WHEN OTAGO WAS YOUNG

Otago Witness, Issue 2856, 9 December 1908, Page 15

WHEN OTAGO WAS YOUNG

A RAMBLE IN THE EARLY SETTLERS' MUSEUM.

We who live in NSw Zealand as it is to-day, and enjoy the privileges tha* advanced civilisation confers, are apt to forget the New Zealand of yesterday. We travel rapidly about in trams and express trains and motor pare, and do not think that only 60 years ago the means of locomotion that Nature gives us mu9fo have served. - We wander into almost any part of the country, assured of finding the habitations of persons like ouiselves, and ordinary comforts, forgetting that long after the nineteenth century dawned those smiling, fertile plains over which we journey were lonely wildernesses of tussock and 3ax and manuka swamp, and the haunt of savages who fought and slew and ate each other. We spend much in the clothing of our persons, and assiduously ape the dresses of the fashionmongers of the Old World, and do not consider the fact that half a century ago the population of New Zealand was satisfied with the style of habiliment that had pleased its parents and its grand-parents; and we are prone to pass in the street, without a glance, the pioneers who came to these islands in the days when their youth was upon them, and who were fighting the wilderness for a home •when Britain and France were at deathgrips with Russia on ihc shore* of the •Black Sea, and. the besieged of Lueknqw were awaiting tihe coming of Sir Colin Campbell's Highlanders. Rugged, sturdy people yet, these pioneers, but their 6trottg forms are bent now, and their hair whitened under the weight of many,' many years of hard, .strenuous toil. These are the people who, in the '40's and the early '5C"s, full of^high hopes and the spirit of ceaseless endeavour, left their homes and their kin and ventured away into the. unknown South Seas, and by their industry, honesty, and sobriety' gave "New Zealand a. claim to be called " Gods-O wn Country." It is these who, by personal sacrifice, laid the foundation of a young and rapidlygrowing nation, whom a younger generation is often inclined to treat with care- . lessness and a lack of. consideration, forgetting how much is due to them. In view of all this, then, it is good to find in Dunedin, unostentatiously placed at the bottom of Lower High street, a building that stands as a memento of the particular early colonists who -carved Otago into a verdant, vigorous" copy of the land they had left, and to find, in that building a museum that is rapidly being filled with .articles of intimate personal interest to all of the surviving amigrante who arrived* in; ■the colony immediately before and after the year I£5(F. and also of/ decided interest 'to any New Zealandar who seeks to.-learn. something of the early history of his country,. In it photographs, documents, pictures, and articles that have been of, domestic or personal use speak mutely of the struggles and hardship* and makeshifts of the people landed in an uncivil isecT and remote corner of the globe, and, more eloquently than, spaech or booki, spell lengthy praise (o " the early settlers." The presiding genie of this small collection of curios and memories is Mfc L. Langlands, himself an old pioneer, one time postmaster of Dunedin, and the only surviving member of the shipload of emigrants brought out by the Victory in 1848. To, him went a pressman, and by him the latter was conducted 1 over the museum. Right over the doorway admitting the visitor to the well-lighted 45ft by 45ft hall which constitutes the museum is a model of the emigrant ship Philip Laing. As every Otago man knows, this vessel was i v i 3 second of four which arrived at Port Chalmers with a portion of the settlement party sent out by the Free Church of Scotland, being preceded by 23 days by the John Wickliffe. Inside the door, to the right, is a l*rge framed document that Mr, Langlands declared hfl obtained for the collection only after- tremendous: difficulty— it '1$ one of- those souvenirs struck oft to. commemorAte the fiftieth anniversary of Queen "vUctoria^s accession to the British throne, and it contains a very great deal of infornialion relating to, Nevn Zealand and its people, described poetically, as "a sea.-girt fortress for a southern world, manned by. the scions of a noble race." On the wail near thi* were pictures; portraits, and cartoons. There was one or " Sandy " Low, town crier for Dunedin in 1860, and the greatest practical joker of hi 3 day. Mr Langlands told, with relish, a little story concerning " Sandy."' The Governor was hourly expected, to arrive in Dunedin on an official visit to the growing little town, and everyone, including the Volunteers, was on the gui vive. The Volunteers were in camp, and they were to turn out and line up on the firing of a big yun, which wrs ready leaded. About 2 o'clock a.m. the tjun was suddenly firod, the town woke up, and the Voluntoors quickly mo\ed to their appointed plac-i. Then it was discovered that the landscape •did not contain a Go\ernor, or any suggestion of one, and the annoyed people of Dunedin inquired anxiously for the person who had fired the gun He was never found, but there were those who shrewdly suspected the humorous tendencies of honest " Sandy " I>ow. Another wellknown character of the early days, a siwtch of whom is shown, was " Jock " Graham. He was a- fine specimen of manhood, a typical pioneer, and he was- the, first niailman between Dunedin and Invercargill: Hail, sunshine, wind or snow. — it was all the same to "Jock," on whose arrival the settlers in the remote back-country could count a-s they looked for the new moon. He stood for election to the Provincial Council *ai occasions, but, like many better men and worse, was never success^ ful. Yet another cartoon depicts Police Sergeant- major Bc\ in arresting the Rev. Dr Stuart, of Knox Church. The worthy doctor was going to bed one night, when he suddenly remembered the need of a sick woman, who was without bedding. Ho stripped the mattress from hi« own bed, threw it over his head, and <ci off with it for the home of the distressed one. flitting noivjlessly along ' amid the shadows of a main street. Thus was he discovered by lhe \:t;il.-int sergeant-major, .who gave chase, and accosted the divine. '' Here." he said, believing he had a thief, l 'don"t be in such a hurry. You've got to come along with mo." The astonished doctor stopped, pushed his head out from among the folds of the mattress, and stared at the policeman. ' Surprise, explanation, and apology ended by the constable taking the bedding on his own broad shoulders and carrying it to its destination. The n-sxt article of interest was a plain deal sofa, rough in appearance -and a little

