Taranaki had amongst its pioneers and earlier colonists men whose names are distinguished, or deserve to be distinguished, in the history of New Zealand. Indeed, on account of the long continued trouble with the Maoris, colonisation was a more strenuous business there than it was in any other part of the country, and many men whose names are now practically forgotton, attempted or achieved things entitling them to honour and grateful remembrance at the hands of their countrymen. Perhaps, however, no man filled a larger amount of space in the early history of the province than Mr. Frederick Alonzo Carrington. He came out to New Zealand in 1840, as surveyor to the New Zealand Company, and returned to England in 1844. Until 1851 he followed his profession as surveyor and civil engineer in England; and between 1851 and 1856 he made several journeys for professional purposes to the Continent. He left England for New Zealand once more in 1857, intending to settle with his family in Taranaki, and hoping to bring the famous Taranaki ironsand into commercial importance. When the native rebellion broke out he was appointed engineer-in-chief, for the purpose of road-making through the district. He played an active part in the long conflict with the natives; and was from 1869 to 1876 Superintendent of the province. For many years after the abolition of the provinces he was member for the district of Grey and Bell in the House of Representatives; and throughout his long career in the colonies, he displayed marked energy and enthusiasm in everything that he undertook, and enjoyed a high reputation for personal integrity and public spirit.

There was, however, another Taranaki pioneer who won a still more distinguished place in colonial if not in provincial history. Sir Harry Atkinson, perhaps better known as Major Atkinson, was a Taranaki settler who did good service in the local forces during the Waitara war. In 1863 he entered the House of Representatives, and became Minister of Defence in the Weld Ministry in November, 1864. He successively represented Grey and Bell, New Plymouth and Egmont in Parliament, and between 1876 and 1891 he was head of no fewer than five ministries. Sir Harry Atkinson's character has been often discussed by friends and foes; and, in spite of many differences of opinion, all agree that he possessed remarkable abilities, and many eminent public virtues. He was extremely self-reliant; and with this faith in himself went great moral courage. He had had no financial training, but his industry and ability enabled him to become a very successful Colonial Treasurer. He was never exactly popular, for he was rather abrupt and dogmatic in his manner of speech; and Gisborne has said in his “New Zealand Rulers and Statesmen” that he subordinated policy and measures to tenure of place. But no one ever doubted his honesty, or the public spirit which actuated his political life. In 1891 he was appointed page 118 Speaker of the Legislative Council, and, in spite of increasing illness, he persevered with his work till the very end of his life.

Closely allied with Sir Harry Atkinson in the work of pioneering and politics, was the Richmond family. Mr. W. H. Richmond was one of Taranaki's Superintendents; Mr. J. C. Richmond was one of the province's members of Parliament for nearly the whole of the period, 1860–70; and Mr. Christopher Richmond, better known as Judge Richmond, was member for New Plymouth from 1856 to 1861, and it is said that during that period he did more than any other colonist to bring pressure to bear upon the Government to adopt a coercive policy towards the natives; thus, in the opinion of his opponents, directly expediting the unfortunate native wars. Indeed, of the Atkinson-Richmond family it has been truly written, that, for more than a generation, what they said and wrote and what they did, helped much to form an important part of New Zealand history. and it has further been said with justice that “whatever difference of opinion exists—and a great difference does exist—as to the merits of their public policy, no one suspects their political integrity, or doubts the zeal, industry and talents, which they devoted to a cause which they, and many others at the time, honestly believed to be the best on the whole for the interests of both races in New Zealand.”

Perhaps, however, the man who was, in a wide human sense, the most interesting of Taranaki's early colonists, was one who lived but a short time in New Zealand, and had little opportunity to influence the course of its progress. Mr. Charles Armitage Brown, the father of the first Superintendent of the province, was born so far back as 1786; and when the New Plymouth settlement was formed he determined to cast in his lot with the colonists. His son reached New Plymouth in the “Amelia Thompson” in 1841, and he himself followed later in the year, in the “Oriental.” He died after only seven months' residence in the colony, and was buried on Marsland Hill. But the chief interest of his history lies in his association with great literary celebrities earlier in life. He had lived a great part of his time in Italy, and had been the intimate friend of Byron, Leigh Hunt and Walter Savage Landor, and was one of the most

View Of Mount Egmont, From The Road To The Mountain House. Collis photo.

page 119 affectionate and devoted of the many admirers and patrons of the poet Keats. On his departure for New Zealand, in 1840, he confided to Lord Houghton a valuable collection of literary remains which he had intended to form the basis of a biography of the dead poet. He was a most interesting figure of the literary life of the age, and it is a curious paradox that a man of such antecedents should end his days almost forgotton and unknown in a secluded corner of this distant land. Very likely many a colonist—even many a Taranaki colonist—has never heard of him, and may fail to see why he should be spoken of as an object of interest; but the letters of Keats, and Lord Houghton's life of the poet, will make his name and personality familiar to ages and countries, to which Taranaki may not even be a name, unless it, too, in the fulness of time, should produce a genius as great as Keats; and why should it not? In the meantime it has had, and still has, names worthy of honour within its own borders and throughout New Zealand, and of these some at least are mentioned in the pages of this volume.

