Pen and Ink Portraits.

Observer, Volume 1, Issue 10, 20 November 1880, Page 83

Pen and Ink Portraits.

Uo. 9.— William Ckush Daldy. " Should auld acquaintance be forgot, ' And days of lang syne ?" LOOKING over the imisfcy records of the past, I have stumbled upon '• The Auckland Times " of September 15, 1842, and almost the first advertisement that meets my eyes is the following : — FOE SYDNEY— IN A FEW DAYS, The fine fast sailing Schooner " SHAMROCK." For Freight or Passage apply on hoard to CAPTAIN W. C. DALBT. Thus it would seem that thirty-eight years ago the subject of this memoir ploughed the briny ocean, and was the "captain " of a schooner, a picture of which, with all sails set, adorns the paper now before me, sailing bravely away from the big capital T in the advertisement, towards the mysterious " unknown " beyond the perilous margin of the "Times," which is a little less than post size. I find in the same paper a notice of a dissolution of partnership between Thomas Crummer and Albert de Philipsthal "in carrying on the business of the Victoria Hotel," signed by James Williamson and the said Philipsthal ; notice of a meeting of the members of the Mechanics' Institute in the rooms of Hoggard and Pollen (now the great Honourable Daniel Pollen) ; an intimation by Benjamin E. Turner (since dead) that he has ceased to have any connection with the Bay of Islands Newspaper and Printing Company; an announcement that by a vote of 68 to 19 the shareholders of the New Zealand Banking

had resolved to remove the " headquarters'.' of the Bank to Auckland, signed by " Joseph Dixon, manager j" a notification to "Teetotalers" that they can obtain "coffee and lunch" every day at the "Exchange Hotel ;" an announcement by Charles O'.Niell that he has obtained a license for the "St. Patrick's Inn ;" an auctioneer's advertisement by "Heale, Sinclair, and Co," another by Nathan and Joseph, and several other business notifications, " too numerous to mention," (as 'the aforesaid George Robins would say), by men who have long since been gathered to thenforefathers, faded into the obscurity of the dim past, or lived and prospered, achieved fame and fortune, and enrolled their names on the historic scroll of the colony. I notice also that the «• Times " is jubilant over a rumour as to the discovery of gold " at a very little distance from town," but would much rather hear "of the proximity of coal ;" that the " latest news " from Wellington is a month old ; that a memorial was presented to Governor Hobson (who died a few days after), deprecating immigration ; and that financial bankruptcy aud general j exodus from the colony was predicted by just: such croakers as Mr. Saunders and others, avlio : are croaking at this present time of writing. A list is also given of the naval and military promotions on the birth of the Prince of Wales ; an account of a desperate battle in the Kyber Pass, Afghanistan, and an article on the ques-' tion, " Could Persia or Russia invade India?"in which the editor satisfactorily (to himself)! •disposes of the matter, once and for all, in the; negative. : But let us return to our muttons, or rather our captain. His birthplace was Surrey. How; and when he came to the colonies I shall not;

pause to inquire. Such trifles are nothing iii the lives of great men. Enough that, the research of the biographer brings him up from the obscurity of his bunk in the "Shamrock," where, he is in full command of two men, a cook, and a boy. Afterwards I iincl him running his craft to Elliotts' Creek, otherwise called "Daldy's Creek," after the hardy and adventurous navigator who first explored its depths, and sounded every rock and shoal. He was doing a brisk trade in firewood, shingles, and lime. One of his great achievements was the importation of a safe for the " v ew Zealand j Banking Company" when its "headquarters " were removed to Auckland. Captain Daldy's sails could then be distinguished afar off by reason of their being of a material, known amongst nautical men as " Dungaree, '^ and of which they used to make those capacious unmentionables that are depicted in old-fashioned engravings. Indeed the captain himself was often familiarly known as " old Dungaree" (not Bungaree, or, as the sailors sing, " Bung-yer-eye.") The captain's venture prospered, and he entered into partnership with Coombes (-ince deceased) under the name and style of " Co-'mbes and Daldy," in premises Avhichused to stand on the vacant allotment above the Post-office, in Shortland-street. The business prospered. The captain's motto has always been Cowper's : — " He who attends to his interior 1 self ' Has business." When he had made money and had leisure, he entered the field of politics, and became a memb r of the Provincial Council in the days when Robert Graham was one of a uckland's sliming political lights. Captain Daldy was

then, as he is now,' a pure-minded, patriot, burning with a desire to serve his fellowmen. He was not like

