1961 - The Richmond-Atkinson Papers Vol I - Chapter 6, A Maori King Elected, 1857, p 250-331

       
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  1961 - The Richmond-Atkinson Papers Vol I - Chapter 6, A Maori King Elected, 1857, p 250-331
 
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Chapter 6, A Maori King Elected, 1857

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Chapter 6

A Maori King Elected

1857

During 1857 North Island settlers became acutely aware of the Maori nationalist movement which they were destined to face in a menacing form before peaceful settlement could proceed. In this year the anti-land selling crusade and the King movement challenged the Government, or the Governor, to take cognisance of their grievances.

When he was informed of the Maori meeting to be held at Rangiriri in May to consider the "King" proposal the Governor (Col. T. Gore Browne) decided to be present so as to inform himself of the state of native feeling. He was attended by the member of the colonial ministry responsible to him for native affairs (C. W. Richmond), and by the head of the Native Department (Donald McLean) who was also chief land purchase commissioner. At this meeting His Excellency realised that the grievances of the Maori in the Waikato were substantial and that their wish to govern themselves through their runangas with the help of English institutions should be favourably considered. With this in view he appointed Francis Dart Fenton, an English lawyer who had lived for some years in the Waikato, to be resident magistrate for the district and to assist the Maoris in establishing courts on the English pattern. At a later meeting at Ihumatao the chiefs chose Potatau te Wherowhero as the first Maori King - a dignity that this venerable warrior accepted with reluctance.

Gorst says 1 that the Governor was at last aroused to a sense of danger owing to the determination of the chiefs to elect a king. He felt that this was inconsistent with the sovereignty of Queen Victoria and that a distinct nationality in any form must end sooner or later

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in a conflict of races, which would be "the greatest political difficulty we had yet had to contend with in New Zealand."

Fenton, meanwhile, had entered upon his task with energy and good sense, holding courts in many Waikato villages and choosing trustworthy natives to be assessors. It was not long, however, before friction arose, mainly through jealous obstruction by officials of the Native Department. Fenton was allowed to make another tour of his magistracy, but before the end of the year there was little prospect of achieving what was desired. (In this collection are some of Fenton's letters and some undated memoranda for important reports which were not published. The journals of his tours were presented to parliament at the Waikato inquiry in 1860.)

The Taranaki settlers maintained their pressure upon the harassed minister to accelerate the purchase of land from the Maoris. Richmond replied that he hoped the Government would be able by degrees to take hold of such thorny questions "but not by the strong hand." He declared, to the consternation of the ultra-provincialists, that in his opinion the purchase of lands from the Maoris must in all circumstances be the responsibility of the general government. "By that I would stand or fall. I long for the turn of the wheel which will set me free. Honorably free."

According to Jane Maria Atkinson a chance was lost of acquiring a block at Waitara which was under offer. Instead of sending reinforcements to New Plymouth the Government sharply reminded the settlers that their duty was to enrol in the militia. A timely reminder too, for in August the chief Katatore, who was responsible for the murder in 1854 Rawiri Waiaua, was himself waylaid and killed by a hostile faction actually within the Bell block settlement. "At this time," says James Cowan, "all of north Taranaki was almost continually under arms."

Towards the end of the year Richmond made his first tour of the southern settlements of New Zealand. His journal on this occasion 2contains delightful descriptions of the country and many character sketches of men and women who were to play an important role in the Colony. In view of the critical relations between the provinces

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and the General Government he sought to assess the strength of provincialism and to foreshadow the alignment of parties in the General Assembly. His judgment of political motives is particularly acute. The party system he saw in full flower in the province of Wellington, where a hot struggle for control was in progress. Writing on 6 Sep "amongst a set of people whose business is, if possible, to outwit, baffle and crush me," he confesses: "I was not meant for politics; and the effort to sustain my position . . . against adversaries who will stick at nothing to ruin and disgrace an opponent is very painful."

Richmond sagaciously foresaw the impact on the national scene of Wellington's "three Fs" (Featherston, Fitzherbert, and Fox): "Featherston is out and out the best man of his party. I am afraid of Featherston, and he is the only one of them I fear. He is very persuasive, very resolute, very deep. I believe he thinks I want to do him. I am sure he would do me in double quick time if I gave him a slant." He had seen enough of the provinces to confirm his belief that the central Government must be strengthened.

There is a considerable correspondence in 1857 between C. W. Richmond and Henry Sewell, who was in England negotiating for a loan guaranteed by the Imperial Government and for a steam mail service. 3

Richmond's friendship with Alfred Domett, which began on their first meeting in Parliament, had both a political and an intellectual basis. In future years it suffered misunderstandings but still flourished in the warm atmosphere of mutual esteem.

In New Plymouth province George Cutfield was elected Superintendent and H. A. Atkinson and Henry R. Richmond were elected to the Provincial Council (the latter being for some months provincial treasurer).

The goldfields at Aorere during the year drew away temporarily a number of the young men belonging to "the mob". James Richmond, who had returned from England with his wife (nee Mary Smith), records in December that "half their males" were away from Taranaki. In July he was appointed a commissioner to suggest a system of education for the province.

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Jane Maria Atkinson to Emily Richmond - - - Taranaki, 4 Jan [1857]

We shall not ... be settled for some time yet; we intend taking to cheese making and that is the real reason of Ar's wishing for the du Moulin house, 26 ft by 14 ft and a lean to is rather an extensive addition for dairy purposes you may think . . . The Ronaldses have quite a nice show of small cheeses now . . . Ar would never undertake such a business if it envolved keeping many extra people in the house for the milking, and single handed he could not milk enough cows to make it pay.

Why on earth are my sage remarks repeated to Mr Stafford or magnates of the land? I was not alone in my folly however in fancying Mr S. inconsistent. Orders came down that all petitions were to be forwarded thro' the Superintendent, and many males as well as females took some time in being convinced that . . . the Col Sec's orders could not affect what was already met by the provisions of the [Constitution] Act. Wm's caution about partizanship came in very amusingly for C.B.'s supporters have been as cool as cucumbers including the mob . . . We conclude Wm. has no time to look into the improved Herald or he would not feel such uneasiness lest a 2nd paper should introduce personality ... I have no great opinion of C. Brown but I have a real detestation of R. Brown . . . R.B. is leading a most detestable life again, an old friend of his told Aunt Helen . . . they had hoped some time ago that he was changed for the better by age, at anyrate outwardly. He now tears about with . . . They have champagne suppers and breakfasts together. The du Moulins say the bare-faced dissipation and impropriety of Marsh would not be tolerated by a commanding officer of more dignity than Major Murray. He is constantly doing things for which he could be cashiered ... It is a dreadful thing for the uneducated young men of this place to have such abominable officers as examples amongst them . . .

v 3, p 66


C. W. Richmond to H. A. Atkinson - - - Auckland, 5 Jan 1857

This leads me to speak of what you have . . . done about the advance to Pheney. Of course I am glad enough to help Pheney but as I have already told Brown, look with no favour on the proposition for a second paper, and think it very imprudent of him to . . . join in a speculation so certain to prove a losing one. Looking at the thing merely in a political point of view, I must say that whilst I distrust the political honesty of a good many (not all) of his now victorious opponents, and fear that as a party they will be corrupt, I place not the least political faith in Charles Brown himself, and will not aid in fighting his personal battles in Taranaki. I trust you know me well enough to be sure it is not because C.B. is down that I say this, or that I would follow the cowardly herd who will poll always with the majority. But I will not risk one penny in the concern of the paper myself and don't think any of you ought to do it...

My affairs, dear Hal, are giving you a deal of trouble, for which I am greatly obliged to you. It will not be for long I feel certain. I am having chests of drawers

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made ship-fashion in two pieces and everything ready for a bolt at a week's notice. Though I have taken this house for a year I doubt whether I shall stop the year out at Auckland . . .

Now we are in a house of our own and out of town our life is much more in our own hands than before and promises to be more agreeable by far. The water here is of fair quality and in sufficient quantity . . .

With love to . . . all the other unfortunate creatures, including the whole angry tribe of Hurworth political pismires now emitting quantities of formic acid no doubt... I am glad to see your name as a candidate for the Grey and Bell. Run a waiting race.

v 41, p 121


Maria Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Merton, 11 Jan 1857

. . . The aspect of things seems now much more favorable for C.B. [Charles Brown] . . . not perhaps so much because he is popular or approved as that R.B. [Richard Brown] and his colleagues are disapproved. I do not wonder that you, William, knowing something of the warmth and zeal of some members of our 'mob', should fear that their political fervour might lapse into fanaticism, but as a cool observer of what is going on, I am bound to say that no such result has taken place. At the commencement of the business all, even including Henry, seemed to me quite luke warm, and it is only very recently that the spirit of the 'mob' has risen to temperate in favor of C.B. - it is still very far from the boiling point. The whole set seem perfectly aware of the shortcomings and errors of C.B., but surely he is better than R.B. and Norris with their tribe. Surely William if you ever read the articles in the Herald you cannot desire to aid and abet such a publication . . . Such balderdash I never read, neither sense nor English. I must say I shall be glad to see Mr Pheney reinstated as editor . . .

Christian Socialism does not work well for the Richmond pocket I must say, however much satisfaction it may bring to the soul - I have had my fill of it.

1857/1


Jane Maria Atkinson to C. W. and E. Richmond - - - Merton, 12 Jan 1857

The coming elections are of course the principle things talked of here just now and as Wm. feels such an indifference to N.P. politics as to imagine we are fanatical they won't be very interesting to you. I thought we had just got the chill off this last week, but it seems Wm. found us, or me, boiling over long ago. If he could help feeling deep disgust at most of the other party's goings on, he is not a Richmond.

As for old Mr Cutfield I say nothing for I know nothing of him except that he would like a tax on carts and that he seems to have been consistent in this desire for some years - a very natural one seeing he has no cart I believe .. . but he now appears as the puppet of a set of knaves and fools, the first desiring to gain some petty or selfish

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end of their own, the latter wanting they don't know what it seems to me. I wish we had a better man than C.B. for if he is to be troublesome and oppositious to the Gen. Government (the side from which Wm of course views him) he is not fit for his post ...

Contrary to Wm's idea almost the whole of the working class in town are his warm supporters. A meeting was held last night and from 7 o'clock till midnight R. Brown, Watt, Lewthwaite and A. King badgered C. Brown with endless strings of questions . . . The whole time C.B. behaved capitally they say, never being out of temper or patience for a moment and answering them clearly. Watt got a complete and very fair drubbing. The meeting was almost to a man for C. Brown ... At midnight the meeting grew rather tired, but R. Brown who had been on his legs for an hour or more seemed no nearer a conclusion than when he began . . . Ar supposes they must have listened to R.B. till now had not the bright thought struck someone of carrying off C.B., so they brought a chair put him in it and carried him away amidst the roars and shouts of delight of the meeting . . .

v 3, p 85


A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth W 14 Jan 1857

Voted for Charles Brown - (headed the poll) then took down the names of voters on behalf of C. Brown till 11 - at 1.30 he resigned . . . 4

Th 15 Jan Rode to town canvassing for Harry and Henry. After dinner rode to Bell Block with Harry and Maria to call on Hulke to see the feelings of the electors there - Harry spoke to him . . .

F 16 Jan Rode to Mangorei with Maria, called on John Blackett (about the elections) had dinner with him. We are going to support Harry, Henry, Thomas King, and Hulke and let the others fight it out.

S 17 Jan . . . after dinner rode to town again with Harry and Decy. Heard the declaration of the poll for the town . . . Have made a compromise with Gledhill and Bayly. They are to support our four, we to support Bayly and Sanders and to tolerate Lewthwaite.

v 30


H. A. Atkinson to C. W. Richmond - - - Hurworth, 19 Jan 1857

. . . There are twelve candidates for our district, ... I think I am pretty safe, but I have no strong desire to get in, I should have preferred waiting until the next council. I wish you were here, I should have liked going in then very well.

v 3, p 85


A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, Tu 20 Jan 1857

Rode to town with Henry. Looked out for voters - at 11 rode home with the state of the poll. 5 Had some dinner, rode down again, filled up voting papers. A great

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many of us held back till 3.30 to see which of our men wanted help. We got them in all right - Hulke, Atkinson, Richmond, Thomas King 80, Wm Bayly 80. Parris, Peter Elliot, Sunley, Hirst, Sanders and Rundle being rejected.

F 30 Jan Lander finished our well - 22ft deep, stone at bottom, several feet of very interesting stuff - look just as decomposing rock ought to look.

Th 12 Feb We made our first cheese today out of ten gallons of milk. 6 It took two hours and a half coming, the rennet is so weak.

M 16 Feb I attended a general meeting of the men of Hurworth in the evening to discuss the prospects of cheese and the advisability of opening communication with Sydney and Melbourne. We are thinking of setting up a shop in town. 7 Hugh Ronalds to keep it . . .

W 18 Feb Made a 10lb cheese . . . Harry told us of Sharland's sorrowing from the want of such a shop as we were thinking of.

Th 19 Feb Made a 16 pounder - in the afternoon put up a jury press.

M 23 Feb It seems that the election of the Provincial Council is null because the Council Enlargement Bill was not proclaimed in time. They are in a regular fix in Auckland too, having got two members for one seat.

F 27 Feb . . . Bought a pig 8 and some lead pipe for a siphon.

v 30


Mary Blanche Hursthouse to Emily E. Richmond - - - Merton, Taranaki, 25 Jan 1857

. . . Fearful accounts of the expenses of Mr Cutfield's election are floating about. It is said 800£ were spent in obtaining the votes of the free and independent electors of New Plymouth . . .

Last Sunday Maria, Arthur, H.D.E., Mr Adams and I all went to Tataraimaka to the Greenwoods and Goods. We found it a long and very hot ride, no sun and no air, unfortunately the mountain was hidden . . . The Goods have a nice large house situated on a fine level plain; you approach the house through three quarters of a mile of beautiful clover and fern, a delightful place for horses . . .

1857/2


Maria Richmond to Emily E. Richmond - - - Merton, 25 Jan 1857

I believe both you and William will be glad to hear that Harry and Henry are elected members of the Provincial Council though many of our mob maintain that Wm. will disapprove of Henry being in. How far he may benefit the public I am incompetent to judge, but I have no hesitation in saying that I think it is for Henry's own private good to be brought into contact with other men and get interested in

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general affairs ... It is considered by 'the mob' that Henry's promotion to the position of a J.P. and a member of the legislature has added greatly to the dignity of his demeanour . . .

1857/3


C. W. Richmond to T. Richmond - - - Auckland, 29 Jan 1857

. . . When, however, I compare the chances of money-making Taranaki presents, as compared with other parts of New Zealand, I am often tempted to advocate a beginning being made by some of the young men in another province. Otago, I think, presents the best field. With a capital of £2000 sheep in the South are a very sure thing. The area of Otago is equal to that of Scotland and the natural pasturage of very superior description . . . We have just advised the Governor to assent to the new land regulations of the province under which pasturage leases will be granted for 14 years at a yearly rate of 1d. per head on the sheep depastured.

v 41, p 25


C. W. Richmond to E. L. Humphries, New Plymouth - - - Auckland, 31 Jan 1857

I congratulate you on your triumph at the town election. It is, I consider, an advantage of my present anxious and laborious office that it has kept me out of the late hubbub. I suppose a certain amount of personality is inseparable from politics, but I hate it.

v 41, p 123

C. O. Davis (private memorandum) 9 - - - 9 Feb 1857

Mr Boyton is now well known to the natives, and should they require his services, they should pay him. The natives must be taught to assist themselves. The vacancy therefore in my opinion, should not on any account be filled up.

2 The Resident Magistrate having been withdrawn from Rotorua, no other person should be appointed. Rotorua is a purely native district, and the appointment of English Magistrates to such places only tends to bring our laws into contempt, for it is utterly impossible to carry them out in their integrity.

Moreover the Magistrate has been removed at the suggestion of the Natives and the Government would be giving way too much to their caprice should another Magistrate be sent thither. Indeed there is no need of one.

v 4, p 9


C. W. Richmond to J. Chamberlain, London - - - Auckland, 18 Feb 1857

I find being Colonial Treasurer, the accounts of the Colony give me plenty to think about. Our affairs are not on a large scale . . . but this partnership account with the provinces gives rise to a multitude of intricate questions quite incredible. In fact

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if every New Zealand colonist is not a first rate lawyer it will not be the fault of the Imperial Parliament, since the Constitution bestowed on us in 1853 bristles with, what in Lincoln's Inn they call, 'nice points'. For my own part I am tired of law and hard work and shall take the first decent opportunity of retiring.

v 41, p 98


A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, S 7 Mar 1857

. . . Made two cheeses from 25 galls. Bought a fine barrow pig from Harry for £2. He is to have it again when fat at 5d. per lb . . . The third or fourth mountain party got back.

W 18 Mar Turned cheeses, cut vinegar barrel in two for pickle tubs, put pork in to salt . . . Adams ... is going to Sydney . . . We have sold Adams I cwt of our first cheeses at 11d per lb - this is the first we have sold.

F 27 Mar . . . Went to Harry's in the evening, sold him 7 3/4 lb cheese, very new but the flies had got at it.

M 30 Mar About 11 a.m. rode with Maria and a Hurworth mob on to the race course . . . The Ladies Purse was an extraordinary race - George Lethbridge's Black Jack that was carrying meat last week . . . won the two first heats, when his age was disputed and he was disqualified . . .

v 30


A. Domett to C. W. Richmond - - - Nelson, 13 Mar 1857

I am writing to you more in a matter of business than anything else, so feel a kind of conpunction at doing for my own interest what I ought to do solely from regard for you. However you will overlook that, old boy.

I have written you an official, to request you to get me paid £60 that I have charged myself twice with in making up my Hawkes Bay land account. The fact is, I never kept any accounts in my life before those cursed land accounts, and having no clerk ... no office, but carrying on the business in the midst of my family I daresay I made several mistakes. When I eventually got a clerk ... I left these matters to him. Before leaving I . . . brought myself in debt to the Govt, about £130. This I paid out of my own pocket, and was exceedingly gravelled thereby - nay, had to borrow money from Nelson to get down there . . .

Now I really believe that more than this £60 (by at least 40 more) is due to me. But I had no bank books and trusted to bank returns for the deposits paid to my credit therein ... I trust to you to do me this justice - which as Governments go, is often a kindness too when it ought not to be . . .

... I am going on here quietly enough scribbling in that old Nelson Examiner for which my agreement is to give me £250 a year. As to the commissionership I don't know whether Robinson means to get me out of it or not. We go on very civilly together at present.

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I have a batch of books last steamer via Wellington from old Mantell, nothing very new, but there is Browning's Men and Women . . . among them. What interests me more, Schiller and Goethe's correspondence about the time Goethe was writing Wilhelm Meister. Also Goethe's Essays on Art, which I have not even peeped into. A nice young fellow, poetically given, Bowen 10 of Canterbury, was up here lately and much with me. I like him as given to the madness of the 'Muse'.

