THE EARLY SETTLEMENT OF NEW ZEALAND.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 179, 31 July 1888, Page 7

THE EARLY SETTLEMENT OF NEW ZEALAND.

HIF-WteFORA NEW ZEALAND H mi liH BF-IP. E l BEFFERN, mgMj'limu.'i.fmm Mv collected during mm a period of Thirty Years. JmOM THE FAMILY WEND.I lM CHAPTER XVII. Hcklan. the Capitol of New Zealand-Go ML vemor Ho. son's Deseriptioii of theSite- §■ Dissatisfaction Uiven-Govcrnorand Staff \m §.n»oy«i to .Auckland-Buy, of Islands e§ Papers Itef.se Jo Insert Government Ad.*;H T«tiseme.t-;-.Vo)li_gt._ Papers Abuse He Governor-Meeting in Wellington to H Get Captain Hobson Recalled — British m Government Approve of Governor Hob- | sons qjiQlce of SJto for Capital-First Anniversary of Wellington Settlement Celobrated-The 'Selqot 7 wd,,'Popular" aim. \_i jjfffl^ B'te selected by Governor j Hobson for the future capital ,|. of New Zealand did not give „.. JJ? faction by any mean., to " ;!I t!loSe in tl,e coloiiy- The MR settler? at the Bay of Islands ected to the seat of Government being wed there, and tho New Zealand Cologsf Hon Umpar.y wanted Wellington to be ie the capital, Auckland, however, lay ran these two settled portions of the W. 1.™83 toer. Was a good harbour, J $H_ T ,com™hi_a.ing by water m TF Mdc of tlie isthmus, the wisdom of * \on ™ very evident. Governor I W. D rntiu g,to the Secretary of State 4» selection he had made, says-' I trust . gtom-ntsnow in Yonr Lordship's • Jjl _ tqwing the site of Auckland to td" L ~J>«Ma harbour, safe, com- ___ Si!. ~ea'i y,ofa and within 0 Zn _Ma? iau' ccrtai,lly the best wrontho.wholeof the Western Coast **• K¥.~ ftifti« fifteen miles of the to" «_U leraci9cl,ar Re themselves-at ' ?ft nfS fro»th^Vaikato, which Itt' wi 6 fevtl' e, extensive plains of ' kitlh Bfe. rtllsva% of the Thames ' iS_i • yiog, l toc' in ite #* 2 ' °IJCn' fertlle land> P°"ess- ' SbS m °f cm*l mSt°l' now Britißh Bub.iecfcs. ifiS .^^ habil3> acqiiir«SE*S s,, boon we» chosen for the .todthn if Go™rn,nent in New Zea- * *B£_s mblll(l s ad™^ges for a ' J M& ! r°. 18 "ft^ltuml and comT'Cfof °few Zealand.' he m2l S-" ie imo re?ided at the _ ' PeriT 7 Vl6ited Ccok' B Strait rfiSo,!T l onned afc Po« ourhoodofAuekl_„J WiftSXH 1"1? fy U_ iwi • • the colony.' ; dthf^ a_th e .eatof 16 f VSp«w 2 IS" Adraira% at the •_ Vi" orintf tho uc who wou'd bo * b»ss,tr* hß*7^ Anthi, •'■ mtm HiaVT !.. thereforo, January, . Fwfra I tt rehl iren that '■''< L lea/ «M JLr editor* of the l_*m< »nS" ta .for H«' Majesty's IS 1840 ~ )V<!d^sday. Debeen engendered

