HISTORICAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1642, 12 May 1883, Page 8

HISTORICAL.

OTAGO.

Part XII.-IS4S. Steady but slow was the progress made by the young colony during the first period of its existence, and considering the peculiarities of the position it is wonderful how much was done. With surroundings, and in a situation new to every one of them, the future looming darkly to many, encountering obstacles never anticipated, and almost secluded from all the world besides, the forward march redounds infinitely to the credit of the pioneer. There was then neither colonial, city, nor burgh loans, no joint stock companies nor banks to grant accommodation ; each and all had to rely on their own efforts to find the ways and means to make inroads in the wilds to provide the necessaries of life, and to make the hardships as little severe as possible to those depending on them. At the close of IS4B, and looking back to the period of their arrival nine months previously, the settlers could recall what seemed to them then the endless task of clearing the ground for their dwellings and gardens. On every side a wilderness of wood, flax, and fern met the eye, diversified here and there with dismal looking swamps. Amid toils of no ordinary kind, and under discouragements which damped the ardour of some of their number, they continued progressing, and now, instead of seeing one or two houses, with a narrow marshy footpath, the eye was gladdened with a goodly sprinkling of two.houßes, some of wood, others of clay, whilst numerous gardens well fenced and cleared, and- at least one street showing its broad track from end to end of the future town, gave evidence of the progress made. There were two hotels, viz., the Commercial and the Royal, the formerin High street, on the Bite now occupied by Messrs Butterworth's warehouse, and kept by Mr T. S. Watson, who was unfortunately drowned in the harbour the following year. The house was a comfortable one, fairly furnished, kept good liquors, and an ordinary was provided every week day at half-past one, and on Sundays at half -past two. The other, the Royal, was started by Mr Alexander . M'Donald on thesectionnear where the National Insurance Company's offices are now erected. Thiß hotel was formally opened by a public dinner at which Captain Cargill presided and Messrs F. V. Martin and A. C. Strode acted as croupiers, and the company numbered about thirty of the settlers. The dinner ticket was a guinea, and, considering it was his first at- . tempt, and the appliances necessary for cooking were limited and primitive, Mr M'Donald was complimented on the quickness, order, and manner in which the feast was put on the table. There were, as already noted, a church, and school, and wharf, also butchers, bakers, and stores of all descriptions ; an OddFellows society, a cricket club ; boats were plying on the harbour j and every outward Bign of commercial activity and enterprise was exhibited. If anything was wanted it was more capitalists, to aid and increase what had ab well and spiritedly been begun. Capitalists were invited to come and help, and it was pointed out that in so helping they would increase their capital a hundredfold.

The population in the town alone was nearly 500, including 18 land proprietors, 24 car penters, sawyers, &c, and about 100 labourers. At Port Chalmers, Anderson's Bay, Halfway Bush, Taieri, and Molyneux there was an additional population of about 100, including 16 land proprietors, 9 carpenters, and 16 shepherds and labourers. Rather a small supply of labour for the country districts, but a considerable increase was shortly expected. For so small a colony the success seemed wonderful to those who did not know the elements which achieved it. With few exceptions every immigrant worked as if the well-being of society depended on his sole effort. Sobriety, industry, and a determined erseyerance in overcoming all difficulties, were the distinguishing trials ot each and all. Such causes combined must always produce happy results, but in anew country these were more apparent, as a wider field was open for exertion. A continuation to work in the way begun, subtantial and secure prosperity and comfort were bound to follow.

> The editor of the Otago News, who at this time took so hopeful a view of the future, and expressed it in concise, clear, and sensible language, did not tarry long in this new country to see the realisation of his prediction of substantial prosperity and secured comfort, for after a lingering illness he made his exit to the unknown land, leaving his fellow-colonists to follow him aa their time matured.

