MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Daily Times, 16 September 1936, Page 4

MAORI MEMORIES

(By J.H.S. for “The Daily Times.”)

MILITARY SETTLERS. AND PILGRIM FATHERS. After the release of Rauparaha, and in the midst of peace, through the wisdom and influence of Sir George Gray with the British Rulers, a number of able-bodied discharged soldiers were re-enrolled in England for seven years “protective service” in New Zealand. Quaintly named the “New Zealand Fencibles, ’ ’ they were stationed around Auckland in four settlements, from 7 to 14 miles distant. Each man had a cottage and an acre, which with another five acres became his own at a nominal price at the end of the seven years. Each of their had a house and 40 acres witfPthe right to acquire another 100 on the same terms.

By the end of 1847 the Fencibles numbered 500, and with their wives and children 2000. The men did a few days garrison drill yearly, and church parade on Sundays. When summoned by their bugler boys to repel a Maori attack on the Auckland gaol, the rapid march from Oneliunga and their ready action' surprised the young soldiers in barracks.

Thus the colony obtained 500 worthy military settlers whose discipline and knowledge of arms could be trusted in any emergency. The Regulars on service in New Zealand were soon reduced from 2000 to 1500, and the military settlers almost without exception made a pleasing picture of success to every man who deserved it. This was all the more to their credit as soldjPrs'Tfo> not as a rule compete witllT mtn of business.

The departure of these selected men from England attracted other worthy settlers to our shores, and these were welcome, for ever since the Wairau Massacre in 1543 no had come here.

Immigration again set in with the arrival of the first Otago settlers in March, 1848, by the ship “John Wickliffe,” with the Free Kirk Association who had acquired 400,000 acres. Each member purchased a town section, ten acres of suburban land, and fifty acres of rural farm for a total sum of £l2O, of which £45 was to be spent on emigration, £3O on roads, £ls on religion and schooling, and £3O for the N.Z. Company’s land, a fine example of the Cannv Scot's business acumen.

Their inspired leader was Capt. Win. Cargill, an old Peninsula soldier, by whom Otakou was named Port Chalmers, the capital Dunedin, and the immigrants ‘ • Pilgrim Fathers. ’ ’