OUR OLDEST SETTLER.

Evening Star, Issue 9688, 4 May 1895, Page 2 (Supplement)

OUR OLDEST SETTLER.

JUBILEE YEAR. Very small, indeed, is the list of those who can now claim to have been residents in Otago for half a century. A goodly number have the privilege of saying that they have been for a longer period residing in the colony, and several of them have been for many years past in our midst highly useful in their positions and deserving of greatest commendation for services rendered to the commonwealth. Their earlier career was, however, passed in some of the other provinces, so they cannot be classed among the jubilee veterans of Otago. There are a few others also who can claim to be enrolled as continuous residents for fifty years. Most, if not all, of these came, not as settlers, but in pursuit of some other avocation—whaling specially ; and perhaps our old particular friend Richard, or Dick, Driver the pilot. Of those engaged in pastoral pursuits alone, or almost so (if my information be accurate), only two are now survivors; and these are Mr Archibald Anderson, of Stirling, to whom this notice is devoted, and Mr James Cullen, now of West Taieri. Fifty years is beyond the pcroid in which the first immigrants arrived, three years having yet to elapse before they can so register. The records of the pre-settlement period are very scant, and becoming more so yearly, the only authentic documentary evidence bein® that of the Surveyor-General, but more particularly those of the late Mr Charles H. Kettle, by whom the survey of the towns and the Otago block, commencing in 1845, were made. Some of his family having been born here, may claim to have nearly attained the required term. Mr Anderson, who was born in Edinburgh in 1818, received an education befitting his position. His training for industrial life was not of any particular character, and his father having died before he attained his majority, his brother (so well known to the anglers of Otago), on dividing the inheritance, offered him a share in the large fish business which he so successfully carried on in George street. But it not being altogether to his taste, he resolved to try his fortune as a colonist. The New Zealand Company then making their first attempt at settlement, he took his passage in the Aurora, from the Clyde, and arrived at Port Nicholson on the 22nd January, 1840. On reaching Port Nicholson the immigrants met with a great dissappointment. No one was there to receive them, and no preparation had been made for their reception. The Aurora had made a more rapid voyage than was expected, and was lying at anchor when the ship Tory, from London, put in an appearance. The latter had on board the officials and surveyors who were to lay off the town and district, as well as the requisites for the accommodation of the immigrants. This was, of course, a great disappointment to the now arrivals, as they expected everything to have been prepared and ready for their reception, but they were compelled to remain on board ship for a considerable period. Another damper to the spirits of all was the general appearance of the country—densely bush clad everywhere, except on the mountain summits—and the absence from view of any level country. An element of discontent was the want of any reliable information regarding the proclivities of the Natives, who could be seen pretty numerous on the beach. In Otago and Canterbury alone could it be said that anything like arrangements had been made for the newcomers’ reception. . The terms on which passengers for Wellington were booked enabled them to- make selection of land according to the value of their passage money, and in virtue of his ticket Mr Anderson made his choice of 101 acres within the surveyed district. But he was not at all satisfied with the condition of affairs. He had heard rumors.of the superior character of the country adjacent to Port Otago, so he took a run down, spied out the laud, and found it to be very good * accordingly, on his return to Wellington he despatched a trusty friend with a shipment of 500 ewes and twenty cows and a bull which, after a smart run, were landed with little loss at Koputai. Mr Anderson thus became possessor of the run on which Dunedin now stands, and which embraced also a large tract of country on to Saddle Hill. Having a storekeeping business in Wellington to dispose of and wind up, he was detained for a considerable time from following, and no advices or returns coming to hand henaturally became anxious, and, bringing matters to a close, took ship, from Wellington along with his wife, Mr Cullen, and other belongmgs, and reached his desired haven in safety Not soon enough, however, to prevent his u despoiled considerably, as his manager had been disposing pretty freely of his stock and wool to American vessels in the harbor receiving in payment drafts on the owners’ which he appropriated to his own use There was a difficulty in the way of punishing the theft, as there was neither law nor official in any authority nearer than Wellingt°n - ~S o> on the advice of Mr John Jones, of Waikouaiti, whom he had consulted, he resolved, rather than go North again to take proceedings, to permit his unfaithful steward to make tracks by the first opportunity : as he did. But he proved a “Jonah,” as the cutter in which he sailed was never again heard of, &

