OUR EARLIER DAYS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 58, 9 March 1935, Page 2 (Supplement)

OUR EARLIER DAYS.

AN OTAGO PIONEER. New Zealand owes much to Mr. Downio Stewart, and ho has added another obligation by editing the journals and letters of his grandfather, George Hepburn, which are published by Coulls, Soniervitle, WilWe, Ltd., and A. H. Reed, Dunedin. As tho editor says, he has cut out as littlo as possible of the diary, leaving it to speak for itself. Mr. Hepburn was a native of Kjrkaldy and came out as an emigrant with his family in the ship Poictiers to Otago in 1850. Ho was a splendid type of Scotsman —honest, industrious and thrifty. If his outlook in many ways seems narrow to our ideas, the religious atmosphere of his early life explains it, and it must bo admitted that he really had convictions and tried to live up to them. He was one of the class which made Otago, and especially Dunedin, famous everywhere for tho honesty, business capacity, and hard work of its people beyond any other part of the colony. The wealth and financial stability so achieved have subsisted till to-day. Half the book is taken up with an account of the voyage, which lasted seven months, one of the longest in the history of colonial emigration. Much of the weather was fine and pleasant, but occasional storms, and especially when nearing New Zealand, delayed tho vessel. Of the ship and her company Mr. Hepburn gives interesting and at'fimes amusing pictures, and his ideas are often coloured by his prejudices. Ho frequently took divers of tho crew and passengers to task for not keeping the Sabbath. Curiously enough," his worst subject was the sailmaker, who sat near Mr. Hepburn's cabin door repairing a sail all day Sunday, and at times singing profane songs. The writer, with a pathos which is unconsciously humorous, adds, " and he a Scotsman." The vessel touched first at New Plymouth, then at Nelson and Wellington before proceeding on to Port Chalmers. Of each place Mr. Hepburn gives an account, and notes the prices charged for various commodities, including food and clothing. ITe shows himself a good man of business, for he buys Hour "at Nelson for 11/ per 1001b, for which lie expects to receive 20/ at Utago. The rest of the book is taken from letters written to friends in Scotland. and describes life in Dunedin during the 'fifties, and even later, graphically. It is tho story of a hard-working, thrifty Scot slowly making liis way. The first two years are a struggle to clear a small farm, but lie gets a post iis manager of the business owned by Mr. James MacAndrcw, Inter a well known figure in New Zealand politics. Later he goes into partnership with a brother-in-law and buys out his former employer just at the time when the gold rush to Gabriel's Gully was beginning. His business expanded as did his other interests. He was a member of the Provincial Council and later of Parliament. He gives details of family life, weddings, parties and the like, and much attention to the progress of Church life in Dunedin.

He died in December, 18813, aged 81, and a fitting epilogue is given in u tribute paid to him by Dr. Stuart, who was one of the greatest, as well as one of the most influential, citizens of Dunedin.

"Adventuring in Maorilaml in the 'Seventies" (Angus and Robertson) is pleasant reading. It; is compiled from letters written by Mr. <"!. L. Meredith to his mother, and the book is edited by Dr. Harrop, who adds an introduction comparing the state of the country in the mid 'seventies with its present position.

Mr. Meredith is a Tasmanian wlio came' to New Zealand intending to enter a Wellington law office. Instead, lie preferred the open air life, and worked on different ' stations along the east coast of the North Island. He was somewhat a rolling stone, and his experiences were varied and at times exciting His accounts of early attempts at cooking, camp making, etc.., arc told in a racy' style, which is very pleasing. He had much to do with the Maoris, whom he liked greatly, though this did not prevent him from playing on their superstitious fears every now and then. The pictures he draws of station life in those days are most interesting. He had to work hard, but none the less managed to have a good time. For two winters he took a, post as clerk in the House of Representatives, durinor the session, and here met all the. political celebrities of the mid "seventies, including Sir George Grey who, with his customary affability, was very kind to the young man. He tells one or two amusing incidents in Parliament which happened while he was so employed. A piece of bad luck rather than bad management in a pig raising venture in Poverty Bay, drained his resources, and he. saw that New Zealand was entering on the depression which followed the cessation of borrowing inaugurated by Yogel. This made him think that Australia had better chances for him, and lie left New Zealand after eight years nf varied experiences in which lie had learned much which lie thought would stand him in good stead later on. This is a readable little book.