loose about the Joints, but still a useful enough articled It was made of kowhai in 1852 by a gentleman who was afterwards a judge of the Supreme Court (Mr T. B. Gillies), and the only tools he used were a pocket linife and an American axe. Next tothia was a file of the Otago Witness and all around were photographs innumerable*^ There was one of General Sir Hector Mac-" donald, which Mr LanglandS- regarded lovingly. "Fighting Mac"* had once been the guest of the Early Settlers' Association, j and his kmdly, genial manner had endeared him to the hearts of thousands of the rugged 1 old pioneers. Among the pictures of thousands of. " old identities " was one ' of Captain Williams, a hardy mariner who, so long ago aY 1829", was whaling in Preservation Inlet.

A photographic view of a gathering under the auspice^ of the Caledonian Society was interesting. The society of that day, if young, was energetic, and its annual gatherings were landmarks in the history of the youthful province, the whole population of Otago turning out to them. The picture in question displayed a feature of a sports meeting that in these days of rigorous licensing^ laws and anti- liquor agitation is not possible. Along one side of the ground there appear no less than ltf drinking- bars, eaoh bearing 1 big signs and a comfortable appearance, and we are told that drunkenness was not apparent in those days, nor did the prosperity of the district suffer.

Standing by itself is a. barrel organ, brought out in the Dominion by Dr Richardson in 1851, for use in the Episcopalian Church of that time. It was for many 3 ears a useful instrument, but now, though still capable of making good music, has, from ite appearance probably, been relegated to the museum. Near it is a piano, made in the early sixties by Mr Charles Begg from New Zealand wood. This instrument, in- appearance, would not disgrace any drawing room, and its tone is unimpaired. Near this part of the hall is a photograph of the Provincial Council of 1871, of which there arc to-day onh two members alive- — Messrs Horace Bastings and Donald Reid.

A large bookcase contains articles that would rouse the covetousness of the moat virtuous bibliophile. First, there is a big, black, bartered Bible, which was printed in 1670. Apart from its- age, special interest attaches to this book insomuch that it was the property of the Rev. Donald Cargill', an ancestor of Captain William Cargill, the first leader of the settlement. The Rev. Donald Cargill was a " Covenanter," and was martyred for- hie faith at the Grassmarket, Edinburgh, in 1631. The Bible in question was die identical book from which he preached, and, therefore, the vehicle of hie unhappy fate. Among its leaves are many annotations in old, crabbed handwriting, and many ancient wood-prints. The pages in places .are black and crackling from age — a truly interesting old. volume. There are, also, a score of other books with histories or contents as interesting, and among these one may find much, that is interesting concerning- the very early history of one's province. Cleaving the books, one finds nothing but photographs— photographs everywhere. Particularly interesting, are . those of Dunedin. in ite infancy, and so many are there fchftt one may almost trace the yearly growth of the town from- its hamlet days to the present, when it is called a city. One can see the town climbing up on to the hill and out on to the harbour : and one can note the slow but steady progress- of. the reclamation works. A photograph of Messrs Thomson and Co.'s business premises in ]£76 shows the foreshore within a few yards ; a modern view of the firm's premises, on the same site, shows the harbour water a half-mile away from the cordial factory. There are, too, fch-o photographs of scores of the very earliest settlers, and among them one recognises many who are the leaders among us to-day.