We have just done with the races. Yesterday a real penance in the grand stand, a wind (sent direct from the lower regions) blowing fiercely all the day and freezing one's very liver and diaphragm. Not as Erebus the day before.

18 Mar Muller the Provincial Secretary has resigned in consequence of Robinson 11 having stopped his pay during a fortnight or 3 weeks holiday which R. had given him leave to take. This the latter says he had pledged himself on the hustings to do ... Robinson seems sorry to have done it but pleads that he had pledged himself . . . He offered me the Provincial Sec. to be held in conjunction with the Crown Land com-missionership which I declined at once. Was I right? The fact is as Commr. I go on well enough with Robinson because we meet as it were as independent authorities -and ... he ... is always mighty civil. But the Provl. Secrty. seems little more than a clerk in the Supts. office and moreover one of his Executive. I can't exactly stand that. Of course this will be an additional excuse for his doing away with my office (Commr.) if he can. So it is all a toss-up what will take place. How happy are the sheepfarmers compared to Govt, officers. Why don't you get a run?

By the bye I saw those Xmas rhymes of mine in some Scotch periodical work (Hogg's Instructor) at Strang's at Wellington and I find I had forgotten entirely the 1st verse. Is it worth sending you for Mrs Richmond's little book? They are very flattish.

'It was the calm and solemn night
Seven hundred years and fifty three
Had Rome been growing up to might,
And now was Queen of Land and Sea.
No sound was heard of clashing wars -
Peace brooded o'er the hushed domains,
Apollo, Pallas, Jove and Mars
Held undisturbed their ancient reign
In the solemn midnight centuries ago!'

v 3, p 87 (t.s.) p 88


C. W. Richmond to H. A. Atkinson - - - Auckland, 23 Mar 1857

The Auckland papers will give you the news about the Denny ... It is doubtful whether the appliances at command here will suffice to get her off.

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Howard Hutton was on board on his return home ... I can't think poor Mailler 12 was exempt from blame, because . . . having touched the ground the first time, he ought to have proceeded very cautiously, or to have anchored till daylight.

v 41, p 127


A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, Su 5 Apr 1857

. . . Paid Miss King £7-4-6 on acct. of rennet sent me by Connell & Ridings in the steamer - 140 skins at 1/- each. We have been paying here 3/6 each.

M 13 Apr The old sow farrowed last week in the bush. I followed her home today and found she had got 10 living sucklings and one dead one.

v 30


C. W. Richmond to Emily Richmond - - - Rangiriri, Waikato, 24 Apr 1857

Last night the mail passed this place; we opened the bag and learnt the sad news of Mrs Stafford's 13 death. I always feared for her, but was unprepared for so sudden an event.

At the Governor's urgent request I am going on hence to Mr Maunsell's Kohanga to see the school which will detain me over Sunday. I may get home on Monday but perhaps will be unable to ride the whole distance from Waiuku in a day which will make it Tuesday . . .

I know how much after what has happened you must wish to see me and nothing but a sense of duty will keep me a day beyond my time. I am very strong and well -the weather has been for the most part very fine and our trip hitherto most successful.

1857/5


J. Morgan 14 to C. W. Richmond - - - Otawhao, 29 Apr 1857

As it is probable that you will shortly write to the Ahuriri settlers in reference to the Post road, I beg leave to forward you a few notes . . . from two of my people, one of whom belongs to the Tarawera tribe . . . [Detailed particulars of the projected route follow] . . . He is named Panapa Toropo ... I can depend on his information.

I propose visiting Arowena next week and will make myself fully acquainted with the best crossing places over the Waipapa and Mangakino for the Post road . . . I should myself like to see the road made first or at least the Waipapa and Mangakino made good, as any delay with the first mails would bring discredit on the road. I shall be prepared to use all my influence in preparing the road and establishing the Postal line as soon as you give me authority to do so . . .

I trust that at some future day we shall have the pleasure of seeing the Governor and yourself again at Otawhao on your road to Ahuriri. I have spoken to Wiremu

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Toetoe about the hire of men and horses for travellers . . . and he said, 'On account of the badness of the roads, 6/- per day'. I then informed him of our conversation and proposal of 5/-, to which he immediately agreed. He also said that he would immediately fit up a small boarded cottage at Rangiaohia for visitors . . .

1857/6


E. W. Stafford to Emily E. Richmond - - - [Apr 1857]

It would afford me much pleasure to dine with you on Friday (I presume tomorrow) but as Mr Weld is a Catholic and that is a fast day possibly some other day would suit better.

Believe how deeply grateful I am for your kind wishes as to my health - the more appreciated that situated as I am any notice of me or my concerns, beyond what the lip-courtesy of society demands, is unknown and not expected. But at no time did I take care of my health and now - with no higher aim as to my private acts than a species of cold self-indulgence - no great change in my habits is likely. And why should there be a change? Without those objects of domestic interest which are almost a necessity after the first flush of life is over, with desires which my constrained residence here forbids the fulfilment of, what but that pure selfishness which I am conscious is fast settling down on me have I for a polestar?

I do not wish to write an absurd Jeremiad, nor to complain of my lot. What it is it is - and when I say my domestic future is barren I do not wish to be considered as grumbling at it (tho' the thought has sometimes temporarily unmanned me) but merely as assigning it as a reason for not taking extra or indeed any care of myself.

The same cause prompts levity of language and thought in private life - or rather nonsense words and no thinking - as preferable to reflecting on or speaking of deeper feelings. Outward levity of manner and language is a capital curtain behind which to shelter. As the spirit feeds so it grows.

v 3, p 91


Emily E. Richmond, journal - - - Auckland, F 1 May 1857

Poor Mrs Stafford is dead of pluerasy on the 18th April not 29 years old. If God had seen fit to spare her a son would have been sent them in five months from the time she was taken away.

v 21


Jane Maria Atkinson to Emily Richmond - - - Merton, 3 May 1857

Mrs Stafford's death . . . must indeed have been an awfully sudden blow for poor Mr Stafford, and his grief must be made more bitter if he imagines that more skilful treatment might have saved her life. . . . How unfortunate Wm's absence from Auckland just then must have been; it must be dreadful to be a public man when private distress is overwhelming you. ... I wonder whether this trial will make Mr S. turn

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in disgust from politics or whether he will only throw himself more vehemently into public affairs. . . .

Mr Parris is thoroughly mistrusted by all but good church and bishop's men, he is believed to be playing a double game with the Maoris. Katatore has been blandly received by our Govnt. and returned it is said chuckling to his pah, but he is such a good church man it is hard to make a fuss about his shooting a few dissenters. We had tea last night at the Kings and met Mr and Mrs Wm Halse, ... He says our only chance of more land is to buy up claims as they are offered, and that by putting aside the offers now being made by the friendly natives to sell, we are losing a chance that may not again occur, they are becoming so disgusted at the way they are treated and the favours shown Katatore. The Natives have been again breaking down the Bell Block pound and carrying off their cattle. . . .

Things in the bush are rather dismal. The Hurworth burns are all atrociously bad; we shall probably not get more for our cheese than we give Harry for the milk. Virtue may be its own reward, but cheese making is not.

1857/7


H. R. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Merton, 4 May 1857

Your clearing . . . was burnt last Saturday week, during my absence by a council of Hurworthians. The burn must be pronounced on the whole bad, although very good in some places - 30/- per acre spent on clearing up will probably make a pretty fair clearing of it - but it may cost £2. Probably the worst parts had better be left alone in the hope that the fire may run through again next year ... I should convert Fatima into fences etc, but horses are very unsaleable articles . . .

I hope you admired the Ecloga that Lely sent you. There were two or three bad lines which I wanted to have corrected before it went to you: however I don't doubt that its true beauties would carry down a good deal of imperfection. The introduction of the beautiful new metaphor (ploughs up my feelings) into the English language instead of the comparatively weak 'harrowing' formerly employed deserves especial mention . . .

1857/8


A. Domett to C. W. Richmond - - - Nelson, 5 May [1857]?

. . . You hate the office you hold, and precisely on that account you are best fitted for it perhaps. The mean and selfseeking (the very fellows who are sure to abuse it) would like the office.

Yet I don't apply the same rule quite to myself - so inconsistent are we. I hate writing in the newspaper, etc, yet don't think I can make up therefore for the superior information and energy a man would bring to the work with whom it was a hobby and a subject of constant thought and discussion. I never talk politics and read nothing

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political or such as would give me knowledge of the subject I scribble about. I only take care to say what I think true and to abstain from saying what I don't think, or think true. So much for that.

I have been reading Francis Newman (Phases, and Soul) and like him. But I more cotton to that noble fellow Theodore Parker (Theism Atheism etc) with his fiery clear intellect and precision of thought and masculine decisiveness of opinion. All his thoughts, I think, are old to me but so boldly and eloquently expressed.

I have Browning's Men and Women too - subtle and metaphysical - and therefore a mistake so far - but with vivid imagery and insight into feelings and so far a success - but inferior to the old Lyrics and Pippas.

All this is half hypocritical because half my motive at least in writing is to say about that money that Gisborne's 15 letter is a - what? He asks me to furnish particulars ... I have no papers of any sort here connected with the Hawkes Bay Land department ... I must trust to you to get [Dr] Knight to root it out . . . the first I heard of it was from Carkeek at Wellington - he (I think) from the Provincial Treasurer or through him. Stafford when here told me he knew about it and that not Knight but you had found it out - So that I concluded you knew all about it.

Here we go on jog jog quietly enough. The gold seems a little more promising according to reports. Bearded losels wander more and more up and down the beach - to and fro the diggings. Government reclines on its couch in sublime unconcern. Corporal Nym is its archetype and etre supreme and 'Things must be as they may' the maxim it swears by . . .

Stafford seems to have offended the Canterbury folk - I don't know the rights and wrongs for I can't read the correspondence. I fear perhaps Stafford is not conciliatory enough.

v 4, p 74


J. Morgan to C. W. Richmond - - - Otawhao, 11 May 1857

I think that I have accomplished our wishes about the improved line of road. I enclose you a plan of it . . . There are two roads from Otawhao to Taupo, one by the Ruahine and the other by Arowena. By the line proposed on the plan . . . the bad places on both lines of road are avoided. The Waipapa is crossed higher up where the banks are low. The natives say that it is there fordable at all times and that they have crossed it at that spot with their horses during heavy floods and that bridges are not required . . . either over Mangawhio or Waipapa . . .

If the Government are pleased to approve of the road, I think that the following plan will be the cheapest for opening it. Employ a party of Arowena natives at 2/-per day, and allow them 4 or 5 women at 1/6 per day to carry them food from Arowena. I would then put one of my most trustworthy native teachers from Otawhao or Orakau over them ... I would then go up to Arowena myself to see the road and pay the

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labourers. I would pay the superintending native 3/- per day, as he would be far from home and have to leave his own work for a longer period ... As the country natives are short of tools I should recommend the Government to supply the following;

1 cross cut saw 6 ft 6 in.
3 cross cut files.
6 American axes
6 American hatchets
2 Adzes and 2 spades. . . .

... As every few miles saved on a Post road is important, I would also remark that there is a more direct Maori path from beyond Mangakino river to Taupo, at the Waikato, than the one by Tuaropake laid down by Mr Simpson . . . The Arowena natives said that only one day would be required for the Mail to travel between Arowena and Taupo lake . . . 'Please to inform his Excellency of the proposed line.'

Stafford's Minute on above letter:

Mr Morgan deserves the thanks of the Govt, for the trouble he has taken in the Mails and should be . . . immediately authorized to act as he suggests . . . and the tools which he asks for supplied in the way that he suggests. The prices to be paid to the Native labourers to be approved.

1857/9


A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, Th 14 May 1857

. . . the first number of the Taranaki News was not published when we came home from town as 'the big roller of the press would not work properly'.

F 15 May . . . Decy brought up the first number of the Taranaki News which was published last night at about 10, and also the news that the Kenilworth arrived at Auckland May 4th - James and Mary all right.

v 30


H. Sewell to C. W. Richmond. - - - London, 15 May 1857

The substance of my tarryings both at Sydney and Melbourne . . . resulted in nothing but . . . the conviction in my own mind that nothing can be done in the Colony towards real and permanent steam communication with New Zealand . . . The only company pretending to any strength is the Australian at Sydney, which is a very grasping overreaching body and wanted to put off with inferior boats. I came to the conclusion that nothing but an English Company would do what we want and I conferred with some of the leading merchants at Melbourne who agreed with me and appear heartily disposed to call it a large general undertaking . . .

Now there is one point on which I cannot express too strongly my opinion - namely, that Melbourne and not Sydney is our object of communication. Melbourne must be the commercial centre of the Australian world and it is incalculably for the interests of New Zealand to have direct and very speedy communication with that

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centre. Sydney is altogether unimportant, and to make Sydney our point of contact would be as if a man whose proper trade was with London should choose Bristol or Plymouth as his port. ... In my judgment the progress of the Colony and its ability to stand up under the heavy pressure of competition with Victoria depends on the quickest possible communication with her ... so as to become an integral part of her. Then we shall partake of all her advantages. To attempt to make distance between us in the hope of keeping our labour to ourselves is quite hopeless . . . The Provinces are straining themselves to keep up immigration . . . and plunging themselves into debt for little or no purpose. Be assured it is hopeless to think of retaining important labour whilst Victoria is paying from 18/- to 15/- in some cases £1 per day and New Zealand cannot afford more than 5/-. How absurd to think of keeping them in New Zealand with such an attraction close at hand. I am in a state of urgent alarm and anger at the reckless improvidence of the Provinces ... I am convinced that for every £1 that the Colony pays now for Immigrants it does not keep 5/- value. In Heaven's name do what you can to check this ruinous delusion. There ought to be at present no outlay whatever on Immigration except of the most sparing kind. No assistance except for relatives of persons already in the Colony . . .

Provincial Debt.—The Provinces are rushing into debt without a thought or care for the future. The consequence is that our credit is generally beginning to be blown up. At Sydney and Melbourne and here in London people open their eyes with amazement at New Zealand Loans at 8 and 10 per cent - and bear this in mind - all these loans . . . are believed to be secured on the credit of the Colony at large ... I write this mainly with reference to a document which I saw in the Colonial Office and in which I think I detect Stafford's hand - in which he endeavours to draw distinctions between General and Provincial liabilities. As they say at the Colonial Office, so I say, this distinction is literally true and practically false - every sixpence which is borrowed by the Provinces must be paid by the Colony at large. Repudiation by a single Province would be a greater calamity than the payment of £100,000. Let me entreat you to exercise a severe check upon this borrowing mania ... It is one of poor Wakefield's dangerous doctrines ... I find it put forward as a serious objection to the Imperial Government giving me a guarantee. They say we are plunging recklessly into debt and they will be no partner to it . . . All this I know I may v/rite to you because you and I sympathize - but I am alarmed about Stafford.

Since writing the above I have a letter from the Colonial Office making it a preliminary condition of a guarantee that the Provinces shall not borrow any more. I shall take council with Adderley and Godley ... I am so uneasy . . . that I feel myself only too willing to forward any plan which may check the mischief.

About the Guarantee itself I begin to feel more confidence. They say the woman who deliberates is lost - the Colonial Office is deliberating, talks of conditions ... all of which points to ultimate assent. But then ... we must surmount the Treasury . . . Adderley, Lord Lyttelton and Godley are helping me, 1 have also made a favourable impression of Sir John Pakington, and Lord John Russell and I think Gladstone are

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well disposed. Our success depends on getting help from this kind of men and it requires time and labour writing and preaching.

This leads me to myself and my own relations with the Colony. I am at present their gratuitous agent merely charged with representing their views and doing a few odd jobs for them. But I find myself involved in a laborious business that absorbs my whole time and attention but which I cannot abandon without abandoning the object that is of so much importance to the Colony. I feel satisfied that the Colony would desire that I devote myself to it, and I do so in reliance on their dealing with me in the matter of remuneration in a suitable way ... I know I may write this freely to you, and without imputation of jobbing - I desire to avoid all suspicion of this. Some of my friends will perhaps be ready to fling stones at me. Rather than be under such an imputation I would rather do the work for nothing, but I cannot in truth afford to give up my whole time and a great deal of labour without a reasonable quid pro quo . . .

Minie rifles I find can be supplied at £3 each . . .

1875/10


C. W. Richmond to T. King - - - Auckland, 18 May 1857

I was cheered by the sight of your well known hand ... I could only wish that you had a more cheerful and hopeful subject than the embarrassing affairs of our poor little province. The false position in which defect of strength places the Government of New Zealand is nowhere more painfully apparent than in Taranaki. To my feelings you well know it would be most repugnant to seem to pat on the back the turbulent adversaries of the British Government whilst we discourage friends like poor Rawiri and Ihaia. I do not think McLean feels otherwise than we do. As head of the Land Purchasing Department he may not object to small difficulties and intricacies in negociations for the cession of native lands, but cannot sympathize with the Land Leaguers who would make an end of his occupation altogether. He had moreover, I believe, a real friendly feeling for Rawiri. But what are we to do? The right of putting a veto upon sales seems to be recognized as belonging to chiefs who do not possess the dominicum utile. There is no such thing as a pure individual title. Every sale of land requires the assent of the whole tribe and sometimes of many tribes. Can we purchase a disputed title? Will Katatore deal more tenderly with settlers on the Ikamoana than with his blood relations? If not are we prepared for the guerilla war which must ensue? If we were stronger we might take cognisance of and settle questions of territorial right between the natives. It would be politic (as I think it would be just) to support any who might demand to have the lands of the tribe partitioned and their own share allotted to them to deal with as they thought good. I am not without hope that we may by degrees take hold of such questions - but not by the strong hand. I am quite satisfied that it would be for the immense benefit both of natives and settlers that we should do so. But at present it is impossible.

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I am sorry you disapprove of Parris's appointment, which you will have found is a fait accompli - at least it has been absolutely offered to him. I expect nothing from it as ... I have pretty plainly told the Provincial Government . . . But I think it will do no harm beyond the useless expenditure. I will do what I can to get you a visit from Rogan. I believe he is next to McLean in his tact.

There is no intention to remove Halse. I well recollect that he expressed to myself his disapprobation of Cooper's proceedings with Rawiri Waiaua and set it down to the credit of his discernment.

P.S. You need not believe a tithe of what the Independent says about us. We have victorious answers to their accusations and will play our cards when they are wanted. Personal feelings may very possibly upset the coach next session. Auckland is a broken reed for any ministry to lean on. But considering the immense difficulties of the task the Fates assigned us I am not ashamed of our administration and I know its defects and feel them more keenly than any of the enemies.

I do long for the turn of the wheel which will set me free. Honorably free.

v 41, p 104


C. W. Richmond to J. Brind, New Plymouth - - - Auckland, 23 May 1857

I am sorry you should write despondingly about your prospects. You must keep a good heart and will find your reward sooner or later. Do not depend on external aid but resolve to make your own way . . .

