AFTER EIGHTY YEARS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16030, 22 January 1920, Page 7

AFTER EIGHTY YEARS.

To a, student of New Zealand histoi'J, one remarkable feature, if not «le most remarkable, is the rapid manner in which settlement and civilisation has developed in this country. One hundred years ago, these islands were the home of a savage warlike race, torn with bitter and bloody inter-tribal wars, rendered more so by the introduction of the pakeha’s twin evils, waipiro and firearms. Of European settlement there was but little, and that mostly of an undesirable class. Law and order as we know it tp-day was practically unknown. Each one was practically a law unto himself, and might was right. Never anxious at any time to take possession of these islands. Great Britain was at length forced for the wellbeing of the infant colony and the natives, to annex the country, which, in 1840 became, as one New Zealand writer put it, “an accidental colony of Great Britain.”

It was in that year that the province of which Wanganui forms a part was formed by the establishing of the infant settlement of what is now known as Wellington, where the first immigrants arrived on January 22nd, 1840.

EARLY SETTLEMENT,

We, of this generation, who regard such luxuries as tarred macadam roads, trams, motor cars, electrical light and gas, and many other modern conveniences as necessities, can have no conception of the hardships, privations, and perils suffered by the early settlers of this province who left their homes in the Old country to come to a strange land, to cut out for themselves a new liome from the heart of the primeval forest, in deadly peril of their lives from a cruel apd savage foe. enduring cqnditions of life which before their arrival in this land they had no conception of. The rising generation does not fully appreciate what has been done for them by these hardy, sturdy pioneers who toiled and moiled in the generations gone by. Perhaps some day their memories will receive their just reward from a grateful country. Although settlement, in a haphazard sort of way, existed in the Wellington province before 1840, the first organised attempt to colonise the southern portion of the North Island took place test eighty years ago. Petone was selected “for the site of the new township by Col. Wakefield in 1839, and a year later, on January 22nd, 1840, the first settlers for Wellington sailed through the heads of Port on the good ship Aurora. Their feelings as they passed into the land-lock-ed thickly-wooded harbour, and directed their gaze to the locality where their new homes were to be, could be more easily imagined than described Speculation as to the future wonderment and awe, mingled with delight at their beautiful surroundings, drove away the feelings of loneliness and ennui; many were eager to got ashore after being couped up for so long m a small vessel, and all were glad that their destination had at last been reached. . , During 1840 colonists came out nuickly, and within twelve months 1200 or more were brought out to their new homes. Settlement soon spread to where the city of Wellington is now out to Karori, Lyell’s Bay, Lower Hutt and Porirua.

OUTPOSTS OF (UTILISATION.

Within a few months a settlement was planted at Wanganui, aud subsequently at Turakina, Bulls, and at the mouth of the Manawatu River. These outposts were at first trading posts, bub gradually they grew into industrious, thriving' settlements, and the foundations of future prosperity and expansion. It would take far more space than is at the writer’s disposal to follow the fortunes of those settlements, with their ups and downs, their alarms and scares during the troublesome times of the 60’s to the present day, when they are, for the most part, pleasant, prosperous, and growing centres of population. During the 20 years following 1840 Government officials were kept hard at work in purchasing land from the Natives and throwing it open for settlement, to keep in advance of the march of settlement. In that time most of the land along this coast was opened up for selection, and everywhere was heard the ringing sound of the axe, the roar and crash of the falling tree, as the sturdy settlers fought the forest for the possesion of the fertile soil.

FIGHTING FAMINE,

Other enemies than the forest had to be met and fought in those early days; tho grim shadow of famine hung over the young settlements early in the 40’s, That period was described as “a gloomy period . . where happiness had almost ceased to exist.” At Petone the young settlement was full of fears aud anxieties for the future; food was almost exhausted, when the welcome eight of sails was seen in the harbour. When more land was brought into cultivation the fear of famine disappeared, but a few years later this was succeeded by the fear of a more deadly and more dangerous enemy—the natives, for war had broken out.