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm^^^mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmimmmmmmm amongst the community, for the local paper would- not have taken the step it did to thus defy the Governor. Of course, in those days printing material was scarce, and newspapers could be independent; not because the revenue received from their publication enabled their proprietors lo be so, but because ' the party ' could afford to run the paper in their own interest, oven at a loss. It was in this Gazette extraordinary that Lieutenant-Governor Hobson announced tho first ?alo of town allotments in Auckland, which was, to ' take place on Friday, March 12th, 1841;' and it was no doubt to injure the land sale thab the newspaper refused to insert the advertisement referred to. It was felt, no doubt, by the owners of land at tho Bay of Islands that their property would decrease in value if the seat of Government was removed to Auckland, and hence the action taken. In Wellington the people were nob at all satisfied with the state of affairs, and the paper there contained some very bitter articles respecting the Governor. The Wellington Gazette of Saturday, February 6th, 1841, says—'Well we know what to expect from Captain William Hobson. He has committed an overb. act of hostility which admits of no mistake or palliation. He was sent to Now Zealand to protect Her Majesty's subjects, and he assails them. Instead of aiding, ho injures us, who are or soon must be his paymasters. The settlers of Port Nicholson whom he thwarts ; nob bhe mere shred and remnant of a colony which he may possibly collect ab the Thames.' Mr S. Rovans, who was the editor, could evidently ' sling the ink 'in the proper Eatanswill style, as the following specimen, which is a fair one, will sho# :-' No terms can be kept with bhis man ; what description of people does he take us for ? Have we no determination of character? Let a voyage to I the Antipodes answer tho question. Have we no influence at Home? Our friends, rallied from all political parties, defeated Ministers in the House of Commons. Remember that, Captain Hobson. You nave the power of annoying us for a time; but ib will nob be difficult to crush you and the paltry coterie by whom you are ruled. . . . There are many members of the House of Commons on whom wo can depend, and tho.e is reason to believe bhab Lord Brougham will be our advocate in the House of Lords, where the Duke of V. oilingtbh and his friend,, the Earl of Devon and Lord Ashburton are counted our allies. There was a feeling in Wellington that the sale of land at Auckland was not being fairly conducted, and that a ' land ring, which ib was insinuated tho Governor was cognisant of, was at work securing tho 'cream of tho country.' There is an article In the Wellington paper m winch somo very severe strictures were made respecting Capt. Crimp, as His Excellency was called, lb goes on to say— He has sanctioned a job of a very bad description touching the land ab Auckland. Instead of putting up the land ready for the sale ab the Thames on fair and equal terms to all bidders, certain Government officials aro allowed prior and exclusive selection. There is no need, we trust, _t appealing to Lord John Russell bo defeat this job. If Sir George Gipps permits it he is not the man we take him lor. Ahe Words in small capitals are in the paper, and evidently referred to some transactions which the local paper did not dare to pub into print. As Government money was being spent in Auckland, owing to the erection of the buildings and laying out of tho new township, it naturally attracted the skilled workmen there from V\ emngton, and as the exodus increased, fro did tne excitement and bitter feeling against the Governor become aggravated, which at last culminated in a public meeting being held, which took place.at Barrett's Hotel on Monday, February 13th. According to the advertisement in the paper of tho previous Saturday, the meeting was called to take into consideration tho nefarious attempt now being made by Captain Hobson to seduce away the artificers »nd hbemrers, and to petition Hor Majesty for his recall." From the repot t oi this meeting it must have been a very unanimous as well as demonstrative one, and some of the speeches Wight be fitly termed grandiloquent. Mr J. 0. Crawford is reported to have said 'that the colony had been attacked in the most disgraceful manner by Captain Hobsou, the man who, of all others, ought to have extended his protection to them. The Lieutenant-Gover-nor was seeking to deprive the colonists of