Further on, in a couple of cases, one's Attention is riveted by the sight of a number, of interesting papers and document*. There is displayed a facsimile of the Treaty of Waitongi> by which the Maori chiefs placed- themselves under the protection of die British, and the most casual examiner cannot fail tp feel tickled at the sight of the long line of signatures appended. They are grotesque things, these signatures. One always, sees something funny in '" Bill Smith, his mark"; but Bin Smith's humble cross is a 6 nothing to the weird" specimens of totem drawing executed by the warrior chiefs who practically ceded a young, untamed country to the British Crown. Here, also, is shown a copy of the first Otago newspaper— the CH&go New 9 , of May 30, 1849. It i« a pretentious- looking sheet, "published every alternate Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock." It bears this notto: "There's pippins and cheese to coniL-."' It contains a market report, of which the following will be interesting to h<m<=ev.ives: — Beef, 7d ; bread (41b), 10(1 ; butter 2s, flour (1001b), £1; milk (quart), 4d; potato"-, per ton £3 10?; sugar, 7£d ; U-.\, 2-,: cow-. £14 14^; bullocks, £20. Wairc^. Mf-haiuc- 5 . 5^ . labourers 3s per ilay. A hitter answer thm that to the m-freaseil-c-rst-of-ln iri i< wail could not be foui.d. Tliore ;ire other lnterpMing iplic^ proeer\ed heie. in tho of psi'-ona.l and buMn^^s letters, included :ir- oiig them being Captain CargiU's po..<n of atiornej, given him by the New Zealand C'ompanv Here, tro. are registered lctiei ifcfipicivrn in 1856 by (curiously enough) Mr Laiiglan<l<», the acting po&lma-ter. Bank note* have a place in the collrcuon, and there are shown one of thot3. of :i \alue of £1 each, issued by one John -loncs, payable at Uunedui or Waikouaiti. A memo, attached .->om<Jtmn<r for the signatory : "With Mr Jones's signature attached the note was as safe as if i^ued b\ tho Bank of England." In a corner ie an ancient grandfather's clock which, to one who knows anything of timepieces, is interesting. The case, it appears, wa*> mado by John Hill, the first Dunedin cabinetmaker, but tho works axe very ancient — so ancient that the dial bears only an hour hand, having been made before minute hands were known. Aji idea of the age of this clock may be gained by a description of another clock displayed in this museum. This is one of those round-faced octagonal, weight-driven instruments railed, in homely phrase, " Wag at tho wa' " clocks, and it has been 60 year* in New Zealand. It is known to ha\e been m the family that presented it to the museum for 100 years before coming to New Zealand, and it is still a reliable timepiece— and it has two handa. Solitary and alone, th"-re is a. large red chair on' exhibition. This, it seemp, was first used on the 3rd June, 1851. by his Honor Mr Ju~tire Sydney Stephen, Otago 's first Supreme Court judge. Since then it has held many judges but was pcn*ianetl off a few \ear.- mzg by Mr Justice Williams.

f A judge in the' early days had little to do, his -chief business being meting out ' punishment to runaway- sailors — and the sailors did not fare badly at all. The gaoler would occasionally let the prisoners J ou^ for an airing, with instructions .. that I thej were not to wander too faraway," and j weft to be back for *i3JXs%*B&g, otherwise 1 thej would be locked 6nbh %: The truth of fhi£ story wa* vouched for, and the press- , man's informant solemnly alleged that the I "prisoners" were not once late. The I chair is still a solid-looking piece of furniture, thqugh the t wocden crown at :he i back of it' is chipped, and the horsehair is [ showing in places. Its- presence in the museum ii one of the triumphs of Mr Langland's life. The^ museum is his pet hobby, and when he gets on to the trail of a curio his audacity and tenacity, as he him- • self observed, pass all- underbtanding. He I approached the Registrar -t>f the Supreme I Court about, the chair, and the latter, re-" ferxed him to the Public Works Depart- - S ment. The Public Works Department deliberated solemnlj' over the matter, and then declared that the registrar was the person with jurisdiction. The registrar 1 was sure that the Public Works people were those who should adjudicate in 60 portentous a matter — and then Mr Langlandp, in desperation, wrote direct to the Minister of Justice. The latter, with parley, gave him the chair.

Then there are afso shown the seats and desks that accommodated the Provincial Council for many years, a mirror from a bulkhead of the old Philip Laing, a churn made from a ship's meat cask, a christening bowl used by Dr Burns in the first days* of the settlement, and a great rusty harpoon with this legend attached : " Used by whalers to- tickle whales into a state of blissful rest, so xs to make their capture more easy." Among other reminiscent exhibits are the flail that threshed the first crop of wheat grown in the Taieri, the flail being made and the wheat grown by Mr Francis M'Diarmid, Woodside, West Taieri, passenger per Philip Laing in 1848; aJso two pictures^ one of the steamer A] ham bra, 238 tons/ that brought so many passengers in the early sixties, and the other one of the Canadian Pacific line, 6000 tons, showing the difference between now and then.

That is a- -brief, very brief, description of the museum in the Early Settlers' Hall, — and the half is not told. It is an institution where the 6ee-fcex Sfter knowledge, the idle, or the ourious, may spend many profitable hours, and it is a fitting memorial to one of*-tne finest of the many devoted bands of men and women who have built up the greatest Empire the world has ever seen.