THE FORTY-FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COLONY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 625, 8 February 1884, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE FORTY-FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COLONY.

MEETING OF EARLY COLONISTS,

Verbatim Report op the Proceedings.

A dinner was held at the Athenaeum Hall, liambton Quay, "Wellington, at seven o’clock: on Tuesday evening, the 22nd January, ISB4, to celebrate the forty-fourth Anniversary of the foundation of the Colony of New Zealand. The guests were composed of gentlemen who arrived or were bom in the colony before the Constitutional epoch of 1853. Sir William Fitzherbert, K.C.M.G., Speaker of the Legistive Council, occupied the chair, and was supported on his right by the Premier (the Hon. Major Atkinson). The chairs at the other tables were filled by John . Howard Wallace, Esq., J.P., and Mr. Councillor Thomas McKenzie, the vice-chair being allotted to J. C. Crawford, Esq., J.P. A band was in attendance, and the catering was performed by Mr. . Jameg Godber, confectioner, 01 Cuba Street. Between eighty and ninety gentlemen sat down to dinner, including [the following Sir W. Fitzherbert, K.C.M.G., 1844 ; His Lordship the Bishop of Wellington (Hadfield), 1838; The Hon. H. Atkinson, Premier, 1852; The Hon. Robert Hart, M.L.C., August 10, 1843, Mary; J. C. Crawford, J.P.,1839; W. T. L. Travers, barrister, 1848 ; J. H. Wallace, .J.P., January 22, 1840, Aurora ; Thomas McKenzie, Bth March, 1840, Adelaide ; G. S. Cooper, J.'P. ; NTessrs. G. Allen, 1842 ; H, H. Jackson, Cuba, 1839 ; O. Cundy, Feb. 8, 1840, Duke of Roxburgh ; Hart IJdy, Duke of Roxburgh; E. Stafford, Feb. 19, 1845; S. I). Parnell, Duke of Roxburgh, 1840; E. Dick, 1840 ; John Plimmer, 1841, Gertrude ; E. W. Mills, J.P., Burmah, March, 1542 ; J. Dodds, 1842 ; Thomas Mills, 1842; Jas. Mitchell, 26th Dec, 1840, Blenheim; H. Meech, 1841; G. H. Luxford, Adelaide; J. Bannister, [1841; Job Wilton, 1842; W. L. Luxford, £ 1842 ; T. Whitehouse, 1841; Robert Hunter, 1840, Duke of Roxburgh; M. Quin, 1844 ;I J. Yule, Dec. 1840, Blenheim; J. Cattell, 1841; W. Fitzherbert, J.P., 1844; Messrs. H. S. Fitzherbert, E; T. Gillon, H. J. H. Elliott, F. Cooper, J. Dixon, E. Bould S. Waters, A. Young, H. Plimmer, H. Gaby, C. W. Plimmer, R. Miller, W. Seivers, Petford, M. Sutherland, Eli Allen, A. G. Johnson, A; Boardman, J.' E. Smith, J.P., . J. H. Marriott, G. S. Graham, J.P., G. Didsbury, j. Anderson, J.P., Christchurch, C. Broderick, W. Seed, J.P., A. Smith, W. H. Churton, W. TJdy, John Gibson, H. H. Diver, M.D., J.P., J. S. Reid, G. Sayer, J. Drans£eld, J.P., IT. Webber, H. J. L. Augarde, W. £. Waters, J. B. fHarcourt, J. S. Shute, W. G._Watt, Captain Monaghan, Jas. Linley, W. Otteraou, J. D. Cruickshank, J.P., A. Rickman, S. Vennel, W. Widdop. After the "table hadjbeen cleared a number of toasts were honoured. The Chairman. —The 'first toast I have to propose to you is one that is in variably honoured wherever Englishmen are gathered together, “The health of the Qoeen and the rest of the : Royal Family.” (Enthusiastic cheers.) Band.—“ God save the. Queen !” The Chairman. —As there are a great number of toasts to be proposed, I think I shall be exercising a judicious discretion in not allowing any long interval to elapse between the different toasts. I therefore call upon the. Hon. Major Atkinson to propose the next toast. VJ. The Premier (Hon. Major Atkinson) on rising, wasjjreceived with cheers. He said : Mr. Chairman.; andfgentlemen—lt [affords me ■very great pleasure to be] called upon to submit a toast which |I am quite certain will be drunk in bumpers—namely, “ The Army, Navy, and; Volunteers.” (Loud cheers.) I myself have never had the honour of being in the Army,. but I have served in the Colonial. Forces an<3 with Hie army on Government service for" some years.lg(Cheers.) And I [feel proud as a citizen soldier tojhave the honour, as I have said, of submitting this toast. . Now; the Chairman has told us that he' does not propose to have [long intervals between the'toasts, and I take that as a gentle hint, given in a way which Jferhaps he alone could give it, that persons proposing and responding to'the toasts should also be brief. Therefore, I will'simply say this, that although it is true that the British Army hasglost fas well as won battles, and thit many mistakes have been made from time to time, fyetjthis great characteristic distinguishes them onfall occasions : the English soldier is prepared to die in the cause of duty.. JCheers.) And so long as that spirit animates tyoe Army and ( Navyjand Volunteers, so long will this toast be drunk with enthusiasm by all En glishmen it is proposed. (Loud cheers.) Band.—“ Ruleffiritannia.” Mr. J. C. Crawford, J.P., responded. He •aid: Gentlemen, —Perhaps I maybe looked’ upon as a “ Jack-of-all-trades ” in responding to this toast on.behalf of the three professions named in it. Although brought up in the Navy, I served for two years in the Militia. We were out ffor two years, during which time I acquired a considerable knowledge of military matters. This was independent [of .my service ,oTne time fin'the New Zealand Militia; •oa at one'time I held the-position of Captain !

