NEW ZEALAND HISTORY

Southland Times, Issue 17609, 25 March 1914, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND HISTORY

SIR FREDERICK WELD. ax interesting cook. i From Our Own Correspondent I. LONDON. February 1;:. 'The Dowager Lady l.ovat has written a biography of lior (list monished kinsman the late Sir Frederick Aloysins Weld, of Cltidcock Manor, Dorset. Sir Frederick, who was educated at StoiA - hurst College, founded hy his ancestor Thomas Weld, of Lnlworth C.'aslle, Dorsel, and at Freiburg. emigrated in 1544 to New Zeaalml. He was Llien in his -lTiul year, and embarked in pastoral pursuits. engaging meantime in much adventurous exploring work. Four years after his arrival in the colony Sir George Grey ottered Mr Weld a seat in the then wholly nominee Legislature. This, however, he declined, and took an active part in the agitation for representative institutions. So soon as they were conceded Mr Weld was elected to the Mouse of liepresentalives. In LS.VI he was made a member of the Exeeutive Council as one of the first Government which preceded the first responsible Ministry, and from November. 1860, was Minister for Native Affairs in the first Stafford Minis try until their defeat in July. IS6I. In November. I.SCI. Mr Weld became Premeir of New Zealand, holding during the greater part of Ills bare year of o’flicg the portfolio of Chief Secretary, Prior to the formation of his Ministry lie put forward, as the basis of his policy, the immediate withdrawal of all the Imperial troops and the future conduct of the war hy the colonists themselves, with the aid of tlie friendly tribes. This policy proved so successful as it was bold, and secured, not only the approval of die Governor and local legislature, but of the Imperial Government and Parliament. When Mr Weld came into office on lliis epoch-making occasion, the country was in a state of war: the general of tbe army and the Governor of the colony were a.t \ariance; escaped Maori prisoners bold a fortified position within sight of the capital: Government debentures were unsaleable, and the banks refused advances, whilst the colony was exposed to what seemed a. ruinous military expenditure, over which they virtually exercised no control. In the face of Kiese trophies the Fox-Wh itt.iker Government had resigned without meeting Parliament. Mr Weld proposed to carry oh the war hy small bodies of trained bush men, relying iitneli on Hie effect of pushing roads through the disturbed country. On these lines be succeeded in turning back the tide of war. Me advised ,a ml carried out the confiscation of fhe lands of the Waikato tribe, as a mark of its defeat. Me also sent an expedition of colonial troops to punish the murderers of the Rev. Mr Volkner. Mis administration not only dealt some effective strokes in war, but took measures for the establishment of peace. They opened Native Lund Courts, carried the Native Rights Bill (introduced by Mr Fitzgerald, tbe Minister for Native Affairs) and raised the question of native representation. To secure the unity of the colony they brought about the removal of the capital to 'Wellington, the site impartially selected by Commissioners from the Australian colonies. The credit of the colony was restored; the .finances, in the hands of Mr (afterwards - Sir) William Fitzhorhert, the Treasurer, wore placed on a better footing; the Panama line was subsidised: and electric telegraph cable was ordered to connect the two islands of New Zealand, and a scientific department was established under Dr (afterwards Sir) James Hector. In October, JSGii.. (lie Weld Government was defeated on a vote for defence purposes, and resigned, Mr Weld, whose health had broken down, going to England for rest and change. Such was the repute which his successful rule had gained with the Imperial authorities; that soon after his arrival there the Duke of Buckingham, then Secretary of State for the Colonies, expressed his intention of offering him a colonial governorship.- A Change of Ministry took place, but Earl Granville carried out tbe intention of bis predecessor, by appointing him Governor of Western .Australia. Under Mr Weld’s administration various Industrie's were developed; a

partially representative legislature was established: municipal institutions wore introduced; an Education Act was passed, which gave general satisfaction; a system was adopted which placed all religious denominations on a looting of equality. grants of land beiflg made by the Governor to all of them in proportion 10 their number. for churches, schools, glebes and charitable institutions; telegraph lines were constructed throughout the colony: steam communication was opened up along the coasts, so as to promote the settlement of various parts of the territory: and important explorations were successfully carried out by Sir .7 oh a Forrest. Two of M r Weld’s last acts a-s Governor of Western Australia were to cut the first sod of Ihe first Government railway, and to plant the first telegraph post of a line which ultimately connected Western Australia with Adelaide and the whole of Gastern Australia. In .January, 1875, Hr Wold was .appointed .Governor of Tasmania, where he remained till April, ISBO. when ho was knighted and appointed Governor of the Straits Settlements, a position which ho held till 1887, when ho retired from the colonial service on a pension. Sir Frederick, was created C.M.G. in 1875. K.C.M.G. in 1880, and G.C.M.G. in 3 885.