MEN OF NOTE IN OTAGO.

Otago Witness, Issue 2173, 17 October 1895, Page 45

MEN OF NOTE IN OTAGO.

By 1.M.1.

ROBERT CHAPMAN, CITIZEN AND SOLICITOR, Robert Chapman was born at Stonebaven, ft town on the east coast of Scotland, on February 5, 1812, his father holding a reepeotable position in that ancient seaport. The prosperity of the old town depended then, as it does now, on the harvest from the sea. This, however, did not prevent some of Its sons striking out in some other oooupation, and Mr Chapman, whose constitution was not the most robust, did not follow the prevailing tendency of the boys and go to gea, beiag of opinion that a life on the land would prove more congenial to bis tastes and better suited to bis constitution. Accordingly, when his school period had been passed -and it did not extend go long then as now — in November 1825, before he had completed his 14th year, he was entered as an apprentice to the law in his native town, and served his indenture for five and a-half years.

The drudgery of a lawyer's office, particularly to the junior, was very trying. Nobbing but conylcg— no toom. fc? tbcugb* or ©rer-

else of individual opinions. However, Mr | Chapman pegged away, doing his best-, nnd meeting with the approbulio i of hia superiors. He also during tbe whole pro-i. d oi kis apprenticeship asslducusly devoted his spare time to increasing and extending the limited education which the short period of his school days had enabled him to acquire, and this, coupled with the experience he had gained in his profession, enabled him to seek employment In Edinburgh, where he was able to attend tho uniterrfiy, and where ho obtained a position in tbe office of bis uncle, who was a member of the firm of Ray and Wood, Writers to the Signet. In the some office, for the purpose of studying practice, wftre Theodora Martin, now Sir Theodore, who acted as Parliament clerk, and Edward Strathearn Gordon, afterwards Lord Gordon, to whose family the lady who afterwards became Mr Chapman's wife was related. With Sir Theodore Martin Mr Chapman kept up occasional correspondence till recent years, and he still possesses tbe originals given to him by the author of two of the celebrated Bon Gualtier ballads. Daring tho period that Mr Chapman remained in Edinburgh he acted as clerk to Lord Gordon when the latter went to the bar, and also to Cosmo Innes when he was employed in completing- the ancient records which were borrowed from several of the cobles of Scotland to replace those taken from the monasteries in time of war. The remuneration then given to clerks was small and the hours such as would astonish employees in our timeß, so Mr Chapman decided to give up his appointment and try the colonies. He was succeeded by William Fraser, a native of his bhthplace, a gentleman whose abilities have since been suitably recognised by knighthood. Mr Chapman remembers Professor Wilson and Sir Walter Bcott, and possesses judgments in the handwritiDg of the latter. Mr Chapman, however, out of bis Blender salary managed to " lay by " about £150, and after due consideration, on March 25, 1845, he, to use his own expressive word*, " married a fine female companion, who shared his feeling*, was one with him in sympathy, and ready to link her lot with bi6, and who duriDg their long marital life has always proved herself a^ devoted helpmeet."

The uncertainty of promotion or success in Edinburgh somewhat unsettled Mr Chapman, and to this is attributable the fact of his becoming a member of the Otago settlement. • One morning he read an article in Ohambere's Journal on the subject of the Free Churcb Settlement at Otago, New and his mind was quickly made up to go to Otago. Both himself and his wife were prompt in actioD, and at once made application for land under the conditions of settlement, and having paid the money, £120 10a, were awarded a right of selection of 50 acres rural, 10 acres suburban, and quarter-acre town section. He was not prepared to start with the first emigrants in 1847, so entrusted the selection of ib land to Captain OargUl, who waa at the

head of the expedition, and it would thus be ready for ocenpanoy on his arrival.

Ia May 1848 he left London for Ofcago by tho good ship Blundell, arriving in Otago on September 21 following. It would be interesting to have a reoord of his feelings on reaching his new horns— tbe prospects so different from.the realities he had bean accustomed to. Bred and trained to the law, it oould hardly be expeoted the land would yield him a competency, although it has generally been the fruitful field ia which lawyers have revelled.

The entrance to Otago Harbour was not so well indicated then as now. Mr Chapman himself says so little was known of this Island of New Zealand at the time that, sighting the Weat Coast firgt, the captain waa not sure where they were, and sailed along the coast, sighting Stewart Island, until Otago Heads wa3 reached, and even then they know not where they were. Driver, the pilot, saw the vessel, and went out in his boat to find out who the newcomers were. They sailed on past the heads along by Waikouaiti, Driver still looking after them, and at last sailing up and taking possession, sending his boat wit its Maori crew ashore at Waikouaiti. A terrible north-wester drove them out to sea, and next morniug land was not visible. After a time they again reached the beads and sinohared for tlio uigbt. Next morning they

crossed tho bar, and at low water took the ground.