in the Militia in Scotland. Both the Army and Navy did their duty in this country in former years, and many are now missing of those gallant fellows who fought in the early wars— men of the 58th and,-,65th. Our dependence, however, now lies in the Volunteers, and the proposer of this toast has been, I may say, a most distinguished member of that force. (Cheers.) On behalf of the Army, N avy, and Volunteers, I thank you for the cordial manner in which you have received the toast. (Renewed cheers.) Mr. John Gibson : As one who served in the Army, I also beg to respond to the toast, and I feel proud to meet so.many old colonists on this occasion to honor it. (Cheers). His Lordship the Bishop of Wellington ( Bishop Hadfield) rose to propose the health of “ His Excellency the Governor.” He said : I hardly expected to have such a toast as this e ntrusted to me this evening. Possibly I have been selected because I am the oldest “ arrival ”in Wellington. I was half afraid w hen I came here that I was out of place, for although I am the oldest “arrival,” I can h ardiy consider myself one of the “ early colonists.” I am more like an antedeluvian, having come to this country before the flood i mmigration. I had the opportunity of seeing New Zealand before it was a British Colony, an before any Governor was appointed to preside over it. This evening I have, however, a very easy task to perform. The reputation of his Excellency the Governor, Sir William Drummond Jervois, was established before he came to this colony. (Cheers.) He is a man of very high standing in his profession, and our experience of Sir William Jervois during the past twelve months is sufficient to assure us that he is proving to be a very satisfactory Governor. (Loud cheers.)

Band.—“ The King of the Cannibal Islands.”

Mr. John Howard ©Wallace, J.P., proposed the next, toast “ The Anniversary of the Colony and Prosperity to New Zealand.” This being the toast of the evening, was received with the utmostenthusiasm. Mr Wallace spoke spoke as follows : —The colonization of New Zealand was undertaken by the New Zealand Company comprising the greatest men that England could boast of Edward Gibbon Wakefield was the moving spirit among that illustrious assemblage of great men. His brother Colonel William Wakefield was the principal agent of the New Zealand Company and came to Port. Nicholson (now Wellington) in the Tory, Capt. Chaffers, August, 1839. The store ship Cuba arrived in Port Nicholson Jan. 3, 1840. The fleet[of the first five passenger ships with the pioneer founders of the Colony left England Sept, and Oct. 1839 under sealed orders to fall in with Colonel Wakefield for the purposes of founding . this rising young Empire, the celebration of which foundation we are met here to commemorate. The place of rendezous was Port" Hardy in Cook’s Straits where the Aurora, Captain Heale, put into and arrived the next day in Port Nicholson, 22nd January, 1840, from which date the systematic colonization of New Zealand commenced—forty four years ago this day. Around this table are some of the pioneer founders, many are scattered over various parts of the Island, some in England and other countries, not a few have passed away. At the time of the arrival of the first settlers in 1840 the British settlers in New Zealand scarcely amounted to 1000 in all, of whom about'soo were settled in the northern peninsula, and about as many in Cook Strait, Banks Peninsula, or further south. The Church of England missionaries had a settlement at the Bay of Islands, a short way inland and in the valley of the Thames. The Wesleyan Missonaries had stations on" the Hokianga and Kiapara. Whalers and settlers had founded the irregular settlements in the central and southern parts. In addition to those who might be reckoned settlers of some standing, a growing belief that'the British Government contemplated a settlement in New Zealand had attracted a number-of land speculators from Sydney. The first colonizing vessels above mentioned were followed at intervals by oth^r 1 "vessels, either chartered, sent out by, or under the New Zealand Company’s sanction, in 'all About eighty-two vessels, conveying upwards of 10,000 souls up to April, 1848. During, this period the regular settlements of New Zealand were—Wellington 1840, Auckland 1840, New Plymouth 1840, Wanganui 1841, Nelson 1841, Otago 1847. At this period the colonizing operations of the New Zealand Company had nearly ceased, and in 1848 the Canterbury Association ivas formed, which resulted in the systematic colonization of the Canterbury settlement. I had the honourof being one of the pioneers per Aurora. and a purchaser of land from the New Zealand Company, and as the question of the date of the foundation of the colony is frequently cropping up about January in every year, it may not be uninteresting to inform you what happened last January. The Auckland papers had a controversy with Captain Theophilus Heale who commanded the Aurora in 1840. He is now in England, but previous to leaving he addressed the following note to me• 1" ’ *’

