Progressive Wellington

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIII, Issue VIII, 25 August 1894, Page 174

Progressive Wellington

WELLINGTON CITY—PAST AND PRESENT. ITS ESTABLISHMENT—FIRST TOWN BOARD—FIRST CITY COUNCIL—SUBSEQUENT PROGRESS—PRESENT COUNCIL —PROSPECTS. (BY INDEX ) IN two illustrated articles, published in the pages of the New Zealand Graphic last year under the title ‘ Progressive Wellington,’ I dealt at some length with (1) The Post and Telegraph Departments—their establishment and development, 18401892—and (2) the Wellington — Manawatu Railway—its inception, construction and progression.

f now propose to send you some facts and figures that should prove of interest to many of your readers with re-

spect to the establishment and growth of the Empire City, accompanied by photos of the present members of the City Council, some of its officers, Council Chambers, etc. The subject is a wide and interesting one, but in this article I do not purpose attempting to do more than give a mere outline of facta, which are capable of being extended and enlarged upon almost ad infinitum. Without further prefix I will at once proceed to refer briefly to Wellington's early days.

Actual settlement began in 1839, in which year the ship Tory arrived from England under the command of Captain Chaffers, having sailed from Plymouth on the 12c.tr of May of that year, and having on board Colonel William Wakefield, Mr Elward Jerningham Wakefield, son of the principal founder of the New Zealand Land Company ; Dr. Ernest Dieffenbach (naturalist); Mr Charles Heaphy (draughtsman) ; Mr John Dorset (surgeon), and others. The Tory arrived at Port Nicholson on September 20th. Two native chiefs—Epuni and Wharepori—soon went

aboard and offered to dispose of the harbour and land adjacent. Several days were spent in discussing conditions, and on the 25th these were agreed upon, and the deed was signed on the day following. It is related that the principal goods given by the Englishmen were 135 stands of arms, 21 kegs of gunpowder, a cask of ball cartridges, a gross of Jews’ harps, 1,200 fishing hooks, nightcaps, pipes, and sealing wax. On 30th September the New Zealand flag was hoisted on the shore and aboard the Tory.

It was at first intended to establish the town at the head of the bay where Petone now stands, but some disastrous floods occurring very soon after the arrival of some of the first settlers, led to the abandonment of the project, and the establishment of the town on its present site. The town was at first named Britannia, but in November, 1840, this name was abandoned in favour of Wellington, in compliment, it is stated, to the great Duke of that name.

Vessels succeeding the Tory’s arrival were the Cuba, Aurora, and Oriental, and several of Wellington’s streets were named after these vessels and some of the first settlers. Among the earliest arrivals are mentioned Mr Francis Molesworth, Hon. Henry Petre, Mr A. de Bathe Brandon (father of the present Mayor of Wellington), Mr George Dappa, Dr. Evans and family, Mr Robert Park and family, Mr F. Dillon Bell (father of Mr H. D. Bell, M.H R , and ex-Mayor for Wellington), Mr J. C. Crawford, and Mr Thos. McKenzie. Amongst Wellington’s earliest merchants were: Messrs George Hunter, John and George Wade, Waite and Tiser, Tinline, John Telford, William Lyon, W. B. Rhodes. Lawyers : Messrs George S. Evans, A. de B. Brandon, and R. D. Hansen. Medical : Dr. Johnston, Dr. Fitzgerald, and Dr. Dorsett. The first school was opened on Thorndon Flat. The earliest hotels were kept by Messrs George Young, R. Barrett, R. Jenkins, Wright, Clarke, Bannister, and Webb. The first bank in Wellington was a branch of the Union Bank of Australia, opened in 1840. The first newspaper was the New Zealand Gazette, established by Mr Stmuel Revans, who edited and printed it; the plant having been bought by subscription among the principal colonists. The first Club, estab-z fished in 1840, used to meet at the Commercial San, was known as the Pickwick Club. The population of Port Nicholson in 1840 is estimated as about 1,300 Europeans and 800 natives. As showing the rate of wages which prevailed in those early days of the colony, a copy of a Government notice

published at that time shows that 9i a day was offered for first-class carpenters; second rate carpenters, Bs, and sawyers, 8s 6d ; bricklayers and stonemasons, 7s 6d.