" Tlie restless mercliant, lie who loves to steep / His brains in wealth, and lays his soul to sleep In bags of bullion, sees th' immortal crown, And fain would mount;bnfc ingots keep him down.' The captain had a soul above ingots. But his Christian knowledge and his connection with Sunday schools taught him that " the labourer is worthy of his hire," and so it has come to pass by some singular coincidence that whenever the captain has been in any public office there has been more or less of salaiy attached thereto — a fact which' he may regard' as a testimonial to the value of his services. Hoare, in one of his plays, "Lock and Key" I think it is, makes one of the characters say, " This is a time when a man is accounted an ass if he is not paid for everything he does." Judged by this standard, the captain is no ass, unless indeed it be the " Golden Ass" of He (the captain, not the Latin author) occupied a position in Graham's Provincial Kxecutive — Treasurer, I think, and his career foreshadowed that o.f the great Julius Yogel. Daldy was the first man upon whom the exalted dignity of "AgentGeneral" was conferred. This magnificent title was, in fact, specially invented for him. He was sent home by Robert Graham, against the express vote of the Council, to negotiate a £500,000 loan (Yogel beat him only by one cipher— another singular coincidence in the lives of these two eminent men), and very much to the chagrin of Dr. Daniel Pollen, between whom and the captain there raged a political feud, and who, no doubt, had fixed his eagle -eye on the billet for himself. The doctor and the captain carried on a brisk oratorical and literary Avar,

in which Dan, always handy with tongue and pen, was victorious, though Daldy had the powerful aid of Southwell, editor of the "Examiner," as his "guide, philosopher, .and friend. " There was an agent for the province in London, and the title of "Agent- General" Avas invented as a neat way of enabling the captain to take superior rank and authority. It is to be regretted that the title was not patented at that time. It would have caved New Zealand much after loss and s>rrow. I shall not burden the reader Avith an account of the captain's first essay as a loan agent. We .have been a long time developing a Yogel. Reader Wood raised a loan at 85 ; the captain was never partial to parsimony, aud he didn't raise the £500,000 at par. In fact, it was not till the colony had got into a financial paraceutric curve that it produced such a paragon as Yogel. (N B. — The reader will be pleased to imagine that some graceful alliteration is here intended.) But the narrow sphere of Provincial politics did not afford sufficient scope for the genius of a Daldy. He actually had the exalted honor of being a Cabinet Minister (without portfolio) in the Fox Ministry for thirteen days, to wit, from the 20th May, 1556, to the 2nd June succeeding. He has not been in any Ministry since.

But the great undertakings which have endeared the captain t-> the people of Auckland, and in connection with which his name will he handed down on the scroll of posterity, are the sundry harbour works in Auckland, and notably the dock It was during his visit to London that the soul of Daldy first became inflamed with a patriotic desire to perpetuate his fame by some great and enduring monument of his great nautical genius. It was whilst gazing at

the architectural beauties of the London Docks that his gigantic intellect evolved that grand scheme which culminated in our present graving iclock, upon which the future Solomon Islander or New Guinean, sketching the ruins of Waitemata, will gaze in awe and Avonder. Tho cap.tain had already achieved some fame as a : mariiie engineer. He had built part of the ; Queen-street Wharf with piles only at the side, land earth iv the centre 1 , which the action of the .water converted into sludge and carried away ; and he had erected a stone breakwater at the end of Albert-street, the identical stone 3of which were visible xmtil covered by the reclamation works. The great dock was to surpass ,all these former triumphs. Like the views of :the immortal Bunsby, the opinion of Captain ,Daldy is "The opinion of a seafaring man, as .has got a mind equal to any undertaking that ■he puts it alongside of." Consequently it is to Captain Daldy that we owe that marvellous triumph of engineering and nautical skill, the graving dock. When the lesser nautical lights found fault with its position, length, depth, and breadth, the captain's indomitable energy and superior knowledge overbore all obstacles. Like Bunsby, he exclaimed : " What I says I stands to. Whereby, why not? If so, what odds?. Can. any man say otherwise? I' o. Awast then," and they avasted. Let us never forget that it is to this great man that Auckland : oAves the inestimable boon of the dock — a structure which by wise forethought has been designed to foster that "mosquito fleet" which is our pride and boast, by preventing its being driven out of the trade by big steamers and sailing vessels. Naturally the captain has a predilection for vessels of the "Shamrock" type. But we are also indebted to him for the great

