officers, and hold meetings; (6) to appoint Dr. G. S. Evans, barrister-at-law, the first umpire to proside at all criminal proceedings, and, assisted by seven assesors, decide on the guilt or innocence of the accused; (7) to enforce the punishment awarded, with certain restrictions by the umpire; (8) to compel the attendance of witnesses, etc; (9) to appoint a committee of appeal for final decision; (10) to make rules by the committee and umpire for their government as might be deemed fit; (11) to direct the choice of assessors; (12) to call out the armed inhabitants and make rules for their government; (13) to place Colonel Wakefield in the highest (minority in directing the armed inhabitants; and (14) to make regulations for preserving the peace of the settlement, and to levy such rates and duties as might be necessary to defray all expenses attending the management of the affairs of the Colony and the administration of justice. Opportunity was made when gaining the concurrence of the chiefs for an extension of the powers above mentioned. The Council was to be elected annually, but the president was to hold office for five years. The “Officers of the Colony” were:—“George Samuel Evans, Esq., D.C.L., umpire; Samuel Evans Esq., secretary; Major Richard Baker, magistrate; Mr. Henry Cole and Mr. James Smith, constables.”

Major Baker was not slow to act in his capacity of judge, and he had indiscretion enough to extend beyond his jurisdiction. Under the circumstances surrounding his appointment, he might fairly have been expected to judge all matters connected with those who had signed the so-called Constitution; but when he issued a summons against the captain of a British ship, and committed him to a month's imprisonment for treating that summons with contempt, he was most clearly going beyond all reasonable bounds. This really happened, and Captain Pearson was illegally detained, sent on board the ship “Tory,” and placed in the custody of Captain Chaffers, there being at that time no gaol at all at Port Nicholson. The so-called prisoner dared Captain Chaffers to interfere with his freedom, and Captain Pearson's boat came alongside and took him to his own ship. Lieutenant-Governor Hobson was at the Bay of Islands at this time, so the annoyed captain sailed for that port, and laid the whole matter before the Lieutenant-Governor. Captain Hobson unhesitatingly characterized these whole proceedings as “acts of high treason.”

That Captain Hobson looked upon all this in a much too serious light is exceedingly probable. On his sending Lieutenant Willonghby Shortland, with thirty armed troopers and a few constables, to issue proclamations and call upon the officials “holding authority under the usurped Government” to at once retire, he discovered that the founders of Wellington, instead of being a band of lawless intruders, were in reality British colonists of a high type, whose conduct appeared iniquitous simply because it was not realised that they had initiated their so-called Government before it was known that the Queen's authority was really to be established in New Zealand; and having begun in the above-mentioned manner, they considered themselves quite right in continuing until such times as it might suit the Lieutenant-Governor to take official cognizance of the existence of the Port Nicholson settlement. Lieutenant Shortland was loyally received, and he was able, a few days after he arrived, to report to Captain Hobson that “Her Majesty's Government” was fully established.

But as the machinery of Government left behind by Lieutenant Shortland seemed very poor and inefficient, the people of Wellington, after vain'y trying to secure for their town the location of the Government, agitated for some better means of governing themselves; and the efforts of Captain Hobson to satisfy this appeal culminated on the 4th of August, 1842, when he made a proclamation declaring Wellington a borough, and that the first Council would be elected by those who, before the 31st of August, 1842, should register valid claims to vote at such elections. Thus Wellington became the first municipality in the Colony; and on the 3rd of October, 1842, the first election took place. Mr. George Hunter, probably by virtue of heading the poll, was chosen Mayor, 273 votes being recorded in his favour, and the other eleven aldermen were:—W. Lyon, 237 votes; W. Fitzherbert, 220; John Wade, 212; George Scott, 196; Francis A. Molesworth, 182; Dr. Dorset, 176; R. Waite, 164; W. Guyton, page 272 155; A. Hort, 155; E. Johnson, 151; and R. Jenkins, 149. The records of this Council are imperfect. The first roll of which any copy can be found is dated 1843; and, as it contains only 152 names it is not clear how so high a number as 273 votes could have been recorded in favour of any one man. Had the electors been allowed to give their twelves votes all to one candidate, which is hardly probable, it would have needed 249 electors, for some 740 votes appear to have been given to unsuccessful candidates. However this may have been, it is quite certain that the roll of 1843 contains only 152 names as it is still extant, and the following is a true copy of it:—

Burgess Roll For The Borough Of Wellington For The Year 1843.