Were I you I should not think of Aorere at all events until winter is over. Should the diggings there prove rich it is even then doubtful whether you would not get more of the Aorere gold by stopping at New Plymouth, which will come in for a good share you may depend.

v 41,p 106


C. W. Richmond to Major J. Brind (Calcutta) - - - Auckland, 23 May 1857

In answer to the enquiries ... as to the advisability of making New Zealand your home . . . the only rural pursuit in which a man can hope to make a fortune in New Zealand is wool growing. With £3000 to put into sheep and a run, there are three chances out of four that a prudent man will make a fortune, and there is just now a capital opening in the southernmost province of Otago for such an enterprise. In farming many have done well whilst the demand was great as in the first years of gold it was in the Australian markets for our potatoes and wheat ... An export of agricultural produce to Australia is not to be looked to as a permanent reliance. In short, except wool, N.Z. has as yet no staple export.

Money incomes of course do not go as far as in England . . . The rentier class is at a disadvantage. The compensating circumstance is the almost certainty that capital invested in land with any degree of judgment will be greatly augmented by the natural rise of price as settlement proceeds.

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Servants are indeed to be had, but are a sad annoyance and a great expense. Practically it is best for an intending country settler to consider that himself and family will have to do all the domestic drudgery. Do you like cleaning boots? Have your daughters a natural turn for 'washing up' or cleaning saucepans? If you and yours can make light of such inconveniences and have health and strength to make head against them, it is likely you would enjoy the freedom and salubrity of a New Zealand life . . . My own people are satisfied with the life they have chosen. I myself though living now according to a certain bad imitation of English life shall not be sorry to return to the simplicity of Taranaki.

v 41, p 107


Jane Maria Atkinson to Emily Richmond - - - Taranaki, 24 May 1857

Of course Hy wrote the Ecloga. You really ought to send us some contributions now that you have servants and enjoy a life of 'literary leisure' - what excuse have you? You would not be discovered either, as no one would suspect you at such a distance of writing for an obscure bush periodical. Teddo wrote 'the Philosophy of Life complete in 4 verses' and Jane the other pretty lines . . .

Harry has been wheezy, I am afraid the night hours the council has chosen will be very bad for him. After the last sitting Henry and he did not arrive here till 2 a.m. on a bitter cold morning . . .

The Taranaki is the only ship at anchor now, bills in the town announce her as to sail for the Gold Fields of Nelson direct.

What is this poor little Province to do for an Attorney if Wm joins his fate and presents his talents to Auckland? Besides the thousands of private reasons and wishes that I have that he may not get Mr W's 16 place, I feel that there will be no guarantee for public affairs being conducted sanely if he goes, and that all our property here will be less valuable, unless of course some new honest lawyer with brains turns up soon - an unlikely thing I fear. Harry seems quite clear that Wm ought to choose the larger sphere, I am clear that Wm will do what he sees to be his duty but I am not quite certain that the wider sphere is necessarily the more important in such a case as this. ...

1857/11


C. W. Richmond to I. N. Watt, New Plymouth - - - Auckland, 25 May 1857

The despatch offering Parris the appointment of District Land Purchase Commissioner crossed your letter of the 7th ... I could not offer him more than £200 without augmenting Halse's salary also.

I am glad you who have such good opportunities of judging seem so sanguine of success and the accomplishment of our hopes. I do not believe a man in New Zealand wants to see the Waitera (or at least one bank of it) in the hands of Government

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[more] than I do. You may rely on the cash being found if the native demands are anything in reason.

There is one tendency, however, in New Plymouth I see with great regret and I do trust you will use your influence against it. I mean the tendency to demand that land purchasing operations should be entrusted to the province. I will not argue the question. I don't suppose argument to be necessary with you. I will only say that land purchasing is a question of peace and war and means the whole of native management. Supposing it were possible to take this department out of Imperial Control, yet even then I would stand for its retention by the Gen. Govt as against the Provincial. If the New Plymouth people want this let them have Fox. I will stand or fall on this question, on which my view remains absolutely what it was when I stated very shortly my political creed at the hustings.

The question is likely enough to be mooted next session. It would bring the House . . . into collision with the Governor supported by the whole of the Legislative Council. East and Lewthwaite are likely enough to vote for it. But before the New Plymouth people allow this let them consider whether they can trust the province to the tender mercies of the Wellingtonians, who opposed tooth and nail even the least concession to our poor little province.

I will say more. I will rather go out than hand over a single department - not, I am sure you know, because I care for power, but because I am satisfied that if we lose more officers we shall find it utterly impossible to govern. I am perfectly ready for a struggle with the Ultra Provincialists, and perfectly ready and willing are we all to go out, but not to surrender one iota of the principles on which we took office - not to be made the instruments of a policy we disapprove - or to see won from the General Gvt. piecemeal powers which we are convinced are necessary to its efficiency. On this ground alone I shall resist to the uttermost principles such as I see avowed in the Herald in respect to land purchase.

I should like R. Brown to know what I think on this question. I don't mean that you should put it crudely and rudely, but shew him that it is really a life and death question with us, and that he appears just now to be with Featherston and Fox. If he thinks they will be heart and soul with you, as I am, well and good. I have no more to say. It is a good topic for stump oratory and the power that made me can unmake.

v 41,p log


C. W. Richmond to T. Richmond - - - Auckland, 27 May 1857

In the political world storms enough are brewing and we shall have a tough fight next session - the result is quite uncertain.

I from the first declared against the extension of the powers of the provincial governments ... I will never yield them a single inch of ground. Their game has been to get department after department ceded to provincial management until by a gradual course of encroachment they have left the General Government almost without functions. Public works, police, gaols, harbours and now the administration of the

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waste lands, are under exclusively provincial control. The absolute power of appointing and dismissing the resident magistrates is in danger of being lost to the General Government, and the Superintendents have even made a dash at the Post Offices! But the worst feature of the time is the attempt by two or three Superintendents to grasp at the management of native affairs. On this subject I have always stood up for the maintenance of Imperial control as it involves the question of peace and war and if once we should succeed in getting the whole power in native affairs, the Imperial Government would be likely to cast upon the Colony the whole responsibility also. It would at the least require us to pay for the troops - a burthen to which our resources are quite inadequate. Even supposing the Imperial control removed it would still never do to leave this branch of the administration to the Superintendents any one of whom by his mismanagement might involve not his own province only, but the whole Colony in war. On this point I am quite at one with the Governor, who I believe, if it were possible to suppose that the Colonial Office would desert him on this question, would resign the Government. My own position as the minister especially charged with this branch is a very delicate one. The feeling in favour of taking the thing altogether under Colonial, and even Provincial management, is as strong as it is blind and foolish. Many of my own political friends at N.P. share it, and I should not be surprised if Henry and Harry Atkinson were at this moment voting on it in the Provincial Council - of which they are members. But I am quite prepared to stand or fall on the question.

v 41, p 27


Address of the Working Women to Teachers of the Classes for Women - - - [London] 28 May 1857

[Copy in handwriting of Annie Smith]

We feel deeply the great kindness you have shown in coming forward to assist us in obtaining that knowledge which we are so desirous of possessing, and which has given us new interests, opened to us new thoughts which we earnestly hope may increase and strengthen under your guidance. While to those of us whom other duties have called to different places and works, the memory of your kindness and of the lessons you have taught will help us to go on bravely in the path that lies before us.

We are very anxious to express to you our great sense of your devotion and kindness and how much affectionate gratitude we feel towards you.

1857/12


C. W. Richmond to D. McLean 17 - - - Auckland, 2 Jun 1857

.. . The measure contemplated by the Governor is the calling of a general meeting of Waikato in the neighbourhood of Auckland, say Papakura or Waiuku, at which he should preside with great state. 18 A short extract of the more important British criminal

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laws should be propounded for their adoption - perhaps also the abrogation of various objectionable native customs.

The actual business to be done at the meeting is of less moment than the meeting itself. For the Native Doctors seem to argue that it is necessary that the British Government should oppose to the King Makers something of greater eclat and more exciting, than the village circuit--at least that this last should be inaugurated with some degree of pomp and ceremony ... [A letter from some of Fenton's friends in Waikato had accepted the Governor's word at Rangiriri but asked for a general runanga]. You know I have been, and am, against these large assemblages if they can be avoided and should only consent to the summoning of one as a matter of necessity. I am disposed to think that the necessity exists at the present time . . . [As for the Governor's information that Potatau had deceived them and was playing a double game] perhaps it is rather that the old man is vacillating and uncertain. There seems to be no reason to doubt, however, that things are going wrong at Ihumatao . . .

If you have the game in hand at Coromandel and are really likely to do a large business I think you had better stop and finish it ... By trying to do everything you will accomplish nothing . . .

McLean Papers, v 14, p 126 (Tumbull Library)


C. W. Richmond to H. R. Richmond - - - Auckland, 7 Jun 1857

I was very indignant to see the notice of the Captain's attempt to close the road . . . The line is a public reserve vested in the Crown ... I hold that the Council cannot deal with the matter . . .

Use this knowledge as you and Hal think expedient . . . The General Government cannot interfere in a purely local matter like this. But of course an illegal ordinance will be disallowed. You will perceive that if the Provincial Government asked for a grant of the roads and reserves it would probably get it; and that King and Cutty's path would then be straight if they could get an act of the Provl. Legislature.

Kick up all the shine you can if the thing passes or is likely to pass. Memorialize the Governor as Commrs. of the district, private individuals etc. etc.

v 41, p 113


C. W. Richmond to I. N. Watt - - - Auckland, 8 Jun 1857

Seeing in the Herald Captain King's attempt to get the sanction of the Provincial Council to the closing of the road through Brooklands, I send you a few hasty lines on the subject.

The line which it is thus proposed to stop is the straightest, and as regards the character of the ground, the best road of the district into town . . .

My brothers and I have always looked forward to this as the true line which we should be prepared to make before very many years were over our heads, and the first cost of which we should decidedly prefer to a large annual expenditure on the

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existing road. It appears to me the Provincial Government should be very jealous of giving up any line which is practicable. We ought to look beyond the immediate wants of the place. The abandonment of such lines will increase the difficulties of intercommunication already sufficiently great. In the present case the public is in possession of a certain right and it would be the height of improvidence to take it away for ever merely because it is alleged by interested persons, in opposition to those whose rights are invaded, that the right is one which cannot at the present time be advantageously exercised. Grant that it is needless and uncommercial to make the line at present; grant even that it is possible the other line may ultimately be preferred, but do not to save a private interest hurry to a conclusion and deprive the public of its option. The Captain says the public has two strings to its bow and no reasonable public can want more than one, and so claims the other for his private use. I confess I see neither sense or justice in this. Claim he has absolutely none, except such as is founded on the fact that the want of means in back settlers has compelled them to take their carts along the muddy canal ... I look upon this as an attempt at a serious invasion of public right - in other words of many private rights - my own included - and shall oppose it (as a private individual) by all legitimate means.

I think you can, if so disposed, render it abortive and I rely on your spirit of fairness to do so. This will not I think be difficult - for the technical impediments (as you know) are such as will not be easy to surmount in the face of an active and determined enemy.

v 41, p 112


J. Morgan to C. W. Richmond - - - Otawhao, 11 Jun 1857

Dr Harsant has informed me that the Government have ordered him to remove to Wangaroa and that he will leave this district with his family in about 3 or 4 months ... I hope that you will not consider that I am interfering with Government matters when I express the hope that H.M. Government will not overlook this important district and leave us entirely without magisterial assistance. You will also excuse my giving you my private views in reference to the wants of the district, which on two or three occasions I ventured to state to Sir G. Grey. The unsettled country parts require not resident magistrates but itinerating magistrates . . . thus the scattered Europeans and Natives would equally enjoy the advantages of the law. 2nd. The Itinerating Magistrate would have his fixed place of residence at which he would issue summonses etc. It would however be a great advantage to Europeans and Natives ... if some of the most respectable Europeans (not natives) resident at certain places could be allowed to issue summonses requiring parties to appear before the Itinerant Magistrate at the Court to be held on--------. . . 3rd. A most important point would be gained if the Itinerant Magistrate either possessed a knowledge of the Maori language, or was a young man likely to pick it up in a year or two . . . 4th . . . His services would be doubly valuable if he was a medical man. For the out country districts a greater boon could not be given to Europeans or Maoris than a medical

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magistrate. Nothing would more attach the Aborigines to the Government or increase the magisterial authority and power amongst the Aborigines . . . They ought however to be persons who feel an interest in the Aboriginal race. 5th. If possible send married men into country districts. Men with their families would have increased influence ... If however the Government cannot procure such a person, may I ask the favour of the appointment of R. D. Fenton Esq. As a magistrate the Government could not procure a more efficient officer, a person more suited to carry out the views of Government and bring the Aborigines under British law.

1857/14


H. Sewell to C. W. Richmond - - - Abingdon, [England] 11 Jun 1857

. . . We are I think safe for the guarantee, thanks to me (though I say it that should'nt say it). I was told when I first arrived that the case was hopeless. I must not let my light be hid under a bushel and therefore I am obliged to sound my own trumpet.

Now what I want to urge upon you and Stafford and Whitaker is to postpone the General Assembly as late as possible ... I shall not be able to get the money actually ready at earliest before October ... It is possible that I may be with you before then . . . My great anxiety about returning to the Colony would be the uncertainty of my fortunes - ... Say all that is kind from me to Stafford Bell and Whittaker.

I have not a scrap of a letter from anybody since I have been in England. This is strange and perplexing.

1857/15


C. W. Richmond to H. A. Atkinson - - - Auckland, 13 Jun 1857

... As the Provincial Government had meddled with a matter which did not concern it and with which it was most unfit to deal, I was not sorry to see that you drove it into a corner - arguing that if it was within the power of the Provl. Executive, it was within the power of the Provincial Legislature upon which that Executive depends - that if they had meddled you would look after them and see what they had been at. It was a perfect reductio ad absurdum. You will not suppose that I maintain the infallible wisdom of the Central Executive upon such subjects, or that I deny the desirability of taking advantage of local knowledge. McLean always avails himself of such information where he himself is not familiar with the district in which he is negotiating. ... I think the very vehemence of local desire unfits a local body for the conduct of these delicate negotiations.

v 41, p 114


Jane Maria Atkinson to Emily Richmond - - - Merton, 14 Jun 1857

The roads are now splendidly broken up for the winter, we came down a river of mud from Hurworth yesterday. Ar's boast of cantering into town cannot be repeated

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for the next 5 months at least. ... I am rather anxious to give a house warming [for James and Mary] before our partition is put up in the du Moulin house. I shall call it a charade party if I can persuade the Ronalds family to do some, so as not to shock Ar's feelings. But as our piano will come up as soon as Mary's is established here, we could have a little dancing . . .

I fancy Wm. must have misunderstood Hy's and Hal's position on the Native question, they are quite aware that the Prov Government has no sort of business to be meddling, as it has done, but whatever the Prov Executive chose to do, they considered the Council had a right to know. I. N. Watt's claim for diplomatic secrecy on the plea that the ministry at home were secret in their foreign correspondence seemed to them ridiculous, and having the deepest distrust of R. Parris and his dealings in Native affairs they considered publicity the only safeguard against mischief being done to the Province in this matter. I believe all our set here feel that the apathy (apparent at any rate) of the General Govt, is preferable to the mismanagement of bishop loving Maori merchants, and it is considered a happy escape that Parris will not pocket the £200 per annum for doing us a little more harm. The position we are in with respect to land purchasing can hardly be made worse - that is one comfort even if we paid £1000 a year to have it further muddled. 'Tread on a worm and it will turn' so the only hope is that one day the Maoris may get so impudent in Auckland Province or some important place that they will drive the Governor into a more dignified position, when I believe it will turn out that had the British Lion had heart to say 'bo' to a goose a little sooner a good deal of bother might have been saved and the Maoris themselves really more advanced in civilization than they can become under the lollypop system. ... I really believe that instead of being a misfortune it might do lots of us a great good to have our houses burnt over our heads and be deprived of our usual comforts. I fear the 19th century is spoiling the race with ease and safety.

1857/17


Jane Maria Atkinson to Emily E. Richmond (Auckland) - - - 15 Jun 1857

. . . The dastardly spirit which seems to fill many people in speaking of Maoris makes the Bishop's love of them quite noble in comparison. What I meant by the apparent apathy of the General Govt is the carelessness or indifference with which the friendly or selling Natives complain that their offers are treated. Thro' Stockman we hear that an elaborate statement of their claims, with a great many signatures, was sent to Auckland long ago, and that to their disgust a verbal acknowledgment of its receipt sent thro' H. Halse, was the only notice of it vouchsafed by the Gen Govt. They think so much of having a written document sent them that if it had merely been to say their memorial had arrived safely and His Excellency was much [?] it would have seemed politic to send a letter to them, if indeed the Govnt care to keep them in good humour . . . Certainly, what with the parsons and Provincial Govts setting up

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Katatore, and the Gen Govt turning a deaf ear to the selling Natives, the latter seem likely no longer to be the friendly party.

I hope we shall see you and the bairns ... at any rate for a visit to this ruined little settlement . . . James seems to be gazing on Taranaki thro' the lugubrious medium that old Will usually employs when contemplating his own relations or possessions. However, I am in hopes that Taranaki in the reality may seem more cheery, and Hurworth less hideous, than they do 180 miles off.

By the way, if you or Will can ever meet with the late F. W. Robertson's . . . sermons seize and devour them. If he is a proper Church man I should like to be a proper Church woman as soon as might be . . .

1857/17


C. W. Richmond to H. Sewell - - - Auckland, 16 Jun 1857

The first thing that occurs to me when I take up pen to write to you is to wish you back again. Use has somewhat blunted me to it, but I never cease to feel the want of my front file. I have a multitude of things to tell you of . . . And I shall write in my copying book, as I feel it very inconvenient to have no copy of my former letters, not knowing what I have already written to you.

The ministry still holds well together. The session will of course try our mutual forbearance more severely than these piping times of peace. It is however satisfactory that no cracks are yet apparent. Of the feeling out of doors about us I am less able to speak. I should say it is nowhere very cordial. At the same time I do not at present see the elements of any combinations powerful enough to turn us out. Fox's strong articles in the Independent about the seat of government question, and his biting personalities have done much to consolidate our party for us - more than any particular ability we have as yet been able to display in administration. FitzGerald is quite alienated by the quarrel we have had with him about his resident magistrates. He is I suppose out of New Zealand politics, but Canterbury looks on us, if without hatred, certainly without affection. Nelson remains loyal and if it were possible to predicate the political course of our Auckland friends, I should say it is out of the question that they should ever again join Fox. On the whole there is nothing new on the cards - no new men, therefore no new possibilities.

