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Early Wellington

Jubilee of Colonisation, 1890

Jubilee of Colonisation, 1890.

The “Evening Post” Christmas Number, 1903, commenting on the jubilee celebrations writes thus:—

“There was a great foregathering of pioneers on the 22nd January, 1890, when Wellington worthily celebrated the Jubilee of Colonisation in New Zealand.

“The re-union was as pathetic as it was unique. Though in the decade or so preceding the ranks of the first-comers had been rapidly thinning, nearly all, if not all, of the “first ships” were represented, and there were even a few hardy pioneers of the ante-Colonial days.

“There were two claimants to the honour of the being the first child of European parentage born in Port Nicholson, and the evidence was so closely balanced that Solomon might have hesitated to decide. Fellow-passengers and friends, separated almost from the day of landing, met once more and exchanged reminiscences. The Governor took part in the proceedings, and apparently saw no indication of “high treason,” or even of sedition, in the original flag of the New Zealand Company, which was borne at the head of the procession.

“The day's proceedings closed with a picnic to the children in the Basin Reserve and a ‘spread’ which will long abide in the memories of those who were entertained.

“The list of Pioneers and sons and daughters of pioneers (the line being drawn at 1850), who attended the gathering filled a closely-printed column of the ‘Post,’ and so few comparatively remain with us now (1903) that after less than fourteen years the column reads almost like an obituary list.”

The “Post” offered a prize for a Jubilee Ode, which was won by Mr. J. James, the judge being Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald. page 181
Fig. 58—Wi Tako died on the 6th November, 1887, and lay in State at his house (near the Ramp, Hutt Road), Pito-one, until his burial, 20th November. On the walls of the room are Maori Mats, Weapons and Paintings of his son William, and daughter Josephine Ngatata. The latter married Daniel Love.

Fig. 58—Wi Tako died on the 6th November, 1887, and lay in State at his house (near the Ramp, Hutt Road), Pito-one, until his burial, 20th November. On the walls of the room are Maori Mats, Weapons and Paintings of his son William, and daughter Josephine Ngatata. The latter married Daniel Love.

Fig. 59—Shows the gun carriage, behind which are the two grandsons, Wi Tako Kuru Love (with Maori Mat) and Hapi (the small boy by Kuru's left. George Te Puni and Martin Towhare (with the tall hat draped with a crepe streamer) are nearby.

Fig. 59—Shows the gun carriage, behind which are the two grandsons, Wi Tako Kuru Love (with Maori Mat) and Hapi (the small boy by Kuru's left. George Te Puni and Martin Towhare (with the tall hat draped with a crepe streamer) are nearby.

page 182 The flag of the New Zealand Company was identical in device with the flag brought by Mr. Busby to the Bay of Islands in 1835. It is thus described:—“White ground with a red St. George's Cross. The upper quarter has a blue ground with a small red St. George's Cross on it, and in each corner a white star.” One of the papers of the day, Thursday, 23rd January, 1890, commenting on the celebrations of the previous day, states:—“Wellington undoubtedly surpassed itself yesterday in its celebration of the Jubilee of the landing of New Zealand's pioneer settlers. The entire populace joined in the affair in the most whole hearted way. One and all concerned in the preparations are to be congratulated upon the marked success that attended the festival, but specially are the public indebted to Messrs. J. H. Wallace, T. W. McKenzie and J. Petherick, to whose suggestion the whole plan of festivities were originally due before it was communicated to the general Committee, who have so ably carried it out.”
A procession, marshalled by Messrs. Isaac Clark and George Crichton marched through the streets. Sports were held
Fig. 60—The funeral procession passing through the military ranks at the Cementery opposite the Railway Station. Te Puni's Old Pa, extending from the “Jubilee” hulk and jetty may be seen on the water-front The Gear Company's Chimney marks the approximate locality of Wharpouri's grave. Figs. 58 to 60 by courtesy Mrs. Ripeka Love, O.B.E., and Mr. Hapi Love.

