THE SETTLEMENT OF NEW ZEALAND. A HISTORICAL RETROSPECT.

Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 17, 21 January 1888, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE SETTLEMENT OF NEW ZEALAND. A HISTORICAL RETROSPECT.

On the eve of the forty-eighth j anniversary of the arrival of the first settlors in New Zealand it is not out of place to review the circumstances which led to tho colonisation of New Zealand, the establishment of the first settlement at PortNieholson, and the subsequent acquisition of the colony as a British possession. It is well known that the British Government wan for a long time strongly averse to tho annexation of New Zealand, and that tho first settlers, whose doparture from England and arrival in Port Nicholson is recorded below, very narrowly escaped detention at Plymouth on the ground of being engaged in an unlawful enterprise. It is also matter of history that it was by the narrowest margin that, owing to the fertility of resource of a British naval officer, the flag of England was hoisted over the Middle Island before that of France. Had France made good a claim to the Middle Island, British colonisation of the North Island would have become impossible. The pioneer settlers, who arrived here 48 years ago, had difficulties to encounter of which recent arrivals can have no conception. They were a bravo and gallant band, and the Empire, as well as those who have more immediately benefited by their courage and energy, owe them great obligations. Probably few of those who will on Monday celebrate the anniversary which falls to-morrow know much of the circumstances preceding and leading up to the arrival of the first settlers at " the first and principal settlement of the New Zealand Company." The following particulars, compiled specially for the Evening Post by Mr. John Howard Wallace, who, having been intimately associated with the original settlement of the colony and all the events loading up to it, is entitled to be regarded as a thoroughly reliable authority on the subject. Mr. Wallace arrived by the Aurora, the first vessel : — The plantation of a colony has been called "a heroic work." The colonisation of New Zealand in 18391840 may therefore be said to come within the full scope of this description. The first European who made the existence of New Zealand known to the civilised world, and who gave it the name it bears, was Tasman, the Dutch navigator, who visited it in 1 642. Claims to earlier discovery by other European explorers have been raised, but they are unsupported by any sufficient evidence. Tasman did not land on any part of the islands, in consequence of having had a boat's crew cut off by the natives in the bay now known as Massacre Bay, but contented himself by sailing along the western coast of the North Island, and quitted its shores without taking possession of the country in the name - of the Government he served. From the date of Tasman's flying visit, to 1769, no stranger is known to have visited the islands. In the . latter year Captain Cook reached them in the course of the first of those voyages of great enterprise which have mado his name illustrious. The first of Cook's voyages of discovery began in August, 1768, when he was sent to Tahiti to observe a transit of 'Venus. After a run of 86 days from Tahiti, having touched at eorno other places, he sighted the coast of New Zealand on the 6th of October, 1769. On the Bth he landed in Poverty Bay, on the East Coast of the North Island, which is therefore held tq be the date of the first occupation of the country. The founders of the new Cqlony of New Zealand (1839) undertook an arduous enterprise ; they were encouraged in a remarkable manner by the support of public opinion. New Zealand was made the theatre of a great experiment in the art of self-supporting colonisation, and the final result of that experiment has been the foundation of one of " the brightest gems in the British Crown." No part of the world probably presented in 1839-40 a more eligible field for the exertion of British enterprise, or a more promising career of usefulness to those who laboured in the cause of human improvement, than the islands of New Zealand. The inhabitants, a noble race of savages, were comparatively few — quite insignificant, indeed, in proportion to the extent of the country they inhabited. It was believed that the entire population of both islands did not exceed 160,000. Mr. Foster, . who accompanied Captain Cook, estimated the population of the Northern Island at 100,000; and in a letter from the Rev. Wm. Williams, one of the missionaries of the Church Missionary Society, to the secretary of that society, dated 10th February, 1834, it is stated: — "I believe the population of this (the northern) island does not exceed 106,000, of which about 4000 are in connection with our station at Kaitaia to the northward, 6000 with the Wesleyan station at Hokianga, and 12,000 connected with our four stations in tho Bay of Islands. The number in the Thames is about 4800; while those at Waikato and on the western coast are about 18,000. Along the coast of the Bay of Plenty, and as far as nioks' Bay, are about 15,600. From Hicks' Bay to Hawke's Bay the numbor is about 27,000, concentrating in two principal places. There are now no. other inhabitants in the southern part of the island, except in the