Purchase Of Land

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 142, 12 March 1938, Page 3 (Supplement)

Purchase Of Land

Your recently published article by Mr. E. P. Bunny on the New Zealand Company’s purchase of lands and the Native “Tenths” is of considerable interest and should make many think a little more before commenting on the price paid by Colonel Wakefield on the company’s behalf. Of course, one never considers what was the actual, value of the land before the advent of the early settlers, the Native population could never use or occupy one-quarter of the country. We do have an insight into the enhanced value, brought about by settlement, very early, if we read the reports of the “land claims” heard by Mr. Commissioner Spain. The first of the “Native Tenths” that figures in our early history relates to Richard Barrett, or Dickey Barrett, as he was better-known, who claimed one. acre on a portion of which he built his hotel, by the right of his wife, and also from the fact that he had had some sort of residence on that site for many years previously. For some reason this claim was in dispute. The Native Affairs Department of the time eventually granted him a lease of that portion on which the hotel stood, at a rental of £1 a foot frontage for a period of eight years. That is how we And the old hotel, which was occupied by several Government departments from 1848, when the licence was transferred to the present site of Barrett’s Hotel. Barrett did not stop long in the Wellington district, selling out as soon as the lease was arranged and moving to New Plymouth. I would add that one of our local men was appointed to collect Native rents. If I remember rightly, his salary was about £l5O a year, and the rent from Barrett’s Hotel seems to be about the only rent collected. This appointment was terminated after three years.— W.A.E. (Wellington) . Wreck Of The Cossack The master of the American schooner’s (Captain Dick) manner of spelling Maori names is somewhat unique. He wrote the following report from Kororareka on July 5, 1823: “I give you this short account of the loss of my vessel at Hokianga at the entrance of the river, and the conduct of the natives towards me and my crew after the loss, which was kind beyond all my expectations. The wreck was a total loss; there was not anything saved by myself or crew except a few clothes, and it was with much difficulty that all the crew were saved. The natives gave us the best they had to eat, and the best houses were at our service whenever we came; and what is more of chief of Wheedeea, who called himself Car lew Nasso, (probably Karn Ngahau, or Karu Ngaio) supplied me and my people with provisions for our passage overland to the Bay of Islands and accompanied us with a party of about twenty-five of his people for our protection. The loss of my vessel ought not to discourage any other person from going to that place.” Captain Dick returned to Europe in the ship Sarah with Captain Munro—W.A.G. (Hastings). “Cabbage” Wilson. When Sir Cracroft Wilson met Mr. William Wilson for the first time in the White Hart Hotel, Christchurch, he addressed him by asking: “Who the devil are you?” Before Mr. William Wilson could reply, the bartender, who was a son of the owner of the hotel, interjected, “Call him ‘Cabbage’ Wilson.” This sobriquet was applied by Mr. George Hart because of the headgear that was worn by Mr. William Wilson at that particular moment. This head-gear was a wide-brimmed sun hat made from the leaves of the native cabbage tree, which were very plentiful i_n Christchurch. It had been made by a Maori at Mr. William Wilson’s special request and for his. use in his nurseries—for “Cabbage” Wilson was a keen horticulturist, and to him was due the introduction of the common double daisy, cowslip, primrose, and yellow broom into Christchurch’s lawns, gardens, and hedges. He was also responsible for the planting of the weeping willows along the banks of the Avon River. In October, 1864, he introduced these from Wellington and presented the first plants to Archdeacon Mathias, who planted them in his garden at Riccarton.— J.M. (Wellington). Wellington’s First Jail In 1840 Wellington had as its first jail a small native-built house. There was no way of locking up the prisoner, but usually he was hand-cuffed and chained by the legs, pending trial. As the victim might not be guilty this inflicted much hardship, especially to feeble people. Bail was a mere form, says the Hon. H. W. Petre, who wrote about the settlements of the New Zealand Company, for there was no check on the criminal at large. There was a considerable amount of panic at Wellington about this time, particularly when titles to land were questioned. It was suggested by the settlers that they should move in a body to Chile to take the energy of the settlers and their capital tliere, but wiser counsel changed the course of events. A deputation went to Sydney and returned with news of successful negotiations regarding titles and a better sense of keeping law and order in the settlement: J.H. (Hastings). Forgotten Names These are a few forgotten names to add to those recently supplied by “W.C.R.”: Raleigh (Waitara), Carlisle (Batea), Maxwellton (Maxwell), Grahamstown (Thames), Hua (Bell Block), Watt’s Peninsula (Miramar). Referring to the statement that Britannia was later renamed Wellington, the evidence would suggest that the name was restricted to the settlement at the mouth of the Hutt River, and that this settlement was later renamed Petone. Perhaps some reader could produce evidence to settle this question once and for aII.— G.E.M. (New Plymouth).