EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF SOUTHLAND

Southland Times, Issue 24003, 19 December 1939, Page 14

EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF SOUTHLAND

Progress Recorded In Newspaper Articles Of 1850-60

[SPECIALLY WRITTEN FOR THE SOUTHLAND TIMES]

By

H. BEATTIE

SOMETIMES it has been my privilege to write about the progress of the southern districts as described by pioneer lips, but in this article it is my idea to outline some of that progress as seen by newspaper men in early Dunedin or by correspondents living in early Invercargill, using only material that has not been previously utilized by me in any of my numerous contributions on historical subjects.

The Otago Witness of July 11, 1857, contains a very long editorial entitled “Descriptive Sketch of the Province.” References are made to the south and give a fair idea of what view was held in Dunedin circles of the prospective potentialities of Southland. The editor writes: “We may premise our remarks by stating that the province of Otago is the most southerly portion of the middle island of New Zealand —that it comprises the whole of the country south of the Waitaki river, and its area has been roughly estimated at from 16,000,000 to 20,000,000 square miles.” May I be permitted here to interrupt the flow of editorial inspiration by saying that the area so denominated would be considerably larger than the whole British Empire and that the worthy editor evidently means “acres.” Transport Difficulty AND now let the editor resume his facile pen. He further writes: “Of the interior of this extensive tract of country but little is known, and even the colonists of the province who have resided in the country for nearly 10 years, were, until the publication of the very able report of the chief surveyor, generally in ignorance of the nature of much of the southern country within comparatively a short distance of the coast .... Beyond the Tokomairiro, the available country becomes more extensive and undulating;

but, however well the country may be adapted to the growth of crops, cultivation with the view to send produce to market may be said to cease, in consequence of the difficulties of carriage. The settlers are therefore generally scattered, sometimes within short distances —thus forming the nuclei of future villages; and the occupation of the inhabitants chiefly consists in the rearing of stock on a small scale. Further south the country is taken up in sheep and cattle runs. Our readers will find that the report of Mr Thomson contains so full and lucid a description of the country beyond the limits of Mataura, that it is unnecessary for us to attempt to describe it.”

The two reports by J. T. Thomson were published in The Otago Witness in 1857. They are well written, very comprehensive and very long and give one an excellent idea of Otago and its resources. One was on Central Otago and the other on Murihiku and they occupied several news sheets of small print. The one on the southern districts was reprinted in the Jubilee number of The Southland Times in 1912.

Intending Farmers fpHE Otago Witness of March 13, 1858, 1 published the following local: “The Southern Country.—We have to direct the attention of those persons who have lately arrived among us to the capabilities of the southern districts of the province. From the various reports of the country round Invercargill and Jacob’s River, it appears to be admirably suited to the settlement of small farmers. Wood is abundant, and scattered over the country in such a way as to render it easy for persons of small means to acquire eligible sites for residences with abundance of good land. We are further informed that there is a considerable demand for labour at Invercargill, and at the south generally; carpenters are scarce, and there is not a blacksmith there, so we have no doubt that a good opening to anyone of that trade might be found; and the supply of labour is so scanty, that the local Road Board finds it difficult to expend the small sum which the Government has been enabled to place at its disposal for public works in that district.” The above is a very fair statement of the situation in the south.

Soon after it was written a blacksmith came to Invercargill and a few carpenters and additional settlers appeared. The Otago Witness of March 27, 1858, has an editorial “Our Tenth Anniversary.” Speaking of the way settlement had progressed it says: “Up to 1852 little had been done towards settling the Tokomairiro and Clutha districts. A few settlers were scattered in these outlying districts, but even then it was commonly considered rather a hazardous journey, either to the Clutha or Waikouaiti without a guide. Beyond the Clutha was a terra incognito until 1854. Now, drays pass without impediment from Dunedin far beyond the Clutha river. From Waitaki to Jacob’s River is an everyday journey. A weekly post to the Clutha and fortnightly to Invercargill on the one side, and the Waitaki on the other, tells of vastly improved internal communication. And with our increase of numbers and improved means of communication, there has been more than a proportional increase of material wealth and produce.' The amount of land purchased, the flocks of sheep, now penetrating far into the interior, the herds of cattle and horses in the older settled districts, the extent of cultivation, the improved habitations of the country settlers, the luxuries provided by the store keepers—all be-

speak an increase of wealth and comfort . . . . Our space will not permit us to enlarge on the present elements of future greatness in our province, on our present duties, or future aims. Suffice it to say, that if we be true to ourselves, our country, and our God, our progress during the next, will far surpass that of the last, 10 years.” Needless to say Southland had not 10 years progress to look back upon—three years would be nearer the mark. It is a good summary of the general progress of al] Otago from 1848 to 1858. Southern Ideas TO show the progress being made by the south and the southerners the following report from The Otago Witness of September 11, 1858, is interesting:— “Meeting at Invercargill.—We observe from our contemporary that a meeting took place at Invercargill on Tuesday evening for the purpose of affording an opportunity for the expression of public opinion on the effort initiated by the Queen for giving the whole of the province the benefit of steam communication. About 20 gentlemen, including the principal inhabitants of Invercargill, sat down to a supper at the

