THE OTAGO ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2298, 17 March 1898, Page 8

THE OTAGO ASSOCIATION.

We must now deal with the circumstances which led to the formation of the Otago Association and the

departure of the first settlers for the Scotch settlement. As early as 1845 Her Majesty's Government recognised the right of the New Zealand Company to 1,300,000 acres of land in New Zealand for colonising purposes. Of that the Company selected 400,000 acres in Otago, 600,000 acres for their Cook Strait settlements, and 300,000 acres elsewhere. In May, 1845, the Otago Association was formed under arrangements with the New Zealand Company. In August of the same year Lord Stanley instructed the Governor to waive the Crown's right to pre-emptiom of native lands, and grant 400,000 acres to the New Zealand Company at Otago. This was done, but not before the Company's chief surveyor had selected the land for the settlement.

The Otago Association was founded by the Free Church of Scotland with the distinct end in view of founding a settlement to which only members of that church should be forwarded as emigrants. When the arrangement with the Company was completed, Mr. Frederick Tuckett, the Company's chief surveyor at Nelson, received instructions to search the then almost unknown East Coast of the South Island for a suitable place for this settlement. The Ruapuke missionary who was a fellow passenger with Mr. Tuckett, describes him as a very pious man. He was a Quaker, but his allround love of mankind caused him to love all religions

alike. Towards the end of February, 1844, Mr. Tuckett set out in the schooner Deborah which had been chartered for the purpose, having with him a few surveyors and labourers. There were also some passengers, and a number of Nelson gentlemen, who seized the opportunity to have a look at the almost unknown southern part of New Zealand. Proceeding to Wellington a magistrate was taken on board, who was to superintend all transactions with the natives, as the Government thought after the Wairau affair it was best to deal with the Maoris direct. The Deborah sailed south to Port Cooper, now called Lyttelton. Arrived there some natives soon came on board to see what the party wanted. Among them was the principal southern chief Tuhawaiki, or " Bloody Jack" as he was called by the whites. This nickname has given a wrong impression amongst colonists, who have the idea that the chief got his name because of his bloodthirsty character ; but such is not the case — it arose from his frequent use of an English word he had learned from the rough whalers. Tuhawaiki was not only a chief of importance amongst his own people, but his travels and contact with Europeans enabled him to deal rationally with them. He could not read himself, but he had a ready grasp of the meaning of any document when it was read to him. When he had to sign an important document, in order that there might be no mistake he signed it by drawing the principal spiral lines and curves of the tattoo on his face. Many signatures to the Treaty of Waitangi were signed in the same way, and as each chief was tattooed with characteristic and

distinctive lines, these signatures are always accepted in the law courts as genuine. Mr. Tuckett resolved to examine the country in the vicinity of Lyttelton, and Tuhawaiki appeared to be quite willing that he should select land within his domain. Only a few Maoris lived on Banks Peninsula and neighbourhood. Examination of the country was most difficult, from the luxuriant growth wherever the soil was at all fertile, and for the most part Banks Peninsula was either densely wooded or overgrown with luxuriant vegetation for a considerable distance up the sides of the hills. Not satisfied with his explorations there. Mr. Tuckett next proceeded to Waikouaiti, to land missionary Creed. While there he made a survey of Waikouaiti Bay. They next proceeded to Otago Harbour, being piloted in by Edward Palmer. Next day the survey party went in a boat to the head of the harbour, and landed where the site of the town was afterwards chosen. Mr. Tuckett climbed the hills and had a good look around on every hand, and he was exceedingly well pleased with what he saw ; so pleased was he with the prospects near at hand that he resolved to go farther inland He therefore gave instructions for the schooner to meet him and his party at Molyneux Bay while he proceeded overland. Wnat the journey meant at a time when the whole face of the country was a wilderness of flax, and tutu, and fern,

with unfordable rivers and swamps which compelled them to make wide detours, can be imagined better than described. From Molyneux Bay the schooner proceeded to the Bluff, the survey party still pursuing their explorations inland. Having examined a large tract of country, Mr. Tuckett fixed upon the Otago block as the most suitable for the settlement, selecting a site at the top of the harbour for the town. After Mr. Tuckett's report reached the head office, arrangements were completed with the New Zealand Compan 7. The terms of purchase, published in November, 1847, stated that an association of lay members ot the Free Church of Scotland was recognised as the party to promote the settlement of Otago, and was authorised to carry on the business of settlement for five years. The Association was to have the right to 2,400 properties, including an area of 144,600 acres. Of that area, 2,000 properties, or 120,500 acres, were for sale to private individuals; 100 properties, or 6,025 acres, were to be purchased by trustees for religious and educational purposes ; the same number to be laid apart for local and municipal government; and 200 properties, representing 12,050 acres, were to be purchased by the New Zealand Company. The price of the land was fixed at £2 an acre. Of the purchase money (,£"289,200) appropriation was to be made as follows : — For emigration and supply of labour, ,£"108,450 ; surveys and other expenses of founding the settlement (such as roads, bridges, &c.) ,£"72,300 ; religious and educational purposes, ,£"36,150; the Company retaining on account of capital ,£"72,300. Details of the scheme of settlement were published at the time.