Wellington was first proclaimed a borough on August 4th, 1842. The proclamation was signed by W. Hobson, Governor, and declared Wellington a borough with a population of 2,000 souls. The earliest burgess roll, which is in the possession of the Municipal authorities, isdated 1843, and contains 152 names. The roll referred to, however, is pro bably the second burgess roll prepared, as claims to vote at the first election of a Council were ordered to be sent in by the 30th day of August, 1842 Michael Murphy, Esq , was the Returning Officer, and the first election took place on October 3rd, 1842 An analysis of the roll shows that the occupations of the 152 burgesses were defined as follows : —Merchants, 17 ; storekeepers, 12 ; ginger-beer merchant, 1 ; wine merchant, 1 ; hotel-keepers, 7 ; tapster, 1 ; rope makers, 2; shoe-makers, 3; harness makers, 1; tailors, 3 : farmers, 3 ; agriculturist, 1 ; stock-keeper, 1 ; butchers, 4 ; dairymen, 2 ; fishmonger, 1; barbers, 2 ; builder, 1 ; carpenters, 17; bricklayers, 3; smiths, 2; shingler, 1; painters, 4; plumber, 1; tinsmiths, 3; joiner, 1; slater, 1; labourers, 12; clerks, 6; town clerk, 1; book keepers, 1; crier, 1; printers, 6; currier, 1; boatman, 1; carters, 2; mariner, 1 ; landing waiter, 1; labourers, 12 ; sawyer, 1 ; engineer, 1; civil engineer, 1; surveyor, 1 ; doctors, 6 ; chemists 1 ; schoolmaster, 1 ; solicitors, 3; architects, 2 ; gentlemen, 2; chief constable, 1; emigration agent, 1; auctioneer, 1. The members elected were called aidermen, and the following are their names in the order of the number of votes polled George Hunter, W. Lyon, W. Fitzherbert, John Wade, George Scott, F. A. Molesworth, Dr. Dorset, R. Waite, W. Guyton, A. Hort, E. Johnson, and R. Jenkins. The first named (Mr George Hunter) was the first Mayor, apparently by virtue of his position at the head of the poll, as there appears to have been no separate election of Mayor. (This gentleman was father of Mr George Hunter, who was for many years head of the firm of Bethune and Hunter, and at one time member of the City Council and of the House of Representatives. A portrait of the former gentleman now hangs in the Council Chambers, Wellington.) The life of the Municipality was very short, as the Home Government for some reason disallowed the Ordinance which created the Corporation, and in December, 1843, a meetingof aidermen was convened for the purpose of ‘ finally settling ’ the affairs of the Corporation. There does not appear to have been any other purely local governing body in New Zealand at that time. A perusal of the minutes of the short-lived Corporation shows that the business which occupied the chief attention of the Council was the forma-

tion of the main thoroughfares and footpaths. There is no record of the revenue of the Corporation at this time, but the net revenue of the whole colony for the year 1841 was estimated at about £38,000, which included some £l9 000 for probate, proceeds of sales of Crown Lands.

There appears to have been no further attempt at local Government till the year 1863, when a Town Board was ap pointed, the town having previously been divided into three wards—Thorndon, Lambton, and Te Aro. The first Commissionersappointedunderthisnew form of Governmentwere Thorndon Ward; Messrs W. Allen, C. B. Borlase, and George Hart. Lambton Ward : Messrs J. Plimmer,’Geo. Moore, and L Levy. Te Aro Ward : Messrs John Martin, W. Hickson, and J. H. Horner. Mr W. Allen was appointed chairman, Mr W. Bannister, Town Clerk, and Mr R. M. Skeet, Town Surveyor. The Assessment of the town for rating purposes was then as follows :—Thorndon Ward, £120,383 ; Lambton Ward, £142,078 ; Te Aro, £302,036 This was evidently the capital value of the properties. The Town Board carried on the affairs of the town till September 1870. Succeeding members were : Messrs E. Pearce, W. Bragg, Jos. Bnrne, S. S. Jacka, C. J. Pharazyn, J. Plimmer, Wallace, R. Collins, W. Bishop, E. W. Mills, J. Dransfield, M. Quin, R. Pharazyn, G. Aicken, IL H. Carpenter, Geo. Hunter, J. B. Wallace, Captain Sharp; Messrs Edward Pearce, W. Allan, J. Dransfield, and George Hart filling the position of Chairman.

