WAKEFIELD RECOLLECTIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2859, 30 December 1908, Page 9

WAKEFIELD RECOLLECTIONS.

THE PROPHET OF COLONISATION.

(From Ova Ows CoaHESPoNDfejT.)

LONDON, November 13.

One of the few survivors of the Wakefield family, Mr Edward Wakefield, lectured at tho Imperial Colonial Club a few nights ago on the prophet of colonisation, Edward 1 Gibbon Wakefleld. Colonel Harry Finn, C.8., who wa3 in the ohair, read a letter from Sir Frederick Young, X.C.M.6., president of the Royal Colonial Institute, expressing regret and* disappointment that he was prevented by a prior engagement from attending.

Mr Wakefield bagan by reminding hi»hearere that though the_value and significance of Edward Gibbon "\VakefieWs services to the Empire were only now beginning to be fullr recognised, mainly Ihrotiffh rile writing of the late Dr Ganiett and the devoted efforts of Sir Frederick Young, his life actually formed a link between our own time and the, eighteenth century. The speaker's own recollections ,of him, therefore, must of necessity bo confined to a fewyears of his childhood and boyhood, which were passed in close touch with his uncle at what might be called the culminating or triumphant etage of his career. He then gave a brief biographical sketch of Edward Gibbon Wakefield, his birth in St. James's square, March 20, 1769; his early training under his grandmother, Priacilla Wafcefielct, the authoress, and her sister Elizabeth Fry, the philanthropic Quakeress-; his turbulent schooldays at Westminster, his unhappy and caJamiious youth, and his finding his true mission, at the- appe of 30. as a social reformer and reorganiser of the colonial system of Empire. | Mr Wakefield described in graphic language what that system was under the scandalous old' regime, and tKs furioua ' hatreds and jealousies that were aroused the moment the officials found themselves' in danger of being deprived of t.be power, patronage, and plunder which they had . so lonp enjoyed at the expense of the ' colonists. He also explained in some detail the opposition the proposed reforms met with from the advocates of the inhuman practice of transportation, the missionary societies, and the landed aristocracy and clergy, as well as the several means adopted by Edwai'd Gibbon Wakefield in the course of a struggle lasting 20 years, for beating- it down or disarming it.

LETTERS AND PORTRAITS.

After soin-c account of the effect of the famous " Letter from Sydney " in 1829, the formation of the National Colonisation Society in 1830, " The Art of Colonisation " in 1833, " England and America " in 1834, the New Zealand Association in 1837, the foundation of South Australia, Lord Durham's Commission, and the memorable ''Report on the Affairs of North America," and the savjng of Now Zealand as a British colony, all in 1839-40, he came to his own reminiscences in connection with the foundation and early settlement of Canterbury, the Church of England colony, and the scenes at Wellington at tha time of the establishment of constitutional government and of the pacification of the Maoris, the two objects which Edward Gibbon Wakeficlfl had most, dearly at heart after his arrival in the colony.

From this point the narrative became largely personal, and the audience were deeply interested and touched by the story of the closing years of the great colonial reformer's life, himself a wreck and solitary sufferer, though surrounded by abundant evidence of success and high i achievement. Mr WakefieLd mentioned, ' at the conclusion of his address, that the bust of Edward Gibbon Wakefield in the vestibule of the Colonial Office in Downing !

street bears no resemblance to him. A' much better likeness is the life-size portrait, with the bloodhounds And beagle, by Landseer, in the Art Gallery of the liuseuin at Christchurch. There is noyr a movement for erecting a statue to his memory, but his own feeling is that tho only monument required already consists in the British Colonial Empire, which, i£ the principles of tho founders are steadfastly adhered to, will endure for all time, j and grow stronger and fairer by the lajW I of each succeeding century. /