OLD AUCKLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 243, 11 October 1916, Page 7

OLD AUCKLAND.

AS IT LOOKED IN 1847.

AX INTERESTING DESCRIPTION.

Amongst the many works in the Leys Institute is one by Lieut.-Colonel Godfrey Charles Mundy. entitled "Our Antipodes.", in which the writer describes Auckland as he saw it in 1847. when he •was' the guest of Governor Sir George Grey. As this was five years after the arrival of the Jane Gifford and Duchess of Argyle, a few extracts are interesting , leading at the present time.

"Auckland," he writes, "has six or seven thousand inhabitants. It is seated on a rather high plateau of land, diA-ided by ravines into three coves, called •Mechanics,' 'Commercial,' and 'Official' Bars: The former is a strand devoted to shipbuilding and rope-making. Com■ii>sr«al Bay is the sea vent of the mercantile and shopkeepins quarter, and a Best of neat villas, with pretty little gardens around them—houses and grounds exiguous almost to the extremity of Butch toyism, denotes Official Bay, where the public offices and aristacraer have congregate/}.?-.. The old barracks on a "fortified , bluff'" called Point Britomart, arc also described. Reference is made to the .building of Albert Barracks by. Major Marlowe, of the Royal Engineers, with Maori labour. The writer states the Maoris showed aptitude at masonry, and in a few weeks learned to drees stope. square quoins and arch stones. The pay was 1/6 to 2/6 per day. r The Maoris met the clerk of works every Sunday morning to attend church, and had prayers every morning and evening amongst themselves. Major Marlowe reported in May, 1847, that the Maoris "performed their work equal to any European mechanics." Out of 67. employed only one had been the worse for liquor since the work started. CoL Mundy, commenting upon Governor Grey's "Caesar-like mode of conquestload making," states that 1000 natives employed upon that work by the Government. With the Governor ie "imted a place called Onehunga. where "pensioners' cantonments were 'being laid out, also Howick, where the streets were being pegged off for a similar purpose:" The Colonel states that ihe recommended the streets should be named after military leaders and battles. Of the Maoris he writes: "They would «aake excellent Sepoys officered by Englaa gentlemen, as they are particularly apt_at drill, and well set up. There is no&ing of the bumpkin about the Mzon," he adds. Meeting -with the great Behop G. A. Selwyn, Colonel Mnndy leealfc toe Rev. Sidney Smith's advieq w that ecclesiastic when setting out for aew Zealand—"to have due regard to tie minor ac well as the more grave duties of iis station, to 'be given to hoe- *?~ t 5 - » *n<l in order to meet the tastes of Jus native guests, never to be without smoked litUe boy in the bacon rack, and a cold clergyman on the sideboard." rt Desc T lbin g a k* ll gi'en by the Sheriff. "Ie .-writer mentions that the ladies were «*«yed a distance of about two miles m the official cart, there being only one •toage in Auckland. A feather bed wae placed in the bottom of the cart; lor the ladie 3 to sit upon. He also the pretty garden of the Eev. W. Lawry—a copy of a letter from' *norn appeared in tbe "Star" this week, *ntten in 1844. This garden was snrlonnded by elegant hedges and had an «en formed of fruit trees. Mr. Robert•one rope walk in Mechanics Bay was one of the sights of the town to which ]™c Colonel was taken by the Governor. They also walked to the top of Mt. Eden one Sunday. At the foot they came ''pon the Maoris who were employed to ■Fjany stone, holding religious service, thereupon the Governor and his visitor uncovered their heads and joined the *orshippers. An interesting description is also given of Bishop Selwyn's College ft Tamaki, where Maori boys were wight trades in those days. The ■writer •*>comments upon the fine crop of and maize growing at Epsom. _ Colonel Mundy puts his finger upon t»e weakness of the Church, for he *"*»•—" One cannot doubt but that tae success of the Christian missions have been incalculably greater "lad there been one uniform creed and Priesthood. The observant Maori," he ■"■ntea. "cannot be blind to such open and wide schisms, nor deaf to the virulence of sectarian animosity. He is snarp enough to see these anomalies in a re 'igion professing universal love, the T">:ty of the spirit in the bond of peace. °ur religion, excellent as it may be, is »o bond between men where the shadow _£. difference of opinion exists." Tne New Year was celebrated by the Srand ■ ceremony of the publication of Mc nnv cliartor of the Colpny which is «*:ril»e,l at detail in this interesting ■»ork written as far back as 1850