Auckland, 27th'March, 1883. .My Dear Mr Wallace. —On my, return to Auckland last week I found that a note which I bad written to;the New Zealand HeraldVas granted by it . amongst, odds and _ends in * aturday supplement, when it escaped, ; my observation. Isendifc'you as you may tare likely not sees it. I think of leaving the

colony finally in the course of a week or two, with best wishes for your health for many a long year yet.—l am truly yours,

Theophilus Heale. J. Howard Wallace, Esq. The note that Captain Heale refers to in the Auckland newspaper is headed “ The Birthday of the Colony.”—Sir, if, as you seem to admit in an article in your paper, it is fitting that an anniversary holiday should be kept by the whole colony rather than that each town should celebrate the date of its own foundation as at present, then I apprehend it only needs a little consideration of the circumstances under which the colony was founded to determine what event should be considered as marking its true birth, and the day on which that occurred ought surely to be commemorated by all its denizens. It must be remembered that the colonization of New Zealand was not determined on by the Government of Great Britain, but was forced on by ithe New Zealand Company, independent of, and indeed' in opposition to, the Government of the day ; and that it was only after the departure of the Company’s first expedition had compelled some action to be taken that Captain Hobson was sent out to obtain from the natives the cession of the sovereignty over the islands. Captain Hobson’s arrival at the Bay of Islands was therefore in no sense the foundation of the colony. He was unaccompanied by a single immigrant, and he came out not as Governor of a colony but as Consul-General accredited to the sovereign chiefs of New Zealand. It was not till some months later, and long after a strong settlement had been established in Port Nicholson that the assent of the natives having been obtained to the Treaty of Waitangi, Captain Hobson read his first commission as Lieutenant-Governor under Sir George Gipps, but still, as there was no Government immigration and none followed until the Jane Gifford and the Duchess of Argyle arrived long after, that 'circumstance cannot reasonably be noted as indicating the foundation of the colony, though it may be taken as the birthday of its regular Government. But while the Government was fiddling with colonization in this rather pitiful fashion the New ,Zealand Company had pursued its task in real earnest. Five ships sailed from England in 1839, four from Gravesend on the same day, and one from Glasgow, carrying some 1500 emigrants of the very pick of the land, comprising men of all classes, many of them possessing considerable capital, and carrying with them everything needful for bush life amongst the then formidable cannibals of New Zealand. This daring band (I may fairly admire them for 'though with them I was not of them) set out strong in hand and heart to “ found a colony,” the very situation of their settlement unknown when they left England, without any protection or the hope of assistance save their own courage and self-reliance, their only bond of union a voluntary engagement for mutual support in their common purpose. If it is the colonists who make the colony it is surely the arrival of these rather than that of a few officials at the Bay of Islands at a later date, which makes the birth of the nation. And when it is recollected that this first immigration included Featherston, Bell, Evans, Fitzherbert, Petre, Molesworth, Mantell, Baker, Sinclair, and many more, some of whose names are still prominent ones in the altered colony of to-day, it -is hard to dispute their pre-eminent claims to have been its founders. When the Aurora, after calling at Port Hardy to learn the place of settlement, sailed into Port Nicholson on the 22nd. January, 1840, the only'habitation visible was one raupo whare in which Colonel Wakefield was living amongst the stores. One small barque, the Cuba, which brought the surveyors; and stores was lying off it. The forest reached' the water’s‘edge, and no other sign of-human life was seen.- We landed our immigrants, the flag was hoisted, and we saluted it and the 'settlement ; 'and that surely was the moment;, when the colony of New Zealand was born.” . Th'e above'authority ought at once to set at rest the question of -who were the pioneer founders of . the colony,; and the date J anuary 22, 1840. There is not time this evenirig for me to enter into numerous interesting details connected with the early days. I have, how--ever, a large quantity of MSS., and if time andkircumstances will permit, and I am spared, I will endeavour to'do what many of. my-earlyj friends have frequently asked me to do, publish a History of Early Settlers’ Experiences. I am promised considerable support in' this; undertaking from early settlers. I propose to receive contributions from all [parts of the colony of early history and narratives 6f “interesting events up to the date when the New Zealand Companj ceased their colonizing operations in 1848. A prospectus of the work will shortly appear, and as the book will con- ■ tain correct lists of pioneer settlers and other valuable interesting matter never yet pub> lished, I have every assurance that the work will be well received, not only by pioneer settlers and their families, but by the public' generally. (Loud and prolonged cheers.) Band and Company—“ Auld Larig Syne;”

