Nelson in the Beginning

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 10 February 1938, Page 6

Nelson in the Beginning

“My home, the city and the image of well known places pass before my eyes, and each event follows in its turn.” —Tristia. Thursday, 10th February, 1842. “We hope to sail to-morrow or next day for Nelson, and as it is only 150 miles away, we may, in that case, get there in a day. If the accounts of the proceedings on board the Fifeshire and Mary Ann be correct, I rejoice more than ever that they put us on the Lord Auckland. Yesterday and the day before, Barnicoat and I went on shore exploring. We walked all over the town (Wellington) which has progressed more than we expected. We walked to the River Hutt, in all about 12 miles from town. When we reached the Hutt our progress was very interesting. It is a pretty stream, about 50 or 60 feet wide, winding a good deal, the banks on either side with cottages or clearings. We did not go far enough to see the immense trees we have heard tell of. We saw crops of barley, wheat and oats. Everything seemed to flourish. There is a considerable population in the valley. Indeed it was the original site of the town, but the inhabitants, finding it liable to be flooded in the winter, removed to the other end of the harbour 8 or 9 miles off, i.e. to the present Wellington."—From a Diary kept on the Lord Auckland.