The South is active and progressing. Everywhere the Customs are looking up . . . Auckland (port of) notwithstand'g the continued flatness of trade in the North will be near upon £45,000 for the year - the increase upon spirits and tobacco having told well! But the great start of course is in the land sales. We hear they are selling at the rate of £2,000 a month at Canterbury, although owing to FitzGerald's ill judged recalcitrancy we are at present without proper returns of the sales. Otago has engaged [C.W.] Ligar to treat with the Melbourne millionaires for the immediate sale of a huge slice of its territory, and begins to talk of paying off its share of the Company's debt in a lump. So much for our injustice to Otago. What we gave them was, I always thought, the blot on the scheme. Those Scotchmen will of course be swamped in a

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trice which is some comfort. I should not wonder if the rogues are calculating to get the cash they want out of a few rich men, which would enable themselves to keep the reins of the province for a time.

The Provincial System is giving evident signs of infirmity. Ahuriri is openly asking for separation. So is the Bluff. Our [New Provinces] act should certainly provide for the apportionment of the charge allotted to a province in the event of the partition of the province. Stafford says the Wairau will ere long demand independence. Whatever may be Fox's temporary success with his absurd and short-sighted scheme of 'Six Colonies' that scheme is doomed. I feel assured of the ultimate triumph of one central government for the whole Northern Island if not for the Colony, with true local self government by municipal bodies.

Our friend Donald [McLean] has been knocking pretty often at the Treasury door. We spent some £7000 at Ahuriri in land purchase, and have sent McLean down with £5,000 more to try and make a clean sweep of the district . . . Elsewhere very little has been accomplished by the Department.

The Steam question is absolutely in statu quo. We sent Bell to Sydney with Champion Wetton (the R.M. Steam Packet Coy's agent) to treat with the N.S.W. Government for the establishment of the Panama line. It is to be considered as virtually agreed upon. New ocean steamers to call at Auckland going out and at Wellington returning. A branch steamer to Melbourne from Manakau will take on the Victorian mail from England, . . . N.Z. is to contribute £15,000 towards the £65,000 which all this is to cost.

But . . . the service is not to commence for two years and even then would not supply interprovincial communication. We have been prevented from arranging anything by the very high price demanded by the steam companies - or rather by the A.S.N. Co., which has been the only tenderer . . .

The native question is in an interesting state. Those aspirations for the maintenance of a separate nationality, which I recollect describing to you in '55 as the secret cause of the opposition to land sales, have lately taken the shape of an agitation for a Maori King. Mixed up with these vague desires there is amongst the younger men trained by the missionaries a strong desire to imitate our social arrangements. Self constituted native magistrates are administering justice after European fashion in several of the Waikato villages. They are also desirous of trying their hands at legislation both in village assemblies and in even a larger meeting - a Maori General Assembly - which they desire the Governor to convene. I cannot... give you anything but the most imperfect idea of the movement. I hear in it the voice of a people crying out to be governed - a people weary of anarchy and desiring guidance in the right way. I believe it is a movement which we may take possession of and turn to great uses but which if neglected will become dangerous. The Governor is inclined to shy at the name of 'King'. All his advisers agree that there is nothing in this name - that what is really of importance are these two things - the plainly asserted claim of national independence, and the plainly expressed desire for better government. We shall extinguish

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the first if we can satisfy the second. We intend for this purpose to appoint magistrates to hold circuit courts in native districts, to increase the number of assessors, to invite the natives who assemble on the court days to discuss their local affairs and transmit their resolutions for the Governor's approval, to enable the Governor (by Act of Assembly) to give force to such resolutions by proclaiming bye laws for native districts. The Act should vest an absolute discretion in the Governor in Council - it being however intended that the power should never be exercised except with the consent of the native people. There is evident advantage in not at present conceding direct legislative powers . . . the Bye Laws to be on subjects of the Police, municipal and rural. We propose also that the meetings should be encouraged to abandon native customs such as tapu, robbing the relatives of an offender, punishing witchcraft, betrothing girls without their consent etc. etc. You see all this involves an increase in the expenditure on the natives for governmental purposes, but simultaneously we should stop McLean's lavish expenditure in presents and loans (so called) - an expenditure which bears no fruit of permanent good.

I accompanied the Governor in a visit he made to the Waikato and Waipa, when I not only got a good idea of the state of the native feeling, but had the opportunity of making acquaintance with all the missionaries. The Native Minister should certainly move about a great deal. There is nothing like seeing the places and the people. In this way the theories of the closet become definite practical plans . . .

Stafford wants me to say that the Treasury is being kept warm for you - and you are to bring Weld with you. We cannot spare a single man. We are dangerously weak in men and I sometimes fear the Colony will have to go through a course of Ultra Provincialism before it comes to its senses.

You will probably have heard long ago of Stafford's domestic misfortune. When Mrs Stafford came up with us last November she was apparently in perfect health -and so continued until within a very short time before her death. Stafford is now living at Bell's (Colonel Hulme's). I have got the house next below it. This Parnell hill is a very different situation from your old dank corner down by the mill, to which Captain King R.A. has conducted his bride.

All the Ecclesiastical Bigwigs have been up here laying the foundations of the N.Z. Church. I know you will be grieved to hear they will have no advowsons - no sales of next presentations. The said Bigwigs are now on the point of departure for the South in the Bishop's yacht. Tancred is going round in her to Nelson to be married to Miss Richmond.

41, p 115


J. Morgan to C.W.R. - - - Otawhao, 17 Jun 1857

By the present post I have enclosed to Mr Stafford, Wiremu Toetoe's contract for the mail between Mangatawiri and Taupo . . . You will perceive that I propose reaching Ahuriri from Auckland in 7 days and Wellington in 10 days, or rather in 12 days

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allowing the 2 extra days for Sunday and delays on the entire line . . . You will also receive a letter from Wiremu Toetoe in reference to the proposed tariff for the line of road. He also wishes a notice put into the Maori Messenger to say that he has erected a house at Rangiaohia for the accommodation of travellers and that as soon as the post road is open for horses he will do his best to supply men and horses at 5/- per day each.

I have read a report that John Allan is making application for a bush license for a house at Otawhao. It appears scarcely necessary for me to point out to the Govt, the very great evils arising from bush licenses and the two gallon system. Bush licenses in remote country districts do not answer the purpose for which the license is granted. They are the resort of all the idle dissipated characters in the district, who as soon as they earn a few shillings set off for these houses and there drink it all away. Rows and the giving of grog by drunken men to the Aborigines follow. Government have no idea of the extent of evil arising from these houses. No magistrate without a police can be accountable for these houses. The Government must also bear in mind that these houses are forced on the Aborigines. A European squats down on Maori land and the Government grant him a license. The natives object to it and protest against it but in vain. Drunken men on week and sabbath days enter the houses of even leading chiefs and there do as they please. I trust that the Government will not grant the proposed license. He is living on Maori land and the owners are decidedly opposed to such a house. If bush licenses are granted could they not be licensed to supply travellers only? Gentlemen on a journey cannot find either comfort or good accommodation in a bush public house and frequented by the very lowest characters. Confine the license to supply travellers journeying and by so doing you may get quiet and respectable houses.

A good deal of sympathy has been expressed in the district with Dr Harsant in consequence of his proposed removal. It is not my wish in any way to interfere with Government arrangements ... I may however in a private letter state to one of His Excellency's Advisers the reasons why so much sympathy has been expressed with Dr Harsant. His removal into this remote inland district 3 years ago was attended with very serious expense to himself and inconvenience to his family . . . After spending with his large family two uncomfortable winters, and just as he begins after much labour to get a little comfortable, he is ordered to remove to a district which offers no advantages to repay the expense and labour to which he will be subjected ... It cost Dr Harsant about £80 to remove his family and goods from Auckland to Otawhao. His proposed removal to Wangaroa cannot be accomplished under £100 . . . Dr and Mrs Harsant on these grounds have the entire sympathy of every right minded man in the district ... A kind of memorial in favour of Dr Harsant and directed to the Editor of the New Zealander was presented to me this morning. I did not sign it as I did not like the wording of it and did not feel it my duty in such a document to interfere with the movements and arrangements of Government. It was in consequence of this document being got up that I determined privately to give you the views and

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feelings of the district in their sympathy with Dr Harsant ... I was informed that while Mr Garavel 19 sympathized with Dr Harsant ... he did not approve of the wording of the Memorial.

[C.W.R's minutes on same letter.]

No license has been or will be granted to Allan.

I have written to Mr Morgan explaining that the actual arrangements with Dr Harsant leave him £60 for travelling expense - an arrangement with which Dr Harsant expressed himself satisfied.

I adhere to my opinion that Dr Harsant is utterly unfit for the duties of a circuit magistrate in a Maori district and that to entrust duties so onerous to such weak hands would be to ensure the miscarriage of our plans.

Minute by Governor Gore Browne

Approved. I am anxious that no Bush licenses should be given without my previous consent, and think that if Mr Morgan could accompany the first mail to Ahuriri difficulties might be obviated. T.G.B.

1857/19


C. W. Richmond to Wellington Carrington, New Plymouth - - - Auckland, 22 Jun 1857

. . . My note of the 19th May would have better expressed my views, and have been less open to misconstruction or comment, had I said that Mr Parris had been offered the appointment of District L.P. Commr. because it was desired to meet the wishes of the Provincial Government as far as might be without compromise of any principle of policy.

v 41, p 136


J. Morgan to C. W. Richmond - - - Otawhao, 23 Jun 1857

In reference to the time for the starting of the first Mail to Ahuriri, I am ready at any moment. . . . My objection was this, June and July being mid winter and the road being in its Maori state, we could not depend on getting in to Ahuriri or Auckland on the fixed day, and that a bad commencement would bring up a bad report on the line of road.

Not the slightest opposition has been made by any chief to my proposal to open up a horse road to Taupo. The day before yesterday I married at Orakau a young chief and numbers of Taupo natives came over to witness the marriage. After all was over I spoke to Pairata (one of the leading chiefs at Taupo). and proposed that they should build a bridge over the Mangakino river at a place where the stream contracts between high scoria banks and the span is only about 20 ft. The natives . . . said that occasionally, say once in 7 to 10 years, an unusually heavy flood, would carry away any bridge if not secured. The last flood of this kind was at the time the old Taupo chief was buried by the slip of the mountain. Over a place of this kind,

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would the Govt, wish me to build a bridge or not? ... A bridge would cost say £10. It could be secured by upright poles, or a chain to the rock. My own idea would be not at present to build bridges over the main rivers where there is sound crossing ground and good bottoms . . . but put in repair all the swamps and small muddy creeks for here are the real delays 10 months out of 12 in the year.

... It will be necessary to fix a day for a Mail to start from each end. I therefore propose that the Govt, should name Wednesday Sept 2nd for mails to be sent off from Auckland and Ahuriri ... It would only be half a service to commence from one end only . . . Wiremu Toetoe promises to carry the first mail himself to Taupo and to accompany the Taupo mail man to Tarawera.

I feel very vexed about Mr McDonnell's proceedings at Tarawera. He knows the Maoris so well that there is no excuse for him. From acts of this kind committed by Europeans arise many of the difficulties with which the Govt, have to contend in dealings with the natives ... I have written to Mr Stafford for the Govt, to decide whether the line from Mangatawiri to Otawhao is to be by canoe or by horse. If by the former no expenditure is required between here and Taupiri.

In reference to your remark that the Govt, in the event of tapus being put on the road should not have to pay for a service which could not be carried out, I would remark that . . . my influence with the contractor is sufficient to secure the Govt, against any such demand. No demand will be made on the Govt, for services not performed. I however strongly recommend that before the mail is started that the Govt, should know from letters from Ahuriri that the dispute with Mr McDonnell is settled so far as the mail is concerned.

1857/20


Hugh Ronalds to Edmund Ronalds, London - - - New Plymouth, 30 Jun 1857

I am at last in my shop selling cabbages, cheese, butter etc, etc. It is the only shop of the sort in the town and predicted by all to pay well. The Atkinsons, Richmonds and ourselves are the shareholders; at present the capital we are to raise does not exceed £100 in £2 shares .. . I am to have £1 per week guaranteed to me and if the profit exceed that I am to have 90 per cent of the profits ... I have not nearly enough to do and wish if I could to get some commissions from England. . . . Could you find out some good Australian houses to whom you could get letters. Perhaps Henry Martineau would send out some sugar and treacle just to try the trade. We of course cannot go into the wholesale trade yet, although there are no merchants here who have entered it. Farmers here if they want to get rid of their produce must barter it with the storekeepers ... I call the shop 'Country Produce Store'. It feels very queer being behind the counter but I suppose I shall get accustomed to it . . .

I make splendid sausages and am thinking of selling tripe combined with fish and oysters. . . .

Jul 13 ... I should not invest much yet in the Nelson copper mines, as the

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gold diggings are getting better every day. James is going by the steamer in a day or two there. . . . Labour is very low here but what effect the diggings may have it is impossible to tell. Jim will if the diggings are good very likely keep a store for provisions which we shall be able to supply.

1857/21


A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, F 3 Jul 1857

Put a glue plaster on whey springy cheese . . . Harry came along to tell us of 'wars and rumours of wars' in town subsequent to the [Masons'] ball - between Hurworthians and others.

S 4 Jul Rode to Merton with Maria then to town. Among other things I saw Pitcairn whip Moustachioed Adams as he refused to apologise for some misdeeds after the ball. There are three summonses to come off on Tuesday next.

T 7 Jul Started about 8 a.m. - was overtaken by Harry, Bill, Decy, Pitty, J. Ronalds - rode with them to town. The case of Marsh v Pitcairn was withdrawn and also Adams v Pitcairn. Pitcairn v Marsh was postponed. If it had been proceeded with he would have lost his commission. So after several consultations (in some of which we had Dicky Brown before us as his advocate) we decided on the following conditions, which Marsh agreed to, 1. that he should exchange into another regt. as soon as possible, 2. in the meantime behave decently in public. The penalty of course is the renewal of proceedings.

v 30


Jane Maria Atkinson to Emily Richmond - - - Merton, 5 Jul 1857

Mary and Jane intended going to the Freemason's ball on the 2nd . . . but to Jane's disappointment (perhaps rather to Hal's satisfaction, as he grows as anti-visiting as Ar is) it proved a pouring day and they gave up going. There were tremendous 'rows' in town after the ball owing to Capt. Marsh's bullying behaviour, he insulted Mr Pitcairn, J. Ronalds, Des and others and was backed up by a new Adams, brother of Mangorei Adams, a very dissipated young man with 11 inches of moustache. Cross summonses are out . . . All our youth are much interested. Mr P. has sent in a written statement of grievances against Capt M. to Major Murray. The Major says Capt M. ought to be cashiered for his conduct, and that he (the Major) has done his utmost to have him cashiered, but that Capt M's connexions in England are too powerful to allow justice being done. The du Moulins say the Major might have had Capt. M. displaced long ago; there is no knowing which account is true. Certain it is that the Capt is a nuisance in a place like this where no one has any authority over him, for he appears to despise his commanding officer; he was 'on duty' whilst making this disturbance. It is supposed Mr Pitcairn will be the favoured party on Tuesday when the actions come before Mr Flight as that gentleman can't endure Capt M. . . .

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I am trying to send you a cheese in the little black leather bag you lent Miss King. You must know Arthur is horribly against its being sent ... it is rather small and has been knocked about somewhat but as it is a small token of sisterly regard you mustn't mind.

1857/22


C. W. Richmond to R. Parris - - - Auckland, 6 Jul 1857

I think it quite fair that your appointment 20 should be as from the 1st June . . . In the absence of McLean some time may elapse before you can receive formal instructions. But in the meanwhile you cannot be wrong if you act on the established principle of not buying a disputed title. The Government will not have anything to do with land which it would require an armed force to keep possession of.

As to the mode of negotiation I should not venture to suggest anything. Your own experience of Natives, particularly of those with whom you will have to deal, will determine your modus operandi. Each negotiator should, accg. to my thinking, be left pretty free in this particular. I should suppose it would be very impolitic to appear too anxious about the matter. If you could work by persuading the Natives to individualise their titles, abandoning the surplus to Government in payment for the necessary surveys, I think such a plan would certainly receive the Governor's approval. But a site for a town on the Waitera must be secured. Town sections might in such case be reserved for particular Natives. Better than intermixing European and Native allotments would be to have a Native village on the north side with free use of the river bank on each side for both races . . .

You and H. Halse should undoubtedly act together ... To him it belongs to watch over the general relations of the races, adjusting disputes and aiding the administration of justice in mixed cases, or where Maories only are concerned. Your proper business is land purchasing only. I see plainly that each of you will often be referred to as to matters belonging to the office of the other. You should not be too fastidious in maintaining a distinction, but should aid him in matters of police and be aided by him in land purchase affairs, only taking care that whatever you do you do not cross one another but work in conjunction.

v 41, p 137


Governor Gore Browne to C. W. Richmond - - - 7 Jul [1857]

I return you the letter which you were good enough to leave with me ... I think it would tend very much to prevent future misunderstanding and to insure caution and forbearance, if the people of New Plymouth could be induced to look at the case as it really stands. It is thus. If war breaks out tomorrow at New Plymouth and the Europeans become entangled in it I neither can nor will do more than I have done.

I have placed a number of troops amply sufficient to protect the Town in a barrack which is equivalent to a fortress and have instructed the Commg Officer to allow of

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no irregularities on the part of the native population within the Town and its immediate vicinity.

All the troops in New Zealand would not protect the outsettlers, nor could I spare another soldier from hence even if they were required. You might also suggest that while the inhabitants of N.P. have been loud in their demand for troops and I may say for 'war' with the natives they have neglected to undertake their own share of the burthen and refuse to come out as a Militia. I have written strongly but in such cases it is not easy to be distinct without doing so.

v 4, p 41


J. Morgan to C. W. Richmond - - - Otawhao, y Jul 1857

I much regret that my letter to Mr Stafford, marked "O.H.M.S." . . . has not reached Mr Stafford 21 . . . The packet containing my letters was taken down to Dr Harsants by Mrs Ireland and Miss Mellsop (our governess) . . . They distinctly recollect Dr H. weighing the letter and marking the amount of postage outside 1/4. The letter was so large that it fell out of his small medicine scales two or three times . . .

I do not think of employing any party on the road before Augt., as it would be a complete waste of Govt, money to send out a party this wet weather ... It would be a convenience if £20 in silver out of the £100 could be sent up by the mail about the time the work is commenced. I shall go myself to Arowena to engage the working party and on to Taupo if necessary. I am hourly expecting the Rangiaohia natives back from Taupo and hope to see Pohipi of Taupo with them to conclude the mail contract from that place to Tarawera. I will then make every enquiry about the violation of the child's grave at Tarawera . . .

In reference to Dr Harsant, it was not known in the district that he had himself made application to be removed. On his return from Auckland the second time he . . . expressed himself as having been very kindly treated by His Excellency and his Officers, but earnestly desired an alteration in the appointment... I fully agree with you in your views that we require in this district an active Itinerant Magistrate, a political missionary, a man who will feel it his duty to devote his entire time to his work. Allow me to suggest that the Govt, should prepare a code of instructions for Country Magistrates ... As the Government are entering on new arrangements, I venture to give you a hint without wishing in the slightest degree to interfere. Allow me to recommend that Taupo should be visited at least once a year by the new Itinerant Magistrate. The leading chief of Taupo is not well disposed and as he is so central it is as well for the Govt, to know what he is about . . .

