NEW ZEALAND 100 YEARS AGO

Evening Star, Issue 19550, 7 May 1927, Page 22

NEW ZEALAND 100 YEARS AGO

Airs John De la Valetto has recalled an early incident iu Now Zealand history in the following letter to the London ‘Times.’ The visit of the Duke and Duchess of York to tho sturdy, independent, and thoroughly British Dominion of New Zealand may bo a fit opportunity to recall a little-known episode which shows how, barely a hundred years ago, the sovereignty over that Dominion seemed neither settled nor oven greatly desired by cither of the countries concerned, England and Holland. The name (originally “Nicuw Zeeland”) reminds us that Dutch navigators first discovered in 1642 what was long believed to ho .a single island. But tho first permanent settlors did not arrive until 1815, and they were a few British missionaries. The status of the island a century ago is referred to in a letter written under date London, February 9, 1824, No. 18, by Air A. 11. Falck, Envoy Extraordinary and Alinister Plenipotentiary of H.AI. the King of the Netherlands in London, to the Chevalier Reinhold, acting Minister of Foreign Affairs at The Hague. The Ambassador expresses his embarrassment at having to transmit an offer made by tho Baron Charles do Thierry • “ His communication to me is to the effect that I should induce H.AI. (the King of tho Netherlands) to cede H.M.’a rights to Nieuw Zeeland to theBaron Charles for a lump sum payment of fifty thousand pounds sterling. This gentleman,” ho continues, ‘‘was born iu Brussels . . . came to this

country in early childhood, and has served in the English cavalry. After the declaration of peace, when he was placed upon half pay, he married a lady of some means and settled down in Cambridge. ” It appears that “ some natives from this Australian territory were brought to England by missionaries and were taught their Catechism in the neighbor hood of Cambridge.” From these natives the Baron Charles had obtained, by bill of sale, dated August 7, 1822, the full ownership of all the lands, forests aqd waters within certain areas along the Yoki-Anga Iviver in New Zealand “in consideration of thirty-six axes to ns now given.” The astute Hollander doubts whether, even so moderate an outlay is worth while for the honor of becoming “a landowner in so wild and remote a country.” hut proceeds to point outthat, “with the present surfeit of capital in England and the persistent tendency among agriculturists as well as craftsmen to carve out for themselves a more ample livelihood in other latitudes,” it was not difficult for M. do Thierry to obtain tho required financial baching for his colonisation plans, which the cession of the Dutch King’s nominal sovereignty was to complete. The first concern of the diplomat was to ascertain the English point of view as to tho sovereignty over- tho islands, “for I know,” he states, “that the English authorities of New South Wales have from time to time issued orders as though New Zealand were subject to their Colony.” To appease him, the Baron produced “ an official communication from the Colonial Office,” a copy of which ho transmits, “ from which it may, I venture to think, be concluded that H.M. could assume to Himself the sovereignty of Nieuw Zeeland without the British 'Government being able to say anything about it.” Even so, tho proposal seems somewhat extraordinary to the worthy envoy, notwithstanding the redeeming feature that “ the man asks but for a conveyance on ' paper, _ without any guarantee whatsoever which might subsequently cause us trouble or responsibilities.” Whether the dignity of the King would permit of such a “ paper conveyance ” of sovereign rights to a private individual seems to have been doubted by tho correspondent, but faithful Civil servant as he had long Been, ho wound up by explaining the exact procedure by which the London Embassy could, if desired, carry through the transaction .and make sure of receiving “cash upon delivery.” The Netherlands Foreign Office and King William did not see fit to entertain the adventurous Baron’s proposal, but it seems strange—in tho lignt of subsequent developments—that tho matter could even have been raised so cpmparatively recently as & bare hundred years ago*