TIMES OF TROUBLE,

Fighting occurred in the vicinity of Wanganui, and on. one occasion the settlement was saved from destruction by the faithfulness and bravery of tire loyal natives. Wanganui acted as a breakwater against the sea of rebel natives, and it 'may b© that the battles and skirmishes fought in this district saved the infant settlements at Marion, Bulls, Fexton, and Palmerston North from disaster. Beyond one or two alarms, these settlements were left in peace. Sonfe fighting did occur around Wellington, but it was not of any magnitude.

MARCH OF SETTLERS

But wars and rumours of wars did not prevent colonisation and settlement, which proceeded apace. In 1866 the sections whereon Palmerston North is now situated were offered for selection, and, the foundations of that thriving town were firmly established. In 1873 the site of the now flourishing town of Peilding was a bowling wilderness, bisected by mud tracks; but a year later saw thfe beginnings of settlement, which never retreated. Year by year saw the steady advance of settlement along this coast, until from Wanganui to Wellington this portion of the province was studded with

PROGRESS OF A PROVINCE,

WEIUN6TON°S SPLENDID POSITION.

WSNIEBFIIt ACHIEVEMENT,

virile, thriving settlements, bright smiling farmsteads and broad expanses of verdant hills and dales, upon which fat and sleek-looking sheep and cattle browsed, and where peace, contentment, and prosperity reigned supreme. Only a few years before this country was covered with dense semi-tropical bush, or with fern, scrub, or flax, the haunts of roving bands of Maoris and denizens of the wilds. Surely no better illustration of the splendid work of the ©arly settlers could be given than that. “By their works ve shall know them ”

SETTLEMENT IN THE WAIL A RAP A

In the district now known as the Wairapa, settlement progressed rapidly and peacefully. It was not until 1854 that the first settlement was established on this side of the Rimutakas. Greytown has the distinction of being the first Wairarapa settlement, being named after Sir George Grey. Carterton was established five years later, in the heart of the bush. These two towns and Master ton were all established by the Wairarapa Small Farm Association. A fin© typo of settlers were placed on these small sections, and overcame many difficulties and hardships, and, like their comrades on the western side of the range, transformed a wilderness of forest into fertile, profitable farms. In the more northern 'part of the Wairarapa, settlement through the I ortyMile Bush followed the railway line, dairy farms and sheep runs taking the place of sawmills as the bush was cut out.

PRICES OF PRODUCE.

In those early days, when settlement was proceeding apace, work was plentiful, the labourer could obtain good wages, and things went very well in this small portion of the world. The farmer could obtain good prices for his produce; in 1857 wheat sold at 10s a bushel, oats 6s, greasy wool Is lb, potatoes 6s per cwt, butter Is 4dlb, cheese lid per lb, beef and mutton 6d lb. For farm labour he had to pay 8s per day, and had he occasion to employ tradesmen, his rate of pay was 108 v to 12s per day. Horses were worth almost their weight in gold, and a good cart horse would change hands at =£l2o, while working bullocks would bring ,£35.

DARK AND DREARY DATS,

For a few years this prosperity continued, hut a change was gradually coming over the scene. As settlement increased and extended, production increased and prices fell. This, aided hy the political condition of the country, created a depression; the depression became a slump, and ruin and disaster faced many a fanner and many a business man. Sheep were kept only for their wool, cattle for their skins; the carcases were boiled down, the skins and horns alone being saved. A bad season for wool put the finishing touches to a dark and dreary picture, and caused a paternal Government to intervene.

REFRIGERATION AND SALTATION

Refrigeration of carcases had then lately been invented, and in 1882 the industry was established in this province. With it the farming industry took a new turn, and was soon well on its way to prosperity. Sheep and cattle were now grown, not for the wool and skins only, bub for their carcases as well. Refrigeration and cold storage lifted the sheep farmer from a struggling competency to affluence; not only did it benefit this section of the farming industry, but it 'gave a new lease of life to the butter and cheese men. Meat freezing works gradually made their appearance in all parts of the province ; now there are eight or nine large factoxies; while butter and cheese factories have become familiar features of the landscape in every part of the province.

REMARKABLE GROWTH

Here are a few figures which will indicate concisely the remarkable growth of the primary produce export industry in this fertile province. In 1860, before refrigeration was introduced, wool comprised the bulk of tho colony’s export, its value in that year being .£444,392. Butter and cheese export were comparatively insignificant in value, being .£6623 for the former, and £3535 for the latter.