Mr. Isaac Bayly, who is the third son of the late Mr. Thomas Bayly, was born in the year 1840, on the borders of Cornwall and Devon, England, and was brought to New Zealand as an infant, in the ship “Amelia Thompson,” which arrived off New Plymouth in 1841. He was brought up to country pursuits, and ultimately engaged for some years in farming in North Taranaki. Thence he removed to the Hawera district, where he farmed for eighteen years, and was subsequently for about twelve years at the Mahia Peninsula, about forty miles out of Gisborne, Poverty Bay. Mr. Bayly has twice visited England; first in 1879, when he journeyed by way of San Francisco and New York, to Liverpool; and then, in 1902, when he travelled by Cape Horn and Monte Video, and returned by the Cape of Good Hope and Hobart. Although he still retained his interests in the Gisborne district, Mr. Bayly settled in New Plymouth, on returning from his last trip to England. Mr. Bayly represented the district of Grey and Bell for four years in the Taranaki Provincial Council. While at Hawera he was chairman of the County Council for five years, and has generally taken an interest in connection with the work of local bodies. He is a member of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, and is known amongst flockowners as a breeder of Lincoln sheep. In the early days, during the time of the Maori troubles, Mr. Bayly served five years in Major Atkinson's Bush Rangers. Subsequently he served as captain of the cavalry corps, and about the years 1879–80 he was captain of the Hawera Infantry, and had 110 men under his charge. He retired from the volunteers at the time of the settlement of the Parihaka trouble. In 1870, Mr. Bayly married a daughter of the late Mr. James Dingle, of New Plymouth.

Dr. Edward Larwill Humphries was an old colonist, who in the days of the Provincial Government, frequently performed the duties of Acting Superintendent, and was Speaker of the Provincial Council for many years. He was born in the year 1816, in Cornwall, England, where he was educated, and subsequently became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Dr. Humphries practised in London at the time of the cholera epidemic of 1848, but, in 1849, owing to failing health, he came to New Zealand as surgeon on the ship “Mary.” He returned Home by another vessel, and brought out his family by the ship “Sir Edward Paget,” which landed them at New Plymouth in February, 1851. Dr. Humphries settled on land near New Plymouth, where the family resided for some time, but owing to the threats of the Maoris, who danced a war dance in front of Dr. Humphries' house, he and his family were compelled to seek shelter in the township. The house in which the family lived was afterwards occupied by Commodore Seymour and the officers of H.M.S. “Niger.” During the Maori war Dr. Humphries was an army surgeon. He afterwards became a general merchant in New Plymouth, and conducted business on his own account until the year 1863, when he was joined by his son, Mr. William Humphries. Dr. Humphries married a daughter of the late Mr. William Dixon, an officer of the 44th Regiment, in 1840. He died in the year 1869, leaving four sons and five daughters.

Mr. John Litchfield Newman, one of the pioneer colonists of New Plymouth, was a son of Mr. George Newman, solicitor, Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland, and was born in 1815. He was in business as a merchant and shipowner in his native town, until 1848, when, owing to the bad years following the famine, 1845–7, he decided to emigrate to New Zealand. Having touched at Nelson, Wellington, and Auckland, he finally settled in Taranaki in 1849, and was engaged with the late Mr. Richard Brown in trading ventures for some time. Finally he took up land in the Omata district, and in common with other settlers bore the brunt of the native disturbances. His familiar figure was well known in the old electioneering days of open voting. In the year 1850 he married a daughter of Mr. Honeyfield. Mr. Newman died in 1886, leaving one daughter and four sons.

The Late Mr. J. L. Newman.