Dr Harsant mentioned that the Govt, had allowed him £250, and the general feeling appeared to be that it was a very fair liberal allowance on the part of the Govt ... I feel certain that only one feeling will exist, that His Excellency's Advisers have adopted the course most likely to promote the peace and prosperity as well as the union of both races resident in the interior of the country.

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Jul 8. Dr Harsant has returned from Wangaroa . . . Although he much dislikes the township, he has partly made arrangements for the purchase of 100 acres about 5 miles from town, and he said this morning that if he could be set down there with his present comforts around him, he should not regret the change.

1857/25


H. R. Richmond to Mary Blanche Hursthouse - - - Merton, Taranaki, 12 Jul 1857

I don't know what you will think of me for having undertaken the office of Provincial Treasurer, with so exceedingly small an acquaintance with legal and business affairs, but I think you will feel that I should not have done so if I had not been convinced that under present circumstances no better combination could have carried on the business of our little province. With regard to my relations with Watt, I am not at all disposed to knock under to him in any matter where I am properly up in the data, but for these I am often mainly indebted to him, so that I cannot at present take as independent a position as I could wish. If I should feel in the course of a few months that my influence is still very small, I shall get out of it as soon as possible as I have not the slightest idea of going on long taking £100 a year for formal attendance at Ex. Council meetings and so forth.

v 3, P 94


C. W. Richmond to I. N. Watt - - - Auckland, 12 Jul 1857

... On the land purchasing question there is not much between us. I quite agree that large discretions should be vested in the resident land purchase officer and that when the general principles by which he is to be guided are laid down and some notion of price arrived at, that it is expedient to leave him pretty free as to what he does. You will see that in Ligar's appointment we have secured his independence of the Native Office. There is however a great difficulty in getting men fit to be entrusted with powers so great. McLean and Rogan excepted, I do not know any officer of the Land Purchase Department fit for complete independence. Take for instance Kemp. Quite lately he strongly recommended the purchase of a block at the Bay - not particularly wanted - of 5,000 ac. for £2,000 - land being generally bought at from 6d to 2/- per acre in the North. The Supt. of Auckland was quite of the same opinion as McLean and myself that it was not to be thought of. It would probably have completely ruined our negociations at Kaipara for upwards of 100,000 acres. Or take Cooper again, who would have paid a hundred or two to get a tapu taken off a road.

Practically as soon as Parris has felt his way and reported I do not think there will be found any difficulty in 'empowering him to purchase' as you desiderate . . . Neither will there be any difficulty in providing funds to any reasonable amount -in anticipation of a possible purchase. It is merely what we are doing at Ahuriri. We have remitted to Napier since we have control of the Department, i.e. since September last upwards of £14,000 - nearly £15,000. This does not look as if we were slack about land purchasing. The Auckland people for whom we have done less than for Wellington are fully satisfied - better satisfied than I myself by long chalks; for it is uphill work in the North. Small blocks and high prices and no end of after claims.

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I have suggested to Parris, in a private note, the possibility of cutting the knot at Waitera by a partial adoption of the individualisation scheme - for which the Hua is a precedent. It would be easy to show them what enormous gainers they would be by giving us one bank and keeping the other. It would no doubt be more satisfactory to buy out and out, but there seems no chance of success. I should be very glad to learn your notions as to this.

Returning to the subject of the powers of the local land purchasing officer - this, like almost everything else in the political state of the country, makes me deplore the wretched serverance of the Executive into Genl. and Provl. Were the supt. an officer of the Genl. Govt. I would give him all the powers he has and more besides. This would be really localizing the Genl. Govt, which is what is wanted. Fitzgerald's plan is only Ultra Provincialism under another name. Of course I intend that the supt. should be appted. and removable by the Governor and hold his powers by delegation. He would have full powers but be responsible to the G.G. for their due exercise. To something like this we shall aim after a period more or less chaotic. Well this you see would exactly meet your view of a local plenipotentiary.

Your view of the Provincial Council of New Plymouth is amusing. It points to reconstruction of the old Taranaki Liberal Party - as it was before Brown's escapades at Auckland and differences with yourself and King broke it up. My mother mentions that my brother Henry is Provincial Treasurer - so I conjecture something of this kind is really taking place. J.C.R. and I agree . . . that the position was a false one and that what I mention ought to be done at once.

With regard to your offer of aid in the fight of next session and request for my suggestions I have only at present to say that it would be well if it could be managed that the other members shod, give, some time beforehand, a public expression of their views in favour of a strong General Government. If I could come down I . . . might succeed in getting the other men, at least East, to join me in some pronunciamento. The Native question is what I fear the people most about. Upon this I feel with all the passion of a settler, and a New Plymouth settler - yet I trust to subdue my passion to my judgment. I am wanting just what the people want - the extension of European settlement - the supremacy of British law. The only possible difference is about means. The Native Protectorate in whatever shape or guise, I have a hearty, and if possible, increasing dislike and abhorrence of.

I see you say you are against imperial control in land purchasing transactions. I confess I am for it in all Native matters. It is our best plea for retaining the troops, and I am satisfied that with the present Governor at least, it will be found no obstacle to the adoption of a sound Native policy. To moot the question of a change at the present moment would be ill judged, for I can tell you that our keeping the troops at all is a matter now trembling in the balance.

I fear I have written you but an incoherent letter for I have no time to put my thoughts in order. I hope you will catch my drift. It gets late.

v 41, p 141

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Governor Gore Browne to C. W. Richmond - - - 13 Jul 1857

Mr Buddle has pressed upon me the adviseability of examining the Wesleyan school at Kawhia and I think some other places. If possible this should be done.

v 3, p 94


Assembly of Rangiita tribe to Rev J. Morgan - - - Taupo, Hurae, 13 1857

Naumai ra, haere e ta matou nei reta aroha ki a Te Mokena. E hoa, tena ra koe te noho mai na i tou kainga.

E pa, kua tae mai tau reta ki a matou. Kua kite matou i nga ritenga o tau pukapuka mo te mera. E pa, e whakaae ana matou ki to ritenga, engari kotahi ano te he ki a matou ko tau whakamatenga i a matou ko nga hoiho ki te whenua tawhiti, ki te whenua kino. E pa, e Te Mokena, i he ai i a matou na te pauna kotahi. Engari pea hei nga pauna e rima katahi ano ka rite i a matou. Na te mea he whenua tawhiti, kino hoki. E pa, e Te Mokena, tenei hoki tetahi he mo te rori Ko te taonga o to matou tupapaku ki te hangi e te pakeha, e Makitonore. Na konei kua he te rori.

Heoi ano

Na ou hoa aroha
Na te Runanga o Ngati Te Rangiita,
Na Wharerahi
Na Te Poihipi
Na Ngapari Hikaranui.

Note by J. Morgan: 'The £5 is only the native way of speaking, leaving room to come down. J.M.'

1857/24 (Translation)

Salutations, go forth this our loving letter to Morgan. Friend, greetings to you living in your home.

Sir, your letter has reached us. We have seen what you have arranged about the mail. Friend, we are agreeable to your arrangements, but there was one thing wrong and that is the hardship put upon us and the horses on account of this distant land, and very rough country. Sir, O Morgan, the mistake is in the one pound. If, perhaps, it was five pounds we would be satisfied. It is indeed a distant land and rough too.

Sir, O Morgan, here, too, is another wrong about the road. This was the roasting of our dead in an earth-oven by a European, by McDonnell. Because of this the road is wrong (objected to?).

Enough
From your loving friends


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J. Morgan to C. W. Richmond - - - Otawhao, 14 Jid 1857

Having heard that the Government wish for a line of road through the interior of the country to the recent Government land purchases at Mokau and Taranaki, I beg leave to send you the following plan. I have not myself travelled over the entire line, as my missionary district only extends as far as Kahuwera . . . Mrs Morgan and several of our children have accompanied me on horseback as far as Wakatumutumu, and the road is now open as a Maori horse road in its entire length to the heads of Mokau, although the swamps are in bad order. Last week Wiremu Toetoe drove up some cattle from Mokau Heads to Mohoaonui by the line I now lay before you. There are a good many small swamps and rivers on the line, but nevertheless the natives travel with horses the entire length. The road could be opened as a post road and as a road for bringing up sheep from Taranaki. As a post road, as the distance from Otawhao to Mokau Heads is about 85 miles, the mail carrier on horseback could reach there in say 2 1/2 days. I think that the journey to Taranaki from Auckland could be made in 6 or 7 days, i.e. in 3 days from Otawhao. [An itinerary follows of the proposed route, Otawhao to Mokau heads 87 miles]

Papatea is a Maori settlement on the Mokau river, the place where the canoe is generally taken by parties going down the river Mokau. The road over Taumatamaire the mountain, is described by Wiremu Toetoe as going over the Wanake hill to Maungatautare, not worse, and this I cross about half a dozen times every year. If this is correct, horses, cattle, or sheep can be taken without difficulty. No difficulty would be experienced on any other part of the road ... It is impossible for us to say, without a survey, that it is the best line. I forward you the present plan ... as the best road known to me at the present time, and as a line now open and traversed by Maori horses in its entire length . . .

Rev Mr Garavel . . . fully agrees with me in the line as far as Motukaramu. He believes that a mail might be carried by any line now open, but that the natives would oppose new cuts. I think that sheep might be brought up from Taranaki by the proposed road. The Wesleyan Missionary at Mokau Heads probably would, if requested by Govt., quietly examine the road between the sea and Motukaramu, as on a visit by that line to their Wesleyan congregations.

Minute by Governor Gore Browne:

Our best thanks are due to Mr Morgan - I think every exertion shd. be made to open this road but it shd. be done as Mr M suggests in the roughest way and at the least expense

1857/25


C. W. Richmond to W. T. L. Travers, Nelson - - - Auckland, 14 Jul 1857

I am obliged to return the case and fee you have sent me as I find it would be quite impossible for me with my present duties to do justice to private professional business. I should act thus even were I sure, which I am not, that as Colonial Treasurer

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and a member of the Executive Council I am at liberty to take private business . . .

I am amused at Fox's sly compliments to one of the 'members by the Zingari' - not that the compts. are undeserved but I see the wily Apostle of Provincialism screwing up his eyes and softly saying to himself, 'all things - all things to all men if by any means I might catch some.' Well, in my private capacity I wish him success in his enterprises so far as concerns myself. We are so short-handed that a very heavy pressure of work falls on me and a weight of responsibility I never intended, nor could reasonably have expected, to assume.

v 41, p 142


Mary Blanche Hursthouse to Emily E. Richmond - - - Merton, 19 Jul 1857

James is just what you might expect him to be when married, very like what I remember of him, but a great deal more energetic and businesslike. Mary is all goodness and sweetness, I see no faults in her, she is indeed a blessing to dear James. . . . James seems pretty well satisfied with Hurworth . . .

You will be surprised to hear that Mr Watt and Henry have sent in their resignations to Mr Cutfield but it is generally supposed that they will be in again ... I think dear Emily you will be glad to hear me say that I do fully appreciate Henry now, I see now fully that you were right in telling me that I would never have such another chance. He is indeed all that I desire.

v 3, P 95


J. Morgan to C. W. Richmond - - - Otawhao, 22 Jul 1857

I . . . am glad to find that the Govt, approve of the mail contract. Te Heuheu, the leading chief of Taupo, spent a couple of hours with me this morning. My object was to remove his objections to opening a bridle road to Taupo. After a long conversation ... he agreed to a bridle path being made, i.e. the small rivers ... to be bridged and the swamps filled up. He then promised that on his return homewards he would request the natives along the line to Taupo not to offer any obstruction to the road. I then conversed with him respecting Mr McDonnell's case at Tarawera, but he had not heard the particulars. He said that if the body of the child had been taken up, the Tarawera natives would be very angry, but that if the fence only had been burnt he would send them a message not to think about it as probably the Europeans were ignorant of the tapu. In reference to the King movement I hear from every quarter that Mr C. O. Davies has very much promoted the movement.

The Rangiaohia natives have not yet returned from Taupo, ... In reference to my proceeding to Ahuriri, I could not at the present time say decidedly whether I could go or not ... As however I suppose that the chief object of my visit would be to expedite the carrying of the first bag, would it not be a better plan if Mr Alexander from Ahuriri would with the Ahuriri mail meet me at Te Pohipi's settlement on the Waikato, lake Taupo, on a fixed day, and there with me exchange bags. We should

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then be ... able to confer and arrange together all points in reference to the road and the Postal Service. Should any difficulties . . . require our attention ... we could send the mail men on with the bags each way and remain ourselves to put all into working order. I think that a meeting of this kind on the centre of the line would be productive of more good than a visit to the Ahuriri. The plan, if approved by His Excellency would not oblige me to be so long absent from my immediate district.

I propose going to Arowena in a fortnight to arrange for making the road as I expect the tools up by that time ... I think that if we could get up the £20 in silver, either by the next or by the 2 next mails, £10 each, that the balance had better be placed in the bank with permission for me to draw as required. Our traders are often glad to get bank orders and give cash to save the risk of sending cash by the mail, and by this means we frequently get gold, but silver is generally very scarce. Borel of Rangiaohia lost by the upsetting of his canoe £90 cash in the Waikato and never recovered it. The bank therefore is the safest plan. I omitted to say that if His Excellency approves of my plan for meeting Mr Alexander of Ahuriri at Taupo ... I will D.V. be at Taupo to meet him.

1857/26


James Buller 22 to C. W. Richmond - - - Wellington, 27 Jul 1857

... I am well satisfied with the nomination of the gentlemen whose names you have mentioned as inspectors of the schools in this district. I should have no objection to leave it entirely with them to examine and report, but as you have requested me to name a fourth, I will take the liberty of proposing James May Esq. who has signified to me his consent.

. . . The subject of native education proves one of peculiar difficulty, but it is worth every effort that can be made in its behalf. We are sincerely desirous, in every possible way, to further the objects of the Government in reference to the civilization of the native race on the basis of Christian education, and hope that ultimately it will be seen that the expenses incurred have been well applied.

v 3, p 95


C. W. Richmond to J. Morgan - - - Auckland, 29 Jul 1857

(Draft)

In answer to yours of the 22nd I am glad to hear you had so satisfactory an interview with Te Heuheu. He had been a good deal softened at Auckland. He is I believe an honest, outspoken native. His feeling on the subject of the gradual advance of the European is only natural, and what I myself should feel were my skin brown. The feeling must in the nature of things be all but universal amongst the natives, but few have the courage and good faith to speak out in presence of the European authorities like the chief of Taupo.

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The intelligence as to Heuheu's sentiments respecting the violation of the grave at Tarawera is also satisfactory. I have no doubt however the violation was wilful, and should be glad to find that so wanton an act was punishable. I will see what can be arranged as to Mr Alexander accompanying the first bags from Napier to Taupo.

... I will on Monday next write to Mr Whiteley asking him to get the missionary at Mokau Heads to make the exploration you suggest.

1857/27


J. Morgan to C. W. Richmond - - - Otawhao, Aug 1857

Dr Harsant thinks of leaving here in September for Wangaroa. I have not yet seen Mr Fenton . . . but a report has reached us saying that he intends to reside near Mr Ashwell's. Should this be the case and should the Government not require the buildings and fences erected by Dr Harsant, would they allow me to occupy them as a Maori half caste boys' school until they are required by the Government? . . . There are five acres of land ploughed up and ready for planting, which if not planted will return to fern this year. ... If the premises are not immediately required by Government they would be a very valuable loan to our school being situated half way between my station and the school estate. We are anxious as we are expecting a trained school mistress from England to separate the boys and girls school and supposing Dr Harsant's buildings to be occupied for the boys until required by Government, it would be a saving in the way of expense and be much more convenient to myself and Mr Ireland than buildings erected on the school estate. We have now 66 boarders, boys and girls.

Minute by E. W. Stafford:

State to Mr Morgan that in the absence of the Col. Treasurer I have, at his request, perused his letters, and that the Govt will be most happy to permit the house occupied by Dr Harsant to be used at present by Mr Morgan as a school.

1857/28


J. Morgan to C. W. Richmond - - - Otawhao, 4 Aug 1857

Enclosed I forward you a note from Te Poihipi of Taupo in reference to the post. . . . You will notice from his note,

1st. That the Taupo natives offer no obstruction to the proposed postal communications.

2nd. That the only obstruction appears to be the tapu put on the road between Tarawera and Ahuriri in consequence of Mr McDonnell's conduct.

3rd. That the Taupo party wish that the sum proposed - '20/- to and from Tarawera - be increased . . .

If on my arrival at Taupo I find the natives unwilling to carry the mail for 20/-shall I feel myself at liberty to increase the amount? . . . Can you inform me what is the amount proposed between Ahuriri and Tarawera?

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As Te Poihipi has not come down my present plan (D.V.) is to precede by 2 or 3 days the first mail to Taupo and on the spot arrange the payment for conveying the bag to Tarawera . .. The £5 mentioned by Te Poihipi in his note is only the Maori way of asking a large sum, leaving room for coming down . . .

... I have conversed with one or two natives well acquainted with the latter part of the overland line to Taranaki, i.e. from Motukaramu to the sea. The only difficulty I can discover is that the Mangakino river has by the present line to be crossed several times, and this in winter is often flooded. The object therefore will be to try to keep on the south side, avoiding the Maori path and frequent crossings of the river. . . .

I do not recommend any mail to be started until you hear from Ahuriri that the tapu will not obstruct the mail between Tarawera and Ahuriri . . .

1857/29


H. R. Richmond to C. W. Richmond Merton, - - - 9 Aug 1857

... It seems probable that our marriage will have to be deferred until March twelve month, instead of next March ... A due sense of these things together with the feeling that in political matters I am out of my element and bring no strength to the right cause, have been oppressing me a good deal these last few days, but now that I see distinctly how things stand I don't mind it so much.

I wonder how you will get on with your affairs if the loan is really refused? With that and a powerful and furious opposition your hands and heads will be pretty full. Poor little Taranaki trembles for its guaranteed land fund. ... I can quite appreciate the desire of the Central Government to check rash expenditure in the present uncertain state of affairs, but I think you will admit that our request is moderate and if we wait until we can do such a thing out of revenue we must wait for several years at least, and not spend a penny on other public works as bush roads etc. . .

1857/30


C. W. Richmond to J. Flight - - - Auckland, 16 Aug 1857

It needs neither figures nor reasoning to satisfy me that £200 per annum is a very slender salary for an office so responsible as that you hold at New Plymouth. At the same time I cannot pretend there is any chance of augmentation until the next Appropriation Act . . .

Many offices in New Zealand are greatly underpaid and all that can be said is, that many settlers are willing to eke out their private means by taking a government situation at a low salary, and that so long as such a class can be found the remuneration of the office will never be such as to compensate a man for the entire devotion of his time and labour to the government service . . .