The Hon. Robert Hart, M.L.C., responded. ( He said —Fellow settlers: I have been requested to say a few words in response to this toast, and I don’t know that I can do better in the brief space allotted to me thsfn recall the striking state of things which existed in this colony towards the end of the year 1848. To do this; I will read s short note which II Wrote to a friend at Home, and restored to me

within the last few days. We hadjhad, I may say, in this rising country a series of very sudden rises which had considerably shaken us up, and produced a state of things such as I described very shortly in this letter. “We have had nearly a week of horrors, and know not when or how they will end. The Wesleyan Chapel is flat on the ground ; Rhodes’ bulk store the same ; D. Hansard’s house walls out; "Wait’s store the gable ends out; Fitzherhert’s ruined. You can from the beach see through the gaol ; the Colonial Hospital done for ; the Porirua barracks on the ground; Strang’s house ruined. My whare still stands ; wooden houses do ; but as a rule all brick buildings are done for. At a rough guess I should say the damage is not less than £30,000. Hornbrook’s place all to pieces ; Brandon’s office tottering; all our chimnies down; indeed I have paid £1 4s to get mine down. We have shocks every hour or so; earthquakes from a quarter to three-quarters of a minute every 37J hours. The appearance is deplorable. Still the wooden houses stand. About seventy are going by the Sobraon to Sydney. I put my trust in God, as all I have besides my books consists of debts due to me, and I do noi* know who now will he solvent. You will see my position with about £2O in hand and owing about that sum. But I will fight it out, God willing. In good health, excepting tremor cordis produced by the shocks and anxiety. I hope you have not been sending goods out. I will send papers and details hereafter. Lyell’s second volume of Geology states the fact that people are more occupied by details of suffering and losses than by the physical changes and appearances produced by earthquakes. Had he been here with property invested he would have been occupied in the same way. (Laughter.) The sensation is truly horrible, and the appearance of the ruins miserable. I am in tolerable spirits, having attended the service of the Evangelical Alliance Ministers this (fast day) appointed for prayer and supplication to avert the further progress of the calamity. The settlers bear it well. It has united us; and the prayer meetings have strengthened the nerves of many. (Laughter.)” I may add that of all the providential occurrences in those times one of the greatest was the wreck of the Sobraon, which was to carry some of the settlers to Sydney. That incident preserved several valuable lives to this colony —lives which might have been wasted in other places. (Cheers.) Well, there were ups and downs in the colony’s early history. Our anniversary celebrations were attended with very great success. On the 22nd we had the regatta and on the 23rd the races. With reference to the races it is noteworthy that the hurdle race was won for three years in succession by Mr Hunter’s bay mare. On one occasion we had a very spirited Maori canoe race. On the canoes reaching the shore the contesting parties would jump up in their boats and begin assuming defiant attitudes to one another with more energy in fact than decency. They were like Elgin marbles ih a state of animation translated into brown. We had also dances by native ladies who were desirous of performing in a state of nature until better counsel prevailed. With regard to the progress made by the colony since then, there can be no doubt that rapid strides have 1 been made. Keener interest is also being manifested in our welfare, and no doubt-this will continue to increase with -the growth of our debts and our increasing numbar of creditors. (Laughter). I don’t know whether there is such a thing as ; a bankruptcy law-for the colonies, but probably if we go on borrowing for the next fifty years at: the same rate as in'the past it may be a good thing for us to find a Court of Bankruptcy. (Loud cries of “ No.”) However, I will not continue my remarks further than to thank you very sincerely for the way in Which you have received this toast. (Cheers); :

Councillor Thomas McKenzie next proposed “The Fioneers of the Colony.” He said : Mr Chairman and Gentlemen, —A toast has been placed in my hands, and which I havegreat pleasure in proposing, but regret that it has not been given to soirie one who would have done it greater justice. However, you, 'must take the will for the deed. It is now forty-,-six years ago since New Zealand [was brought under, the notice of the British public as afield of colonization. After starting the settlement of Adelaide, the mind of that great man (theEdward Gibbon Wakefield) was turned towards New Zealand. A meeting was con-; Vened of ia* few kindred spirits, and plans were proposed for colonizing New Zealand.; At this particular moment Lord Durham was appointed Lord High Commissioner for Canada, and‘Edward Gibbon Wakefield, Charles Builer, and Richard Dalvies Hanson, received appointments on his staff and proceeded to America. The colonization of New Zealand was therefore abandoned for a time by these gentlemen. -But there were others who had entered into the enterprise that had proceeded so far that it would be ruinous for them to retrace their steps. Dr. Evans, Captain ‘Daniels, Mr Hopper, Mr Lemott, Mr Ramsay,, and others were amongst the number. They met and agreed to take tip forty shares of £SOO each, and started the-New Zealand Association, appointing a Directory, and Mr Riddiford as Secretary. Theypurchasted the ship Tory "from Joseph Somes, and fitted her oht for the voyage. At this particular juncture Lord ;Durham came home from. Canada in all haste, j Some offensive remarks had been made., in 'Parliament regarding Lord Durham, which that noble Lord thought the Ministry should have replied to ; and because they did not, he took umbrage and returned to England. Many present will remember Lord Durham’s celebrated report. It was thought to be the intention of the Ministry to burke that report, but'Gibbon Wakefield took effectual means to prevent such a proceeding. He had a duplicate copy, and made arrangements with the

