ALBERTLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 287, 1 December 1923, Page 17

ALBERTLAND.

THE DIAMOND JUBILEE. REUNION AT MAUNGATUROTO. A notable event in the history of Auckland was celebrated by the Diamond Jubilee Re-union held at Maungaturoto on Friday, November 2:3. Early in the sixties of last century a movement for colonising lands north of Auckland with settlers belonging to the Nonconformist denominations was inaugurated in Enjrland chiefly under the direction of Mr. W. R. Brame. In a short while, over a thousand persons registered, the chief inducement being an offer by the Auckland Provincial Government of free land grants, in the proportion of forty acres for every person above the age of eighteen, and twenty acres for emigrants of lower age. Tlie selection of applicants was confined to those who possessed a certain amount of capital or were proficient in some valuable mechanical vocation or in other matters that were calculated to prove profitable to the newcommunity. The land was selected by delegates who had previously visited New Zealand. Messrs. Shaw, Savill, acting under contract with the association, chartered two ships, the (Matilda Watteribach and the Hanover, each of about 1000 tons, to convey the pioneer party to Auckland. On board the Matilda Wattenbach there -were' about 350 passengers, including the Rev. S. Edger and Mr. YV. R. Brame. The ships left London docks on May 129, 1862, when a gathering, estimated at about 15,000 persons, assembled to bid the emigrants "God-speed." The ships were gaily decorated with bunting and appropriate speeches were delivered. The second party left on the ship William Miles, 1250 tons, on July 10, in the same year. The ship Gertrude, 1200 tons, followed later in the year, arriving at Auckland on February 9, 1863. The ship Tyburnia 965 tons, and the Annie Wilson, left 'London in May, 1863, with a fourth party, arriving in Auckland in October of the same year.

The Diamond Jubilee of the emigrants by the Matilda Wattenbach and Hanover was celebrated at Port Albert on the 29th of May of last year, and the gathering at Maungaturoto on Friday was specially arranged to celebrate the arrival of the Tyburnia passengers, who were chiefly located at Maungaturoto, the block of land specially allotted to them out of the 70,000 acres set aside by the Provincial Government under the terms of this special settlement scheme.

Unfortunately, the choice of location for these emigrants was not favourable to the success of the Albertland settlement. Extending over a distance of thirty miles along the shores and estuaries of the Kaipara Harbour, the settlers became scattered in a manner that precluded the co-operative life originally contemplated. They were, moreover, completely cut off from markets for any produce they were able to raise on their farms. A great proportion of the land was extremely poor in quality and quite unfit for profitable agricultural operations. Many of the settlers struggled along on such lands for years, until their resources were exhausted, when they were obliged to drift back into Auckland or seek homes in other parts of the province. A considerable area of this land still lies barren—the only wealth it was capable of yielding being kauri gum, for which, at that time, there was a very restricted demand, and which many of the settlers quite commonly used to kindle their fires. Although the success anticipated for Albertland as a co-ordinated settlement was not fully realised, it is a .fact that the settlements around Kaipara are mainly occupied now by the descendants of these emigrants and that others who abandoned the land have contributed very materially by their energy, capability and sterling qualities, in developing the commercial and industrial resources of the Auckland province.

! Tlie land at Maungaturoto proved of much better quality than that which had been allotted to other settlers, but it was hilly and covered with dense forests. The settlers who came to New Zealand looking for a land of promise found themselves stranded in the midst of primeval bush, cut off not only from any market for their produce, but also from that communion with each other upon which the hopes of the Albertland Association were founded. But they possessed brave hearts, anu the fruits of their toil are seen in the smiling fields, the peaceful homes, and productive farms which make Maungaturoto one of the most beautiful and most prosperous settlements north of Auckland. There were present at the Diamond Jubilee on Friday some of these pioneer settlers, notabiy Mr. Henry Cullen, who occupied the chair at the gathering in the hall on Friday evening, and whose family are active in every undertaking connected with the settlement. When looking over the rich pasturage, free from even ancient stumps, it is difficult to visualise the country where these hardy settlers were originally planted sixty years ago. The land is now chiefly devoted to the dairy industry and there is a well-managed creamery.

The minister who accompanied the party on the Tyburnia belonged.to the Congregational Church, and religious services connected with that denomination .have 'been maintained almost continuously during the sixty years. It is the only Church in the settlement which has a stationed minister and Sunday school. The jubilee of the settlement, therefore, was associated with a fancy fair in connection with the church. An enthusiastic body of lady workers had prepared a variety of articles for the stalls which would have maJe a creditable display in connection with a city church, and brisk business was done in the course of the day. The Bey. W. Stewart Wright and Mrs. Wright actively contributed to the success of the gathering. We give to-day a photograph of some of the original Albertland settlers. Nearly all the ships are represented in the group, which was taken in the course of the afternoon. Several of those present were hale and hearty, though well past fourscore years and ten.