Pen and Ink Portraits.

Observer, Volume 3, Issue 67, 24 December 1881, Page 233

Pen and Ink Portraits.

!N"o. 32. — Me Joseph Mcllttllek Daroaa'ille, M.H.R. The subject of tliis pen and ink portrait is a native of the Emerald Isle. His father was a physician of some eminence in Cork, and provided his son -with a liberal education at Fermoy College, -where he studied with Mr O'Callaghan who was elected to the House of Commons), and Mr Roche (a cousin of Lord Fermoy, who lately came on a visit to Xew Zealand). In his youth Mr Dargaville was familiar with the political struggles of the time, and sympathised with the peasantry in their sufferings under defective and oppressive land laws and political disabilities. At a very early age he was seized witli the spirit of adventure, and, like so many others who felt that the crowded population, excessive competition, and conventional grooves of old communities ■cramped their energies and independence, emigrated with his brothers to the freer air and more promising field of the Colonies. After some experience of life in Victoria, he entered the service of the Union Bank of Australia in Sydney, at the age of 20, as a junior clerk. The business was one for which he displayed a peculiar aptitude. In five years lie had risen by his talents and devotion to the interests of the institution to the management of one of the branches. Two years later he was sent over to Xew Zealand as branch inspector. He came first to the "West Coast, ■where the business of the bank was languishing, but in a comparatively short time he raised it to the premier position, and as a reward for his diligence was promoted to the more important position of manager of the bank at Auckland. After two years' service here further promotion was offered him, which would have involved his removal to another Colony ; but by this time he had become so strongly attached to Auckland that he decided to terminate his connection with the bank, and to enter into business on his own account. He was endowed with too much selftreliance, commercial capacity, and energy to remain long in any subordinate employment. On discontinuing his connection with the Union Bank he received many complimentary letters from his superiors, as well as acknowledgments of the valuable services ho had rendered. He was not long in business in Auckland before he found that the commercial competition was so keen that he must seek out a new field for his talents, and he fixed on the North (whose resources at that time were comparatively undeveloped) as the future sphere of his enterprise. In talcing this ■step he came inevitably into competition with a powerful and long-established firm, that had secured almost a monopoly of the trade of the district. As a new-comer lie was opposed by the ■" old identities," but being a man gifted with the suave manner and easy address that forms so distinguishing a characteristic of his countrymen, the task of overcoming that difficulty was not one of serious magnitude. The whole European population of the Kaipara district, scattered over an area of 40 miles, did not exceed 100 souls. There was no market nearer than Auckland, and in the absence of roads and steam communication this was almost inaccessible. He explored the •country, noted its resources, and, nothing daunted by the difficulties that presented themselves, addressed himself with indomitable pluck and enterprise to his task. In a short time he was employing a large number of men in the timber •and kauri gum industries, his head - quarters ibcing on the site of the present township of Dargaville. After five years he had no fewer tlian 400 men in his service, and by a judicious system of selection he was not only enabled to •command the most highly skilled labour available, but to pay the highest wages. The reputation of the district soon attracted wide notice ; .families settled there ; the township of Dargaville grew in population and importance ; an extensive market was opened up ; beef, mutton, agricultural produce, and goods of all kinds were in demand ; and the future progress and prosperity of tfche district were assured. As Mr Dargaville's fortunes prospered others prospered with him, and there are many men now in comparatively independent circumstances who can look back to that first start in life as the foundation of their : success. He secured the establishment of schools,

built churches, and, without any aid from the Gfovernment, constructed wharves, laid down three miles of tramway, made many other improvements, and opened up an extensive shipping trade with England, India, China, Australia, and the Southern provinces of this Colony. In fact, by his energy, enterprise, and public spirit, he raised the district from a condition of undeveloped neglect and comparative obscurity to one of the most thriving and prosperous of the North Island. Mr Dargaville had from the first displayed an aptitude for political life, and only waited until the possession of ample means and leisure should enable him to gratify his laudable ambition. During the election for the Superintendency he was brought out by an influential section of the community to oppose Mr John Williamson, but suffered defeat — a circumstance of which he had no reason to feel ashamed, considering the long and faithful services, the great talents, and the popularity and prestige of the veteran against whom he was pitted in the political arena. He was for some time a member of the Provincial Council for City East, and he advocated and carried by a majority of one a scheme for supplying the city with water from Waitakcrei by gravitation. It was during his temporary absence in the North that a counter proposal was carried by Mr Stanus Jones and others in favour of the existing pumping scheme. Experience of the working of that plan, however, has not altered Mr Dargaville's conviction that the gravitation scheme, had it been adopted, would have reduced the cost of the supply to one-half that now entailed by the existing system. In his official capacity as chairman of the Parnell Highway District he was a member of the Auckland Harbour Board, and he

strenuously opposed tlie site of the present abortive graving'- clock, being only defeated by tlie casting vote of the chairman. .Subsequent experience has fully vindicated his foresight and "wisdom, and brought odium upon his opponents. Mr Dargaville lias been for five years a member of the Central Board of Education, and lias rendered lasting services by his vigorous advocacy of special Parliamentary grants for the ei-ection of school buildings — a matter in which Auckland contrasted so unfavourably with the South — and by his support of the committees in the due exercise of local supervision and economy. He was chairman of the Court of Petty Sessions for one year, and so highly did his brother magistrates approve of the manner in which he discharged his dxities, that they pressed upon him the acceptance of the honour for another year, which he was compelled to decline in justice to the demands made upon his time and attention by his many other onerous public duties. He has been also one of the most active governors of the Grammar School. Some years ago Mr Dargaville came into collision with the Grrey party, and the estrangement continued until his recent election to the General Assembly for City West. He, however, remained steadfast to his political principles as a Liberal, but out of a spirit of sheer independence held aloof, and made no advances towards a reconciliatkm which would appear to involve any abnegation of personal dignity, or to constitute him the mere nominee of a party. Having secured a seat in Parliament for City West, he felt that he was in a position consistently with honour to again become on terms of friendship with the prominent leaders of tlie

Liberals, and now the hatchet has been happily buried, and we have no doubt that he will be found working cordially with other Auckland representatives for the good of the Colony as a whole, and for the, benefit of that portion of it in particular with whose welfare and prosperity his interests and affections are so intimately bound up. Possessed as he is of great shrewdness, business capacity, activity, talent, and practical experience of public affairs, united with a very pleasing address and peculiar adroitness in approaching and reconciling the varying temperaments of men, we have no doubt that he will speedily become a man of considerable weight and influence in Parliament, and will be able to do good service to Auckland. He has our best wishes for his success in his new sphere of usefulness.