This proved the turning point in Mr Anderson s career, and thenceforward lie had more pleasant experiences. His first effort, of course, was clearing the scrub and putting up a house with a store attached. The spot selected was near the present Dunedin Savings Bank. On the beach adjacent the Maoris hauled up their canoes, and made the spot a meeting place, where they could leisurely discuss their own affairs as well as those of their new neighbors, ihe Maori kcnk or camping place was in the bush on the banks of the stream that came down Maclaggan street. This was also the track they followed in their journeys to and from the South and the interior. On the arrival of the first immigrants in 1848 Mr Anderson proved a perfect godsend, while he was delighted with the advent of his countrymen, though he knew that

they would dispossess him of. the fine grazing country then in his occupation. His house proved a place of refuge to one or two of the arrivals, who got . comfortable quarters with him for several months after landing. It was not long before he was compelled to shift his quarters, as the drawMgs tor and. appropriation of sections speedily took place. The kirk spotted his ground and the sections adjoining, including Bell Hill, one of the greatest natural beauties the town ever possessed, and which should never have been tampered with. It might have been to-day what Calton Hill is to Edinburgh the site of most of its monuments. The idea among the pilgrim fathers was to have maintained it as a reserve for public resort, but' the authorities of the period thought different, much to the regret of the pioneers. Alas ! there was no Conservation Society in those primitive days. It was imperative that the first house and store should be removed to make room for the kirk and school, and Mr Anderson secured by lease from the New Zealand Company, who had the right to select a proportionate number of sections, and which was exercised on its behalf by Captain Cargill, the section in Princes street now Wise’s corner, and thither the buildings and contents were with some difficulty removed in their entirety by means of skids. Tlio local authorities very soou availed themselves of Mr Anderson’s services, and he was appointed the first postmaster—a position he hold without salary for some lime. Finding, however, the duties somewhat irksome,- as at all hours calls were made on him, he resigned, although Captain Cargill pressed him strongly to retain the billet, with the extra inducement of a fair, salary alt ached. It was of no use, however, ,as his mind was made up to abandon storekeeping and devote his attention exclusively to pastoral pursuits. Like other settlers ho availed himself of the privilege, and made purchases of land which gave him grazing rights. His suburban section was at Rellvuc, which is still his property. The gradual occupation of the land in and around Dunedin by the settlers compelled him to remove his flocks and herds farther south, and Saddle Hill became his more central out-station, the care and management of his stock being largely entrusted to Mr William Jaffray, who arrived by the Philip Laing, and who subsequently acquired the freehold on which he now resides hale and hearty. Mr Anderson could hardly help being successful. He held the pick of the country, he had- good stock, prices were high and the demand good. Local government having been established in 1853, Mr Anderson was elected one of the representatives for the town district in the first Provincial Council, of which the late James Macandrew was chosen Speaker. The developing process went on, and, the Speaker having been appointed as a member of the Executive, Mr Anderson was selected to occupy the chair. Although the second chosen, lie was the first Speaker of the Council after it had been fully organised. This position he occupied until the dissolution of the first Council, in September, 1855. In the subsequent election, in December of the same year, he avus returned as one of the members f/ir the Southern district, whereto he had betaken himself. In this second Council ho* became a member of the Executive, Party spirit was precious rife even then, and there were some curious examples of log-rolling and wire-pulling the initiative move of the great fight that waged for many a long day afterwards between the keepers of sheep and the tillers of the soil. But politics were not congenial to Mr Anderson’s temperament, so severing his connection with public life he devoted himself entirely to the prosecution, and advancement of his own business, in which it may be said only that he prospered, as by his integrity of principle and uprightness in dealing thoroughly deserved to do. Though the world used him well, it is not to be supposed-that he ever led a life of indolence quite the contrary ; and the visitor to-day will find him as active and energetic as his years will permit. He still trusts to his own pins, which have served him for so many years, and though he is now on the confines of fourscore he is better able to do a journey on foot than many a man who has seen less than half his summers.

The experience and history of Mr Anderson are nob exceptional. He has been successful, but his success was attained solely by his own efforts, not by outside influence. He chalked out for himself a clear course in life, and pursued it steadily throughout a long course of years, achieving as the result of his frugality and industry a position which no one who knows the man would ever dream of envying, bub which everyone who admires the sterling characteristics of this hardy .pioneer hopes that he may be spared many years to enjoy.