Amidst the general prosperity there were, however, disappointed ones, and strange it would have been had there not been such. Different methods were adopted for ventilating their grievances and giving their fellow settlers the prospect presented to their view from the particular points of observation from which they were taken. Through his "loophole of retreat gazing on the world " a misanthrope wrote a poem designated " The Fate of Dunedin," by W. W., and which he was decidedly anxioua to scatter far and wide through the agency of the Press. But he may thank his stars; that the! star of a brighter destiny presided in the editorial sanctum, and his lines were declined, not that their prognostications . might prove incorrect, or that Dunedin must first rise before it could fall, but simply because they were wanting in rhym, rhythm, and sense. If the author of that poem be still in the flesh and in our midst, or if he revisit and take a glimpse of Dunedin, he will find that if it has not fallen, it has certainly been to an extent levelled, as its most prominent elevation, Bell proportions. The faith of another in the future was also sorely tried. In his case it was more in respect to a personal relation than as to the common good. Like a sensible man he had determined to take unto himself a wife, and as a true man he desired to have the bands and bonds fairly tied and rivetted so that there might be no subsequent^ cavil or question on either side as to the validity of the transaction. Adoptin as a cognomen the word " Fidus," he submitted to the arbitrament of a discerning public the solemn and important question " Whether is a marriage celebrated in the church or the manse the most binding?" After due and careful consideration, founded on the testimony of almost the whole married population in the , settlement, Fidus was recommended in the present instance to try the manse, and if on another occasion he had to repeat the ceremony by all means take to the church. Happy, or unfortunate, Fidus has not had occasion to do it again, as his partner has not seen fit to per mit "death them to part, " and his own opinion now is that either or both places were alike best.

Prospects may with safety be said to have been of a cheering character at this early period. The pioneers of the Colony who arrived by the Philip Laing and the John Wickliffe had bravely encountered the difficulties of the situation, and were able to make suitable preparations for the comfortable reception of those who were to follow them.

Accordingly, the passengers by the ships Victory, Blundell, and Bernicia, which arrived at intervals, received a hearty welcome from the settlers. Enterprise had begun to develop itself and discover channels for the profitable outlay of capital and acquisition of wealth, and honest, persevering industry was eating " plea- ! sant_ bread" and acquiring that competent portion of the good things of this life which is most conducive to the progress of society and the real welfare of mankind. The towns of Dunedin and Port Chalmers had peen founded. Where silence and solitude so lately had reigned were heard the busy hum of men, the lowing of oxen, the bleating of sheep, the bark of the dog, and the crowing of the chanticleer, and the stillness of the bush had been interrupted by the rude sound of the axe and the 1 crash of the ancient tenants of the soil.

Not only were parties coming direct from the Old Country, but numbers were also attracted from the other settlements and Australia. Ships were 'arriving with cargoes of cattle and sheep, causing enlivening incidents in connection with progress. The newspapers published in the other centres of population in the Colony were referring encouragingly to Otago, and though beginnings were but small they were not to be despised. By repeated accumulations things became great. Whatever is formed by long duration or superior excellence arrives slowly at maturity. The first immigrants into New England, in America, did not exceed 100, but into how majestic a stream has this small spring of population expanded ; and it might rationally be hoped that a similar glorious destiny awaited New Zealand.

And was not the fact of the so early establishment of a newspaper in itself sufficiently demonstrative of advancement ? Could any thing strikingly illustrate the rapid prosperity of the Colony over those of a former period in a corresponding stage of their existence? The first North American newspaper was published by a Scotchman a century after the foundation of the first settlement, and in twenty-eight years after its publication only four more were ushered into existence. But the press of New Zealand was coeval with the formation of the settlement to which it belonged; each settlement could boast of one or more newspapers.

The advertisements, too, are abundant proof of enterprise and activity. One advertises that he prints pamphlets, tracts, bill heads, cards, custom house forms, &c, with neatness, punctuality, and dispatch ; and has a well assorted stock of stationery on hand. Another, that he has for sale at his store, corner of Princes and Rattray streets, a large assortment of drapery and hardware goods. A third wants to purchase a suburban section unchosen — evidently meaning the right of purchase. A fourth intimates that a large and varied assortment of Dunstable and coloured straw bonnets has just been received. A fifth, in returning thanks to the public for the patronage ha has received hitherto, begs to inform them that he has always on hand at his store in High street, Dunedin, a well selected stock of groceries, slop clothing, &c, &c, of which he invites inspection. And a' sixth has a quantity of bricks for sale. There are various other advertisements of merchandise, shipping, &c, of which one sets forth that the lugger Rhadamanthus, well known as the fastest vessel between Port Chalmers and Dunedin, runs regularly between the two places ; and another of an official character by the " magistrate," as some of the settlers called Captain Cargill, draws the attention of the community, and of parents especially, to a letter of Dr Ramsay, the intelligent and active medical officer of the settlement, cautioning against the eating of the Tutu berry, then approaching to maturity. Nor must it be omitted to notice the formation of an Oddfellow's club, and an amusing challenge by the cricket players of Dunedin to the cricket club of Wellington to a trial of skill at any place equi-distant between the Port of Otago and Port Nicholson. The challenge does not seem to have been accepted, and it would have been a difficult matter to fix on a precise locality suitable to both parties, and of easy access, at which to hold the match. However, it shows mettle on the part of these early residents, and was proof that a generous emulation in things of greater moment would mark the progress of the settlement towards power and fame.

