JUNIORS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 December 1926, Page 2 (Supplement)

JUNIORS.

FIRST PRIZE. (By W. S. Thomson, Form IVb.) Age: 15 years, 6 months. It was by no stroke of luck or fortune that the spot where New Plymouth now stands was chosen. No vessel met its fate on the rocky coast: no stories of fabulous wealth incited adventurers to come, but New Plymouth was the choice of a man of remarkable foresight, a man who perceived that the stretch of undulating, bush-cllad land surrounding it would one day be one of the most productive centres in New Zealand. With a view to finding a spot to establish a settlement for the New Zealand Company, Mr. F. A. Carrington was sent out as surveyor, and on his decision rested the fate of many people who were leaving everything to go to a wild, uncivilised country 11,000 miles away. His choice was restricted- to two areas, namely, the land surrounding Queen Charlotte Sound —with a beautiful landlocked harbour, but with barren, uninviting country—or New Plymouth. Along the coast, about this place, stretched areas of beautiful fertile land, but there was no semblance of a harbour or an inviting spot to build one. With due consideration Mr. Carrington chose New Plymouth, for he said that, given enough money and good direction a harbour could be constructed, but no amount of human energy could convert barren country into fertile, productive land. On February 12. 1841, the barque Brougham dropped anchor off New’ Plymouth at precisely the spot where the harbour now is, and on board this vessel were the surveying party under tho direction and management of Mr. Carrington. He decided that the town could be built between the rivers Te Henui and Huatoki, and, after almost 86 years we find that this is now lhe centre of the town, and Mr. Carrington’s decision has been strictly adhered to in the laying out of the town.

It was the intention of Colonel Wakefield to establish the town at the spot where the harbour now is, but Mr. Car. rington reported against this because there was little fresh water there, wood was scarce, the land wits intercepted by private claims, and lastly, the undesirability of having dwellings near a whaling station was against it. The surveyors carried out their work with every success, and on the morning of March 31, the William Bryan was sighted off the settlement, bringing the first contingent of settlers. With the limited time at their disposal the. surveyors had not been able to prepare accommodation for so many people, who numbered 148, and sleeping- shelter could only be had for women and children. Almost immediately work was commenced. The scrub was cut back, and ft large shed, to be used as a store, was erected. In June, 1841, the first genera! store was opened and built under tile ownership of Mi'. R. Brown. About this time also goats of a good milking strain were introduced, and one individual, having surplus supplies of milk, set up the first milk run in Taranaki. This was thus the foundation of what is now Taranaki great primary industry. Owing to there being no adequate harbour all goods were loaded and unloaded per medium of surf boats. This was very risky and owners refused to Send their Craft here, with the prohibitive prices which they asked seemed'to suggest that (lie evacuation of the settlement was near at hand. On September 3 the Amelia Thompson was Sighted, aiid (his was of genuine delight to the settlers, for the vessel was long overdue and

good supplies were low. The prospective settlers, too, were glad to reach terra firma after a long, tedious journey, rendered more wearisome by days spent off New Zealand before their destination was decided upon. With the coming of these hardy people something was done in the way of providing a harbour so as to retrieve the good name which the settlement had lost. In 1844 the first land troubles arose between pakeha and Maori. This was due to the decision of Governor Fitzroy to give back to the natives large tracts of land which the New Zealand Company had illegally bought, with the aid of Mr. Richard Barrett as interpreter. This caused many people to evacuate their holdings in this district, and much disappointment was thereby incurred, and a state of despondency existed until 1850. From 1841 to 1844 was regarded by the pioneers as a “golden age,” and tlie wave of prosperity gladdened the heart of many a man. As a result of the land troubles Governor Fitzroy decided to shift the settlement to North Auckland, and- he induced many settlers to leave,, but the majority remained, and tiie. crisis was successfully weathered. . . Better days seemed at hand when the New Zealand Company decided to reopen immigration, and in 1850 men, made doubly welcome because they were capitalists, arrived. They were . splendid men, hale and hearty, a. characteristic of the people of Devon and Cornwall, and, with grim determination and grit they attacked the bush-clad slopes which extended right to where the Boys’ High School now stands, with a tenacity of panqiose whic-h presaged success. The Government also opened a block of land, including the Bell, Grey and Omata Blocks. A state of prosperity and peace existed until 1860, and the rush to the Australian goldfields opened up a splendid market in Sydney for-New Plymouth produce, and this necessitated tlic running of a regular boat service. But these hallcyon days were soon to be rudely interrupted, and the settle, ment received one of the greatest setbacks which it is possible to subject a colony to—war. Very soon the "sound of war's great organ filled the sky,” and the settlers were destined to have their dwellings fired on by an enemy who used the bush as their stronghold and used it cunningly. They were driven time and again to the stockades and the blockhouses, and many of the women and children were sent to Nelson to be away from the strife and battle.