neighbourhood of Entry Island, where the number is about 18,000." Comparing the Rev. W. Williams' estimates with other statements, particxilarly those of Mr. Nicholas and Mr. Polack (Minutes of evidence, Lords' Committee, 1838), there is reason to think the opinion of the last mentioned writer to be pretty correct, in supposing the popu- • lation to have been in 1 839, in the proportion of five persons to every three square miles, ' which, taking the extent, in round l numbers, at 95,000" square miles, gives 158,300 as the total number of the aboriginal inhabitants of the New Zealand Group. There is nothing ori record respecting the origin of the' New Zealanders (Maori people) ; but their arrival in New Zealand, according to tradition, is duo to an event which, from its physical possibility, and from the concurrent testimony of the various tfHb'es; is probably true in its jnain facts. The tradition rims that

generations ago a large migration took place from a distant island, to which the Maoris give the name of Hawaiki. Quarrels among the natives drove from Hawaiki a chief, whose canoe arrived upon the shore of the North Island of New Zealand. Returning to his home with a flattering description of the country he had discovered, this chief, it is said, set an example of immigration, whereupon a fleet of large double canoes started for tho new land. The names of most of the canoes are still remembered, and each tribe agrees in its account of the doings of the people of the principal canoes after their arrival in New Zealand ; and from these traditional accounts the descent of the numerous tribes has been traced. Calculations based on the genealogical staves kept by the tohungas, or priests, indicate that about 27 generations have passed since the migration, which would give for its date about the beginning of the fourteenth century. The position of Hawaiki is not known, but there are several islands of this, or a somewhat similar, name. Since the period when New Zealand was made known to Europe by Captain Cook, many projects for its colonisation had been formed. The earliest scheme was suggested by the celebrated Benjamin Franklin, who, in 1771, published proposals for forming an association to fit out a vessel by subscription, which should proceed to New Zealand with a cargo of such commodities as the natives were most in want of, and bring back in return so much of the produce of the country as should defray the expenses of the adventure. The main object of the expedition, however, was stated to be to promote the improvement of the New Zealanders, by opening for them a moans of intercourse with the civilised world. Tho expense attending this attempt, according to the estimate of Mr. Dalrymple, who was to have commanded the expedition, was to have been about £15,000; but tho requisite funds were not raised, and the plan consequently never took effect. In 1 825 a commercial company was formed in London, under the auspices of the Earl of Durham, which despatched two vessels to New Zealand, and acquired land at Herd's Point, Hokianga River, and also at the mouth of the Thames. The company was prevented by circumstances from pursuing its intention of forming a settlement. There have been various individual adventurers, both from England and other countries, amongst ( whom a Frenchman (the Baron- det Thieiry) was conspicuous for his extravagant pretensions, founded upon the right to a very extensive territory which he claimed to have acquired. He professed to rely upon moral influence for exercising a kind of assumed sovereignty among the New Zealanders. The Baron, however, made no adequate provision for the accomplishment of his object. He was abandoned by the party who followed him from Sydney, and, in fact, was so far froth really acquiring either territory or sovereignty that eventually he lived on the bounty of the natives and European settlers. What was really done for the civilisation of the natives was chiefly due to the missionaries, who for many years made New Zealand a principal field of their religious labours, and who gradually improved the native character by checking vice and giving instruction in Christian worship. True progressive settlement was planted by the crews of the early ships, and by sealers, whalers, and pakeha - Maoris ("strangers turned into natives"), composed of various classes — Frenchmen, Englishmen, and Americans ; the majority, however, were English. The early navigators were the first to, arrive, and. the traders and whalers followed in their track. The sealers formed the next arrival. These men commenced their intercourse with the natives in the southern parts of the Middle Island, about the beginning of the century, being landed from whale ships for the purpose of killing the seals, then very numerous all round the poast. The missionaries became landowners to a large extent, and by their farming improvements and commercial enterprise benefited themselves as well as the natives by their teaching and example. But, unfortunately, the intercourse of the New Zealanders with Europeans was not confined to their religious teachers. The country was partially colonised by other Englishmen, of a very different description. There were in 1839 upwards of 2000 British subjects settled in different parts of the islands, of whom several hundreds consisted of a most worthless class of