manager of The Times to print it. Provisions were "stored in the composing room, and a guard set on the doors to prevent any of the compositors leaving the establishment. In Parliament a copy of the report was moved for and refused ; but the next morning the report, a most voluminous document, appeared in a double number of the London Times. Gibbon Wakefield being now at liberty, again directed his attention to the colonization of New Zealand. A company was now formed, with a most influential directory, Lord Durham being Governor, and JosepliSomesDeputy-Governor. Arrangements were made to purchase the interests of the New Zealand Association ; and the Tory was despatched as the preliminary vessel, with Colonel Wakefield in command. The second vessel despatched was the barque Cuba, Captain Newcombe, with the surveying staff. An expedition of five vessels was then organized, and sailed from Gravesend in September, 1839. The names of the several vessels were the Adelaide, Oriental, Aurora; Bengal Merchant, and Duke of Roxburgh. The Bengal Merchant sailed from the Clyde. Previous to sailing George Frederick Young visited the several vessels, and all the emigrants were required to sign a document binding them to agree to certain rules for the peace, order, and good government of the contemplated settlement. The expedition then started, with high hcpes, but not knowing their destination. All the vessels arrived safely in New Zealand, the Aurora being the first to reach Port Nicholson. The emigrants from the first four vessels were landed at Penone, where the township was laid out; but the inconvenience of landing goods in south-east weather was so great that it was agreed to remove the settlement to where Wellington now stands. It was then called Brittania. The Adelaide was the first vessel to move to Lambton harbour. Thorndon was then a Maori potato garden; trees grew down to the water’s edge from Kumutoto almost to Clay Point. The trees on the beach had to be cut down before the settlers could erect their houses. I have seen pigeons, kakas, and tuis shot on the land where Mr Peter Laing’s shop is now erected. The hardships of colonizing had now commenced. I had the honour of being one of the first who slept on Thorndon Flat, and it was nearly being a very long sleep. Mr Ticehurst, who is now residing in Greytown, and myseif, were the only two persons on shore. There was an unfinished house, which Colonel Wakefield had agreed with the natives to build for Dr. Evans. We got some grass, and put it in one corner, and lay down to rest. We had hardly done so when a troop of Maoris came rushingin ; one of them threw off his mat, and, tomahawk in hand, commenced dancing the war dance. When he had worked himself into a terrible frenzy, and was about to let us have the tomahawk, his wife whipped off her mat, and threw it over us, and then sat down crying for him to kill her. She had tabooed us, and we were safe. He then marched out indignant, the other Maoris following, and we were permitted to rest in quiet during the remainder of the night. We afterwards learned that there was a dispute about the price to be paid for the house. The natives thought we had taken possession of the house before it was paid for, hence their displeasure. At that time it was customary for the natives to carry their tomahawks, under their mats or blankets, and the settlers were entirely at their mercy. They were living in fortified pas, afraid of one tribe killing the other and eating them. They where eaten up with scrofula, and badly -fed and clothed." "How different their condition now,! Now rthey are the' afistocracy'of'the land, well fed and well clothed, with carriages to ride about in,-and some' •of their number holding seats,in the Legislature of the country. But the , settlers would have got on very badly without- the iHatives. There had been a great scarcity in Sydney previous to Our arrival in -Port;:Nicholson. Flour was £llO per ton ; and there was no cattle or sheep yet imported into'this part of the Island. We were therefore largely dependent tKfei'"natives‘for bfir supply of |op9. For a blanket, we could obtain a" good "sized pig and kit of potatoes, weighing from 50 lbs •to 100 lbs for 1/ ; - they also supplied fish, making a rich harvest out of thfe :settlers,Tt would weary you to tell of the dangers by flood and field, that the early settlers had to enco.unter. We had a fire, an earthquake, and afiood, within a very-short : time of-eachr other; 'The fire occurred at the Hutt, when some 30,raupo dwellings; called;-Cornish Row, 'were burn&a down. - -This took place atTl' o’clock at "night and made a great -blaze pat 2 o’clock in the morning; we • experienced; a- bevere* shock- 1 of earthquake,; which considerably alarmed tHe 'settlers, mariy -: thinking* >ifi was the .'[h'aitiVeS ‘ shaking their v/hbuses dbwnv A flood/then occurred at tbe-Hutt, and rose to a Height ‘of threefeet in some of:the dwellings. Although these were- very f-serron'B matters indeed,-tne settlers Were rwit discouraged but weXe detOr- . minedtoovercorrie everyobdtacle.’ ' 1 'rfeifierober Dr. Fitzgerald -had-apig;ifa!stehed ! to a'stuirip by a long'string, which was sWimming.'fprdts life ; Mr.Duppa bad to approach his bell tent in a whale boat, His writing'desk And [OthO'r articles floating about in the 'waiter 1 ; - Mr. Mantell was seated on the top of a ;Couple/of cages, with an "accordion, playing- ‘ home, sweet boine,” For the edification: of the - Stettlers. •.Then ”fhO' Maori war, occurred-atthe Hutfc: jn 1845, whefi'-several of the settlers wereikilled: It was a matter of serious concern for heads-of families, who were: driven from their homes, and ‘forced to abandon them for a time. Govefh'Or Urey received a special -appointment from the Home; Government to proceed ‘ from Adelaide to govern NOW Zealand. He! had his hands full in the North; with HohU'HtlUi [but [ "he succeeded aen coixq -ering the ‘Ngapuhi’s; and then> ibis services wete required in the South. Although, not always agreeing with the policy .of : Sir George Grey it' is only -bare-justice tp say, that He feußtteedecl in "quietingj the Maories tn.the South as he had previously done in the Nofth. And you cannot but respect.a man whd has ‘Ventured His-llfedn defence of ybur hearths and yonr horrie's. 1: When'Lieut. Blackburn was killed at Horokiwi, Sir George Grey was; under fire; arid 1 the body of poor Blackburn wasbrought into -Wellington and buripd.- T here . was ithe great'fire-at Wellington, which burned down all the houses between Whitaker s (then King’s the baker’s), » n d_Mc Dowell a corner known in those- days as Windy'Point, the upsetting of a boat on Petone Beach, When some eleven of the most energetic of the settlers were drowned ; and shortly afteF the drowning of Mr. Hopper, of the firm of Hopper, Peter and Molesworth in the Hutt River ; also having to contend with a hostile government, who sent

