THEN AND NOW

Hokitika Guardian, 13 July 1928, Page 1

THEN AND NOW

WELLINGTON. MEMORIES OF

LONG' AGO.

WELLINGTON, July 11

“When I arrived here forty years ago,” said the Mayor, Mi*. G. A. Troup, at the opening of. the new fire brigade station at Brooklyn, “ Brooklyn was just a great hill in the distance without any houses on. it. At that time there were advertisements, on hoardings allover the city announcing a sale of land, at Brooklyn. One of the devices used: was a series of life-sized pictures of. the world’s greatest statesmen, including William Ewart Gladstone, Lord. Rosebery," and others, as, the class of men who would like to. buy a section at Brooklyn. 1 did not know their feelings in the matter at -that time, but if- it were possible for such men to come up to Brooklyn to-day, I dare say they would consider it very good, business to own a section in such a district.”

“ Your Mayor has told you, of the sale of. Brooklyn land that took place forty years ago,” said Sir Mam Pom a re. ' “I want to put the. bands of the clock back another 40 years, to a sale that took place about HO years ago, when there were no advertisements, no posters, and ub hoardings. (Laughter.) That was the sale of Wellington. One of my ancestors was a party to that sale, and be received as his share of the purchase money two barrels of rum, two kegs of tobacco, 20 red nightcaps, 50 umbrellas, two gross of Jews’ harps, and two pin lock pistols, one of which is still m. my possession. Anyone can have it if they give me back its equivalent in. Wellington land. (Laughter.) " “Then we come down a few years to the big fire in Wellington—one not on the records of the brigade. It occurred in the Karori hills at a tune when one of my ancestors elected to come south, to kill off a few of the pakeha invaders. But he found that there were too many pakeha s for lum to proceed with the business with that freedom of action so necessary to one s personal comfort. So he sent one man to the hills of Karori to light a big fire, and, having done so, the .one Maori danced round the fire for quite a time, until the settlers out that way reported that thousands of Maoris were approaching from the west. An urgent message was sent to Maj° r Russell, then stationed, at the Il«tt, and he rushed his troops into \\.lslington, leaving only a few mi duty at the Butt, some of whom were absorbed ’ in the raid tlie ruse made possible.” .