Tiio Blundell had bad a long passage of nearly five months. Sho had a fall complement of immigrants, among whom were, besides Mr Cfiapmanand family, tho late Mr John Hill (cabinftt maker) and Mr John Adams (tailor), M-ssrs Bgg and Somerville (of Anderson's Bay) with their fa milieP, Mr John Sidej (of CAvershara), Mr Henry Claik (of Waste Land and Education Boards fr.tnp), and others. During tha lemg voyage the stores of almost everything were pretty well all oonsumed, and what remained was not of the most palatable description ; so all were pleased when the ship was brought up to Port Chalmers, wbich at the time was a vety small settlement, comprising a tavern and two or three small huts or cottage?. The late Mr Mantford, registrar of the University of Otago, who lived in a grass house a little below Port Chalmsrs, kindly invited a number o£ the passengers to bis residence, where they were much refreshed by a glass of wine and tome new bread.

On their arrival at Danedln the passengers were met and warmly welcomed by Captain Cargill and the Rev. Mr Burns, and were comfortably accommodated in a large barrack situated where the Dunedin Gaol now stands, and having been plentifully supplied with tea and solids, a hearty night was spent at the blazing fire talking over their adventures and prospects. The accommodation not being very suitable, and no other house being avaiable, Captain Cargill lent Mr Chapman a tarpaulin 6xß, wbich he rigged up as a tent, makiDg a bed of fern leaves. He started to fence his section in Princes 3treet, near the corner of St&fford street, ad j fining that of Mr James Brown, draper, tho poets and rails being obtained from tbe bush dote at hand. In about two weeks ho had a two-roomed house built, the labour alone of which ccst £10, and the chimney of which he built himself. Immediately after getting his wife safely Loosed, he set about clearing and cultivatirg bis section in the North-East Valley, built; by hie own labour a two-roomsd cottage, purchasing the timber and splits from siwyers working near at hand.

Whilst engaged in this work in 1848 Mr Chapman was offered and accepted the office of olerk of the bench. Before following his official career one or two of his notes on things as they appeared to him may be recorded.

Mr Chapman was a quiet, attentive observer jit men and manners in the early days of the settlement, and pity it; is a full record of his quaint notes is not av.ulable foruse en this occasion. Here, however, are a few of his recordings :— " The canncn on BAI Hill Is 'fired off every Saturday at noon to denote the time and enable the people to regulate their watches. — The Episcopalians in prettly large numbers attend the Presbyterian Church, saveral of them sitting immediately before me.— Wages are at 2i 6d n day while employed by the company, and 8s employed, by private patties.-'

The information in the following paragraph must have been communicated to Mr' Chapman, as it refers to something antecedfng hia arrival. It is not, therefore, less devoid of interest, and I do not remember ever seeing tho statement in print bjfore :—: — " In 1818 there was a Maori cemoteiy in tha North-Kast Valley on a church section on the east side of the stream, some monumental objects standing on it."

Mr Chapman was duly installed as clerk to the bench of magistrates, Mr Strod9 occupying the chair, having two or three juaticas to consult with and advise. There were no serious oases in which to adjudicate, the residents being a quiet-living* law-abiding lot, the only rackets being when a lot of jolly sailors were set free from their ship for a day or two, and made the embryo town merry with their light-hearted joviality. These scenes were, however, not very frequent, and in this respect may have accounted for the magnitude they assumed in the Aye of the administrators of the law, who called on every male inhabitant capable of bearing a truncheon to appear before and be sworn in by the bench as a special constable ; and so willingly was this done that the magistrates voted them their hearty thanks. At the end of 1849 Mr Chapman was farther appointed registrar of births, deaths, and marriages for Otago; and in 1850, a judge of the Supreme Court havirjg been appointed to reiide permanently within the bounds, Mr Chapman was further appointed registrar of the Supreme Court, registrar of deed?, ko.

Some peculiar' features in these arrangements may be drawn attention to. The appointment of a judge was a fare 3. • There were no subordinate courts except the Magistrate's, with very limited powors, There were no officials appointed to carry out the work except the registrar ; nor was there much need for them, only when two J.P.s met and had a stand-up fight among tho flax, or tbe Supreme Court judge hitmelf either had some settlers arraigned for oonspiraoy or he himself hauled up baEore tha bench on a charge of' assault. Had the judge baen committed, by whom would he have been tr.'ed 1 Tho ju<3ge was speedily withdrawn, and so for the time being ended the office^ of Supremo Court registrar. In connection with the other offioaa held by him, and as showing tho parsimony of the Central Government towards the settlement, a minute inventory of the pens, Ink, and stetioueiy was sent for office U9S with an imperative order for a full and particular return as to how these articles were being utilised.

On tho establishment of tbe Province Council in 15534 Mr Obapauu w«i appointed clerk to tho oouncil, which office h i held ur.til 1862, wLon, in consequence ot t ie great increase in busings of the Supreme Court dspartmonfc, of which he was registrar, he arranged with the General Government that he should be relieved of his dnties as clerk to the council, and he therefor* pUced bjfl resignation in the hands'oE the Speaker. The council unanimously agreed to insert a oopy of Mr Chapman's letter of resignation in the raioutea, and to rccjid their entire satisfaction with the manner in which he had discharged his duties and their good wishes for his welfare.