high wall which serves the double purpose of preventing the dock from the danger of being smothered by a landslip from the captain's property, while it will a ! so, like the wall of Babylon, or the great wall of China, act as a barrier to any invasion from that direction. What more can we say to hand down to future generations the fame of this great public benefactor ? For many years he was chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board, a public body which for enlightened knowledge of maritime arts and sciences, enterprise, energy, public spirit, and unselfish devotion to the public weal stands alone, raises a loan, and spends a loan. Was he not also a Borough Councillor, modestly retiring when the oiKce of Mayor became elective, lest fresh honours should be thrust upon him by the admiring burgesses ? Having regard to the captain's versatile genius, is he not, in short, such a man as Sydney Smith described Lord John Russell? "There is nothing he would not undertake ; I believe he would perform the operation for the stone, build St. Peter's, or assume (with or without ten minutes' notice) the command ot the Channel (Rangitoto) Fleet." Slingsby Slinginkicus.

At some theatres, says the "Hour," "real" costumes and "real" chairs and tables seem much, more important than the play. A catalogue of Mddle. Bernliarclfc's was cabled across the ocean to ITew York, and Miss Fanny Davenport causes it to be given out that no less than one hundred persons are engaged on the six dresses which n.re to fill the title rola in Miss Dickinson's new play. Why not sell tictsts of admission to the mantua makers' stores instead of the theatre, and let the hundred dress-makers figure as the coi-ps de lidllcb.

— Our Canadian advices — with regard to the Trickett-Hanlan match are to the effect that Hanlan will take to England £3400 with which to back himself in his race with Trickett. A cricket match between the Hamilton and Cambridge Clubs, takes place next week. Captain W. Press lias been appointed to take the new yacht Tanewha over to Melbourne. She is being rapidly fitted up, and will probably sail next week. The West End Cricket Club defeated an eleven of the Aiickland Club very easily last Saturday. The scores were, West End, 129 j Auckland, 35. News from Sydney has been received to the effect that the sculling match between Rush and W. Trickett, was won by the former. The latter is a brother of Edward Trickett. The drawing for the yacht Jessie Logan took place at the Waiteniata Hotel last Saturday evening. Mr. Auseune, a clerk in the employ of Mr. D. Goldie timber merchant, was the lucky ticket holder. The sculling match between Thomas Blackinan and Henry Clasper for £100 a side, took place on October 9th over the Thames championship course. Blacknian was an easy winner. In consequence of the charge of wilful fouling made by W. Trickett against Pearce, the Double Bay Regatta Committee refused to accept the entry of the latter oarsman for the professional scullers' race. Says the " Bulletin " of the 13th instant:— "Trickett cables Allison, of Adelaide, that he is well and hearty. Allison and friends have cabled home £1000 to back the New South Welshman." The other day the " Evening News " gave Hainan's weight as list. lOlbs. The Canadian only weighs between lOst. and list., and his ordinary rowing 1 weight is lOst. lOlbs., or thereabouts. An interesting race between Tommy the Ponsonby shark, and Ronald the renowned coachbuilder, took place on Saturday, and eventuated in a victory for the shark who upheld his previous reputation. Beck's new open boat "Eunice" was out several times during the week, and also last Saturday afternoon. She sails well, and is expected to make a formidable opponent in the second class sailing boat race, at the next Auckland Regatta. Mr. Walter Dignan has become the owner of the sculling boat, formerly the property of Mr. T. Halstead. Mr. Dignan intends going in assiduously for practice before the annual regatta, so the White Brothers better look out for their laurels. The advertisement of the Amateur Athletic Club appears in another column. The programme which has previously been advertised in full, and the large number of entries, give promise of an excellent afternoon's amusement. Acceptances for all events close at the Thistle Hotel on Monday evening next, at 9 p.m. I was amused last Monday to see in the "Herald," that "King is certainly the best wicket keeper in Auckland." This is truly an astonishing statement, but the writer, whoever he may be, is entitled to his opinion. F. Dufaur and others, who really have some ability in that direction, may now hide their diminished heads. I am informed on good authority, that the general committee appointed to secure the representation of Auckland in the champion outrigger race at the regatta to be held here in January 29th, are not to blame for the extreme delay that has taken place in the selection of the crew. A sub-committee of two was appointed to arrange with the men, and it is their faiilt that action in the matter was so much delayed.