Among other things it was announced that capitaljwould be raised by the sale of land. Labourers sent out as emigrants were to be in proportion to the capital. Free passages would be given these. Purchasers of land who did not intend emigrating had the right to recommend persons for free passages to the colony, the equivalent for each passenger being a land value of £45. In 1843 Captain Fitzroy selected Port Cooper for the site of the projected Scotch colony, but as already related Otago was fixed upon. The first explorers of Otago were delighted with its climate. Dr. Munro, who accompanied Mr. Tuckett, describes the weather in Otago towards the end of April as delightful. He also mentions that the woods reverberated with the song of birds, agreeing with Cook's description of the wooded banks of Queen Charlotte Sound. Dr. Munro was further struck with the fact that the natives at Tuturau were cultivating wheat. Very glowing reports were sent Home regarding Otago, and its fine climate and resources. The Otago block extended over an area from Otago Heads to Nugget Point, and ran inland to an average distance of seven miles. Selection of the allotments was made by ballot, and anyone purchasing more than one allotment was to have his allotments contiguous. Each property consisted of fifty acres of rural land, ten acres of suburban land, and one-quarter

acre town allotment. The price of each property was The locale of the town was chosen by Mr. Tuckett at the head waters of the harbour, where he considered there was an excellent site. The suburban land was contiguous to the area selected for the town. During the years 1845-6-7 Capt. William Cargill and the Rev. Thomas Burns were unwearied in their efforts to promote the Scotch settlement. In February, 1846, Mr. Charles Henry Kettle, surveyor, arrived to take charge of the Otago surveys on behalf of the Company. The surveys were completed about June, 1847. In August of the same jear a public meeting was held in Glasgow to consider the scheme. At this meeting the Right Hon. Fox Maule was chairman. The scheme was fully discussed and Mr. John McGlashan was appointed secretary of the Edinburgh committee, and Dr. Alcorn secretary of the Glasgow committee. Both these gentlemen advertised the scheme as widely as possible and did all they could to promote emigration to Otago. It was pointed out that each steerage passage would cost so that for each property purchased two free passages would be allowed, including a full stipply of provisions. Great prominence was given to the fact that ample provision would be made in the new colon} 7 for religious and educational institutions. The published report of the Association distinctly pointed out that provision had been* made in the scheme for the establishment of an academy, and that a minister and a schoolmaster had been appointed. It was also pointed out by way of inducing people to embark in the undertaking " (1) That it offered a landed investment. (2) That the laud was believed to be of the finest quality in the country, picked land, selected by a surveyor of estab-

lished reputation and great experience with the quality of laud in New Zealand. (3) The locality of Otago after a very extended survey was carefully selected as the most eligible in an island containing 46 million acres, and all but uninhabited. (4) The climate to a British constitution is one of the finest and healthiest in the world. (5, -'he soil is rich, and productive to an extraordinary degree, and the country is entirely free from droughts and hot winds. (6) In the agricultural department, grain and green crops of the very finest quality and of all varieties are grown ; sheep and and cattle thrive there in a remarkable way ; they improve ill flesh and appearance from the moment they are landed from Sydney, and there is within and behind the Otago district a boundless expanse of rich open pasture lands, which the experience of some years past at Nelson and Port Cooper in the same island has proved to be capable of growing wool, vicing in quality with the wool of Australia itself. (7) In the fisheries, the minerals, the timber, cabinet woods, dye woods, flax, and other native products there are sources of wealth of great variety and abundance. (8) These great and manifold advantages, taken in connection with the peculiar plan and character of the colony, as embracing a provision for religious ordinances, schools, and a college, must be admitted to establish for the undertaking a claim — even apart from its bearing upon the great interests of Christianity —of the highest promise as a field for national enterprise, and a safe and good investment for capital."

