VI. FIRST DISTRIBUTION OF SECTIONS, APRIL 1842.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14539, 17 October 1917, Page 3 (Supplement)

VI. FIRST DISTRIBUTION OF SECTIONS, APRIL 1842.

Although the Preliminary Expedition preceded the land purchasers and emigrants by five or six months, the latter found on their arrival that the surveys were in a very backward condition, and very little land ° was ready |or allotment. The survey of the town lots 'was not completed, and it was not until April 11th that .the first distribution actually commenced, and it took five days to complete the work. The attendance each day was numerous,, and the interest excited naturally very great. On tho first day the choices were mostly towards the Haven, ;so as to secure beach frontages. The first section chosen was No. 11 on the ; smjey plan,. , That was the acre on which ■ the ■company's offices - had been erected, and also the" hospital for nn- ; migrants.. Among the early selections was the acre on Haven road on which a coal seam had been found, two of the acres on Fifeshire Island, and the range of acres -extending along the beach. Mr Thompson, the police magistrate, and Mr TucTcett, the chief surveyor, selected the sections reserved for the Maoris, and secured some of the best.

On the second day the tendency of choice was towards the centre of' the town, and all sections in the neighbourhood of Trafalgar square were eagerly sought after. The acres in the Wood came next in order of- appreciation. On the third day the acres ranging along the Sttle valley k.nown then by the name of "Poisoned Valley" were amongst the earliest selections.

On the fourth day corner sections in Toi Toi Valley were the first chosen, and after that tho tendency of choice was towards the little valleys on <6he right of the Waimea road near Hampden Terrace and Emanu street (now Emano street). On the fifth day the excitement had collapsed and the few sections now remaining to be chosen were selected in various parts of the town.

NAMING THE STREETS

There had ?;«en some noise made a month before with .reference to street nomenclature. Public meetings were called and a committee appointed for the purpose of ascertaining the wishes of the irihabihants. At the first meeting it was proposed that "no names be selected which will serve to perpetuate the recollection of Copenhagen." But an amendment was carried by S to 3 "that the reserve for the barracks and parade ground be called Copenhagen Mount." Finally it was resolved;, after hot debate, that the committee proceed in tne first instance to choose names to commemorate the career of Nelson, and the. succeeding names be.attihe discretion of the committee.

The necessity for a road to the Port was recognised, and the work was put in hand without delay, and by the end of March it was making good progress.

TRAFALGAR STREET DYKE.

The most important work was the cutting of the Trafalgar street dyke ox ditch to carry off the water which must descend from the hills during the winter. The company's agent made arrangements for cutting this large ditch, the water from which would run into tne river, and serve as an outlet for the drains which it would he necessary to cut in various directions. The ditch was completed, and was long one of the most noticeable, as it was one of the most useful, artificial constructions in the town, but there is no sign of it left now. (Pity the company's agent is not about now; he might devise some means of getting the flood water away from Wainifia and Lower Vanguard streets.—'-'Vanguard.")