... I shall always be glad to hear from you, on Native affairs particularly. The people seem to be very unreasonable about land purchases. The talk of neglect, apathy

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etc. is ridiculous. When there is a chance of purchasing funds will be found. I believe that New Plymouth has in times past been greatly neglected. I know from excellent authority that chances of acquiring the Waitera have been lost. But people ought to know that times are changed. All the grumbling does great harm in quarters where it is attended to - which by me it is not.

v 41, p 144


A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, M 17 Aug 1857

Went down to the Henui and scraped about for gold - didn't get any.

Tu 18 Aug Maria came home about 11 a.m. . . . She brings up word that the gold found was on Sam Fishleigh's land by the Huatoki near town.

v. 30

J. Whiteley 23 to C. W. Richmond - - - New Plymouth, 17 Aug 1857

Respecting a new track for the mail, I have written to the Rev Mr Schnackenberg, our missionary at Mokau Heads who I am sure will use every effort to forward your wishes in the matter . . . My journeyings between Mokau Heads and the interior were always by the rivers Mokau and Awakino.

The land subject to which you refer is one of great difficulty and delicacy. As you have introduced the matter I will privately and in confidence very hastily state my views. I think it would greatly benefit the Natives if they would sell every acre they possess and then each one for himself repurchase and hold by crown grant so much only as they individually require. I think it should be the primary object of the General Government to extinguish the Native title as soon as practicable. With this view I would accept all offers on the part of the natives, where it could be done safely, even though those offers might only be of partial or disputed claims leaving other claimants who might for the time be opposed to the sale to come in and offer their claims for sale whenever they might be so disposed. The possession and occupation of the land might thus be delayed in appearance but perhaps not in reality. The occupation of the land I think is not the first consideration. I would have the natives paid as low a price as possible for these claims - the lower the better for themselves - but even if high prices had to be given the money would soon return into the hands of the Europeans and thus the Colony be benefited.

The Ikamoana land is disputed - part of the claimants offer to sell and part refuse. The claim of Nikorima and Ihaia is regarded by some competent judges as good in native law and usage. Others think differently. The Rev Mr Taylor of Wanganui said most decidedly they had a right to the land by force of arms, by conquest and by possession. The Ninia people - Arama Karaka's party authorized them to occupy -gave up the land to them and assisted them to build their pa. If they had not done so the Ngatiruanui and Katatore would have taken it and surrounded the Ninia with

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other pas and thus cut them off. When the battle came on - the final battle on the 21 July 56 - it was fought chiefly by the Ikamoana party under Ihaia and Nikorima and on this self-same land. Five of the Ikamoana party were slain but they held their ground and gained the day. As far as I understand native matters I think their claim is good according to native customs, and as they offer it for sale I think it should not be rejected. Policy or prudence, however, suggests caution - if by accepting Ihaia's offer Katatore should take offence and therefore become more confirmed in his refusal to part with land, the difficulty would be increased and the interests of settlement prejudiced. I am happy to learn from Mr Parris that there is a hope of his coming round . . . By all means let him have the honour of making the first sale if he wish it and I do hope that both Katatore and Wiremu Kingi will come to a better feeling on the land question under the cautious management of Mr Parris.

In the mean time I would suggest that Ihaia and Nikorima be used kindly and liberally. Mr Halse might be authorized to make them a small present and to assure them that their offer of the Ikamoana would be entertained by and bye. Mr H. would know how to do it with that caution which is necessary and which he so well knows how to exercise.

Over and above all there is a peculiarity in the Ikamoana case which should not be overlooked. It was formerly in the occupation of British settlers. Either from absence or some other cause the natives allowed those settlers to take possession, to build their houses, to erect their fences and to cultivate their farms, and then after all this expenditure they insisted on their removal. Gov. Fitzroy would gladly have made them compensation over and above Commissioner Spain's award or over and above the original purchase money but nothing would do but the settlers must quit. Now I cannot but regard that land as still rightfully belonging to the Europeans and I believe a righteous Province will ultimately restore it. I cannot think that the wanton waste of property and sacrifice of labour and money through the perversity of the Natives will not have its recompense; indeed such has been the case already in some degree. In this wholesale sweeping away of the European settlers there was one exception - Mr Flight was allowed to remain. He however was afterwards subjected to so much annoyance that he also had to leave, and in the late battle the very ditch fences of his farm became the breast-works of the enemy from whence it cost much trouble and some lives to expel them.

Justice, and the honour of the British name I think require that this land should come back into the possession of the Europeans, and as a large party of Natives now come forward to offer it for sale (and as the money is a very minor consideration in this case) I would say, if Katatore do not come forward by a given time and sell land to the Government, then Ihaia's offer should be accepted and this land should be claimed in virtue of former occupation by British settlers. The taking possession of it might be left until it could be done safely and peaceably or until Katatore himself might come into the arrangement. If Katatore should make an offer of land within the said given time I would make all I could of that offer, let him have all the honour of it, and

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then accept of Ihaia's offer of the Ikamoana as land properly belonging to the Europeans in virtue of the strength and labour and time and money they expended upon it.

I have written very hastily - very freely - and very confidentially. It would not do for the natives to know all my thoughts on these matters, nor would I thus open my mind to many Europeans . . .

The inspectors for Grey Institution proposed by you are the most proper persons -the school is as full as our limited funds will allow.

v 3, p 97


Governor Gore Browne to C. W. Richmond - - - 21 Aug 1857

I am much grieved that you should have been annoyed at any of the minutes made on the subject of correspondence with the Native Secretary.

Besides feeling the importance of harmony in all the public departments I am personally most anxious to reciprocate (as the Yankees say) the good feeling and friendliness I have experienced from you in the many transactions which have passed between us.

Even were I most anxious to alter the relations established in my minute of 28 Aug 1856 I should not consider myself empowered to do so having stated that 'changes are very objectionable' etc. etc. and submitted the whole to the Secy, of State. This alone would be a conclusive reason for my adhering to the opinion I expressed when I last conversed with you but since then I have seen the applications from the Magistrate for licenses to sell guns to the natives. If (as I stated before) you were the permanent Treasurer I should be perfectly satisfied, but when I remember that these applications might be made direct to a person in whom I had no such confidence I cannot but feel that I might as well hand over native affairs at once to the assembly.

I have now drawn up a memo in a manner which while it retains the initiative in the native office gives you full power to advise and which will I trust prove satisfactory to you.

v 3, p 97


J. C. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - New Plymouth, 23 Aug 1857

I have just sealed my answer to the offer of the vacant seat in the Leg. Council. I have given one of the reasons for declining it. Another is the risk that I should run of damaging the influence of our party in the Settlement where there is a strong prejudice against the nominee assembly, well in its origin as against Sir G. Grey's puppets, though rather a silly thing to have to consider now when the whole constitution is essentially representative and the Lege. Council may be made an invaluable part of the scheme. I should like greatly to see the Council filled with rational conservatives -men like Tancred - and have not a glimmering of dislike to the concern now that it is open to persons of independent minds through the medium of a responsible executive. I do not feel that I have enough of inventive talent to be of much use in it either.

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But ... all reasons ... I would waive if it seemed likely that in the event of a Fox ministry a second house of strong opinions would be of any active service - in fact I would come up if I foresaw an emergency and if you see any chance of such a thing you will be at liberty to withdraw the letter I have sent and to accept the seat for me. But I must say that on the whole I had rather it stood as my letter leaves it . . .

Nothing more has been heard of the gold - it is pretty certain I believe that gold has been found native in the place, in the land of Sam Fishleigh on the Huatoki and Zam'th a good deal agitated thereby. About the probable fertility of the field nothing I suppose is yet known . . .

Henry and I have some notion of competing for the Waiwakaiho bridge contract ... I have a strong impression that iron is the proper material for the work though we should send to England for the chief part of the bridge.

v 3, p 98


C. W. Richmond to Emily Richmond - - - Wellington, 28 Aug 1857

We have had a fine passage [from Auckland] ... 4 days and 7 hours including 12 hours anchorage at Table Cape ... after passing Cape Colville the breeze which was N.W. freshened. All that night and next day we were going 8 knots before it without steam . . . The little Wonga is very 'lively', in fact never still a minute, and as we ran before the wind the huge waves following us 'brimmed over' a good deal and looked as if they would wash away the man at the wheel. ... A screw is very trying. The machinery alone is enough to give one a headache at first. And in blowing off the boilers - i.e. blowing the brine out of the boilers into the sea to prevent the boilers getting encrusted with salt slime from the sea water - the little Wonga has a terrible gift of bumbling like an enormous bee or beetle which is deafening. This interesting operation takes place several times in a night and infallibly awakens you. . . .

At 4 on Wednesday morning the wind got right ahead and the sea increased. As it looked very dirty our excellent little Captain Bowden determined to anchor to the N. of Table Cape where we were well sheltered. A whale-boat came off from a Maori settlement on the peninsula (Mahia or Terakako). The steer oar was held by a European - an old whaler - as perfect a John Bull as I have ever seen, with splendid large hard red cheeks and a smallish turned-up nose. He brought his Maori wife to whom he was very anxious to show the 'fireworks' of the steamer. He had not seen a steamer since he left Sydney in 1836. He was of course very greedy of news - especially about prices of grain, for he is a farmer in a small way. In return he gave us the news of the fight between Hapuka and Moananui at Ahuriri. He and Bowden compared notes about celebrated harpooners who had belonged to'shore parties in Hawkes Bay -especially about one man who used sometimes to be so drunk that he had to be held up to strike the whale, but never failed to kill his fish. This worthy . . . would eat 41b. of pork and a bottle of pickles at a meal, 'a man that eat like that, drink would do him no harm.'

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Dinner was served - a sirloin of beef - and Bowden offered Mr Bull a plateful of 3 or 4 good slices. Mr B. seemed a little coy and said, 'well I have dined but I'm a stranger to beef. We don't kill none on the island', and so fell to ... As to the likelihood of a southerly, he informed us we had a bad moon. She came in horns up and a star near her, which the whalers always said was for wind. We all laughed at this at which he did not seem pleased declaring it always was so. ...

In the morning were abreast of Flat Point. All this coast is very rugged and desolate looking - no vestige of cultivation - but at one or two places a small house belonging I suppose to some stock station . . . About 1 there were visible some new objects on the horizon to the S . . . Soon their lights and shadows, sharp yet exquisitely aerial, showed them to be the lofty snow covered mountains of the Middle Island - the Kaikoras. I could not tire of watching these grand objects (50 miles from us at least) in the sunlight of a pure New Zealand day. Close to us on our right towered the vast brown mass of the Cape Palliser mountain, furrowed with the tracks of torrents and clothed with a scanty vegetation . . . Soon the good little Wonga turned this last cape and headed for the other part of Palliser Bay ... At last we opened the notable Pencarrow Head with its beacon - the guardian of Port Nicholson. We turned the corner, Barrett's Reef grim on the left, and steamed into the now placid waters of Wellington Harbour . . . After entering the harbour you go a long time [and] see no sign of life or civilization. The steep hills . . . are what they were when the first emigrant ship discharged her living load of restlessness and industry. The town itself lies inside a sort of hook of land which entirely shuts it in from the sea - in fact the sea is at its back and it faces up the harbour . . .

I appear to be in very comfortable quarters here recommended by Bell, who of course knows everything that is good. . . . The House seems to be a public house with private lodging house adjoining.

1857/32


H. Sewell to C. W. Richmond - - - Abingdon, 30 Aug 1857

. . . You will have seen by the time this reaches you that we have got the guarantee through parliament. It was a doubtful case even to the last. The odium of the New Zealand Company hung about us and did us mischief. It was somehow connected in people's minds with that body's interminable jobbings--Sir James Graham 24 (instigated as I think by Robert Lowe) attacked us. However I managed through Adderley to quiet Sir James, who was our only formidable antagonist . . . Adderley did us the greatest possible service and I think it would be right for the Colony to acknowledge it in some public way. Without him I doubt whether we should have succeeded. The truth is it was almost a miracle that we did. What with Indian Mutinies and other things the Commons became very jealous about spending money or incurring risk. However, that is over now. I feel that the Colony owes me considerable thanks for the

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service I have done them. I say this without compunction because if I do not other people will not. Had I not been here there would have been no chance of our getting the guarantee, and I do not think anyone but myself would have had the same chance of success. My Canterbury influence stood me in good stead. You will of course not fail to let this be understood, more especially as my success ... is not only personal but ministerial . . .

The acts of Parliament provide only for two parts of our scheme out of the three viz: The loan and the repeal of the charge on the land fund, but not the adjustment of burthens amongst the provinces - that must be done by the Colonial legislature . . . The Wellington party will I suppose raise difficulties but, I take it for granted without success unless there should be some new combination of parties. As to this I observe with regret that Canterbury declares itself against Stafford. How is this? I am vexed at these things, because inattention to provincial interests is at the present time the most dangerous charge to be brought against the general government. From private letters to other people I am fearful as to the stability of the government during the next session . . .

Now the Loan act requires 'the Governor's request', so the Colonial Office have written for that 25 . . . I doubt whether money could be got at par in the ordinary money market. I therefore went to the Union Bank of Australia ... Had we raised the money through the Bank of England in the ordinary way we should have had large sums lying idle or invested in Government securities with risk of loss . . . The Union Bank [is] to take the whole loan at par, finding the money at such times and in such sums in the Colony as we may require without charge for remittance ... It was a great gain to us to get the money at par in the Colony, especially as you can arrange the times and amounts according to your needs . . .

On or before the 5th April 1858 the New Zealand Company must be paid. By that time their principal will have been reduced to £160,000 or thereabout, but then they will have about £8000 of interest to add . . . Now as to that interest, I think it should be borne by the Middle Island as matter of strict account. Had the payment been made last April interest would have been charged upon the provinces of the Middle Island agreeably to our financial resolutions. I do not think those Provinces ought to benefit by the delay, which has the effect of swelling the amount payable to the Company and diminishing the surplus available for repayment to Auckland. But in an arrangement of this kind there must needs be a give and take--what Fox calls log-rolling, which is only an expression ad invidiam for those compromises which people are obliged to make in winding up complicated money accounts . . . We have to fulfil the spirit of the resolution which requires the Colony to exonerate Auckland from the Company's debt - she bearing her own special charges ... I may observe also that if there be any difficulty about the Government House, Auckland ought to assist in relieving the General Government from that. The Colony at large has treated Auckland with great liberality in the matter of the Company's debt and I confess I

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was not gratified at the spirit in which that question of Government House was dealt with by Auckland. Wellington certainly has behaved better about its Council Chambers. No doubt Whittaker will see this in its proper light and take care that Auckland does its part fairly and liberally . . .

Then will come the more difficult question as to the appropriation of the 180,000 for Native purchases. I feel extremely anxious on this score . . . The arguments by which I have prevailed with the Government here place me under a kind of responsibility as to the right application of this money. Were it to miscarry it would be a matter of serious self reproach to me hereafter. I have told them that I look to the right employment of this money as a means of solving our Native difficulties and I am sure properly used it will be so. But it must not be frittered away in miserable little bargains with the Natives for a patch of land here and there such as has been the system hitherto ... a wretched huckstering, a mere trading in land in which it is by no means clear to me that we always make a profit of the transaction. To buy, or to extinguish Native title systematically and upon a scale commensurate with the means now at our disposal appears to me our true policy, and . .. nothing would induce me to swerve from it or to give any more to the piddling system of bargain-making which has hitherto prevailed ... I do not doubt that when once Maclean and the others see clearly that it is the determination of the Government to adopt the new system they will fall in with it and apply their energies usefully to working it out. If you do not there must ensue interminable difficulties about land, boundaries, jurisdiction, trespass, which will be certain to land us at some time or another in Native quarrels. Added to this consider what enormous good may be done in the improvement of the Native districts by judicious use of the large funds now at our disposal. But in this work you will find the Missionary cooperation indispensable . . . This is not with me a question of need, I look at it in its more secular point of view and bear in mind that if you do not get the Missionary power with you it will be against you obstructing your acquisitions of land and defeating your plans for Native improvement.

We talked these matters over before I left and you and I agreed. I earnestly hope Stafford will coincide with us - Whittaker I know does and is as eager as I am upon some points . . . How enormous a gain it would be to the Colony to open the interior of the Native districts and to make accessible roads between the Northern Provinces. Here we have the means in our hands by agreement with the Natives - add to this mills, houses, schools and I should add to this - religious provision. If you incorporate these objects into your bargains with the Natives for their lands you will accomplish a great work for the Colony and you will do the only thing likely to save the Natives themselves from the common destiny of uncivilized races. But you must do this systematically on a large scale adhering to strict rules.

I also think that you must (to make such a scheme perfectly succeed) gain the hearty cooperation of the Provincial authorities. I had some talk with the Governor before I went away and expressed to him my opinion that in the matter of the purchase of Native lands the Provincial authorities should be admitted to cooperation, of course

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not so as to supersede his final authority, but their help would be a great gain. Indeed without it I foresee constant bickering between the General and Provincial Governments and looking to the enormous power which the latter have, it will be very dangerous to raise their opposition. You will tell me this is all very fine, but who is to tame these wild and uncurbable spirits, Featherston for instance. I don't know, but I think by good tact it may be done, not by hostility but by a spirit of friendly co-operativeness. If I could venture to indicate the true policy of the General Government in the matter of the purchase of Native lands it would be to take counsel with the Provincial authorities - as well as with the heads of the Missionary bodies, of course not omitting Maclean and his people. Considering that the Provinces are to bear the debt contracted for the purchase of Native lands I think they may reasonably ask to be brought into council as to the disposal of the funds, and I am confident their local knowledge and influence would be of great practical value. I preach these doctrines from a distance but I am not without a practical experience . . .

The next question of importance is that of the postal service. My letters from Melbourne and Sydney will have told you . . . that nothing could be done there. . . . My opinions are only those of an individual and I shall of course take care not to compromise the Government . . . When I arrived in England I had a communication from Capt Gibbs, who sent me a copy of his letter to the Col. Govr proposing an Intercolonial and Interprovincial service for a bonus of £20,000 a year ... I waited, however (before attacking the Treasury) till we had got the guarantee safe . . . I was sure nothing would be done practically except from this country. I urged them to establish the service themselves. Mr Wilson (the Secretary of the Treasury) hesitated, but requested me to make a specific proposal. I put myself into communication with Capt Gibbs and . . . the matter was reduced into shape ... As to the Company until the matter is finally arranged with the Government, parties will not allow their names to be used, but some are mentioned to me privately which are unexceptionable. They are ready with £35,000 at once and to purchase 2 steamers immediately if we are in a condition to close . . . the general idea is to have 2 Inter Colonial Steamers of upwards of 800 tons Reg. and 200 H.P. plying between Australia and New Zealand . . . coming direct to Auckland and thence on to Wellington, touching at Hawkes bay, weather permitting. The interprovincial steamers upwards of 500 tons Reg and 100 H.P. to do the service fortnightly, . . . one taking the route to Port Cooper and Otago returning to Wellington, the other Wellington, Nelson, New Plymouth and Manukau . . .