Another report gave reasons for emigr tion in general, and to the colon} 7 of Otago in particular. "As to the inducements to emigration in general, and to the colony of Otago in particular, they may be shown both negatively and positively as referring either to the difficulties and hardships suffered by large classes of our own people at home, or to the greater facilities of acquiring the necessaries and conveniences of life to the higher rewards of labour and industry in the colonies. And when those inducements are taken together they must appear very strong, we think , to the great number of our own working classes and small capitalists. In verification of this we vrould only ask the men of those classes who are of middle age, who have grown-up or growing-up families, and who for the last 20 years or more have been fighting the battle to mainta n their position — to earn a decent livelihood for themselves and families — or perperhaps with laudable ambition, as it is called, to raise themselves in the world, or secure a competency for old age and the other accidents of life — we would ask these men to say whether the terrible struggle in which they themselves have during that time been engaged, with all it? harassing associations, corroding cares, and strong temptations, is one into which they would willingly plunge their inexperienced offspring ? If they have not found this struggle so deadening to their own moral sensibilities as well nigh to have blunted them altogether ? — so incessant in its calls on their time as to have left little or no leisure for higher or more serious things?" The i-eport then goes on to give inducements to emigrate.

" The inducements to emigrate, from the prospect of future advantage, are, first, the provision made in the scheme — and that for the first time in any British enter-

prise of the kind (with one, or perhaps two, exceptions of an early date) — for a Church and a stated Christian ministry, and for schools and teachers from the very outset, and for the increase and continuance of these institutions as the colony advances, which of themselves are sufficient to recommend this scheme above all of the same kind that have gone before it. There is also provision for a college, which, by the blessing of God, may in time be the means of diffusing more widely over the settlements of New Zealand and others around the inestimable privileges of a Christian ministry and of a Christian education. We do not mean here to enter at any length on the religious, educational and social merits of this scheme. Suffice it at present to say that the colonists from the beginning have their minister and schoolmaster among them ; that provision is made in the plan for supplying additional ministers and schoolmasters as the population increases ; that they will be governed locally from the first by municipal institutions chosen by themselves ; and that they will have among them persons of various grades, such as labourers, mechanics and capitalists — in short, an entire section of the middle and lower classes of the Home population. These are merits which can hardly be over-estimated in any scheme, but which have been unhappily neglected at the outset amongst all our colonising enterprises since the days of the ' Pilgrim Fathers, ' who showed themselves far more solicitous about their spiritual than their temporal wants, and in the midst of the severest hardships and privations maintained the internal and

public ordinances of religion, as well as the practice of the sacred duties of the family and the closet, with the most unfailing devotion — the effects of which, by the blessing of God, were light and truth and vital godliness among many generations of their posterity in New England. What, therefore, may we not hope from another British colony founded on the same principles in New Zealand for Britons now and their posterity, not only in that country, but in all those around it ? Everything, by the same blessing, which attended the labours of the ' Pilgrim Fathers,' if they set about it with but a part of the humble and prayerful spirit, the purity and piety of nature, and the indomitable courage of those eminently Christian men. Next to moral and religious instruction and superintendence, and sound mental culture, comes health of body — the first of earthly blessings. The great salubrity of the climate, its comparative freedom from disease, and its perfect adaptation to British constitutions will ensure for the colonists a higher average of health and longevity than they could under almost any circumstances enjoy in any part of their native country ; but this will be more markedly the case when the change from a life of severe toil to one of moderate labour — from hard and continued work, whether of mind or body (at?d that in an atmosphere altogether unfitted to support healthful and vigorous life) to that of salutary employment in the open air, in a delightful clima'e — from the oppressive vicissitudes and difficulties and the various competitions of both capital and labour, which must always prevail in a rich and over-peopled country, to one where there is abundant room and scope for all the men and all the money that may go to it for many years — and, in short, from all those causes which

at home are crowding our lunatic asylums and hospitals with insanity and disease ; are tripling the number of those hopeless acquired affections of the heart that render life a btirden, and generally bring it to a sudden and awful close ; and that are raising the rate of mortality in some of our large manufacturing towns and districts from 1%. or \% per cent, to 2.^ or even 3 per cent. — that is, almost double. This is a sad view of what most men are accustomed to call our wonderful improvements in the arts and sciences and our great advances in manufacturing and commercial prosperity , but even this gives no idea of the destructive nature of some employments, in which large masses of our people are engaged, to human life, or still more so to vigorous health and everything that deserves the name of true enjoyment of life; and what is more melancholy still is that all these causes are increasing, and are likely yet more and more to increase in the intensity of their action and to produce greatly more mischievous effects. These are truths which are as yet properly appreciated by few, but which must gradually force themselves (and we hope are already beginning to do so) 011 the attention of all thoughtful and benevolent men."

