OLD AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8886, 24 May 1892, Page 6

OLD AUCKLAND.

*' One of the Oldest Identities" v. rites to us : —"Under the heading ' Old Auckland,' in 'Notes of an Auckland Pioneer,' by Mr. Cooper, of Cambridge, there appears to be several discrepancies and omissions, especially in the list of persons he gives as residing in Auckland about the time of the arrival of the three-masted schooner Osprey, and the barque Louisa Campbell. At the time he speaks of there must have been over two thousand persons in Auckland. He is hardly correct in saying that the Louisa Campbeil brought the first emigrants direct from the United Kingdom for Auckland, the barque Tyne, Captain Kobertson commander, arrived in Auckland harbour some nine months previous—that is, about September or October of 1841 ; which vessel had on board as passengers :—Chief Justice W. Martin and Attorney - General \V. Swainson ; also the kite Thomas? Outhivaite end Mrs. Outhwaite, Ordnance Storekeeper R. Derrom, wife, and family of five ; Air. J. Stokes, wife and family of six— all for Auckland from London. Mr. Cooper speaks of Auckland on the arrival of the threemasted schooner Osprey, and looking from her deck as having a ' funny and uninviting appearance, without order or system,' and being ' represented by a few wooden buildings and a few raupo huts there being 'neither church nor chapel.' The Governor had, however, ' erected a courthouse on the side of a creek,' which build ing 'did duty for all denominations, as well as for an emigrant's barracks, &c., &c.' Now, as a matter of fact, there were several hotels and public-houses, a great many stores, shops, andother buildings, all of wood; several raupo houses, and stores, and a fewtents. Britomart Barracks was in course of erection, being built of scoria and brick ; Government House was also in course of erection, nearly finished, but of wood. So that Auckland, at the time Mr. Cooper alludes to (he, I presume, being one of the first emigrants which arrived in Captain Heale's vessels) was a very flourishing settlement, although a 'funny and uninviting looking one.' "As for the Courthouse 'erected by Governor flobson on the side of a creek,' doing duty, among other things, as an emigrants' barracks, where did the immigrants come from, it Mr. Cooper and his fellow-passengers by Captain Heale's vessels were the first to come here? Mr. Cooper gives the names of a number of persons he can remember as being in Auckland at the times —50 years ago — that is, at the time of his arrival (which list appears to contain names of persons who came a few months later by the Scotch emigrant vessels), and suggests that as there were others he may have omitted some, and your readers may bo able to furnish their names. The following are amongst a few of the names Mr. Cooper has forgotten :—Mr. T. and Mrs. Outhwaite, Mr. R. Burley, Mr. P. Derrom, ■wife, and family of live, Mr. J. Stokes, wife, and family of six. These families came in the barque Tyne, at the same time as Judge Martin and Attorney-General Swainson. Mr. and Mrs. Coates, Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Freeman, Mr. and Mrs. Felton Matthews, Du Moulin, Rev. J. Churton, wife, and family, P. Dignan, G. M. Mitford, G. McElwain, Treasurer Cooper, wife, and family; Messrs. \V hi taker and Kelly, Hoggard and Pollen ; Mr. Mason, wife, and family ; Mr. Paton, wife, and'family; Dr. O'Neil, wife, and family; Dr. Johnson, Dr. Gammie ; S. A. "Woods, wife, and family; C. Hill and family; McGarry, Hawkins, and their families ; Mr. W. S. Grahame, wife, and family; Mr. George Graham, wife, and family; Mr. A. Mitchelson, wife, and family; Mr. A - Rooney, wife, and family ; T. Keven, 1). Burn ; Davis (baker) and family ; James George (baker), wife, and family • P. Donovan, wife, and family ; J. McLeod. Captain VV. F. Porter and family, H. R. Cretnay and family ; H. Greenwood, wife, and family ; P. Sharkey, wife, and family • W. Gilberd, wife, and sons ; J. Moore' printer, wife and family; Alex. Kennedy! Dr. Martin; M. McDermott, wife, and' family; T. Davy, H. Warner, G. Smith, J. Watson, Jerry Waite, J. Probert, James Harp, E. Rich, Abercrombie, L Hennessey, Brewer, G. May, J. Weaver, Bycrofb, and many others I cannot at this moment recollect."