THE EARLY SETTLEMENT OF NEW ZEALAND.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 143, 18 June 1888, Page 7

THE EARLY SETTLEMENT OF NEW ZEALAND.

BY W. H. J. SEFFEB.N,

A.FEW PAGES FOR A NEW ZEALAND HISTORY.

WMw Plymouth, from Notes collected during

a period of Thirty Years.

[FBOM THE FAMILY FRIENDA

CHAPTER XI,

Mteh Press on New Zealand in 1339—Mr Matthew's book on 'Emigration Fields'— Formation of Plymouth Company of New Zealand — The Tory Visits Taranaki — "Dickey Barrett"—The Garden of New Zealand—Holsworthy Folks on the Move -Captain King—First Vessels Leave for Taranaki—Great Demonstrations on Their Departure—First Settlement at Wanganui —William Gordon Bell —His Adventure with the Natives.

k^S^l EW ZEALAND, during the ls|Ps!jP latter part of 1839 and the beffi|j^||ffl ginning of 1840, attracted much W&iifi- atfcenfcion bofch in and 'Wsj&fp Scotland as presenting one of ' lSsftt c finesfc fields in the world for t^s^™ the formation of a British colony. ;43yg: The press took the matter up, *'V? and amongst the most intelligent supporters of this colonisation movement were the London ' Spectator' and the JEdinburgh Observer.' The descriptions in those papers of .the country were of a most glcwing character, ' New Zealand being,' to quote from an article in the 'Edinburgh Observer' of March2oth, 1840, ' a perfect Paradise upon earth.' Mr Matthew, of Gourdie Hill, also about that time published a work called ' Emigration fields,1 in which he treated the subject at considerable length and with much ability. Mr Matthew was evidently an enthusiastic admirer of New Zealand, for he most eloquently discants on its 'stupendous mountains, with innumerable hills pouring clown their verdant slopes ;' its ' great valleys, fipeupied by most beautiful rivers, their feet.washed by the ceaseless South Sea Swell, their flanks clothed with the grandest of primeval forests, their bosoms veiled in cloud, and their rocky and icy alps piercing the clear azure heaven; the fartility of its soil, the amenity and salubrity °Hts climate, and the peculiar adaptation of the country for the residence of a great commercial and manufacturing people.' Withsuch accounts the place it is not at all surprising to find that companies should be 6tavted in England to colonise New Zealand. .Ifcwasin January, 1840, the second coloring association was formed, under tlio title of the 'Plymouth Company of New Zealand.' This society wa3 under distinguished patronage, the Earl of Devon being gorernor, and gentlemen of high standing forming the directorate. It was connected Partly with the New Zealand Colonisation Company, from which it was to make purchases of land, to be re-sold to capitalists, Orto<be leased to farmers who might be -disposed to emigrate; and Colonel Wakefield tod accordingly been instructed to select suitable sites for tfce swarms of emigrants *«o about that time had left England or Jere preparing to take their departure for «ewZealand. By the advice of 'Dickey Barrett,' who was one of the first the colonel, on his arrival in the colony, had toade friends with, the exploring ship Tory, * November, 27th, 1839, paid a visit to wanaki. Richard Barrett had for years Previously lived and whaled at Moturo, Nose to where the New Plymouth Harbour 18 now built. He thus possessed consider--BD]e knowledge of the district and its I^ural l advantages with regard to '"fertile soil and salubrity of the • Uusate. The 'Garden of New Zea™Q was the term applied to the district ■to or, by Captain Hobson, a term that is ""'-v attached to it. Several of the oplonogr part y i an ded on that occasion, ■{?• Dieffenbach bein^ one, and also |* first white man "to ascend Mount *Pnont. It is not necessary for me to {£* r to Dr. Dieffenbach's explorations in ™B part of the country,; they are highly IIJk r jStin £> and are t° be found in his pub2?W.travels. The whole district of TaraBWa Was purchased on February 15th,

1840, when seventy-two Maoris signed the deed. Mr F. A, Carrington, one of the chief surveyors of the Plymouth Company, was sent round from Wellington in the brig Brougham to examine and report on the suitability of this site for settlement. As Mr Carrington's decision was favourable, and confirmed the provisional selection of the site already made, the surveys were at once commenced, although many of the natives protested against their being proceeded with, some putting their arm round the trees and declaring that they should'ribt be'cut down. Parties of natives, it is recorded, danced the ' wardance ' and more than once brought down their tomahawks in dangerous proximity to the surveyors' heads. ' Mr F. A. Carrington's life was more than once in danger, but he proceeded with his difficult survey with great courage and good humour, assuring the troublesome natives that if they would have patience tney should receive ample compensation for their lands, together with other good things, on the arrival of the immigrants from England. Mr Carrington went bo the Waitara, further north, bub finding the depth of water was too slight to be of use for large ocean-going vessels to enter the river, fixed upon the present site for the chief town of the district, although ft had the disadvantage of an open roadstead