The above is but a sample of many articles issued from the press of the day, and scattered broadcast in pamphlet form. The two secretaries, Dr. Alcorn in Glasgow, and Mr. John McGlashan in Edinburgh, did all they could to induce the people to emigrate under the wing of the Otago Association. To those who enquired in person, Mr. McGlashan pictured the life of a colonist

in glowing colours, and impressed upon all who thought of going to New Zealand that they were going to a land flowing with milk and honey. They had but to reach forth their hands, he told them, to gather the wild fruits which a bountiful nature had furnished with lavish hands ; but the disgust of the children, whose mouths watered at the recital of the sanguine Edinburgh secretary, when, on reaching New Zealand, they found the wild fruits a myth, may be imagined better than described. But to a people who had been torn in the throes of religious dissension, the prospect of freedom to worship God in their own way was an inducement to emigrate, as strong as the impulse which sent the " Pilgrim Fathers "to the wild New England region. The " Pilgrim Fathers" of the Otago settlement were, many of them, men and women prepared to face hardship and danger for the sake of religious freedom. Many left the old land, it is true, under the erroneous impression that they were certain to become wealthy in the new land if they only got there at the start. Many of them did attain good positions, and became fairly wealthy, but to the greater proportion of the early colonists the new life they entered upon, apart from its freedom, was one of toil and hardship even greater than that of the life in the old land they had left behind. After much advertising and dissemination of reports upon New Zealand, a suffi-

cientnumber of people offered to justify the Association in despatching the first batch of emigrants for the new colony. Consequently the New Zealand Company advertised for tenders for a couple of vessels to cany the first body of emigrants, stipulating that one ship had to sail from Glasgow and the other from London. The ships John Wickliffe and PhMia Laing were selected. In November of the same year (1847) the first ballot for order of choice of land took place at New Zealand House, London. On the 23rd of November, 1847, the Fhilip Laing with the first batch of emigrants, numbering 247, sailed from Greenock. The Greenock Advertiser of that date gives the following account of the departure of the vessel : — " On Saturday a very interesting service was held on board the Philip Laing, 550 tons register, Captain Ellis, the vessel about to proceed with emigrants to the new colony of Otago. Our readers, we believe, are generally aware that this ship has been chartered by the court of Directors of the New Zealand Company to sail from Greenock with these passengers, who have been each selected with great caution after careful scrutiny and the production of most satisfac ory testimonials as to character and blameless life. Ample and suitable arrangements have been made by the Directors, who despatched here Mr. Alston, one of their officers, who has spared no pains to render the ship in

all respects suited for the important business on which she is employed, and his attention has been studiously directed to the proper fitting up of the vessel, and to the sufficiency and quality of the provisions. An able and experienced surgeon, Dr. Ramsay, has also been appointed, whose character and qualification are highly guaranteed, the latter by the certificate of the President of the Royal College of Surgeons. Care has also been taken of the moral and religious interests of the emigrants. The very valuable services of the Rev. Thomas Burns, formerly of Monkton, late of Portobello, have been secured, and we have no doubt he will be found not only an able and wise instructor, but a judicious adviser and a friend, the energy of whose character and example will render his counsels doubly valuable. The reverend gentleman is a nephew of our national bard, and a son of Gilbert Burns. The fact of the relationship can scarcely fail to form a constant and pleasing tie between the new settlement and the land to which one section of its population cannot fail to look back with feelings of affectionate interest. The only other official to whom we may allude is the schoolmaster, and we are glad to hear that the emigrants are to have the useful and impartial assistance in the work of training the young and instructing the less informed of a gentleman in every way qualified for his work. Mr. Blackie takes with him

high certificates of his ability and success. With all these inducements, provisions, and care, it could scarce be doubted that the passengers themselves would be people of a class very superior to what are generally found in emigrant vessels. And this is the case. About 250 proceed in the Philip Laing, and they generally, we may say entirely, present a clean, comfortable, and well-preserved appearance — so much so indeed as almost to make one regret that our own country should lose the benefits of the industries and energies of so many of her children ; but we must console ourselves with the hope that they are about to lay the foundation on the other side of the globe of a great empire, destined in the hands of Providence to assist the mother country and her other off shoots in spreading over the whole world the blessings of civilisation and Christianity." The ship being now ready for sea, a large party

assembled on board on Saturday at midday for the purpose of offering up prayers to God for the success of the voyage, their safe arrival at their destination, and for their comfort, prosperity, and happiness in the land of their adoption,"as well as to give them a few advices for their guidance on the voyage and iv the settlement. The Rev. Dr. McFarlan addressed the passengers at length on the duties that would devolve on them, the careful attention to which would promote their own happiness as well as that of those around them, and would secure as far as human means could the success of the colony.