vessels to entice the immigrants away, first to Bussell and then to Auckland. The settlers moreover had to contend with a Government inimical to their interest; with a company that neglected to perform their covenants solemnly entered into; with the native difficulty, which prevented them occupying their land ; with storm and tempest, fire and sword, yet they never swerved from the heroic task set before them, of founding a colony, that is destined to be one of the brightest gems in the British Crown ; a home for millions yet unborn, a very counterpart of the mother country from which we sprung. Nor should we forget the part the ladies took in this great undertaking. Although subject to unheard of privations, having to endure all the dingers and difficulties that the sterner sex had to encounter, yet they never murmured, but _in the most heroic manner assisted in bringing about the successful colonization of New Zealand. (Loud cheers.) Band —“ Home sweet Home.”

George Allen, Esq., responded. He said; Mr Chairman and Gentlemen Like Mr McKenzie I could wish that the task of responding to this toast had been placed in abler hands than mine. I recollect my introduction to New Zealand prior to the flying of the British flag over the colony. I then followed my avocation on the sea. X came to the north of New Zealand in_lß39 during the winter months, and I was so charmed with the climate I found in that part of the world that I determined, if I ever did make a home anywhere, it should be in New Zealand. It must be a source of much gratification to us to know that the settlement of this colony has been the means of providing many happy comfortable homes. (Cheers.) When we arrived here things were in a state of which recent arrivals can hardly form the slightest conception. Instead of being able to p-ocure our beef and mutton at the butcher’s shop we were compelled to bring it to the place in small craft, a task surrounded by many dangers and losses. Mr McKenzie has referred in (graphic terms to the wives of the early settlers. Without the assistance of the women I hardly know how we could have succeeded. (Cheers.) > The cheerful spirit which they manifested in spite of the difficulties with which they were beset and bear in mind that many of the ladies had been brought up in comfortable circumstances at Home—was something surprising, and reflects all honour upon them. (Loud cheers.) We know, of course, that our difficulties were nothing compared to those we read of in the history of the settlement of America, for example, but for all that they were by no means of a slight character. With regard to the natives I can only say that We found them, on -our arrival in New Zealand to he a very kind people, and to a certain extent they supplied us with the staff of life. Therefore, though the natives have their traducers, I for one shall raise my voice in their defence. (Cheers.) The are many little ineidents in connection with the early days of the colony to which I might refer if time allowed, but I will not trespass any further. I have great pleasure, gentlemen, in responding to the toast, and I hope that on future occasions we shall see even a larger gathering present. (Cheers.)

At this juncture a song, specially composed for the occasion by Mr John Plimmer, one of the oldest identities, and Known as the Father of Wellington, was sung by three sons of early colonists, viz., Messrs A. G. Johnson, and W, B. and S. Waters, Mr H. Plimmer, the youngest son of the composer, accompanying on the pianoforte. The song, which was sung to the tune of “Keep your Powder Dry,” was as follows, and the chorus was heartily joined in by all present We’re but the remnant of that crew That left our native land, To seek a country wild and new, vVe joined heart and hand ; We had courage for our pilot. We had honour for our guide ; We were brave and young, our hearts were strong.- .reset} ' '" H j With British pluck and pride. So keep your courage up, boys, And keep your conscience clear ; And if we live let’s vow, boys, To meet again next year. ; 1

When we left of.'England 'We did not come alone ; We brought our wives and children. ■ From their loved English homes. And well they did assist us, . , With honest, loving hearts, ' ■ - And whatever good or evil came, They bravely bore their parts. Choeus— So keep your courage up, See.