Name Residence Occupation
Allen, William Manners Street Butcher.
Allsdorf, Von Charles Lambton Quay Merchant
Anderson, Archibald Thorndon Quay Storekeeper
Annear, James Sydney Street Carpenter
Baird, James Cuba Street Carpenter
Baird, John Cuba Street Carpenter
Baker, Richard Lambton Quay Wine Merchant
Barr, John Lambton Quay Clerk
Bell, James Te Aro Farmer
Bethune, Kenneth Lambton Quay Merchant
Bevan, Thomas Lambton Quay Rope Maker
Bewick, William Te Aro Carpenter
Bould, Robert Tinakori Road Shoemaker
Boulcott, Joseph Te Aro Merchant
Bolton, Frederick Thorndon Quay Bricklayer
Brees, Samuel Charles Hawkstone Street Civil Engineer
Brice, John Wellington Terrace Carpenter
Brooke, Stephen Pipitea Pah Labourer
Brown, Richard Lambton Quay Hotelkeeper
Brown, William Henry Lambton Quay Currier
Buck, Henry Thorndon Flat Smith
Buck, George Thorndon Flat Smith
Bull, James Pipitea Pah Shingler
Butler, William Stephen Willis Street M.D.
Catchpool, Edward Dixon Street Merchant
Cemino, Salvator Lambton Quay Master Boatman
Clifford, Charles Thorndon Flat Agriculturalist
Collier, Robert Thorndon Quay Bricklayer
Collins, James Thorndon Quay Dairyman
Cooper, Wm. Anthony Te Aro Carpenter
Curtis, George Tinakori Road Engineer
Davis, Rowland Lambton Quay Publican
Davis, Edward Hawkstone Street Publican
Dimond, John Tinakori Road Labourer
Dorset, John Lambton Quay Surgeon
Duck, John Ghuznee Street Carpenter
Duffield, George Burhampore Labourer
Durie, David Lambton Quay Storekeeper
Edwards, George Hawkstone Street Schoolmaster
Evans, John Thorndon Flat Harnessmaker
Evans, Morgan Te Aro Bookkeeper
Featherston, Isaac Earl Wellington Terrace M.D.
Fellingham, George Woolcombe Street Printer
Ferguson, John Te Aro Carpenter
Fisher, William Willis Street Painter
Fitchett, John Bolton Street Painter
Fitzherbert, William Farish Street Merchant
Ford, James Te Aro Labourer
Forster, James Rumsey Willis Street Clerk
Fox, Edward Thomas Hill Street Plumber
Fuller, John Manners Street Hotelkeeper
Gower, John Wright Street Labourer
Guyton, William Te Aro Merchant
Guthrie, Thomas Willis Street Stockkeeper
Hansard, James Thomas Manners Street M.D.
Hanson, Richard Davies Wellington Terrace Solicitor
Hay, William Te Aro Carpenter
Hendry, Thomas Cuba Street Carter
Hewitt, Alfred Lambton Quay Fishmonger
Hill, Henry St. Hawkstone Street Architect
Hort, Abraham, sen. Abel Smith Street Merchant
Hort, Abraham, jun. Te Aro Merchant
Hort, Alfred Te Aro Merchant
Houghton, Robert Willis Street Master Mariner
Hume, Peter Manners Street Carter
Hunter, George Willis Street Merchant
Isaac, David Lambton Quay Shoemaker
Jenkins, Robert Manners Street Publican
Johnson, Edward Lambton Quay Merchant
Johnson, John Lambton Quay Tin Plate Worker
Johnson, William Manners Street Joiner
Johnson, David Te Aro Clerk
Kelham, James Mount Albyn Gentleman
Kemble, Robert Murphy Street Baker
Kennedy, Thomas Te Aro Labourer
Knox, Frederick John Willis Street M.D.