" Mr. McGlashan, the secretary in Edinburgh of the Lay Association of the Free Church of Scotland for promoting the Otago settlement, then narrated at considerable length the various arrangements that had been made to secure the comfort and success of the colonists,

and these seem to have been made with consummate and intelligent forethought and liberalit}'. He alluded especially to the care that had been exercised in the appointment of the various officers connected with the undertaking, and to the liberal spirit which had been displayed by many who wished well to the colony. He mentioned particularly the handsome present to the library of the settlement of a copy of the Encyclopaedia Britannica by Lord Provost Black, of Edinburgh.

"We most cordially join in the wishes expressed for the welfare of the settlers and for the success of the novel and interesting experiment now being made. If we may judge by the appearance of the emigrants, we should sa} r that it cannot fail from want of energy on the part of those who are the pioneers of the great work, as a more hopeful body of passengers we have never seen on board any vessel. They go out well provided with the most perfect implements which the country affords for carrying on agricultural and handicraft operations, and altogether ready and prepared to do their part in the arduous work they have undertaken.

"The John Wicldiffe, of Greenock, sails this week from London for the same settlement, under Ihe charge of the New Zealand Company, and may be expected to arrive about the same time. Captain Cargill, the leader of the colony, goes out in that vessel. He is a descendant of Donald Cargill, well known to the readers of 'Scotch Worthies.' This gentleman is deeply imbued with the same spirit that actuated his ancestor. We believe that ship also carries with her a printing press, that important engine of civilisation."

Thus was the Philip Laing, the pioneer ship of the Otago settlement, sent forth upon her voyage, carrying with her the men and women who were to found a new colony in a savage land, hitherto scarcely known to the European race. But they were imbued with the right spirit, and set out on their perilous and tedious voyage, strong in the belief that by patience and industry they would be able to hew out for themselves homes in the wilderness, and to establish in the new land a well ordered realm, such as dwellers in the crowded cities and over-peopled districts of the Old Country never dreamed of. There was much iv the departure of the Philip Laing that resembled the departure 01 the Mayflmvw for New England in 1620. While thepro-pect that lay before them was not, perhaps, the buildine; up of an empire such as that which sprang from the first colonisation of America, }'et the pioneers of 1848 felt that on them lay the burden of founding a colony that was destined to be one of the not least important of the girdle of colonies which constitute "Greater Britain," and which mark the power and extent of that great empire upon which the sun never sets. There are those who at the present time sneer at Scotch piety ; but at any rate the people who formed the pioneer settlers of Otago were actuated by the right kind of spirit required

in men and women who were prepared to face hardship and toil, secure in the belief that their cause was righteous, and therefore bound to succeed. The earlier attempts at colonisation had not called together the same class of emigrants, as Colonel Wakefield was more anxious to get his first emigrants away than about the selection of them. We do not mean to infer that the northern settlers were an inferior class, but they were not actuated by the same motives as the Otago settlers. The northern settlers were more bent upon acquiring land and trading than upon founding a colony. The Otago pioneers on the other hand came prepared to establish a colony, in which the fullest provision was made for church and school, and one calculated to attract their friends and countrymen left behind. The sequel will show that in this they were not doomed to disappointment, and the Otago of to-day does no discredit to its founders.

The Philip Laing, with her precious freight of human beings, sailed from Greenock on November 23rd, but as she encountered severe storms at ihe very outset, she had to run for shelter to Milford Haven, whence she finally sailed on the 20th of December. About the time that the pioneer ships were to sail the committee of the Olago Association published a report, in which it vas set forth that "instructions had been sent out some months before the embarkation of the first party to have ready homes for their temporary accommodation, and till they should provide themselves with homes and provisions for the supply of their wants until they should have produce of their own. •It is hoped therefore that the first party will find themselves on arrival in circumstances of comparative comfort." A later report mentioned the departure ot the Victory with 32 and the lilundell with 150 settlers, including free emigrants. It also referred to numerous applications for free passages, but pointed out that no further free passages could be granted till such times as further sales of land had been made.

On the 24th of November the John Wickliffe, with 97 emigrants, sailed from Gravesend, but meeting with the same violent gales as her sister ship, she had to make for Portsmouth, and did not finally get away until the 24th of December. Their first experience of sea life, therefore, was not such as to impress the passengers on a crowded ship with the delights of a sea voyage, and did not augur well for the many da 3's that would have to be spent on the sea.