Fig. 60—The funeral procession passing through the military ranks at the Cementery opposite the Railway Station. Te Puni's Old Pa, extending from the “Jubilee” hulk and jetty may be seen on the water-front The Gear Company's Chimney marks the approximate locality of Wharpouri's grave. Figs. 58 to 60 by courtesy Mrs. Ripeka Love, O.B.E., and Mr. Hapi Love.

during the day and at night the streets were gaily illuminated.

The following list, published in the “Evening Post,” constitutes the Old Identities who “mustered” on this occasion:—

Our Pioneers' Muster Roll.

It would be an exceedingly interesting feature in connection with such an historical event as that of yesterday to place on record the names of all the early settlers who were present. We have gone to considerable trouble to compile a list of those who were in the procession, but from the circumstances it is quite possible that some have been omitted. So far as we have been able to learn, however, the particulars that we now append are full and correct, but if any of our readers can furnish the names of any pioneers who have been overlooked, we shall be glad to complete the list later on. The roll of founders of the colony present stands as follows:—With the Mayors' carriages—Mr. George Allen, arrived in the “Catherine Stuart Forbes” in 1841 (had visited Auckland in 1839, and returned to England); and Mr. John Plimmer, 1842, in the “Gertrude.” In the first old identities' carriage —Mr. J. H. Wallace and Mr. P. Hume, 1840, the “Lady Lilford”; Mr. J. Harding (of Waipukurau, Hawke's Bay), 1842, the “Birman”; Mr. H. Collett, 1840, the “London”; Mr. C. W. Keys, 1840, the “Cuba.” Second carriage— Mrs. Robert Burgess (maiden name Petherick), 1840, the “Aurora”; Mrs. Calders, Mrs. Gee, and Mrs. Colman, 1840, the “Blenheim” (these three ladies are sisters, and have lived at Kaiwarra ever since their arrival); Mr. David Lewis, 1840, the “Oriental.” Third carriage—Mrs. page 183 Caroline Evans, 1840, the “Adelaide”; Mrs. Margaret Smith, 1841, the “Lady Nugent”; Mrs. Jane Retter, 1841, the “Lord William Bentinck”; Mrs. Rebecca McLeod, 1841, the “Catherine Stuart Forbes.” Fourth carriage— Mr. G. Mudgway and Mrs. C. Mudgway, 1841, the “Catherine Stuart Forbes”; Mrs. John Webber, 1841, the “Lady Nugent”; Mrs. Hook, the “Mautoki” (cannot recall the date); and Wi Hapi Pakau, of the Hutt, who says that he is one of the few Maoris alive who recollect the arrival of the pioneers of Wellington. Fifth carriage—Mr. Thomas Freethy, who came to New Zealand in the French vessel “Justine,” in 1840; Mr. Charles Collis, 1842, the “Birman”; Mr. David Dick, 1840, the “Bengal Merchant”; Mr. Edwin Ticehurst, 1840, the “Adelaide”; Mr. John Knowles, 1841, the “Gertrude”; Mrs. B. Harrison, 1841, the “Catherine Stuart Forbes.” Sixth carriage—Mr. G. H. Luxford and Mr. W. N. Luxford, 1840, the “Adelaide”; Mr. Ward Parker, came to Adelaide by the “Poictiers” in 1848, and came on to New Zealand in the “Mary Ray” in 1862; Mr. C. Simmonds, 1856, the “Ann Wilson”; Mr. T. A. Shirley, 1841, the “Arab.” Seventh carriage—Mr. R. Hewit, 1840, the “Adelaide”; Mr. G. Buck, 1842, the “Birman”; Mr. W. Gooden, 1841, the “Arab”; Mr. T. Benton, 1842, the “London”; Mr. John Daysh, 1841, the “Gertrude.” On foot—Mr. John Gell (wearing a Maori mat), 1842, the “Bombay”; Mrs. Epuni and Mrs. M. Maunie, representing native old identities; Mr. Lancelot Holmes, until lately Chief Pilot of Wellington, born at Petone in March, 1840, said to be the first European child born in Port Nicholson; Messrs. J. Petherick, F. G. Petherick, and R. Davis, 1840, the “Aurora”; Mr. J. Brown, 1840, the “Blenheim”; Mr. T. Howell, 1840, the “Martha Ridgway”; Mr. J. Howe, the “Clifton”; Messrs. N. Valentine and J. Valentine, 1846, the “Java” landed first in Auckland); Mr. H. Parker, 1845, the “Gertrude”; Mr. R. Prouse, 1840, the “Duke of Roxburgh”; Mr. P. Gooden, 1840, the “Martha Ridgway”; Mr. G. Hobbs, 1842, the “Birman”; Mr. J. H. Houghton and Mr. E. W. Petherick, 1840, the “Aurora”; Mr. E. A. Hutchings, 1848, the “William Alfred”; Mr. J. Retter, 1841, the “Lord William Bentinck”; Mr. Eli Buck, 1842, the “Birman”; Mr. Hart Udy, senr., and Messrs. W. Udy, J. Udy, and Hart Udy, junr. his sons), 1840, the “Duke of Roxburgh”; Messrs. James Knight, Samuel Smith, J. W. Bryant, J. C. Bryant, T. Bassett, J. Hawke, W. Cocking, David Hunter and Robert Hunter, 1840, the “Duke of Roxburgh”; Mr. C. Saywell, 1840, the “Martha Ridgway”; Mr. C. W. Brown, born at the Hutt in 1841, his parents having arrived in the “Martha Ridgway”; Mr. J. Cudby, 1843, the “Thomas Parkes”; Mr. J. G. Ross, 1842, the “Lady Nugent”; Mr. W. Dorren, born at Petone in 1840: Mr. Thomas Rogers, born at Petone in 1840—disputes Mr. L. Holmes' claim to be the first European child born in the district (see Register of Births); Mr. H. Eglinton, 1849, the “Slain's Castle”; Messrs. G. Tonks, W. Tonks, T. Morgan, and G. Bell, 1842, the “Birman”; Mr. G. Spackman, 1840, the “Bolton”; Mr. J. Bills, 1842, the “Clifton”; Mr. W. Rowe, 1859, the “Wild Duck”; Mr. W. Lockyer, 1842, the “London”; Mr. H. Green, 1853, the “Rajah”; Mr. C. Mudgway, 1841, the “Catherine Stuart Forbes”; Mr. A. W. Rudman, 1842, the “Phoebe” (to Nelson); Mr. J. Vile, 1841, the “Arab”; Mr. J. D. Benge, 1841, the “Olympus”; Mr. E. Cahill, 1846, the “Java”; Mr. Geo. Every, 1840, the “Bolton”; Mr. Jas. Robinson, born here in 1842—parents came in the “Martha Ridgway”; Mr. C. W. Brodie, 1842, the “Cuba”; Mr. F. Cooper, 1841, the “Oriental”; Mr. G. Judd, 1840, the “Martha Ridgway”; Mr. C. Stuart, 1842, the “Birman”; Mr. D. Clark, 1840, the “Glenbervie”; Mr. T. Hayward, 1846, the “Driver”; Mr. J. Philps, 1841, the “Lord William Bentinck”; Mr. D. Dick, junr., born here in 1840—parents came in the “Bengal Merchant”; Mr. Joseph James, 1849, the “Catherine Stuart Forbes”; Mr. W. Dodds, 1841, the “Lady Nugent”; Mr. C. W. Gooden, 1840, Mr. P. Monaghan, 1846, the “Martha Ridgway”; Mr. H. Southee, 1841. the “Lady Nugent”; Mr. P. Managhan, 1846, the “Java”; Mr. G. L. Layfield, 1853, the “Northfleet”; Mr. J. Hill, 1841, the “Arab”; Mr. E. Bannister, 1840, the “Bolton”; Mr. T. W. McKenzie, 1840, the “Adelaide”; Mr. A. Murray, 1841, the “Tyne”; Mr. A. Pringle, 1840, the “London”; Mr. H. F. Eagar, 1842, the “Scotia” (from Sydney); Mr. W. B. Howe, 1841, the “Clifton”; Mr. G. Barrett, 1848, the “Bernicia”; Mr. J. Bidmead, 1842, the “London”; Mr. D. Harris, 1842, the “George Fyfe”; Mr. G. Brown, 1841, the “Blenheim”; Mr. T. O'Malley, 1846, the “Lord Auckland”; Mr. Jas. Smith, 1856, the “Lancashire Witch”; Mr. H. Rudman, born in Nelson, 1843—parents came in the “Phoebe”; Mr. T. H. Robinson, 1841, “Lady Nugent”; Mr. G. H. Hawkins, born in Wellington, 1844; Mr. W. Sievers, 1849, the “Mariner”; Mr. W. Jenkins—was in the colony before the New Zealand Company's settlers, having arrived in the “Henry Freeling” in 1836; Mr. J. Webber, 1841, “Lady Nugent”; Mr. Jas. Smith, 1840, the whaling ship “David”; Mr. T. Bevan. 1841, the “Lady Nugent”; Mr. R. Miller, 1840, the “Blenheim”; Mr. T. Allen, born at Wellington in 1848—parents came in the “Catherine Stuart Forbes”; Mr. A. R. Meech, born here in 1845—parents came in the Oriental”: Mr. A. Wall, 1841, the “Lord William Bentinck”; Mr. J. Yule, 1840, the “Bengal Merchant”; Mr. E. Waite, born here in 1850—parents arrived in the “Sir Robert Peel”; Mr. Hugh Calders, born here in 1848—parents' vessel, the “Blenheim”; Mr. Francis Bradey, 1840, the “Adelaide”: Mr. Duncan Sinclair, born here in 1849—parents landed at Kapiti in 1846; Mr. James Lingard, 1841, the “Gertrude”; Mr. Joseph Rawson, came from Sydney in 1846; Mr. James Stockbridge, 1842, the “London”; Mr. T. O'Loughlin, born here in 1843; Mr. D. Hobbs, 1843, the “Birman”; page 184
Fig. 61—Panorama of Wellington, 1893. The Kumutoto Stream is on the left, Mount Street in the central foreground, Bethune's Paddock to the left of Mt. Street, Hunter's Paddock to the right (opposite Sir John Duthie's house (Donbank). The Public Library is in the centre of the picture.