4. As to the apportionment of bonus, 12,000 a year is proposed as the Inter Colonial portion and 8,000 as the Inter Provincial. I have suggested to the Treasury to sanction £12,000 a year on the part of the Imperial Government to be taken as part of the General Australian contract, . . . But in the midst of these negotiations and just as I am on the point of bringing them as I believe to a satisfactory conclusion I see an announcement in the newspapers that the Panama Line has concluded an arrangement with N.S. Wales and N. Zealand for a bonus of £60,000 a year - 1/4th of which, viz.

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£15,000 is to be borne by N. Zealand. I have not a line from anybody to give me an idea whether there is foundation for the statement or not . . . The Panama line is yet only in posse. It offers much less advantages than the Australian and Suez line ... I reckon the advantage of a few days' gain in time of communication with England is not worth mentioning in comparison with other objects ... I earnestly hope that you have said and done nothing to compromise yourselves with the Panama scheme . ..

1856/33


Emily E. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Parnell, Auckland, 31 Aug 1857

The Taranaki mail on Saturday brought one from James stating Katatore had come in to New Plymouth town to offer his land for sale ... I saw Mr Stafford for the first time since you went away on Saturday, he says he has sent money and instructions to buy up the whole of the native lands at New Plymouth. I could not understand distinctly what had been done. The Coromandel natives are now anxious to sell . . .

I went with the whole of my family to spend Thursday with Mrs Gore Browne. The three daughters were tolerably well conducted, Mary in a state of perfect satisfaction but Anna not to be dazzled by splendour. Though distinguished by a seat on the right hand of His Excellency at dinner, she was unsubdued, replying to all civilities by grunts and shrugs. The Governor and Mrs Browne were very kind, they spoke of you in the highest terms. I think they meant what they said. . . .

v 3, p 99


J. Hursthouse to H. A. Atkinson - - - Carrington Rd, New Plymouth, 5 Sep 1857

I beg to offer you the piece of land which we looked at yesterday for the growth of one crop for the sum of £20 - you to make and leave on the land at the end of our agreement the necessary partition fence of good Kohikohi posts and 4 rails. You to crop the land with any root crop you please excepting about one acre at the south end which I should prefer remaining in grass or for hay. I to resume occupation of the land when your crops are removed, say not later than June 1st 1858.

So far as I can calculate the least clear profit that would accrue to you from such transaction would be about £70, very likely nearer £100 - that is assuming all of the land were planted with potatoes. As for turnips and hay I have had little experience.

1857/34


Emily E. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Parnell, Auckland, 5 Sep 1857

The schooner Henry came into Manakau on Thursday last bringing Henry Richmond to talk to the General Government on the subject of land offered for sale by Katatore. The three thousand going down to N.P. by the Dinapore is a satisfactory answer to him . . .

In spite of the love of His Excellency and the Native Office for you, from what I hear you will have to submit, or fight for every inch of ground . . .

v 3, p 100

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C. W. Richmond to Emily Richmond - - - The Hutt, Wellington, 6 Sep 1857

I sit down to give you some account of myself in Ludlam's pretty, quiet, English house. Mr & Mrs Ludlam are at Church & I have just arrived here from Wellington, having ridden out this beautiful still morning on a horse lent me by Mr St. Hill.

It is a real solace to me to write to you after being the whole week with a set of people with whom the very courtesies of life are made subservient to political ends, & whose business is, if possible, to outwit, baffle, and crush me. I was not meant for politics; & the effort to sustain my position, under accumulated & still accumulating difficulties, against adversaries who will stick at nothing to ruin & disgrace an opponent is very painful. My only stay is my faith in God, & my comfort is in that domestic love with which he has so largely blessed me . . .

I am at dinner parties every night & there is going to be a Bread & butter Ball at the Wellington Almack's this week. I shall try and give you a diary of my proceedings . . .

Friday 28. Arrived after dark. Took up my quarters at Garwith's. Very comfortable. Mr St. Hill at Garwith's (which is a Public Ho & Lodging Ho) attending a road meeting. He came to see me, and we had a long talk on politics. A very brisk kind little man, with plenty of self-confidence, intelligent but not deep, a good man of business, most useful magistrate & officer, and a gentleman. Asked me to breakfast with him next morning.

Saturday 29. Breakfasted with the St. Hills. They are, at least appear, a most united affectionate family ... Old Mr St Hill is a wonderful old gentleman, he is 74 but does not look so old by ten years, as brisk as a bee, and quite a contemporary in [the] mind of his children. I never saw anything more remarkable than this mental contemporaneousness of the different ages among the St. Hills. It is a delightful thing. I suppose the Kingdom of Heaven is so. Old Mr St Hill has the manners of an English gentleman who has lived a good deal abroad. He sees everything at table, & attends to everybody. Perfect politeness reigns in this family with perfect ease of manner & freedom from gene. Nothing has pleased me more than to hear this lively old gentleman joking his [grand] son Windle, who is about 17, a fine bluff boy, about this & the other little matter of domestic fun - as about a bunch of violets he had been gathering for some unknown lady. Windle declared she was a married woman, but it turned out upon his own confession, that she had 'lots of daughters'. Mrs St Hill seems a bright active woman, though her hair is prematurely white. A trifle precise in manner - something in Mrs Vowler's style. The tone of the St Hills is very much that of the Vowler menage - but with more ease because there is wider experience. The old gentleman has none of the privileges of age because he does not need them. The magistrate is the recognized head of the family. The old man's labours are over. He's no more than the cheerful inmate of his son's house . . .

On the afternoon of Saturday rode to the Hutt. Saw Ludlam & Mrs L., Bell's House & many things besides. The road from Welln. winds most of the way along the margin of the magnificent lake-like harbour. On your left rise precipitous hills along

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the base of which the road has been cut. We rode 25 miles. Dined at the St. Hills where I met Featherston & Mrs F.

Sunday 30. Breakfasted at St Hill's - went to Church with them, where I sat next Dr and Mrs Silt Johnston that came in the Lord Burleigh . . . There is a red drugget over the communion table which is supposed to assimilate it too much to an altar & has offended some. At least, either this, or the Revd. A. Baker's articles in the Spectator & pamphlets on education have sent the three F's & their friends to the Church on Te Aro Flat . . .

Wellington is backed up by high & barren hills which leave little more than room enough for the town. This stretches along asemicircular sweep of beach, expanding at each extremity on to what are called the Flats - Thorndon & Te Aro. The waterside is open, so that all the houses on the Quay & beach command a view of the beautiful blue waters of Port Nicholson. There are in Wellington no horrible back slums like those of Auckland. The Karori & other roads wind up the steep encircling hills affording as you rise beautiful peeps . . .

I dined this Sunday at the Cliffords & took up my quarters there ... I am finishing this sheet in Clifford's study the windows of which open on to his greenhouse . . .

1857/35


C. W. Richmond to Emily E. Richmond - - - Wellington, 7 Sep 1857

Monday Aug. 31 Had a grand korero & set to with Featherston & his Executive Council. In the evening dined with Featherston & after dinner was at it again. The Featherston Menage is dreary & uncomfortable. Home is not Featherston's centre, that is apparent. A staring house on the road looking like a public house . . . The inside corresponds - long dreary passages, & poorly furnished & uncomfortable rooms . . .

Tuesday Sep 1. Dined at Cliffords & met Col. & Mrs Gold. The Col. seems a pleasant gentlemanly soldierly fellow, with that air of perfect ease & quiet these men get. Not unlike Col. Wynyard but jokes less & is more nonchalant. Mrs Gold a ladylike Canadian - a great many children but looks quite a young woman - just passing in appearance the culminating point. Dresses very well & is quite the Belle. You would have envied . . . her black velvet.

Wednesday Sep 2. Had a delightful walk with Featherston & Major Coote up the Ngahauranga road now in course of construction. This road runs for nearly three miles along a narrow winding ravine between lofty & often precipitous hills. Ascends 430 feet by very easy gradients. It looks more like a railway than a road, you are all the way in a dark gorge with the moisture & freshness of a mountain pass. Right overhead the glorious hills thickly clothed with bush tower into the sunlight. A stream brawls along the bottom. As you get within half a mile of the summit the gorge gets lighter & at last you emerge upon a tract of comparatively open country on the Porirua road with scattered homesteads. At both ends this ravine was so covered up

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with bush that its existence was only discovered by the water which runs through it . . . The Porirua road is the only line from Wellington to the West Coast - i.e. to Wanganui, New Plymouth etc . . .

This evening I dined at Wards. Mrs Ward has been very pretty but looks exhausted by illness . . . Ward is as venomous & injudicious as ever.

Thursday Sep 3. Rode to Porirua with Clifford, talked all the way about politics & the early history of Port Nicholson, the Hutt war etc etc. Porirua a lovely sheet of blue water, amongst wooded hills. Coote is a son of Coote the Chancery barrister - a pleasant talkative superficial man - a great admirer of Featherston.

Friday Sep 4. Began the day by breakfasting with old Strang, the registrar of the Supreme Court, a worthy fat old Scotchman, who has charge of McLean's little boy Douglas 26... All the rest of the day with Carkeek, the collector of customs - answering Featherston's memoranda. Carkeek is at deadly war with the Provincial people. Dined at Brandon's with Fox & Clifford . . . Brandon you know is the Provincial Attorney.

Saturday Sep 5. Dined here - a general Government party one may call it. St Hill, Carkeek, Mr Elles (the inspector of the Oriental Bank, my fellow passenger in the Wonga) & two merchants Hickson & Bowler - old Bowler Sewell's foe - a great scrip-jobber, who just now triumphs in the anticipated disallowance of the Scrip Act 1856.

This brings me to Sunday the 6th. I had a pleasant ride to the Hutt, at least as pleasant as a ride ever is to me when I am alone. But I am so stupid as to be ashamed of the figure I imagine I cut on horseback - as if it mattered. Ludlam's house is an English country house with an English country gentleman living in it. Mrs Ludlam is all sweet amiability. There is a beautiful lawn quite in English style in front of the house. The only thing against it to my mind is that it stands on the flat of the valley of the Hutt. The house is beautifully furnished throughout & faultlessly clean. Except Captain King's I have seen no meadow in N.Z. like Ludlam's spotted with its white sheep of the Romney Marsh breed.

I am disappointed about going on to Lyttelton . . . The steamer is now running between this & the Diggings. It does not go even to Nelson . . . The Tasmanian Maid is . . . too profitably employed in Blind Bay & Massacre May to be tempted into the rough water outside. As things now look I may be kept the full two months ... I am quite homesick already.

1857/36


C. W. Ligar to [C. W. Richmond] - - - [No date]

(Private)

... I have answered your letter, but believe me it is more in sorrow than in anger I have put the case as strongly as I have done. It is high time that the Governor should declare his intention of giving me or not all the employment which legally & naturally

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falls to me. If I am to be discarded - let it be done by him boldly & at once, and not let me hang on in hopes and be bandied from the Governor to Ministers & from Ministers to the Governor.

I know you all admit privately the justness of my claim and I do not feel personally the least annoyance, but I think you must now see that it was a mistake in not allowing the matter to be brought before the House and to a regular issue last session as I wanted it to be done.

v 5, p 48


C. W. Richmond to E. W. Stafford - - - Wellington, 11 Sep 1857

Having no ink I shall disgust you by a letter out of my copying book. I have nothing to tell you since my last . . . Featherston sent me a draft despatch for my observations. It was of abominable character. Began by expressing a lofty regret that we had spent £15,000 without consulting him. A sort of lecture to a Prodigal Son. Then it went on that he would find the money on certain terms . . . which His Honor proceeded to dictate to the poor young Treasurer. I returned it with a few observations, not touching the polemical parts, and with a private note in which I said that as it appeared we differed upon essential terms I had recast the propositions of my despatch to him as a Memorandum, to which I thought he had better reply in the same form. I have not heard from him since, but have had more than one conversation. He declares that he cannot and dare not waive claim to be repaid what he may advance out of the General Land Fund. I insist upon such a waiver as an essential preliminary to any further land purchasing operations in the province - and there we stick.

McLean must not be let to spend or engage for a penny more till you hear from me. Featherston's game is plain enough. He sees that by giving me the guarantee I ask that he shall not be repaid under the Constn Act but only out of the £54,000, or out of such other fund, if any ... he would be making it the interest of Wellington to support some arrangement closely resembling our plan, and to give up the rule of the Constitution Act, under which she would not get reimbursed. Now what he is driving at is to get Nelson to join, in the event of Sewell's failure, in throwing over the whole of Sewell's scheme. I have no doubt he is corresponding with Monro and others on this subject. But if the Middle Island rejects the Company's debt, the Northn. Island will fall back upon the General Land Fund for the extinction of Native Title. What I am pressing for would spoil this game, and I see plainly he suspects a political object . . .

I tell Featherston you want to get into the room and then say 'Turn me out if you can. I have a vested right to be repaid these advances under the Constitution Act. Take it away if you can.' But I tell him, 'No I shall keep you outside. I shall treat with you through the crack of the door; if the Genl. Assembly, . . . chooses to let you in to be repaid, well and good, but we will not by any act of ours confer on you a vested right to be repaid'.



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H. A. ATKINSON
C. W. RICHMOND
E. W. STAFFORD
T. KING
H. SEWELL
F. D. FENTON
D. MCLEAN
I. E. FEATHERSTON

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I am staying at Fox's. We don't mention politics. I am leaving today and shall take up my quarters at St Hill's - I can't say I feel much at home here. The house is very clean and orderly but desperately dull. I have seen a good deal of Carkeek and like him much . . .

I have appointed Fitzherbert provisionally until the pleasure of H.E. is known, receiver of the land revenue. But this time drew the bond myself, though Featherston kindly offered Brandon's services. The condition has a distinct clause touching obedience to instructions given by authority of the Governor. Not a bit surprised should I be if old Fitz. kicks. As Featherston designedly named Fitz to give the thing the air of a triumph over the G.G. and named Fox and Brandon as his sureties, the least I could do was 'by the prevision of mine art' to take security against recalcitrancy. I think I have put him on a martingale that will prevent old Fitz. throwing up his head too much. If they kick at the terms of the bond they will be in a bad position after all that has occurred.

It was great fun to me at first being amongst these men, but I am beginning to tire of it. I am always getting attacked in a half jocular way and say very little in defence as it is no good to shew our hand! Featherston is out and out the best man of his party. I am afraid of Featherston and he is the only one of them I fear. He is very persuasive, very resolute, very deep. I believe he thinks I want to do him. I am sure he would do me in double quick time if I gave him a slant.

Goodbye my Staff. I hope you are in bed every night by 11. You must give up billiards and train for the session. Fox is a healthy, steady, industrious man and if we are to beat him we must take example by him.

P.S. I think Ligar sho'd be told that he is too late and that we can't employ him here ... I think you must recommend to the Governor to write to Ligar from Auckland and if Ligar comes here I shall take the responsibility of telling him that under the circumstances he is not to consider himself as in employment until His Excellency's pleasure is known. This is very important to be attended to or we shall be in a mess.

Of course by this time you have Millton's tender for the inter-provincial service including Otago for two years at £8,000 per annum. Millton is here; he consents to be paid per trip, but not to penalties.

v 41, p 145


C. W. Richmond to Emily Richmond - - - Wellington, 12 Sep 1857


On Monday 7th I dined quietly at Clifford's. Went after dinner to this house [St Hill's] to have a little political talk with Mr St Hill, but finding that gentleman with a large circle engaged in freighting ships from China with things beginning with H, I was drawed in to the excruciating mill of that delectable round game, I freighted a ship with Homesick Husbands.

Tuesday 8.1 believe I passed the morning at Carkeek's office. Dined at the Clifford's. Bread and butter Ball at the Athenaeum in the evening. 2/6 tickets, - the Almack's of Wellington. The chief drawback the dust which comes from the roof and walls of

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the building and is very annoying. Mrs Clifford in blue silk danced every dance. Mrs Gold looking quite a young woman in white lace. C.W.R. danced two sets of lancers, one with Mrs Clifford and one with Miss St Hill - also a quadrille with Miss St Hill. M. Pelliet (a young Frenchman of 17 a relative of Clifford's staying at their house) complained bitterly of Mademoiselle Northwood engaging him to dance with her though she was pre-engaged to another young gentleman. M. Pelliet indignantly repudiated the engagement. Nothwithstanding this Mdlle Northwood persisted in her advances and forcibly impelled him to dance a deux temps. Such are the unfortunate attractions of French men. Clifford and I died with laughing at the recital.

The Bread and Butters are so called because bread and butter is the only eatable provided - tea and coffee are the only drinkables. But M. Pelliet informed me whilst the room was being swept in the middle of the evening, 'Il y en a vingt, qui sont alles prendre des Nobbiers' - to wit at the Tavern next door to the Athenaeum. There were a great many nice fresh looking girls but none at all distinguees except those of the circle I am in here.

Wednesday 9. All the morning and afternoon in Te Aro at Custom House. Called on Col. Gold, found Mrs Clifford there. Walked home with her, and then with the whole Clifford party to dine here . . .

Thursday 10. Walked up the Porirua road to Fox's where I was to take up my quarters. Dinner at two with Capt. and Mrs Carlyon and Mrs Fitzherbert who had ridden some 12 miles from the Hutt . . . The Carlyons appear amiable people. A well connected man I believe - a Crimean officer . . . Mrs Fitz. has a portion of acetic acid in her blood . . . All these women are of course fanatical Provincialists. They often attack me and I parry as well as I can. . . .

Mr Brush's [Fox's] house is very clean and neat, indeed as clean as the Ludlam's, but not by a long way so pretty either in itself or situation. . . . Fox has tried to leave trees on the knolls but of course it is a failure. Mrs Fox is a little old maidish person . . . Very niminy piminy but kind in a frigid way . . . Married to anybody but Fox she would have been a little narrow minded, church-going, missionary-box of a woman ... A dresser in black of course she is, with white cap on, all beautifully prim and neat - the caps quivering all over with white bugles, and the gowns quivering all over with black bugles. Quite an aspen of a woman. . . . Fox's sketches are very good of their kind. He is a capital draftsman, but a coarse colourist. His American sketches are very interesting - a true outline is a great deal. His perspective is uniformly good. He must be a most industrious and persevering fellow . . .

Friday Sep 11. ... The Wonga is away on a second voyage to the diggings she has made since my arrival ... I shall go on in her to Lyttelton or Aorere - whichever she is going to, as I can't afford to stay here any longer. I fear I shall fail in my mission here, but I can't help it. There seems to be irreconcilable difference of opinion. The public service suffers sadly meanwhile. I see from the tone here that we have to prepare for a virulent opposition which will leave no stone unturned . . .

1857/37


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Emily E. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Parnell, Auckland, 13 Sep 1857

The June mails are in. Mr Sewell writes in very good spirits about the loan, nothing was decided, he and Mr Merrivale or Merriveau or some such name were preparing a bill ... to bring before parliament on the subject.

