EARLY WELLINGTON

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 31, 5 August 1925, Page 9

EARLY WELLINGTON

m INTERESTING & TANGIBLE LINKS PICTURES WELL WORTH WHILE (Contributed.) The most interesting and tangible Jinks with the early days of New Zealand are the pictures we have preserved of scenes of different parts of the city and surroundings taken during those days dear to so many. At the exhibition of pictures of "Early Wellington," held recently at the. Early Settlers' Hall, those who had time to move round and study the collection there (and this was no easy matter) could see the gradual growth of Wellington for the first forty years- of its existence. Among the earliest pictures shown was one of W. M. Smith's—a view from the Tinakori Hills, looking towards Mount Victoria—Thorndon flat in the foreground", an undulating plain, a few trees scattered about, and less than a dozen houses in sight. Then there were two panoramic views of the waterfront, embracing the. Te Aro and Lambton foreshore to Pipitea—one 1841, the other 1842. BEGINNING OF COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES Speaking in reference to that of 1842, the secretary of the association (Mr. Edwards) said that it • was one of the most interesting of the whole exhibit, showing plainly, and bringing to the minds of many, • the beginning of the commercial activities of pioneers. Commencing on the Te Aro loreshore, near to the two pas situated there, could ba seen the first substantial wharf (opened early in 1841), built by,the late W. B. Rhodes, with his "store"' facing it.. Behind this, and on the Manners street frontage, was the printing office of the "Gazette," the first paper printed in Wellington (the publication of this paper commenced on the Petone side of th» harbour). The site of this, the first printing office, would ha about the eastern end of James Smith's premises. The next building noticed is the "Exchange," one room of which wa» used as the Town Hall in '42-43; and later acquired by Bethune and Hunter, The building is still there, and the name also—the oldest established business in New Zealand (if we except the Union Bank,,which has a few'days longer). We next see another wharf, built by Messrs. Ridgway, Guyton, and Earp (1841), and their store adjacent. Of this firm one partner should be remembered, Mr. William Guyton, as being the first, and I think only one, of Wellington's early settlers to have a seat on "Governor Hobson's (nominee) Legislative Council. Later he was appointed Mayor of Wellington (in 1843), filling the vacancy that occurred through the death of Mr. George Hunter, our first Mayor. BARRACKS AND WHARVES We next note Mr. Waitt's store, later used as a barracks by the troops stationed here in 1844, and the wharf erected by his firm, <Messrs. Waitt and Tinline in conjunction with T. -M. Partridge. This wharf was better known, in later years as "Pilcher's Wharf," whilst that of Ridgway and Co., mentioned above, was known as "Hickson's." Moving on we pass the New Zealander Hotel (Robert Jenkins), tho Union Bank,. and so to the corner, the present site of the Duke of Edinburgh Hotel, to J. and G. Wade, auc-tion-rooms. Time did not permit of the mention of many of the older buildings in Willis street and Lambton quay waterfront, and only a brief reference was made by Mr. Edwards to the Commercial Wharf (the fourth.wharf opened in 18,41), near to the foot of Mulgrave street. This was built by a small company, and known later as "Munn's Wharf." Captain Munn (late of the Jewess) opened a store on the corner of Mulgrave street and Lambton quay, and later opened the Royal Hotel, in the building known as the Medical Hall, and shown on the picture referred to. Other pictures that attention was drawn to, and coming down to later years, were an old corner of Wellington —Minifies Hotel in Boulcott street, Lambton quay, 1856 and onwards, showing different stages in the reclamation works.. An interesting link was "Granny Bird's" whare, the last of the squatters on the Town Belt, just up from John street. UPPER HUTT AND WAIRARAPA Then there was that. interesting collection of sketches by C. D. Barraud. A sawpit at the Upper Hutt, 1859, brings back many memories. Some of these were of scenes in the Wairarapa. Dixon street, Masterton, 1859, is of considerable interest to the Wairarapa settlers, and the tall timber at the roadside take 3 the memory back to many days of hard toil; the Waiohene Bridge, of the same date, likewise. Two local sketches of Mr. Barraud, looking across Te Aro Flat about 1856, are also well worth studying. Of^other pictures shown, two .of considerable interest were exhibited by Dr. Marshall, of the Hutt. The scenes were Boulcott's Stockade (the scene of the attack in 1846, when that deed of heroism so often told and retold in various ways was performed by Private Allen, acting-bugler on the post), and a scene during the fighting with Rangihaeta's men in the Horokiwi. Altogether the exhibition was » great success, but there were too many exhibits for one to examine in the time allowed. The interest shown, however, prompts the Early Setlters' Association ta arrange another exhibition at an early date, when other pictures will be available. One thing that is disappointing about the pictures we have is the dearth of thoso from 1844 to 1855-1856. There are very few known. Ten years is rather a big space to jump, but still we know fairly well the progress made. However, we would like to see that progress depicted. Amongst the pictures recently presented to the association is one of the Lower Hutt Band of 1863. As we have not the names of these bandsmen, can any of your readers supply them? There are thirteen men and a boy.