Fig. 61—Panorama of Wellington, 1893. The Kumutoto Stream is on the left, Mount Street in the central foreground, Bethune's Paddock to the left of Mt. Street, Hunter's Paddock to the right (opposite Sir John Duthie's house (Donbank). The Public Library is in the centre of the picture.

Fig. 62—The same View in 1900. The Mount Street Cemetery to the left.

Fig. 62—The same View in 1900. The Mount Street Cemetery to the left.

page 185 Mr. John Knowles, 1841, the “Oriental”; Mr. J. E. Smith, came to Auckland in the “Tomatine” in 1842; Mr. J. O'Meara, 1842, the “Planet”; Mr. Fred. Bradey, 1840, the “Adelaide”; Mr. R. Woodman, born here in 1840—parents came in the “Bolton”; Mr. D. Cruickshank, 1850, the “Phœbe Dunbar”; Mr. John Pattinson, 1840, the “George Fyfe”; Mr. H. Ashton, 1848, the “Blundell”; Mr. C. Hewitt, 1846, the “Levant”; Mr. T. Mackintosh, came to Nelson in 1842 in the “Levant”; Mr. J. Davison, about 1840, the “Marion Kelly”; Mr. F. W. Revell, born at Taranaki in 1843—parents' vessel, the “William Bryan,” the first ship to Taranaki; Mr. A. Wise, came from Melbourne in 1855; Mr. M. O'Connor, arrived 1846; Mr. G. Sample, 1845; Mr. T. Claridge, 1842, the “London”; Mr. W. Edwards, 1849, the “Larkins,” Mr. T. Campbell, one of the arrivals by the “Lady Nugent,” was unable to be present personally, but was represented by his son, Mr. Thomas Campbell.

It is estimated that fully 5000 people must have been present on Tuesday evening at the opening of the Jubilee Band Rotunda, which, through the exertions of Mr. George Woodward has been added to the attractions now presented by the Thorndon Esplanade. The ceremony was performed by the Mayoress, Mrs. Chas. J. Johnston, in a brief, but appropriate speech; his Worship the Mayor being also present. The Rotunda was then occupied in turn by the Garrison and Protestant Bands and Jenkins' Band, each of which gave musical selections, and an effective display of fireworks took place in the course of the evening.