persons, such as run-away sailors, convicts who had escaped from the then penal colonies of New South Wales and Van Dieman's Land, keepers of grog-shops, and other vagabonds of dissolute habits. Besides these settlers, there were always many temporary sojourners, the ! crews of trading and whaling vessels, ¦ some of whom were generally to be found in the bays and harbours of both islands. From the want of regular laws the presence of the British subjects just described proved a curse to the natives. The crimes committed by some captains of British vessels were so atrocious as to be hardly credible. Kororarika, at this period the only large settlement in New Zealand, was situated at the Bay of Islands. In 1838 it was the most frequented resort for whalers in all the South Sea Islands, and its European population, although fluctuating, was then estimated at a thousand souls. It had a church, five hotels, and numberless grog-shops. For six successive years a hundred whale ships were anchored in the bay. Thirtysix large whale ships were anchored at Korararika at one time in 1836, and in 1838 fifty-six American vessels entered the bay. twenty-three English, twenty-one French, one Breman, twenty-four from New South Wales, aud six from this coast. The lawless doings of Englishmen in New Zealand had so far attracted tho notice of the British Government that Acts of Parliament were passed in 1823 and 1828 (4, George IV.. cap. 9, Geo. IV., cap. 93), whereby the jurisdiction of the pourts of Justice in New South Wales (of which colony New Zealand had, in 1814, been proclaimed to be a dependency by Proclamation

of Governor Macquarrie, dated 9th November, 1814) was extended to all British subjects living in New Zealand, though not to tho natives. In 1833 Mr. Busby was appointed British Resident in New Zealand, j "in order to check the enormities complained of, and to give encouragement and protection to the welldisposed settlers and traders." Mr. Busby's principal and mostimportant duty was prescribed to be, to conciliate tho good will of tho native chiefs, and establish good understanding and confidence upon a permanent basis. Mr. Busby resided at the Bay of Islands ; his official instructions were dated 13th April, 1833. Lieut. M'Donnell, R.N., was also appointed in 1835 to be a temporary British Resident at Ilokianga, with similar instructions to those of Mr. Busby. Official documents abundantly confirmed the existence of the evils mentioned, and resulting from irregular and lawless colonisation. The documents referred to are — Despatch from Governor Sir R. Bourke to Lord Glenelg, dated Sydney, 9th September, 1837 ; letter from Captain W. Hobson, R.N., to Sir Richard Bourke, Governor, dated H.M.S. Rattlesnake, Port Jackson, Bth August, 1837; letter from James Busby, Esq., British Resident at New Zealand, to the Colonial Secretary of New South Wales, dated Bay of Islands, 15th June, 1837; petition to his late Majesty from British settlers in New Zealand. A petition to the Crown, praying for protection, was also signed byall the different descriptions of British subjects in the islands, church missionaries, Wesleyan missionaries, merchants, and traders. Before these representations and complaints found their way to England an association was in existence, which, deeply impressed with the evils in question, as well as with the importance of New Zealand as a field for systematic colonisation, had formed a deliberate project of organising a colony, upon approved principles and an enlarged plan. The " New Zealand Association " consisted of two classes of members — first, heads of families and others who had determined to establish themselves in the proposed colony ; secondly, public men, who, for the sake of public objects alone, were willing to undertake the responsible task of carrying the project into execution. The acting committee of the association consisted entirely of the latter class. >of members, whose names were as follows : — The Hon. Francis Baring,- M.P. (chairman),} Right Hon.. Earl of Durham/Right Hon. Lord Petre, Hon. W. B. Baring, M.P. ; W. F. Campbell, Esq., M.P. ; Charles Enderby, Esq. ; Robert Ferguson, Esq., M.P. ; Rev. C. Samuel Hinds, D.D. ; Benjamin "Hawes, Esq., M.P. ; Philip Howard, Esq., M.P. ; William Hutt, Esq., M.P.; T. Mackenzie, Esq., M.P. ; Sir W. Molesworth, Bart., M.P. ; Sir George Sinclair, Bart., M.P. ; Captain S. W. Symonds, R.N, ; H. George Ward, Esq., M.P. ; W. Wolryche Whitmore, Esq. The aim of the association was to induce the Government and the Legislature to apply to New Zealand the peculiar system of colonisation which proved so successful in South Australia. The Government in December, 1837, expressed its willingnfess to entertain the proposal of establishing the colony. After considerable negotiations with the Government, the association, in order to bring their proceedings to a practical issue, induced Mr. F. Baring, the chairman of the association, to introduce a Bill ii Q to Parliament, entitled, "A Bill for the provisional government of a British Settlement in the Islands of New Zealand." In consequence of the opposition of her Majesty's Ministers, the Bill did not pass the House of Commons, and the association was dissolved. On the dissolution of the New Zealand Association, some of its members formed the plan of continuing the prosecution of its leading objects, by