Langdon, Robert Herbert Street Storekeeper
Levin, Nathaniel Lambton Quay Storekeeper
Levy, Solomon Mount Cook Carpenter
Lewis, David Tinakori Road Clerk
London, Henry Wellington Terrace Sawyer
Loyd, John Lambton Quay Baker
Lyall, Alexander Lambton Quay Butcher
Lyon, William Lambton Quay Storekeeper
Mitchell, Frederick Lambton Quay Storekeeper
M'Carthy, John Te Aro Landing Waiter
McKenzie, Thomas Ghuznee Street Printer
M'Laggan, John Wellington Terrace Carpenter
M'Nally, James Lambton Quay Butcher
Monsheer, Charles Lambton Quay Tailor
Moore, George Lambton Quay Merchant
Muir, James William Manners Street Printer
Nichol, William Pipitea Pah Labourer
Norgrove, William Lambton Quay Painter
Omeara, Timothy Park Street Architect
Park, Robert Wellington Terrace Town Surveyor
Partridge, Thos. Mitchell Te Aro Merchant
Penny, C. M. Te Aro Merchant
Pharazyn, Charles Pipitea Pah Storekeeper
Pike, William Thorndon Flat Labourer
Pilcher, Stephen Wright Street Labourer
Pratt, T. D. Te Aro Ropemaker
Prince, Edward Tinakori Road Carpenter
Rae, Thomas Lambton Quay Merchant
Reading, John Brown Wellington Terrace Carpenter
Reid, Alexander Te Aro Farmer
Reid, Henry Lambton Quay Tinman
Rhodes, William B. Te Aro Merchant
Richardson, Thomas Willis Street Bricklayer
Roberts, James Thorndon Flat Storekeeper
Robertson, A. Willis Street Bootmaker
Roe, Edward, sen. Manners Street Printer
Roe, Edward, jun. Manners Street Printer
page 273
Roots, John Thorndon Flat Gingerbeer Merchant
Ross, Hugh Lambton Quay Solicitor
Saint, Thomas Manners Street Tinsmith
Sayers, Burgess Lambton Quay Chief Constable
Scott, George Willis Street Carpenter
Sharp, Charles Wellington Terrace Gentleman
Shelton, William Lambton Quay Tailor
Sheppard, William Lambton Terrace Slater
Squib, Charles Henry Herbert Street Crier
Stacey, James Thorndon Flat Labourer
Stafford, Edward Lambton Quay Tailor
Stevens, Charles Thorndon Flat Labourer
Stokes, J. M. Woolcombe Street M.D.
Strang, Robert Roger Woolcombe Street Solicitor
Strafford, Geo. A. Lambton Quay Tapster at Barrett's Hotel
Suisted, Charles Lambton Quay Hotelkeeper
Sutton, Robert Lambton Quay Chemist
Tain, James Lambton Quay Storekeeper
Tomlin, John Hobson Street Emigration Agent
Vavasour, William Thorndon Flat Agriculturalist
Villiers, William Ghuznee Street Carpenter
Vincent, Wm. Edward Ghuznee Street Printer
Wade, John Te Aro Auctioneer
Waitt, Robert Te Aro Merchant
Wallace, John Lambton Quay Storekeeper
Wallace, John Howard Lambton Quay Storekeeper
Wallace, Wm. Ellersley Lambton Quay Storekeeper
Ward, James Te Aro Labourer
Waters, George Te Aro Painter
Waterson, John Thorndon Flat Carpenter
Watt, James Tinakori Road Farmer
Watson, Thos. Henry Thorndon Flat Carpenter
Welsh, Henry Lambton Quay Butcher
Whabby, Thomas Tinakori Road Milkman
White, George Te Aro Town Clerk
Wilson, James Willis Street Builder
Woodward, Jonas Hawkstone Street Clerk
Yule, John Te Aro Agriculturalist
Yule, Moses Te Aro Clerk