labour for which they had already paid. Was that honest? Supposing them to be C-esar, and Captain Hobson Brutus, might they not exclaim, 'c. tn Brule.' Bub he hoped they would not say 'Then fall, Cu.sar.' No! Let'the colonists have a watchword and a rallying-point amongst them, and they might bid defiance to all their enemies.' The settlers, in those days, looked upon each district as a ' colony,' and those living at Port Nicholson looked upon the Bay of Islands and tho Government settlement at Auckland as dangerous rivals. As tho Imperial Government had not decided which town should be the capital of the colony, the fight for that distinction, which from the first was keen, was well sustained until 18 .2, when Lord Stanley, writing to Governor Hobson, said : 'In reference to your selection of Auckland in proferenco to Fort Nicholson as the site of the capital of New Zealand, I am happy to acknowledge that the grounds on which you proceeded appeared to mo satisfactory. Approaching the question unaided by any personal acquaintance with the localities, I have thought that there is such a clear preponderance of motives in favour of your choice, as to justify me in advising the Queen to direct that Auckland should be the seat of Government of the new colony ; and I have received Her Majesty's commands to acquaint you that such is Her Majesty's pleasure.' Captain Hobson, unfortunately, did nob live to receive this despatch giving the royal confirmation of his choice. The settlers at Port Nicholson were very mortified at Captain Hobson failing to look with favour on tho claim of Wellington to bo bhe seat of Government, and never forgave him ; 'and whon, as Governor, he was about to visit that settlement, at a meeting held to consider how he should be received, a resolution for an address of congratulation was negatived, and the following amendment carried : ' That, in the existing state of uncertainty as toGovcrnor Hobson's intentions towards the settlement any public expression of opinion on the occasion of His Excellency's expected visit would be premature and inexpedient.' They were a rebellious lot at Wellington in those days. The wrecks that took place on the coasts of both islands during the early part of 1841 were numerous, and many lives were lost. There were no lighthouses then, and very little was known of the coast by the captains and crews of the crafts that sailed in New Zealand waters. Many were the good ships and schooners wrecked during the early days of the settlement, and as long voyages from England or from Port Jackson, and even from the local ports, were frequent, anxiety was often felt for the fate of a vessel, and falee alarms were accordingly very numerous. One of these alarms is.reported by the Wellington Gazelle as follows : — j 'At daybreak on Monday, January llth, ! 1841, throe reports of cannon wore distinctly j heard by many person...' Tho sentinel on i duty iruormed Lieutenant Best, who communicated the fact to Mr Murphy, who wenb three miles outside the Heads to ascertain if any vessel was in distress, but returned without seeing a ship.' The love for amusements prevailed amongst the settlers then pretty much as now,- for ab bhe first anniversary of the settlement of Wellington I find by the local paper that it was proposed .to j celebrate bhe event- with sports during 1 the day and a ball it. the eveni ing. But such an occasion could I not be got up, it seems, without heart- , burnings and quarrelliugs. In the Wellington Gazette there are letters with 'signatures such as 'Anti - Humbug,' •S.H.M.,' and '0.T.P.,' and these correspondents comment rather roughly on tho ' self-elected committee having for its basis exclusivism the most Almackian.' Another writes—' Who, I ask, are the movers of this grand private fete and sanctum sanctorum ball? Some hoary marquises and stripling dukes ? Surely no. At least some essonced Sir Foppingbons or bewhiskered guardsmen ? No ! but snmo who have made so little noise in the world that really j the world would be none the wiser if the j names to fame unknown were trumpeted 1 from Maidenkirk to John o' Groats.' The I signature to this last was ' Carrahoto,' j and evidently settled the 'exclusive ball.' j The 'anniversary day' proved very wet ! and stormy; the spoits had to be postI poned till the next, which was Saturday, I January 23rd, when the -'sele-afc rowing' match took place, 'Dr. Ralph's Black

Nose' winning. The weather still being unpropitious, the amusements were again postponed till the following Monday, vvhen a sort of regatta was held at Evans's Bay. A whaleboat race was won by ' Cuba ' leading 'Kangaroo' by a minute, the 'Thistle ancl 'The Flying Pieman ' being nowhere. Mr Duppa's schooner-rigged boat of about ten tona won the sailing race, but she was disqualified ' because her keel was one foot too long.' We notice the names of Captain Rhodes and Captain Chaffers in connection with these races Is starter, and judge, and 'they gave general satisfaction.' There was a hurdle race for ' fifteen guineas,' given by 'the Pickwick Club,'which was won by 'Cal-muck-Tartar.'ridden by the Hon. H. Petre, tho other competitors and riders beingCurrency Lass, Mr George Wade ; Black Billy, Mr Watt; and Sulky. Captain Hodges, There was a rifle match, tho prizifbeing £5, for which thero were ten competitors. Mr (leorgc Crawford was the successful marksman, but his score is nob recorded. There were sack races, climbing a greasy pole, and wheeling barrows blindfolded ; but the competitors for these events do nob appear. "Two halls were held in the evening, one at Barrett's Hotel on the Friday evening, ancl the other at tho Exchange Hotel on the Monday—the former was the ' select' ball, and tho latter the ' popular' one. The weather is stated to have been bad, but notwithstanding they were both 'well attend, d.' (To be continued.)