means of a joint stock company, with a subscribed capital ; and to the late John Lambton, first Earl of Durham, and Mi 1 . Edward Gibbon Wakefield England, is chiefly indebted for the systematic colonisation of New Zealand. Other friends of colonisation gradually joined them, and in the spring of 1839 the funds raised were sufficiently ample to enable the company to purchase land, and to fit out and despatch an expedition for the purpose of preparing for the early arrival of a body of settlers from England. The newlyformed company, owing to the opposition of the British Government, did not announce its operations to the public until the 2nd of May, 1839. Its objects are described in the published prospectus, and will be found in the narrative of events which I have given. The first expedition sailed from Gravesend on Sunday, the sth of May, 1839. A London newspaper, of the 11th, contains the following statement : — " Plymouth, 9th May. Among our late shipping arrivals is the barque Tory, from London, bound to New Zealand, which reached the Sound early yesterday morning. She is a fast-sailing new vessel ot 400 tons, having been only one previous voyage, and is the property of the New Zealand Land Company, lately formed in London. The present voyage is a remarkable one, being the first expedition despatched by the company, with the view of exploring the country in order to the establishment of regular British settlements in New Zealand. The Tory left Gravesend on Sunday, at 6 o'clock p.m. (where a party of gentlemen connected with the expedition), amidst the cheers of the spectators on the shore, which was answered by a salute of eleven guns from the ship. She was towed by a steamer to the mouth ot the Channel, and had a very quick run of 38 hours from the Downs to Plymouth' Sound. The Tory carries eight guns, and is equipped in a very superior style. She carries only specie and such articles of merchandise as are suitable for barter with the natives for land. The expedition is under the orders of Colonel Wakefielfl, a very distinguished officer ; and the ship is commanded by Mr. Chaffers, R.N., a skilful nautical surveyor, who was master of his Majesty's ship Beagle in Captain -Fitzroy's surveying expedition in the South Seas. The Tory carries' a surgeon (Mr.

John Dorset), another gentleman devoted to medical statistics, a naturalist (Dr. Dieffinbaeh, of Berlin), a draftsman (Mr. Heaphy), a few young gentlemen as volunteers, and an interpreter, Nayti, a New Zealand chieftain, who has resided in England for two years, and has acquired the English language and habits. It is understood that this expedition is a preliminary one, for tho purpose of selecting the site of a town, and acquiring correct and scientific information in regard to the country. The Tory is ordered to proceed to the company's territory on the west coast of the Northern Island, which embraces the harbours of Kaipara and Hokianga, and also to Cook's Strait, where it is probable a settlement will also be formed in the neighbourhood either of Cloudy Bay or Port Nicholson. It is said j that the company are fitting out another vessel to follow the Tory in a few weeks, and that a large body of immigrants, consisting of most respectable families, will embark from London in the course of the present summer (1839). The wind being now favourable for sea, the Tory is to sail from the Sound this evening, or early on Friday morning at latest. Tho final instructions from the company in London reached Colonel Wakefield on board the Tory yesterday." (The Tory left Plymouth on the 12th of May, 1839.) The objects of the expedition were — Ist, the purchase of lands for the company ; 2nd, the acquisition of general information as to the country; 3rd, preparations for the formation of settlements under the auspices of the company. The departure of the first colonists took place in the course of the autumn of 1839, and it is no exaggeration to assert that it comprised a body of settlers who, for intelligence and energy of mind, as well as for rank and character in society, have not been equalled since the days of tho early colonisation of North America. On Monday, 9th September, 1839, the colonists entertained the directors of the New Zealand Land Company at a farewell dinner at the Thatched House Tavern ; and on Saturday, the 14th, the directors proceeded to Gravesend in the Mercury steam vessel, accompanied by a large party of friends interested in the infant colony, for the inspection of the ships. On this occasion articles of agreement were signed by the emigrants, engaging to observe certain rules after landing, with a view-to the public safety, until pro. I vision should be made for this object by the Queen's Government. Parting entertainments were afterwards given by the directors, both to the labouring emigrants in each ship and to the settlers assembled on board the Mercury ; and the scenes of the day were altogether such as could not fail to be memorable in the annals of the colony. The following table comprises a list of the New Zealand Company's ships which sailed in the season of 1839, with the number of passengers conveyed by each to New Zealand : — Tory (preliminary expedition), 382 tons, 6 passengers, sailed 1 from London sth May ; Cuba (surveying ship), 273 tons, 30 passengers, sailed from London Ist August; Oriental, 506 tons, 154 