William Guyton was evidently the second Mayor of Wellington as it is recorded that in the exercise of his authority in that office he called a meeting of Aldermen for the final settlement of the Corporation affairs on the 4th of December, 1843, exactly sixteen months from the publication of the proclamation forming the borough, which had been an illegal body all the time; but it took the Home Government sixteen months to disallow the ordinance creating the borough, and to get that very considerate decision conveyed to its destination. Thus ended the first era in Wellington municipal history. Probably some reason was given by the Home authorities for the disallowance, but the act has survived the reason, and it seems now that it was an arbitrary course, justified neither by the necessities of the time nor the succeeding results. If ever there could be any need for the protecting care of the “City Fathers,” surely it existed in the infancy of the borough; and yet this check had such an effect that for twenty years no attempt was made to place the town in charge of a distinctly municipal body. And the other principal towns of the Colony seem to have been similarly kept back.

In the history of the Wellington Corporation a blank of twenty years appears, during which time the affairs of the town were looked after or neglected by the Provincial Government. In 1863, however, when the population had slowly increased to about six thousand, the town was divided into three Wards, and a Town Board was elected, the Commissioners of which were appointed presumably by the Provincial Council. The following are the names of the Commissioners and the Wards in whose interests they were appointed to act:—Thorndon Ward, Messrs. W. Allen, C. B. Borlase, and George Hart; Lambton Ward, Messrs. J. Plimmer, George Moore, and L. Levy; Te Aro Ward, Messrs. John Martin, W. Hickson and J. H. Horner. Mr. W. Allen was appointed Chairman; Mr. W. Bannister, Clerk; and Mr. R. M. Street, Surveyor.

The rateable value of the property in the town in 1863 was about £28,225, of which more than half was located in Te Aro Ward. To-day the rateable value of Lambton Ward alone is five times as much as the whole town a little over thirty years ago; and that of the whole city is more than twelve times as much now as then. The Town Board existed for seven years, and did useful work. Several of those who were members, and interested themselves in its work, afterwards took a more prominent part in public concerns, but many of them have now gone to “the undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveller returns.” Besides those mentioned above, the following gentlemen were members of the Town Board:—Messrs. Edward Pearce, W. Allen, J. Dransfield, W. Bragg, Joseph Burne, S. S. Jacka, C. J. Pharazyn, J. Plimmer, J. H. Wallace, R. Collins, W. Bishop, E. W. Mills, M. Quinn, R. Pharazyn, G. Aicken, R. H. Carpenter, George Hunter, J. B. Wallace, and Captain Sharp, the four first-named composing the list of chairmen.

Though the Act of Parliament making provision for the institution of Municipal Corporations in the Colony was passed in 1867, it was not until three years later that Wellington had a Council elected under its authority. On the last Wednesday of September, 1870, this Council met, with Mr. Joe Dransfield as Mayor, and Messrs. C. B. Borlase, R. H. Carpenter, W. Miller, E. W. Mills, Lewis Moss, J. Plimmer, M. Quin, and D. Rainie as Councillors. The population at this time was about 8000. The Corporation revenue for the first year was £4716, and the expenditure some £24 greater. Ten years later the revenue was nearly ten times as much and the expenditure over twenty times as much, there being some fat loans for street improvements allocated and spent about this time (1881). In 1891 the revenue had increased to £57,270, and last year it amounted to £69,655 9s. 1d, while the annual value of rateable property was £340,785, and increasing at the rate of about five per cent. per annum. Next year the increase will probably be greater, as building operations are being actively carried out in the most valuable parts of the City, and upon land which, until quite recently, was not rateable, being still in the hands of the Corporation. From 200 to 250 houses are being annually added within the City boundaries.