In 1884, the first year of refrigeration, the number of mutton and lamb carcases exported were 247,772. For last year, the latest figures that are available show that the value of butter exported from the two ports of the province, Wellington and Wanganui, was .£331,052, cheese £1,304,060, beef <£433719, mutton and lamb £2,086,775, wool £5,728,634; altogether a total of £13,372,800. A wonderful record surely for a population of about a quarter of a million.

According to the 1916 census, the last taken, the number of holdings in the Wellington province was 10,902, the total area in occupation, out of a total area of the province' of live million acres, •was 4,790,085, the average holding being 419.30. The total area under cultivation was 3,435,350, and the area of unimproved land in occupation was 1,354,735 acres.

EARLY TRADE AND TRANSIT.

One of the earliest commodities which was exported from New Zealand, and incidentally form the Wellington province, was flax, prepared in a primitive but effective manner by the natives and exchanged, it must be regretted, for waipiro and firearms. That redoubtable old warrior, Te Rauparaha, migrated with his tribe from the north to the fertile fields and the fastness of Kapili, for the purpose of obtaining firearms,

so as to be better able to prosecute Ilia numerous campaigns, his commodity of exchange being llax. After the settlement of the pakcha became permanent, a steady trade in flax grew up, the colony’s export in 1830 being 1062 tons. There was a great deal of difficulty in •getting a satisfactory process of treating the green flax, but in course of time that was overcome. For many years the trade was subject to many fluctuations, but now it has been placed ou a satisfactory footing. Last year the value of flax exported was .£916,730. The Wellington province, particularly Manawatu, is an important flax-produc-ing district, its share of the flax exported last year being .£513,000. Eighty years ago a trip overland, sa.y from Waugauui to Wellington, was a slow, tedious journey, fraught with some danger. By sea it was nearly as bad. Yet in 1848 the first mail service was established between Wellington, Wanganui, and New Plymouth overland, about a fortnight being undertaken on the trip one way only. Even within the memory of tlio living, the trip from Wellington to Wanganui was “some’ 3 undertaking. In pre-railway days the route was along the old Porirua Eoad, of historic memory, along the Porirua harbour, crossing an arm of the sea near where the railway bridge at Plimmerton now stands, along Maori tracks over Pukerua Hill, and along the seashore to Rangitikci, then overland to Wanganui. Few nowadays can realise the difficulties and dangers which beset travellers in those days; between Plimmerton and Foxton there were four rivers to be crossed, and high spring tides and floods were always to be reckoned with. Across the Rangitikei River, at its mouth, known to old settlers as Scott’s Ferry, the track followed the main road to Wanganui. Later on a regular service of sailing packets was established between Wellington and Wanganui, but still the journey was slow. Railway construction along this coast from Palmerston northwards progressed steadily, but it was left to a private company to construct the line from Wellintgou to Longburn, a few miles southwards of Palmerston North. This line, about 97 miles in length, was started in 1882, and was completed four years later. It has performed a great function in developing a wide fertile district, and in establishing quick communication with the Empire City. Now it is possible to complete the rail journey between the principal centres of the province in a few hours, by car the ruu is oven more rapid. A network of arterial roads cover the province, making communication rapid and easy. The telegraph and telephone find their way into the most isolated portions of the province, and help to make the lot of the back block settler more easier, giving him a rapid and effective means of communication with the centres.

IN CONCLUSION,

Still there remains much more t» be done to bring- the resources of the province into full effectiveness; more roads and railways require to be built, and existing ones improved; land needs more sub-division and more settlers. Many other problems still require solution. Bright as the past has been, the future is brighter still. The men and women of the province played their part in the war nobly and well, and are now assisting in tho work of re-settling their soldiers in civil occupations; -they will gladly sare their portion of the debt incurred in the fight for freedom. To do this will mean the development of the province’s resources 1o the fullest. For as Premier Clemonceau, of France, recently said, work and hi creased production were the guide lines of reconstruction, and incidentally one might add, of fuller freedom aud greater prosperity for all. 1 1