It will now be necessary to go bsck a few years. In 185S the Supremo Court again bscaaae an institution of tb.9 province, when Mr Justice Gwaijon was appointed to open it with Mr Chapman in his old position as. registrar, the sitlioga being at stated although not regular intervals, to which position they subsequently attained by tbe ir. crease of population and trade, and unfortunately alßo, as aooncomitant.an increase of crime. A permanent resident judge was imperatively demanded, so in Gctobar 18G2 Mr Christopher W. Richmond, then praotMng in Daoedin in conjunction with Mr Thomas B. Gillies, was appointed to tbe high position by tbe Colonial Office in London, this was tbe last, appointment so made with wbom tbe appoimmsnts then lay, and wmoso appointment met the cordial approval of the whole community. In 1863 Mr Jusiice lUchmond hold his firat sitting as resident juc?ge. The increase of every department in the province necessitated the appointment of a second resident judge, and in May 1864 Mr Justice Chapman took his Beat on the Supreme Court bench. It will thus be seen that tbe business of the registrar's offico, both in matters connected with the court and with, deeds, was enormously increased, so Mr Chapman rotired in 1861 from the position of registrar of births, deaths, and marriages, and otherß of a kindred nature, his whole attention along with the help of several assistants being required for the superior offices.

After a period of continuous labour of 18 years from 1858 Mr Chapman, finding his strength failing, and that his mind was not equal to the constant strain and worry to \»h ich it was subjected in connection with his very onerous and responsible labours, voluntarily retired from his officep, the Government grantiDg him a recompense commensurate with his term of service, and to which he wag by enactment entitled, and has lived a quiet, retired life at his residence at Newiugton, adjoining the Town Belt, Roslyn, enabled not only to look down on the city in which ho devoted so many years of the beat peiiod of his life to tbe discharge of diQicult* and onerous duties, but still able when the weather is at all favourable to pay regular visits to the town, taking an interest in all current topics. Neither in private nor in public life haa Mr Chapman ever made any ostentatious show. His habits of life aro naturally retiring. He has, however, been the reverse of uncharitable" or unkind. Any appeal mado to him, and proved worthy of assistance, generally met I with a ready and liberal response. Hia donations were not given with the view of being paraded before the public, but in the hope that they would help materially in furthering the end for which they were donated. The action which will hold Mr Chapman in longest remembrance by all who have tbe amenity and adornment of Dunedin at heart--, will think gratttully of tbe man to whose spontaneous liberality the citizens are indebted for the handsome column raised to perpetuate the memory and services of the Rev. Thomas Barns, D D., first minister and devoted friend of the settlement of Otago, which he promoted with all the zeal of his ardent nature, and with the desire and hope Ol ameliorating and improving the position. Oc m&ay of his countryman, who were, the.

subjects of grievous tjranny in the land oE their birth.

Between Dr Burns and Mr Chapman the closest; iutimacy existed. To employ an old pbra?e, they were equals, guide?, and acquaintances, holding together sweet counsel and close fellowship. No sinister end or personal advantage cemented them — purely a mutual attachment, with no mercenary purpose to serve. And to commemorate this friendship and record the great services the doctor had rendered to this land of his adoption, of his own free will Mr Chapman gave effect; to hi 3 resolve, contributing the whole funds necessary to erect the monument in tho Octagon, the oost being considerably over £1000. The handing over of the gift to the corporation took place in 1592, the duty being entrusted by the donor to his son, Mr Charles R. Chapman, who had the honour of being mayor of the city at the time. There was a very large assemblage of the citizens, includioga orowdof old identities and friends from all parts of the province, and the whole ceremony was gone through with genuine enthusiasm, a hearty vote of thanks being given to Mi Robert Chapman for his liberal gift.

There were cavillers who found vent for their spleen- through the columns of tbe papers, their only fault being that Mr Chapman, as donor, had Been fit to have bis name with a modest record carved on tbe base. Was there any v«nal fault in this 7 Is it not the rule for the giver to asßooiato his name with the gift in presenting it to tho recipient 1 Possibly this Bhoutd be made an exception in the eyes of s<'ine critic?, whose only objection cjuld be the oxoeeding value of Ibo gift. Unworthy motives imputed to the doors of honourable actions usually have tbe injurious effect on their authors ; and so has it been in thia case, Mr Chapman's oonduot receiving the highest meed of praise from all honest, unprejudiced minds. Even had a little amount of vanity been displayed, it waa qnito justifiable on the occasion^ The fountain ia the Triangle bears the giver's name, and the Garden seats are similarly inscribed.

Mr Onapman, although now in his eightyfourth year, along with his wife enjoyß excellent health, and they find great pleasure in attending to their gardeu, which is a great pleasure and amujement to the worthy oouple.