And here, my friends, we meet again To celebrate the day; But since we'landed on the shores There’s many passed away, But still their deeds they are not lost, And with them we’re content To leave the works that we have done 'To be our monument. !/,y Choeus—So keep your courage up, &c,

John, Plimmeb, Esq., rose, amid cheers, to propose the next toast, viz., “The Sons and (Daughters of Early Colonists.” He said r Mr Chairman and. Gentlemen—ln submitting this toast I- am proposing the" health of my own children .(laughter), because I am • the father of Wellington, It is, however, with the greatest pleasure that I propose their health. (Cheers). '-I am not going to make any speech. ? Speech-making is not my forte—it never was.. Mr Wallace and Mr McKenzie have given you a history of Wellington between them, and have left me nothing to do but propose “ The Sons ; : and Daughters of Early Colonists,” than whom there is no bonnier lads and lasses on the face of the globe. (Cheers.)

W. Seed, E3q., J.P., responded, as'follows : -—Gentlemen—-As the task of responding to this toast has only just been placed in my hands, I am somewhat unprepared to make a speech. However, since you want brevity, and brevity i 3 the soul of wit, I will only say that if the sons and daughters will, as I believe they, will, emulate their parents in all those qualities which they have shown themselves to possess, they will need no one to sound their praise. We have only recently had sons of old colonists called to be Ministers of the Crown, and we find many of them occupying high positions throughout the colony. It is quite impossible that I should adequately express all I feel on this occasion; and therefore I will content myself with thanking you for the handsome memner in which you have drank their health (Cheers.) E. W. Mills, Esq., J.P., proposed “The Ladies,” the toast being duly honoured. Band —“Hers’s a health to all good -lasses.” W. T. L. Tbavbrs, Esq., Barrister, proposed “The Press of New Zealand,” and in doing so said—There is no one who has any acquaintance with the Press as it is conducted in every part, of New Zealand that will not cheerfully accord to it a • very large meed of praise... Though.; it - is true, that those who write for the press sometimes fall into error, we are nevertheless indebted to the newspapers

for the effort they make to disseminate information with regard to what takes place all over the world. No expense indeed is spared to do that. I can well remember the press of the early days of New Zealand. Two newspapers especially will commend themselves to the recollection of old colonists the Wellington Independent and Nelson Examiner. (Cheers). I can remember how earnestly and zealously these two newspapers advocated that which had been advocated so long by the early settlers the power to direct their own affairs in their own way. For many years the political affairs of the colony had been in the hands of an entirely irresponsible body. It was through the efforts of the press, directed by the men of the day, who were giants indeed, and who have gone to their long rest, though a few of them are still left, that an agitation for a different state of things was carried on. In those days the Wellington Independent was under Mr McKenzie and the Nelson Examiner under Mr Elliott, who has passed away, and their columns were contributed to by men of great standing, men who laid the foundation for a system of policy which was calculated to fully develop the resources of this magnificent country, a country of whose future no one can have the slightest doubt. In considering the toast which I have the honour to propose it is due to those who conducted the Press in the early days, so far as we know them now, that they should be identified with the toast, and therefore I hope you will permit me to couple with the toast the name of Mr Thom is McKenzie. (Loud cheers.) The Chairman called on E. T. Gillon, Esq., Manager of the Press Association, to reply. Mr Gillon said—As an old colonist I feel proud to be called on to respond to such a toast as this. I believe 1 am the oldest press - man in the colony who is still actively purs iing the profession, having been connected with the press for the past 25 years. It was my fortune to be connected with the first daily paper published in the colony—the Otago Daily Times, edited by Julius Vogel. The early colonists did much to foster the press, which has flourished greatly. There are no .v 'forty-three daily papers in New Zealand, and I don’t think there is any country in the world which publishes so many in proportion to the population. Whether that state of things is an unmixed blessing or not I will not say; perhaps many of you will think it is not. (Laughter.) This I do know, that pressmen are actuated by the highest motives and strive to keep up the high standard set before them. Gi'eat names have been connected with the press in this colony in the past, and I hope great names will continue to be connected with it. The nress has undergone some curious experiences here, and I remember it being announced by one paper that unless a ship arrived in time for the next issue the publication would be postponed until such an event occurred, as there was no news to put in the paper. On another occasion I recollect an issue being printed on blotting paper for want of better material. [(However, we have got over all that now, and as the early colonists appreciated the iiress so I am sure their successors -will; and if we do make mistakes now and again I know they will look leniently upon them, recognizing the difficulties surrounding us. (Cheers.) Councillor McKenzie —I should also like to bear my testimony to what has been achieved by the press in this colony. It is true, as Mr Travers has said, that there were giants in those days, and I am proud to say there are some of those giants among us this evening. Many of the giants have passed away—Dr. Featherston, Judge Chapman and others. I am very glad that Mr Gillon has so ably responded to the toast, and I hope that the liberty of the press will be preserved for ever in this country. (Cheers.) G. S. Cooper, Esq., proposed “The Chairman.” (Cheers.) " In doing so he said;: Sir William Fitzherbert is known to all of you. His history is also well known to us.-' He came to the colony with the early settlers, and has devoted his gigantic abilities to the advancement and prosperity of the country, whether as an enterprising merchant, a shipowner, a private settler, a public officer holding a paid office under the Crown, a member of the 3 .egislacure, a Minister of the Crown, a brilliant orator in the House of Bepresentatives, the Speaker of the House, and elevated afterwards to the Legislative Council, of which he is now the Speaker (Loud Cheers). Gentlemen, a career, like that is one of which any .man may justly be proud. (Renewed cheers.) I ask you to diink Sir William’s health in a bumper...,!,:.' . in ■ * ■ -■ Band and Company—“ For he’s a jolly good fellow.” Three cheers were also given for Lady Fitzherbert. Sir William Fitiherbebt, in rising to respond, was greeted with a round of applause. He spoke as follows : —Gentlemen, —I am deeply sensible of the kind manner in which you -have received this toast. Believe me, there is no occasion—and there have been many occasions on which it has been my lob to address my fellow-settlers—that gives me greater pleasure in meeting them than an occasion like the present. For what is it, in reality, that we have met here to-night ? Is it : simply to praise one another as if we were members of a society of mutual admiration? I think not. I think it goes far beyond that. , I think it is a kind of consummation of struggles over a period of upwards of forty years that do honour to us—(cheeis) —and do honour to our belongings. " It is not mere pride of a personal character* it is not mere pride of a family character or of a class character. I think I may fairly say that when we came out here we were of all sorts and conditions of m?n. We did not come out like those men in olden times who left their native countries because they were persecuted either for their political principles or for their religious convictions. We had no such grand motives impelling us to leave all that was dear behind us. We don’t claim, any such notice from posterity. We were all-of us more or less belonging to that large nomenclature, the middle classes of England ; we helonged to that class so admirably described by the great founder of this colony and'of the kindred colony of South Australia—Edward Gibbon Wakefield —the uneasy class. (We were among the uneasy class, and so we emigrated. (Cheers). While I do admire those men who have been pourtrayed to us by the pens of talented historians a 3 having fled from their country for their conscience’ sake, we did no such thing, but were impelled by that imperious necessity to which I have referred, and I don’t know anything more noble. (Cheers). We were not willing to become a burden to others to whom we were related, and that is why we came here, and I repeat I know nothing which could redound more greatly to our credit. But we are met to-day not to say that we are the noblest of people and have endured hardships greater than others, we have had our -■hardships nevertheless. What, let me ask, has become of the efforts of ( the (Spaniards -to colonise 'the world as compared with those of Britons, whose characteristic .object it has (always .been to colonise the waste .places of the • What has become of t:ie;efforts of the • Jrench ? colony almost that .is worthy . ofjtlje name lias' succumtecL to the energies of