Royal Hotel, which, although provided at only a few hours’ notice, reflected great credit on the host, Mr Hughes. Captain Elies occupied the chair, Mr McFarlane officiating as croupier. After the usual loyal toasts, “the health of Mr Macandrew,” “Captain Wilson and success to the Queen,” “Our Visitors,” “The Press,” “The Pastoral Interest,” “The Mercantile Interest,” “Captain Elies and Family,” etc., etc., were proposed and responded to; after which the following resolutions were carried by acclamation:—Moved by Mr McFarlane, seconded by Mr Wilson, of Hokonui: ‘That this meeting is desirous to express its deep sense of gratitude to Mr James Macandrew, as the indefatigable promoter of steam communication between Invercargill and Dunedin; and its satisfaction in regard to the liberal views which suggested, and the energy which has brought it into operation.’ Moved by Mr Blacklock, seconded by Mr Calder: ‘That this meeting, being fully assured that the Government, ever anxious to forward the interests of every part of the province, will hail with pleasure the opportunity of advancing so important a district, by ensuring the continuance of steam, to gain which most desirable end it will be necessary to subsidize steamers for the inter-colonial as well

as the inter-provincial trade, trusts that the Government will not let slip so evidently an advantageous an opportunity as the arrival of the Queen in this province presents.’ Moved by Captain Elies, seconded by Mr Grieve: ‘That a committee be formed to prepare a memorial to the Provincial Government urging it to secure the important advantages, now offered; and to obtain signatures to such a memorial in time for transmission by the next mail.’ ” Word of Caution AN editorial in The Otago Witness of December 4, 1858, dealt with the outlook of the evidently fastapproaching conflict between the pastoral and agricultural interests. It appears there were growing demands that land occupied in various accessible spots as sheep-runs should be declared into hundreds and thrown open for sale. The Witness considered such a course premature as the existing hundreds were not fully occupied. It says:— “The existing hundreds extend along the coastline from Blueskin to the Nuggets, and from Toi Toies to Jacob’s River—presenting a vast extent of agricultural country, of which we venture to say not one-third of the portion available for agriculture is yet purchased for that purpose, and not onetenth of what is purchased is actually in cultivation. Putting aside the Taieri, Waihola and Tokomairiro districts as pretty well bought up (though there are good farms yet to be had in these), look at the magnificent tract of agricultural land in the Clutha district, and in the Oteramika, Invercargill, New River and Jacobs River Hundreds. Until these are much more thickly settled, there can exist no plea of necessity for throwing a further supply of agricultural land into the market. It may be urged that the fine soil and superior climate of the northern district renders it much better adapted for agriculture than the more southern districts. Without at all disparaging the northern district we would remark that there are other elements besides good soil and good climate as intimately connected as these with the adaptation of a coun- I try for agricultural pursuits. Facili- j

ties for the export of produce from the southern districts are greater than from the northern district, and with steam will be vastly increased; and the bush, that great necessary for fencing, building, firewood, etc., is far more extensively distributed in the south than in the north.” Summaries for Home ON March 24, 1860, The Otago Witness published a leading article (a summary for Home) on the 12th anniversary of Otago which contains a good account of Dunedin in 1848 and 1849. It is very interesting but too long to quote except one -item:—“But if the progress made in Dunedin is surprising, that made in the country is yet more so. At the end of the first year Dunedin was, we may say, all Otago. Now, the Town of Invercargill considerably exceeds what Dunedin then was; and the Taieri and Tokomairiro can boast of a larger population than the capital then did.” Two months later the summary for Home says:—“lmprovements are not confined to Dunedin alone—clearing, fencing and cultivating have been proceeded with rapidly, and our southern capital has lately made, and is making, rapil strides. It has its metalled main street, and substantial buildings are rising up on all sides. It has its new Land Office, and when the funds appropriated at the last session have been expended, and when the jetty is built, Invercargill will be an important place. Already more progress has been made in some respects there in two years, than was accomplished in Dunedin in six or seven from its foundation; and it will be seen from the appropriation for the ensuing six months that the public works both there and throughout the province will be extensive and beneficial.” A leading article on “The Progress of Otago” on November 3, 1860, said:— “Our public works have hitherto been chiefly confined to the towns of Dunedin and Invercargill, but new towns are springing up which will demand the attention of the Government, and which, by competing with the older towns of Dunedin and Invercargill, prevent their growing at the extraordinary rapidity with which their

progress has lately been marked. Invercargill is now a considerable place, as may be judged when we state that town sections in the best places of business let at an annual rent of £1 per foot frontage.” Continued Progress IN the foregoing descriptions of the progress made in Murihiku in the years from 1856 to 1860 we see the tiny seed planted which was late to grow to a very considerable tree. The end of 1860 marks the end of a period in the development of Otago and Murihiku—the old orderly period when the population was slowly growing as the few ships from Home brought small batches of immigrants here. Now we come to the time when the discovery of payable goldfields brought a sudden influx of people into southern New Zealand and boomed the prosperity of the south ahead in a manner that caused the “old identities” to look on with wonder and sometimes with < perplexity and disapproval. The “ nev < iniquities” came in like a flood and completely revolutionized the old standards of a slow but steady growth until maturity. Mushroom towns sprang up, tracks were formed into hitherto un-' roaded wildernesses, the older settlements increased rapidly in size ana importance, runholders got great prices for stock, farms increased in value, in numbers and in productivity and the wave of prosperity embraced all. Although it may be regarded as a boom time that could not last there is little doubt that the five years of activity in gold rushes did more to develop Otago and Southland than.'so years of the old way would have doi.e. Even after the alluvial diggings were mostly played out a number of people were left in many places to which they would not have penetrated until decades later in the ordinary course of events and this helped the country.