Worthy of note is the fact, in connection with the interest at present centred on the producing of the article that Mr Morgan Evans, of Port Chalmers, offers for sale and by early application, "only thirty bushels maize remaining unsold ; price for quantities less than ten bushels, five shillings. Thus early was that favourite corn introduced into the province and successfully grown ; and our first auctioneer annouces the sale of surplus stores, ex Bernicia ; also, medicine chest and hospital utensils, and the material composing the unoccupied "grass barracks," situate on the Beach road, abutting on the Church reserve, comprising about 200 mapau poles and rafters, and sundry bunk-fittings. Sale to commence at 5 p.m. punctually, — the other important avocations of the people hindering them from attending auction sales earlier in the day. One disagreeable feature crops up in the sitting of the Police Court, at which a publican was fined for selling wines and spirits to certain persons of the native race. A few cases of assault and drunkenness were also disposed of, and one fellow, for an indecent assault, was sentenced to be imprisoned for three jnonths, with hard labour.

But turning from this uninviting theme it is announced that Messrs Mantell and Wills, the Commissioners on the part of the Government and Company for the purpose of completing the purchase of land from Akaroa to Heyward's Point, arrived at Port Chalmers on the 9th December from Waikouaiti, having accomplished their task in a manner which could not fail to prove satisfactory to the Government and Company, the natives, and the settlers. The colonists could now advance cheerfully, and with confidence — native disputes pf any kind never had, and never would, affect the settlement — perfect security existed, and prosperity and concord would henceforth reign paramount. Another gratifying circumstance was the issue of a circular headed "Education in Otago," giving an account of the good things in store for the young of the Colony, and more particularly to the children of the higher class of Colonials. It proposed to institute " a seminary for boarders and day pupils, in which ample provision would be made for teaching every branch of a liberal education ; the institution to be under the charge of the municipal and ecclesiastical authorities, and conducted by a head master of high attainments and respectability ; the course of instruction to comprehend not only all that is given in the best institutions in the Mother Country, but to embrace also many of the higher deportments of literature and philosophy usually taught in universities." A thorough English education wonld be made the basis of a sound knowledge of the classics, mathematics, mental and physical science ; while the modern languages, drawing, and other accomplishments would not be neglected. In the house every care would be taken te provide for the health and comfort of , the pupils, and the domestic

arrangements would, be managed by a lady of respectability and piety. It was proposed that the head master, with two assistants, should embark for Otago at an early date, and that more assistants would arrive as the scholars increased. The general feeling on receipt of the notice waa that the scheme should have every assistance, and that the hope that what was so faithfully promised to the ear would in due time appear. The due time did not arrive, however, for many years— in fact, till the High Schools and boarding establishments were instituted.

A pretty general opinion prevailed that pastoral pursuits would form the primary occupation of the great majority of those who settled within and in the neighbourhood of the Otago block, and that agriculture and commerce on a large scale would form ulterior steps in progress. The extensive valleys and hills in the interior district, cleared by some natural process of fossil vegetation and clothed with nutritious grasses, were ready for numerous flocks and herds. The possession of these would facilitate the cultivation of the land sufficient for more than domestic constimption, while the increase of inhabitants would lead to the erection of towns, which in their time would encourage and develop trade, and lead to the extension of commerce. It was evident that this natural and inevitable process would require that in the first instance the settlers engaged in the occupation of shepherds should be scattered, but it was a principle to which the association were pledged that all should be within reach of educational and religious institutions, and the efforts of the responsible parties were constantly directed to its fulfilment. As ownership of land within the settlement was essential as a title to pasturage right, and this principle was considered likely to induce the landowner to have his headquarters within the limits of the settlement where his family would reside, and himself i also, except when on visits to his flocks and herds ; and at special periods the servants at the cattle stations would have liberty to come to town. By this means it was hoped that all would be brought under those influences which would preserve the urbanity, and advance the spiritual and moral welfare of the population.