that race to which we have the honour and pride to belong. (Cheers.) - Those efforts have been failures, and these are the only nations that have attempted to colonise since the times of the Greeks and Romans. What have been the. results of the colonising efforts of the British race—l don’t say the British Government, because it has been a thing done by the people themselves animated by that grand spirit of which I have spoken ? Who colonised the northern part of America ? What to-day is the glorious history and what are the achievements of those efforts of colonisation? Why, they have simply made one of the grandest nations of the world, paying its way in a manner that no other nation ever did, and doing the unwonted and remarkable thing of paying off its national debt. Before I conclude °let me say a few practical words in reference to that which I hope will become a permanent institution amongst us. As Mr Wallace put it, it rests with you to preserve for Port Nicholson the glory of being distinguished as the birth-place of New Zealand. (Cheers.) You ought never to allow this day to pass without meeting together after the present fashion. (Cheers.) On future occasions, however, we should not content ourselves with a mere cold collation. Surely we are able to afford a dinner properly so called, and not a cold collation which is graced by the name of a dinner. Englishmen always must dine. (Cheers and laughter.) I think, moreover, such an occasion as this affords a grand opportunity of paying that tribute of respect, however mixed with pain the duty may be, to those noble spirits who have passed away from us. [Sir William resumed his_seat amid cheers. The Premier here announced that he had received a telegram from the Native Minister, Mr Bryce, expressing his great regret at not being able to be xaresent that evening. The proceedings terminated at 10 p.m., the company singing “ Auld Lang Syne.” Before the company separated Mr J. H. Wallace stated that Messrs Wrigglesworth and Binns, photographers, had kindly undertaken to photograph every one present that evening, and to group the likenesses similar to the groups of members of the Legislature, so that every one present Would please to attend at the photographers’ for that purpose. He (Mr Wallace) hoped that everyone would avail themselves of this kind offer —to place on record a likeness of those early settlers who had responded to the request publicly made to celebrate the 44th anniversary of the foundation of the colony of New Zealand. (Loud cheers.) Those early settlers who did not embrace the opportunity at the dinner table of giving their “ early experiences ” will have an opportunity of doing so by sending their historical notes to Mr J. H. Wallace, who is engaged in producing the Early History of New Zealand.