Whilst all this was going on in.New Zealand, active preparations were being made in England for the departure of emigrants to Taranalri ; and as it may be interesting to my readerfe to know the class of persons who left the old country, for New Plymouth, I have summaries from an old Devonshire newspaper giving a description of the late Captain King, 11. N., and his friends' departure from Holsworthy for their new home in New Zealand. The paper says : —

'It had previously been said that Holsworthy folks lived at the tail end of the world, and never went out of sight of their smoking chimneys ; but a change is taking place, and a large number from this town are going to a far-away place indeed. A much-respected gentleman, Captain King, who had been captain of a man-o'-war, and who* is in receipt of a handsome pension, and who resided at Park Villa, Holsworthy (Devonshire), has been appointed first Governor of New Zealand, and Mr John Medland, Captain King's head clerk, as Deputy-Governor.' I give this as it is published to show how little was known of New Zealand at that time (1840). _ Captain King was only the Chief Commissioner of the Company, and he took an active part in the colonisation movement'goingon at that time.

The paper goes on to say:_ ' This event caused much excitement in Holsworthy and the district, as Captain King for many years had taken a great interest in the Bude Canal trade, as a coal, sand, and timber merchant, and had employed a large number of small farmers and others in working the boats with their horses. The captain's wife was also much respected by all classes. She was formerly Miss Cutfield, and sister to Gostic Cann, Esq., a noted traveller. Captain and Mrs King had one son, Master Willie, who was, till the time of his leaving England, at Stratton Boarding School, of which Mr Terry was headmaster. John and Edward Medland together with John Shepperd (a sister's son) agreed to go with Captain King and help to colonise New Zealand., Mr John Medland, before leaving, married Miss Grace Cann, daughter of Mr William Cann and brother of Hugh Cann, Esq., of Herdwick House. The respectable families of Baylys, Veal and Rundle (from North Tamerton and Clawton parishes) also went with Captain Kinc as emigrants to New Zealand, also a Mr Bailey of Barnstaple. Further, Arthur, Peter and Josiah Hoskin, of Holsworthy, cast in their lot, with the others; Mr Josiah Hoskin, before leaving, marrying Miss Elizabeth Inch. Elaborate preparations were necessary for such a 7ong and important voyage, and accordingly Captain King went to Plymouth to have boards prepared and nicely fitted into the form of dwellings, so as to be easily erected for homes in Ne.v CThe first ship that left England for Tcvanaki was the William Bryan, which, after many delays, sailed on tire afternoon of November 19th, 1840. There were 148 passenjrr« C the steerage containing 141 ' selected Emigrants' (including 70 children) who were sent out at the expense of the Company, the cabin containing the leaders of this embryo colony, amounting to seven in all. Their names were:-

Mr George Cutficld, a naval architect, the Company's advance agent.; Dr. Henry Weeks, theCompany'ssurgeoh; Mr Richard Chilman, the Company's Secretary, and Mrs Chilman ; JVlr Thomas King, of London ; Mr Harcourt Aubrey and Mr F. W. Aubrey, sons of Colonel Aubrey, of the Horse Guards. Of these, Mr Thomas King- is the only one survivingl who is still a resident- of New Plymouth. Mr Harconrb Aubrey and Dr. Weeks are still alive, I believe, but are settled elsewhere ; the rest are dead.

Captain Henry, King, R.NJ, the Chief Commissioner of the New Plymouth Company, with another party consisting of 187 emigrants, left Plymouth on March 25th, 1841, in the second ship, the Amelia Thompson, the other cabin passengers being Airs King and her son Master Willie, Mr and Mrs Edwin Brown, Mr and Mrs Webster and three children, Miss Baker, Mr Wallace and son, MrandMrs C. Marchant, Messrs C. Brown, jun., W. Halse, H. Halse, Ibbotson, Goodall, John Lewthwaite, G. St. George, and Dr. Evans, the ship surgeon. Prior to the departure of the ships from the English shores, farewell dinners were given at Plymouth in honour of the occasion—the one to the emigrants by the William Bryan taking place on October 30th, 1840 ; and to the latter (the Amelia Thompson) on March 19th, 1841. • . . . ,:

By a curious coincidence, the proclamation that Governor Hobson had taken possession of the islands of New Zealand for the British Government was published in the ' London Gazette' the day previous to the dejeuner fiven totheemigrantsby the first vessel, and IrGibbon Wakefield,JbeingiuLondonat the time, started for Plymouth by themail coach, arriving there in the midst of the feast, where he was called upon by Lord Devon, who was presiding, to communicate to the assembly the intelligence he had brought with him. The farewell dinner to the passengers by the Amelia Thompson was on a larger scale, and the attendance included several lords and ladies. The speeches were eloquent and enthusiastic, and amid such exultation the vessel sailed for the far-dis-tant land. 'After her departure, a grand fete and ball was held in the Theatre Royal. Plymouth, for the purpose of raising funds to supply the poorer emigrants with clothing and other necessary outfits. It was one of the most brilliant balls ever given in the west of England, there being over a thousand persons present, amongst them being most of the nobility and gentry of tho counties of Devon and Cornwall. Views of New Zealand scenery were exhibited, and pictures by Mr Duppa, reproduced on a large piece of canvas, were shown as a moving diorama.

The departure of Captain King's party fromHolsworthy was the cause also of a public demonstration, but in a smaller way. As the intending emigrants were seated in a large carriage, surrounded by their friends bidding them farewell, Air John Shepherd, 'who,'says the paper lam quoting from, ' was an excellent singer, sang in a most pathetic manner ' Adieu, my Native Land, Adieu!' and ■as the prancing horses started rapidly down the hill towards Plymouth, his tine voice was heard still giving forth those strains. The plucky early emigrants were followed by loud shouts of good wishes and farewells until they were out of sight and. hearing.' This will give some idea of,the great interest taken in the colonisation movement nearly fifty years ago—an interest very carefully and successfully encouraged by the untiring efforts of a few enthusiastic gentlemen. At the present day, when we are so closely connected with England by cable, with mail steamers running to and from the colony, emigration is a common-place affair devoid ot all romance. Can we now conceive of a couple of barques with three hundred emigrants leaving England amidst so much acclamation and rejoicing,or meeting here with any other notice than a record of their names in the columns of the newspapers ? Whilst this was occurring in England the pioneer vessels of the New Zealand Company were arriving one after the other at Port Nicholson, and" the position of the early settlers wa.i not entirely an enviable one' The new condition of things was .scarcely what they had let! themselves !o expect. True, they found a glorious climate, and had freedom from the trammels of old civilisation, and felt convinced that sooner or later matters would right themselves; but there was no denying it they did not rind things tinted with that roseate hue their imagination had conjured up in their brain, There was an uncertainty about everything, and bad tie

means been available at the time, there can bo no doubt.that the best part of those who came out would have returned again to the old country. About the latter part of 1840, finding they could nob enter into possession of their sections at Wellington, about two hundred settlers migrated to Wanganui, to which bhe name of Petre was given, after Lord Pebre, one of the energetic directors of the New Zealand Company. This name, however, soon reverted to the old native one, by which it has ever since been known. Conspicuous among those who thus went was a sturdy Scotchman named William Gordon Bell, who, with his two stalwart sons, drove the first lot of cattle along the almost trackless way between Wellington and Wanganui. The natives pave the settlers much trouble, but Bell persisted squatting on his land. He was frequently threatened, by the Maoris and every obstacle thrown in his way, bub Willie continued his plough, ing and' other farming operations with indomitable courage and good humour, refusing in any way to quarrel with them or take oifence. He joked with the natives, often gave them a good feed, and teased (hem in return. Ho puzzled the natives by his conduct,butoneday,emboldened by his indifference and his comparatively defenceless state, they meditated an attack upon him and his household. This was a step too far, and .Bell seizing a spade and having his two sons at his back said in loud and angry tones : ' Dinna ye think to touch a tKing that's here noo ; for if ye do, by the God that's abuno us I'll cleave ye to the grund. A bargain's a bargain ; I've paid ye richt and Jair and I'll gar ye keep to it.' The natives, if they did not understand his Scotch dialect, understood Bell's meaning, for they never more molested him. It will be seen by the above incident that in those days no man's life was safe ; bub the class of which George Bell was one were the men Who first colonised New Zealand. The sons of William Gordon Bell, I believe, are now settled in the Rangitikei district.

1 have, in this chapter, had to introduce two additional points of settlement. It is evident that the great mistake the New Zealand Company made in attempting to colonise New Zealand was the planting of so many scattered settlements. Had the organisers of the scheme confined themselves to one point and devoted all their energies to making it a thriving district, a great success would have been achieved : but as it was the settlements were all weak, and too powerless to render each other assistance. In time a jealousy sprang- up between them which helped to retard the pi-ogress of the whole colony.