Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, MARCH 31, 1890.

To-day is the Forty-ninth anniversary of the first ship with immigrants | arriving at Taranaki ; and next year we shall be able to celebrate the Jubilee of the Settlement. No district has passed through more vicissitudes, no portion of the colony has a more romantic historical record than the early years of the settlement of Taranaki. From the first day the "pilgrim fathers " landed on these shores there seems to have been some fatality respecting the progress of this district. The earljr settlers, however, remained true lo the Province iv which they had built theiv homes. For the first nineteen years, notwithstanding the impediment put in the way of the immigrants settling on the land, the people made some little progress. The original plan of the settlement consisted of 550 acres of town land, divided into 2200 quarteracre sections. The town was surrounded by 10,480 acres of suburban land, divided into 209 sections of 50 acres each ; and outside were 57,500 acres of rural land divided into 1150 sections, making a total or l>«,000 acres, of whioh one-tenth was reserved for the natives. However, difficulties arose between the Maoris and the New Zealand Company about the land purchases of the colony, and Mr Commissioner Spain was sent from England to investigate the matter; and with regard to the disputed land of the New Plymouth Settlement, the Commissioner reduced the quantity purchased, awarding only 60,000 acres. After encountering innumerable difficulties, we find that at the e,nd of the first seven years there were 1137 persons in the place, 566 being adults and 571 children. The settlers in 1848 owned 2103£ acres of cultivated land, of which 7(5G£ acres were in wheat, 128 acres in barley, 108f acres in oats, 167^- acres in potatoes, 267 acres in grass, the remainder (including 450 acres of native clearing) being in turnips, rye, maize, hops, or laid out as gacdens. This peaceful occupation of the land was not, however, permitted. The natives, who, having been conquered by the Waikato tribe in 1831, had abandoned the district, now began to return and to assert their rights to the land, and finally the natives broke out in rebellion against the authority of the Queen, which culminated in nine years of blood and turmoil. In 1870 the Ministry of the day initiated a policy of " Peace and Public Works," which was not long in showing its fruits, but it took five years before Taranaki really felt any benefit from the work the Government were doing in other parts of the colony. In 1874 the population of the Taranaki > district (that includes, of course, as far as Patea) was 5,465, now it is estimated j at over 20,000 ; the land under cultivation was fifteen years ago 50,000 acres, now the area is over 400,000. Fifteen years ago our exports were nil ; now the produce of the district, we are sure, would not be over valued at £250,000 annually. When, therefore, the past history of Taranaki comes under review by outsiders, when they ascertain for themselves how the settlement has been letarded for the benofit of the colony that the supremacy of the two races might be fought out, when they see that, notwithstanding the impediment put in the way of " poor Taranaki's " progress, the district still is making strides, then perhaps that justice will be nietered out to the settlement to which it is entitled. Our next anniversary will be the Jubilee of the Settlement, when we hope that as Auckland and Wellington have celebrated their fifty years of existence by a week of rejoicing, the settlers here will this time next year do likewise.

The Mahinapua, with tfee 'Frisco mail on board, arrived from Manukau at 6 o'clock this (Monday) morning, and left half an hour later for Wellington. The programme of the concert in aid of the Relief Fund to bo held on Monduy evening next, will be found in another column. Exports from the breakwater on Saturday last, included 537 kegs butter, and 304 baleß Hax, besides a quantity of wool, hides, &c, We regret to learn that Honi Pihama, the well-known chief at Oeo is seriously ill, and not expected live many days. Have you ever tried Renshaw's Auckland Relish—- it is imuionsely popular whsrwr it in und, Ityttwa judge, I

This article text was automatically generated and may include errors. View the full page to see article in its original form.
Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TH18900331.2.8

Bibliographic details

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8742, 31 March 1890, Page 2

Word Count
724

The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, MARCH 31, 1890. Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8742, 31 March 1890, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. MONDAY, MARCH 31, 1890. Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8742, 31 March 1890, Page 2