Wellington was again made a Corporation by the Municipal Corporations Act of 1867, bat the first Coancil under the Act was not elected till September, 1870, the first meeting being held on the 28th of that month. Mr J. Dranstield was appointed the first Mayor under this new form of government, the other members of the Coancil being Messrs C. B. Borlase, R. H. Carpenter, W Millar, E. W. Mills. Louis Moss, J. Plimmer, M. Quin, D. Rainie. The revenue of the Corporation in 1871, the first year of its existence, was £4,716 9s sd, made up as follows: —Board of Works, £912 12s lOd ; rates, £3,415 8s; tents, town belts and reserves, £260 Ils; contributions, etc., £127 17s 7d. The expenditure for the same period was £4,740 5s Bd, made up as follows: — Board of Works, £638 6s 5d ; general purposes, £1,310 4s 2d ; labour, £1,213 11s 9d ; tools and implements, £93 14s Id : materials, £546 6s 3d ; cartage, £499 14s 6d ; contracts, £435 17s 6d ; sundries, £2 Ils. Mr Dransfield was Mayor

for three successive years, and also from December, 1877, to May, 1879. Other Mayors were :—Messrs C. B Borlase, 1874 ; W. 8. Moorhouse, 1875 ; W. Hutchison, 1876 and 1877. also from May, 1879 to December, 1881 ; G. Allen, May 9th to 25th, 1879 ; George Fisher, 1882, 3, 4. and 5; A. W. Brown, 1886 and 1891 ; Samuel Brown. 1887 and 1888 ; John Duthie, 1889 ; Chas J. Johnston, 1890; H. D. Bell. 1892 and 1893 ; A. de B. Brandon, 1894. The following gentlemen are the present Representatives of the city :—Thorndon Ward : Messrs Anderson, Tanner, and Levoi. Lambton Ward : Messrs Harcourt, Harris, and Williston. Te Aro Ward : Messrs Petherick, Barber, and Tatum. Cook Ward : Messrs Fraser, Penty, and Devine. To give an idea of the growth of the city, the following figures represent the revenue and expenditure for the years 1881 and 1891 ; ten and twenty years later respectively 1881: Revenue, £46,090 ; expenditure, £101,560, a large

proportion being from loans. 1891 : Revenue, £57,270; expenditure, £63,070, £3,000 of which was from loans. Respecting the steady and substantial advance of the city, the following figures also bear eloquent testimony. The last annual valuation of rateable property was completed in January, and the amounts for the past two years are as follows :—

£322,756 £340,785 Showing an increase of values for this year of £18,029, as against an increase of £4,834 for the previous twelve months.

The number of new houses erected since the previous valuation is 223, whilst the number of empty houses were

so very few indeed that the City Valuer did not consider them worth taking notice of in bis last valuation and report thereon.

The population of Wellington was estimated at 8.000 in 1871 ; by 1881 it had increased to 21,000, and in 1891 bad reached 32,000 Since the last mentioned date there has been a large influx of population, which now is probably quite 37 000. The city has now a complete and abundant supply of water, which is derived from two sources, viz., the Karori hills, two miles from town, and Wanui-o-mata River, seventeen miles distant. The first was established in the seventies, and for a number of years sufficed for all requirements. As population increased, however, a further supply had to be sought for, and finally the Wainui River, which is practically inexhaustible, was decided upon as the source. The cost of the first named supply was £BO,OOO, and of the

latter £130,000. In addition to serving all domestic and sanitary purposes, the present water supply is largely utilised for motive power, and for driving the electric lighting machinery. Interest and working expenses are provided for by a rate of five per cent, on dwellings and two and a-half per cent, on stores, warehouses, etc. Wellington streets are lit by electricity, the Corporation providing the water for driving the machinery. There are about 600 lamps, and generally speaking the city is effectively lit, although, considering the cost, (which is £3 10s per annum, for each lamp of twenty candle power), still better results might reasonably be looked for. In the matter of conveyances the public are well provided for ; an excellent tramway being laid down, which, starting from the Wellington-Mauawatu Railway Company’s station at Thorndon, runs through the heart of the city (with branch lines) to the present terminus, close to Newtown Park. The total length of the line is between five and six

miles, and the fares are most moderate, viz , a nnifotni charge of threepence for a single ticket, or by purchasing a packet of eight tickets (price one shilling) the cost is reduced to three half pence. The tramway system was inaugurated in 1876. At first steam was the motive power used, but this proving too expensive, horses were substituted, and the present service is in every way most creditable and satisfactory. Opposition is provided by a line of two and three horse busses, covering the same ground and charging the same fares, and, as both the cars and busses are run at short intervals, one has never to wait long for a means of conveyance at a nominal cost. l , •’ v Ci• < < ' ’’ NOTE.—The photographs of councillors connected with the<'ity Council of Wellington are from beautiful portraits by it. Herr mann ead Co., the well-known artist photographers of Cubastreet.

1893-4. 1894-5. Thorndon Ward £48.094 £49,164 Lamb ton Ward £140.306 £145,655 Te Aro Ward £73.532 £81.575 Cook Ward £60.825 £64,391