Manawatu Evening Standard. SATURDAY, JAN. 21, 1939. PROVINCIAL ANNIVERSARY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 45, 21 January 1939, Page 8

Manawatu Evening Standard. SATURDAY, JAN. 21, 1939. PROVINCIAL ANNIVERSARY

With the passing of the years old customs fall into desuc-iude, and deeds and manners of former days are consigned to the limbo of the past, leaving only an elusive fragrance to betray their nearness. But there are things we forget at our peril, and occasions it is good for the soul to celebrate —good in that homage is paid where it is due, and courage derives from these achievements of other times. The rapid approach of the centenary of the Dominion throws into bolder relief the significance of the occasion when the 99th anniversary of the founding of the Province of Wellington is observed to-morrow. Not sufficiently have the people taken to their hearts the rich achievements that have illuminated the pages of the past century, and—though the impression may be false —it does often appear that they fail to appreciate as enthusiastically as they should the record of nationhood that has already been inscribed. Perhaps, after all, we to-day honour the pioneers bypassing on the torch in the same spirit, but in essentially dissimilar ways —new days new customs, but the spirit is there. This year affords the opportunity to prove the quickening of our awareness of the greatness that is our heritage. It is peculiarly our own; it is indigenous to us, and it bears within it a stimulus and a guide for the second century.

When rivalry between Wellington and Auckland was more strongly expressed than it is today, the southern centre, still smarting under the indignity of Auckland having priority as the capital, laid strong claim to the distinction of the New Zealand Company being the founders of New Zealand. At the Bay of Islands Captain Hobson proclaimed that the boundaries of New South Wales had been extended to include the new colony* but it was the active effort of the company that led to the British Government declaring a protectorate over the country. On January 22, 1840, the first immigrant ship, the Aurora —a little vessel of 550 ions, and carrying about 150 passengers—arrived in Port Nicholson, and the foundation of the province—and actually the Dominion—dates from that time. An association of private individuals, the New Zealand Company was chiefly

promoted by Edward Gibbon Wakefield who, on its formation in May, 1539, was elected man-aging-director. The capital was .£400,009 in 4000 shares, the deposit being ten pounds on each hundred pounds share. The Earl of Durham was the governor of the company and Joseph Somes —his name is commemorated by the only island in Wellington harbour—was the deputy-gov-ernor. New Zealand was then regarded as a'foreign country and the project of colonisation met with a good deal of opposition at Home, but in September, 18-39, the Tory brought a survey party under Colonel William Wakefield to “spy out the land.” For about £9OOO worth of arms and ammunition and other articles twenty million acres were purchased and the foundation laid for the superstructure erected in the subsequent- century. The task of nation-builders is yet uncompleted .