Major Robert Parris was born at Chard, Somerset, and came of an old West of England Roundhead family, who had their property confiscated by James the Second. He arrived in New Plymouth in 1812, by the barque “Blenheim,” and was accompanied by his wife and family. On the Constitution Act coming into force, he was elected to the Provincial Council of Taranaki. In 1857 he entered the Government service as Land Purchase Commissioner, and in 1859 was appointed assistant Native Secretary, a position he held till 1865, when he was made Civil Commissioner for the district. During the whole of the war Major Parris gave invaluable assistance to the military authorities and to the Government of New Zealand. On several occasions he narrowly escaped being murdered by natives. Major Parris was attached to the Imperial troops throughout the whole of the trouble with the Taranaki Maoris, and had command of native levies, with the rank of Major in the New Zealand militia. His name was often mentioned in the despatches. Sir H. J. Warre, in a letter to him thanked him for the great services which he had rendered as interpreter, and for the valuable information he had given, and for his skilful dealings with the natives. It was in consequence of the information and the assistance given by Major Parris that the Imperial troops were able to drive the Maoris from White Cliffs to Stony river. It may be said, too, that the peace which ensued was largely owing to his diplomatic management of the natives; and in the disturbances of 1868–9, Major Parris' influence with the Opunake natives restrained them from joining the rebels of the southern portion of the district. He was made a Justice of the Peace in 1868 by Sir George Grey. In 1876 he retired, and the Government acknowledged his great services to the colony. He was afterwards requested to assist Sir William Fox and Sir Francis Dillon Bell on the West Coast Native Commission, and on the final report being sent to the Governor, Sir William Fox referred in most eulogistic terms to Major Parris' services. Major Parris died at New Plymouth, on the 19th of September, 1904; aged eighty-eight years.

Mr. George Tate, who was one of Taranaki's early pioneers, was born in Yorkshire, England, was brought up to agriculture, and became foreman on a large farm. He came to New Plymouth in the ship “Phoebe Dunbar,” in 1850, and soon became engaged in farming at Waitara. At the time of the native disturbance Mr. Tate joined the commissariat and transport department, for which he was employed in buying working bullocks, and he was present at several engagements with the rebels. To his popularity with the settlers and natives was due the fact that, although the natives burnt all the settlers' houses, Mr Tate's property was left untouched. His farm of 400 acres consisted of some of the finest land in the district. Having had an extensive experience in farming, and as a breeder of Lincoln and other sheep, his advice was much sought after by his fellow- page 124 settlers. Whilst still a hale man, Mr. Tate retired from the active work of his farm, and enjoyed the evening of his well spent life in a comfortable cottage on the banks of the Waitara river.

Mr. John Veale, one of Taranaki's oldest settlers, was born on the 21st of January, 1814, in the parish of Cotton, Devonshire, England. He was brought up as a carpenter and builder, and in the year 1854 came to New Zealand, and landed with his family at New Plymouth. During the native disturbances he carried his gun night and day, chiefly within the town of New Plymouth. For many years subsequently he was engaged in the building trade, afterwards went into business as a storekeeper, and retired in the year 1878, when the business was taken over by his sons. Mr. Veale was a member of the Taranaki Provincial Council, and of the New Plymouth Town Board. In the year 1840 Mr. Veale married a daughter of the late Mr. Philip Cola, of Devonshire, England. Mrs Veale died in February, 1878, and there are three sons and three daughters surviving. Mr. Veale has about thirty-four grandchildren, and twenty great-grandchildren.

Mr. F. L. Webster was born in London, England, and arrived in New Zealand with his parents by the ship “Amelia Thompson,” in 1841. His father, the late Mr. James Webster, was appointed Collector of Customs at New Plymouth. After receiving his education, Mr. Webster joined a mercantile firm as clerk in 1856, and some time afterwards commenced business with his brother as commission and shipping agents. On the breaking out of the Taranaki war in 1860, Mr. Webster joined the volunteers, and served through the campaign, gaining the rank of captain in 1861, and the New Zealand medal. He established the Egmont Flour Mill about forty years ago, and on dissolving partnership with his brother, became associated with his brother-in-law, Mr. J. S. McKellar, in the business still carried on by Mr. McKellar and Mr. H. Stocker. Mr. Webster was a member of the Egmont Reserve Board, and a Past Master in the Masonic Order; he also took a great interest in church work, and was a churchwarden of St. Mary's. He was married, and had eight children. Mr. Webster died on the 15th of April, 1904.

Mr. Benjamin Wells was one of the pioneer colonists of Taranaki, and for many years was connected with its educational and other public institutions. He was born in the year 1824, at Woolwich, England, and was a nephew of the late Mr. James Wells, of the London Stock Exchange. He came to New Zealand in 1849 in the barque “Cornwall,” and landed in New Plymouth. Mr. Wells took up land in Taranaki, but he and his family were driven into the town at the time of the Maori rising, and his wife and children were among the refugees who were sent to Nelson. After serving as a militiaman for some time, he rejoined his family, who returned with him when a truce had been declared. For a short time Mr. Wells acted as schoolmaster in Nelson, but had again to take up arms. In 1864 he visited England, but returned two years later. In the year 1874 he became editor of the Taranaki News, and held the position until his death. Mr. Wells was chairman of the Taranaki Education Board, and held office as a School Commissioner and member of the Harbour Board. He was a lay preacher in the Presbyterian church, but also frequently conducted services in the back blocks for other denominations. He married a daughter of the late Mr. Henry Hawkins, of Good Easter, near Chelmsford, England; and at his death, in 1881, left three sons and two daughters. Mr. Wells wrote a History of Taranaki, which is of the greatest value to students of the country's colonisation.