passengers, sailed from London 15th September; Aurora, 550 tons, 148 passengers, sailed from London 18th September; Adelaide, 640 tons, 176 passengers, sailed from London 18th September; Duke of Roxburgh, 417 tons, 167 passengers, sailed from Plymouth sth October; Glenbervie (store ship), 387 tons, 5 passengers, sailed from London 20th October ; Bengal Merchant, 5Q3 tong, 161 passengers, ! sailed from Glasgow 31st October; Bolton, 540 tons, sailed from London 19th November; Ooromandel (private ship), 662 tons, 44 passengers, sailed from London 11th December. Total- tonnage, 4860 tons; total of passengers, 1123, Colonel Wakefield was induced to select Cook Strait as the scene of the [ company's operations ; aud Port Nicholson, where all the vessels arrived, was the first and principal settlement formed in Now Zealand by the company. These vessels were followed at intervals by other vessels, either chartered, sent out by, or under the New Zealand Company's sanction — in all about eighty-two vessels, conveying upwards of 10,000 souls, up to April, 1848. During this period the regular settlements of New Zealand were — Wellington (port Nicholson), 1840; Auckland, 1840; New Plymouth, 1840; Wanganui, 1841 ; Nelson, 1841; Otago, 1847. At this period the colonising operations of the New Zealand Company had nearly ceased, and in 1848 the Canterbury Association was formed, which resulted in the systematic colonisation of the Canterbury district. The period of tho sailing of the first ships, 1839, was marked by strong demonstrations of public opinion in favour of the new settlement. Tho cordiality of the assem- | blage at Gravesend, already mentioned; was even surpassed by the burst of enthusiasm which hailed the departure of the Scotch emigrants from the Clyde ; and a public meeting in Dublin expressed its decided sympathy with the colony and approbation of the company's proceedings. The West of Scotland Committee, with purchasers of land, intending colonists, merchants, and others, dined together in the Trades' Hall, Glasgow, on the 22nd of October, 1839, the Lord Provost in the chair. The company included gentlemen of various professions, and all shades of politics — clergymen, lawyers, merchants, and landowners. On this occasion the Rev. Dr. Macleod prcposed the health of the Rev. Mr. M'Farlane, then going out with the Scotch settlers in the capacity of chaplain". The Lord Provost proposed the health of a gentleman distinguished both as an historian and as a judge — Mr Sheriff Alison — who delivered an elaborate speech. Professor Nicol took the opportunity of expounding the Wakefield ' principle of colonisation, and concluded by proposing (/ The health of Mr. Edward Gibbon Wakefield, the discoverer of the new system, with sue- , cess to South Australia and the neighbouring colonies." The meeting at D,ublin was held in the Mansion' House of that city on the 2nd of November, 1839, for the

purpose of promoting the improvement of Ireland by means of emigration to New Zealand, under the auspices of the company, and was most respectably attended, the Lord Mayor in the chair. The Rev. Dr. Dickinson, domestic chaplain to the Archbishop of Dublin, and several gentlemen delivered their sentiments strongly in favour of the new colony. Mr. John Ward, secretary to the New Zealand Company, explained to the meeting its objects and proceedings, and pointed out the advantages offered by New Zealand in comparison with other emigration fields. A list of the colonial establishment of the company in New Zealand concludes a brief sketch of the establishment of the first British settlement in New Zealand in 1839-40. New Zealand Company's Colonial Establishment : — Principal Agent, Colonel William Wakofield; Sur- { veyor-General, Captain Wm. Mem Smith, R.A. ; Assistant Surveyors, Mr. Wellington Carrington, Robert Stokes, Robert Park ; Commissioner for Purchase of Land, Mr. Richard Davies Hanson, ; Assistant, Mr. William Batt; Storekeeper, Mr. George Hunter, ; Assistant, Mr. John Bircham; Emigration Agent, Daniel Riddiford; Principal Clerk of the Land Office, John Lewis ; Surgeon to the Company, John Dorset; Naturalist, Dr. Dieffenbach; Draftsman, Mr. Charles Heaphy; Interpreters, The Rev. John Gare Butler, Ti Nayti. This brings the proceedings of the promoters of the colonisation of New Zealand up to the time when the New Zealand Land Company (afterwards called the New Zealand Company) commenced active operations (1839) to carry out the views of Edward Gibbon Wakefield, with whom was associated the late Earl of Durham and other leading noblemen and gentlemen, whose efforts, though, in the first instance, they were thwarted, have borne good fruit by colonising with free British subjects the fertile islands of New Zealand, which, had it not been for their noble exertions, would have fallen into the hands of the French, and would have become a French penal settlement. Of the ships already mentioned, the Aurora, Captain T. Heale, was the first to arrive in Port Nicholson, 22nd January, 1840. The foundation of the colony dates from this day, when the first contingent of free British subjects landed on Petone beach, and Port Nicholson (now Wellington) became the great colonising nest — that being the first real attempt at the colonisation of New Zealand — an event which will be celebrated by the 48th anniversary, 22nd January, 1888.