"OLD NEW ZEALAND."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XV, Issue 5180, 24 June 1878, Page 6

"OLD NEW ZEALAND."

WE were shewn the other day a historica curiosity, being the sixteenth number of The New Zealand, Advertiser and Bay of Inlands Gazette, published at Kororareka, on September 24, 1840. It is a small four-page sheet, each page containing three columns. More than two pages of the number before us aro occupied with a proclamation embodying " An Act to empower the Governor of .New South Wales to appoint Commissioners, with certain powers, to establish and report on claims to grants of laud in New Zealand." The Act was passed by the Governor and Council of New South Wales, and is published by the " Lieutenant-Governor" of New Zealand, the introductory notice being signed by "James Stuart Freeman, for the Colonial Secretary." This Mr. Freeman was in the Government service for some considerable time when the seat of Government was changed to Auckland. He built a cottage at Te Tou, and the locality is named after him even unto this day, " Freeman's Bay." Mr. Freeman, however, got into trouble, through souit: carelessness in signing the Government assiguate issued in Auckland. The shipping intelligence contains tie following notices : •'Sept. 23.—Barque Bolina, from the Thames. She brings the officers of the Buffalo, lately wrecked. H.M. brig Britouiart, from Port Nicholsou." In these early days the Thames" had a wide significance, comprehending the harbour of Auckland. The Buffalo was wrecked at Mercury Bay, where some of her timbers are still visible. The leading article is, like many leading articles published in New Zealand since, of a sulphureous character. The Sydney Gazette, remarking upon some communications from Port Nicholson, had said :—•• We have heard the most shocking accounts from that quarter, and from private letters from the Bay of Islands affairs do not seem to be much better there. If these remarks be true (and wo have no reasou to doubt them) Australia shall never have a rival in New Zt-alaud." Such a remark was very absurd. Australia ought rather to have rejoiced at the advance and prosperity of New Zealand, and, besides, the Sydney people ought to have remembered the begiuning3 of their own colony. The New Zealand champion confesses that things are not very flourishing, but like a true colonist, looks to the future, saying :— " The Bay of Islands and Port Nicholson, and other places also, may—and we feel assured they will—yet become the seats of very great prosperity." The Adelaide news contains a statement that "Mr. Eyre had proceeded on his expedition of discovery northward, with the intention of planting the British flag in the centre of the Austrauau continent." About fifty lines is

devoted to English news, of which we Quote the first item :—" Lord William Russell, uncle of Lord John .Russell, 70 years of age, was murdered at his own house, Norfolk street, in his bed, by some person who robbed the honse of various costly articles. His Lordship's valet was suspected of being accessory." The prospectus of the New Zealand Banking Company is published, with the modest capital £100,000. Amongst the list of directors we find the name of Daniel Pollen. A public meeting is called " for the purpose of memorialising his Excellency the Governor on a matter deeply involving the interests of this rising township." The following are the signatures "G. T. Clayton, John Johnson, Wm. Davies, M.D., John Kelly, John Scott, Daniel Pollen, Wm. McDonald, Henry Thompson." An interesting account of the taking possession of the site of Auckland as a British settlement is also given in the same number. It states that the barque Anna Watson anchored in the harbour of Waitemata on the 15th September. The account then continues :—"The site for the intending settlement on its shores having been selected by the Surveyor-General, on Friday, the 18th September, at 1 p.m., the ceremony of taking formal possession in the name of her Majesty was duly performed. The whole party having landed, the British flag was hoisted on a staff, erected on a bold promontory, commanding a view of the entire harbour. The flag was immediately saluted by twenty-one guns from the Anna Wataon, followed by a salute of fifteen gans from the barque Platina, after which her Majesty's health was drunk at the foot of the flagstaff, and greeted by three times three hearty cheers." Then followed salutes in honour of the Lieutenant-Gover-nor, a luncheon on board the Anna Watson, matches between the ships' boats, and a match between two large canoes, paddled by natives. The report goes on :—" Thus concluded the ceremony of founding the first British settlement established under the auspices of the Government in this part of New Zealand, a ceremony the more interesting as this settlement is intended for the future capital of what we may venture to predict will one day become a mighty empire." Colonists, even in those days, could do a little " tall talking." The owner of the papers ha had it framed so that both idep can be seen. t