Mr Stafford is wishing you were back, a fight is now going on - Mr McLean trying to induce the Governor not to allow Mr Fenton to go back to Waikato. Mr Stafford sees nothing but confusion and evil in the course things are taking. The provinces triumphant and Colonel Browne tasting the fate of Governor Hobson. I hope this will be a warning to them not to send you away again . . . Henry is going round in the Dinapore to New Plymouth . . .

v 3, p 101


C. W. Richmond to D. McLean - - - Wellington, 14 Sep 1857

I write this in case you should have gone on to Napier by the Erin. I have not yet been able to come to terms with Featherston - who as usual wants to have it all his own way. Therefore do not engage for the expenditure of another sixpence at present.

I hear doubts expressed about the possibility of immediate success at Manawatu. Old Taratoa is said to be against sale and to have written to you.

I hope these Provincials will be reasonable - an unreasonable hope you will say -for I should look on it as a great evil were we prevented from striking whilst the iron is hot.

I have been twice at Strang's and have seen your little Douglas. He seems a very amiable intelligent child and doated upon by his grandfather. He knows all his letters.

v 41, p 146 (also in McLean Papers v 14, p 172)


C. W. Richmond to Emily E. Richmond - - - at Domett's, Nelson, 18 Sep 1857

So here I am at last, with old Brown-Eyes. He is writing his article for the Nelson Examiner at the same table at which I am scribbling to you. . . . Domett came down to the pier to meet me and I was immediately carried on in triumph to dine at Poynter's. I have done nothing since but potter about the town and bask, as the Bishop will express it, in the Nelson sunshine.

Mrs Domett . . . seems a woman with much of the milk of human kindness, but attractive in mind, manners or person to people in general, she can never have been. What drew Domett to her God only knows - very likely that she heartily loved him (not a difficult thing to anyone with love in them). They now go on in a quiet domestic way of work, perfectly without ceremony or pretence of any kind. A rough household somewhat in Frindsbury style. . . 27

Wednesday 16 Sep. Arrived off Aorere in the Wonga - beautifully smooth water. We passed in a little boat, not much more than a dingy, to the Tasmanian Maid. This is a little full power paddle steamer, much faster than the Wonga Wonga ... I

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greatly enjoyed the trip across Massacre Bay and along the west shore of Blind Bay. A man in a blue serge shirt and digger's costume accosted me - I recognized Capt Deck who had been to try his luck at the Diggings. He told me that Jim Ronalds and several other Taranaki people were at the Diggings. It was dark before we got in to Nelson. . . . There is a free and easy bachelor circle of which Poynter is the centre. They have all, poor creatures, something wrong with their wives, or the women who ought to be their wives. Old Poynter himself is a jolly, goodnatured, useful, but odd fellow with a squeaky voice, who is resident magistrate and half a dozen things besides. He is celebrated for his good dinners and lives in a comfortable little brick house close to the water . . .

Friday 18 Sep. In the morning at the Provincial Offices. In the afternoon went in the Customs boat with Domett, Mrs Domett, Bessie and Alf across the harbour to the boulder Bank. Bessie is about thirteen, a strapping lassie . . . Very large red cheeks and brown eyes. A very nice simple child. Alf is a handsome little troublesome young toast-and-water eyes of about 7 years old. . . .

Saturday 19 Sep. After doing a little business in the morning took a walk with Domett up the hill behind the church whence there is a good view over the whole town. Set among steep bare hills there is a flat of considerable extent, now paved with emerald, except in the centre where the houses are thickly clustered. A mountain stream, the Maitai ... is inclined to straggle and to shift in its shingly bed. There are a good many hop gardens. At this season the poles are standing in conical piles forcibly recalling old Kent. The streets are broad and straight. The shops not at all equal to those of Auckland and Wellington. The whole place looks what people call very dull. The only thing to which I object is the great tidal flat between the town and the sea . . . The climate at this season is perfect. The views from the Port Hills, on which stands Stafford's house and this house of Major Richmond, from which I am now writing, are very fine. Dined at Major Richmond's with Captain Rough, the Collector of Customs. Andrew Richmond and his little wife are living with the Major, whose old Georgy 28 has been taken away by cruel Tancredi. The Major has, however, got a little new Georgy - daughter of Andrew . . . An oldish young lady, daughter of Mackay, (the same whom Sewell pitched into the first session of the Assembly) is staying with Mrs Andrew. . . .

Sunday 20 Sep. At church. The church is a large wooden building. Outside it is as good looking a church as I have yet seen in New Zealand. Inside it is very barn like, the builder not having had the spirit of the Gothic in him. Archdeacon Paul preached a mild sermon. A terrible little man called Butt read prayers, Domett never goes to church - at least I think not. Bessie goes regularly and sits in Captain Rough's pew, poor child. . . . This Sunday I had to do almost as much in the eating line as at Rangiaohia, for Rough's luncheon was dinner to all intents and purposes. I had however to dine again at Poynter's - so from two till ten I was dining and deserting . . .

Wednesday Sep. 23. Came up to stay with Major Richmond, (where I have remained till this day, Sunday 27th.) . . .

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Sunday 27. Nothing particular. Major Richmond absent, having gone to bring back an unfortunate nephew of his . . . recently imported from England who had knocked up on his way to the Wairau with Andrew Richmond . . . Dined with Captain Rough and Mr Arthur Seymour, brother in law to Dr Richardson.

Monday 28. Dined with Dr Monro at the boarding house where Travers gave me a dinner.

1857/38


A. Domett to C. W. Richmond - - - Nelson, 20 Sep 1857

Mr Adams of Wairau goes up by this steamer with a petition for Wairau separation. Do nothing in it till Stafford's return - or at least till I am in Auckland - which I hope will be in a few weeks.

v 3, p 101


Emily E. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Auckland, 20 Sep 1857

... I borrowed the money of Mrs Bell and afterwards asked Mr Stafford to get a check book for me and to tell Mr Kennedy I should draw what I wanted. Mr Stafford pretended that there were very few ladies he would assist in getting a check book for themselves in the absence of the master of the house, but of course for me he should be delighted to do so. I said you had offered to get me a check book before you went away - this surprised him more than enough. He made a long speech on the remarkable fact of two such rarefies as you and I meeting - a husband who could willingly offer his wife a check book and a wife (even more rare) who could refuse one.

v 3, p 103

J. C. Richmond to Emily Richmond - - - Taranaki, 20 Sep 1857

This morning we have lost Calvt. and Teddo who went on board the Jane Peata, a maori schooner for Aorere, and so our party is reduced to a small span - half the males are away. . . . Calvert seemed very jolly at starting but Teddo's heart seemed a little faint at last and he said he wanted the day of return already ... I am not much afraid they will wish to leave us entirely. ...

Our new clearing at Hurworth does not move as it ought to do. The Maoris are shy of work. A tohunga has been at work exorcising evil spirits from the wahi tapu and everyone seems to lend a hand at the necessary bonfires. Then a good many hold back waiting for more conclusive accounts from the Nelson diggings. I am half afraid W.S.A. will not be able to complete his engagement which was to fell 40 acres. Hal and Arthur are going to put in potatoes on J Hursthouse's land on speculation of prices rising and if I can get it done I have some idea of speculating in a similar way. Broadmore promised me his bullocks last week for stumping and ploughing but has not kept appointment.

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... we had a sharp northwester on last Sunday and Monday and . . . the Polly 29was blown ashore ... At 3 p.m. finding that she would go on shore they sailed her right up into the landing place in front of the capstan. No life was lost . . . Everyone talks of it as a good job, the ship being rotten and insured to its value. ... If common caution had been used she would have been south of Cape Egmont when the disaster occurred. It came of some quarrel between Capt. who was on shore and mate who was in charge.

1857/39


C. W. Richmond to E. W. Stafford - - - Nelson, 23 Sep 1857

At last I have reached the settlement of settlements, and seen its wonders with these eyes. The diggings which are increasing its revenue are making it look slow and deserted. I expected a pretty town which I do not find . . .

I purpose leaving this for Wellington on Monday . . . and shall thence go on to Canterbury if I can get a good chance. I shall go via the diggings at which I shall if possible take a look this time.

The Tasmanian Maid wants £2,000 bonus for three months service. I have made them no offer, but have of course said that such a sum is out of the question, and have intimated that the outside sum would be £400 a trip for a monthly trip. They also want only to stay 48 hours in Manakau and calculate that they would have nearly a fortnight to spare each month to run to Collingwood - for liberty to do which they stipulate. They are doing so good a thing that they are not anxious about taking up the inter-provincial service . . . The boat is a good strong little vessel with a pair of capital oscillating engines of great power. She is not by a long way so pretty a model as the Wonga Wonga, but at least half as fast again under steam. As regards her fitness for Manakau . . . Rough . . . says she will do, but admits that she ought to be larger and to have greater sailing powers . . .

The state of the Supreme Court is a great subject of complaint everywhere. Somebody must be sent down at once. There is a murder case at Otago . . . This may tempt Stephen. 30 It should be considered whether we ought not to insist upon displacing [Daniel] Wakefield 31 - ample proof can be given of his physical and mental incapacity. Other courses open are to send Stephen down at once or to appoint another judge or judges to act for the nonce. Poynter might act here. Who the deuce to name at Wellington I know not - perhaps Gresson at Canterbury . . .

v 41, p 148


C. W. Richmond to Emily E. Richmond - - - Nelson, 5 Oct 1857

... I am still you see detained in Blind Bay, though in almost hourly expectation of departure ... I think I told you in my last that my plan is to go on to

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Canterbury by the Taranaki, catch the Kate Kearney there and return in her to Nelson . . .

Stafford does not appear to be popular. His pomposity is much laughed at, and these young women say he makes very impertinent remarks. Hugh Stafford is [a] very different person - just what he has been described to us. In manner he is genial and careless, but he is shrewd enough at a bargain. ... It is such lazy work waiting for these coasters ... I am writing this in Mrs Domett's parlour where I have taken refuge, having invited myself to dine with Domett . . . [He] is always refreshing and here one is as much at one's ease as at Frindsbury in the Olden Time - the days we never more shall see . . . And now goodbye . . . your stupid husband ... is going out to meet Domett who will now be on the way home from office as it is half past what Dom. calls 'shell time' - i.e. 4 o'clock when the official bomb shell bursts and all the clerks are seen rushing in various directions to their homes.

1857/40


H. Sewell to C. W. Richmond - - - Abingdon, 14 Oct 1857

First let me thank you for your very interesting letter of June last. I have been quarrelling at yr. silence and particularly with Stafford, from whom I have not had a line. Perhaps he may retort on me, but long letters to you are in fact to both of you.

Now to business - About the Loan ... I have been in a state of considerable uneasiness lest the genius of red tapeism should throw difficulties in the way. At the Treasury I was told that 'these things are always done by open tender through the Bank of England. It is contrary to rule to take a private offer . . .' Last week I went to town to see Mr Wilson the Secy, to the Treasury, urging him to let me have a final answer . . . He was very civil and asked me to go down and stay a few days with him in the country, which I did, and there I brought the matter to a point - the Treasury agreeing to the terms offered by the Union Bank. I was meanwhile in great anxiety (seeing the money market grow worse and worse every day) lest the Union Bank should fly off from their proposal . . . There is no doubt that if we were to seek the money now in the open market we should not get it under a discount of 3 or 4 per cent ... If you are asking whether and why I have not been on the point of returning to the Colony this will satisfy you that it would not have been possible to do so -leaving these matters unsettled. I find also that nothing but continual importuning drives business forward . . .

As to steam the Treasury were willing at once to enter into their share of the contract without reference to the Australian Colonies ... I found that the scheme for a Panama line was virtually abandoned for the present. The idea of such a line being taken up . . . embarrassed me much, and your letter announcing the engagement you entered into to pay £15,000 a year would have occasioned me great embarrassment had I not ascertained that the whole scheme had come to an end . . . Clearly if we have a perfect communication through Australia the Panama line is a luxury, not necessary . . . Your letter informing me of a congress at Melbourne which it is believed

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will make some arrangement . . . threw me on my back again -- I of course apprized the new Company and the Government . . . We will not take on ourselves the risk of making a contract here which may be superseded by one already come to in the Colony ... It does not answer to have two parties doing the same work ... I do not anticipate any beneficial result from the negotiations in Sydney or Melbourne ... I am confident that there is neither the power nor the animus to make an arrangement which will really suit New Zealand . . .

I am rejoiced that you have put a check upon Provincial loans--they are the most extravagantly ruinous things ever invented for plunging a country into difficulties. Everybody here without exception regards them as mischievous in the extreme. The Union Bank . . . tells me plainly that it looks to the Colony at large not to the Provinces ... Of course it must be so, the Provinces in reality are mortgaging the revenue of the general Government.

I am most glad to hear of the prosperous state of the finances . . . Wellington I observe complains about something not being done in the way of land purchasing at the Ahuriri. I take for granted . . . that Fitzgerald and the Canterbury clamour is for the most part groundless. Still it seemed to me . . . that there was some real ground . . . for the offence taken by Canterbury. I should like to know the history of the quarrel. The defection of Canterbury from the general Government is serious and I confess makes me look with alarm at the prospects of the next session. Canterbury, Otago and Wellington, with a sprinkling from Auckland, will overthrow the Government. My recommendation would be to propose nothing in the next session but an Appropriation Bill and prorogue till July - at Wellington. Meantime I may possibly have returned and could help you . . .

About myself . . . my mind settles more and more towards returning to the Colony, and I think one of the law offices, say the solicitor-generalship (with residence in the South) would be best for me; but I will frankly tell you the opposing considerations which are in my mind. First and foremost the pecuniary one - the uncertainty as to . . . what will be done in the way of payment to me for my present services. I am now at a venture devoting myself to the work of the Colony, but if my work is to be at my own cost I shall have so exhausted my means as really to be unable to go out without borrowing money - which I should be very loth to do. Since I left the Colony I find that I have suffered very serious losses in the little property that I and my wife had . . . My expedition to Canterbury has left me about £500 poorer than when I started. If to this I were to add the loss of time and money since I left the Colony I should be as effectively ruined as a man could be. It is true I could at once turn aside from Colonial matters and devote myself to some paying employment here, but that would involve the abandonment of all idea of returning to the Colony ... I take for granted that you will treat my mission here to England as on account of the public service of the Colony ... If the Government should not choose to recognize my services (which of course is possible) I am sure you will not mind bringing the matter before the Assembly, or at any rate get someone to do so.

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Another difficulty I feel is the uncertainty of the Government itself ... I confess I see great elements of mishap . . . The defection of Canterbury is a serious blow. You cannot rely upon Auckland. Carleton and his men will take advantage of you the moment he finds you weak . . .

I am also a little querulous about not hearing from Stafford. I assume from his silence that he is indifferent on the subject of my return.

As to office - If I return I must do so with the view of making and saving some money - permanent office irrespective of politics is out of the question - there are none which would do more than barely pay the expenses of living. A puisne judgeship (about which Lord Lyttelton wrote in May last) would hardly cover its expenses, even if it were in other respects eligible which I don't think it is. My mind turns to office in connection with my profession and as Whittaker will of course hold the attorney-generalship, I might take the solicitor-generalship (a law officer is wanted in the South) and I might reside at Nelson or Wellington and thus follow my profession, doing the government work in the South. I observe what you say about the Treasury, but I don't think that would suit me - the income is too small. I found that the expense of living at Auckland last year rather exceeded the income of the office ... If I held a law office I could in case of political change fall back on my profession, but I should have no such resource if I held the Treasury . . .

You must consider the question of raising the official salaries. Do not be led away by a false spirit of prudery on the subject. Don't be afraid of charges of jobbing. Of course there are some men who will throw out such insinuations but you ought not to be deterred by such apprehension from doing what is in itself right. It is clear that the present rate of official salary will neither tempt nor retain the best men.

What you say about Native affairs and the reports of proceedings are immensely interesting. It is evidently a crisis ... I read hastily at the Colonial Office the other day yr. dispatches on the subject. They appeared to me . . . able and judicious. I do not, however, agree with you in thinking the name of King unimportant. If it means what we mean it would be, of course, objectionable. If it means something else it is a dangerous ambiguity. Another thing occurs to me - the chief or head of the Natives, by whatever name he is to be called, should not be elective. He must derive authority from and receive pay from the Government; it would never do to have an independent head - witness the Superintendents - a fortiori in the case of the Natives. Nor must the Natives have any separate legislative authority. One Government under the head with one legislature is essential to the peace of the Colony and the welfare of the Natives themselves. Independence would be their certain destruction.

I have had a good deal of discussion with Mr Labouchere about the policy to be followed in Native affairs - are they to be placed under Responsible Govt or not? Mr Labouchere is excellently intentioned, but half informed and timid. However he cannot escape from the difficulty - how to govern without money, and how to get money without recourse to the Legislature, so he halts between two opinions. The opinions sent home by the Governor and which for the most part are against Respon-

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sible Govt (I mean Bishop Selwyn's and the Missionaries) weigh with him. One only of that body has had the wisdom and the courage to place confidence in the Colonists - I mean Archdn. Hadfield. He advises in the strongest way that the Colonists should be trusted with the management of Native affairs. Merivale 32 is strongly in favour of handing Native affairs over to the Colonists. I think it will end in the adoption of that policy, but it will be with hesitation and reluctance on the part of Mr Labouchere. It is lamentable to think of the affairs of the Empire being under the control of people all but entirely ignorant of the circumstances. They approve quite of all which has been done and proposed by you - then (I ask them) 'why not trust us?'.

As to Military defence ... I will do what I can to save our pockets, but you can well imagine with these Indian affairs how grudgingly John Bull looks at military for the Colonies. I may tell you as a certain fact (I had it from Godley in confidence) that there is no intention of withdrawing troops from New Zealand - subject to the pending question about barrack repairs. I shall also do what I can about a ship of war, but these are times in which we must not clamour loudly for Military or Naval help, so I shall proceed cautiously.

Thursday, the 16th . . . The offer of the Union Bank has been agreed to by the Treasury . . .

1857/42


C. W. Richmond to Emily E. Richmond. - - - Christchurch, 25 Oct 1857

If you look at the map of New Zealand you will see how curiously the oval peninsula called Bank's is stuck on to the mainland of the Southern Island ... It is very rugged and cut into by deep inlets of the sea not unlike . . . the Norwegian Fiords. One of these deep arms of the sea . . . forms the harbour of Lyttleton . . . The dark hills rise steeply from the water on every side. But in one corner amongst these hills is stuck the town of Lyttelton. I say 'stuck' because it seems to have ado to keep itself from sliding into the waters of its Harbour. The forms of the hills have much grandeur -in places their summits rise into crazy Tors which recall Dartmoor. But the place is a desolate abode. To the Lytteltonians the sun rises later and sets earlier by an hour or two than he does to their neighbours on the plain ... To get into the town or out of it you have to ascend a mountain more than 1,000 feet high. . . .

Its people appear as disagreeable a set as I have seen in New Zealand. Fancy the Auckland carters and boatmen cut off and formed into a community by themselves privileged to levy toll on all strangers and you will understand what a nice society that of Lyttelton must be. Two or three publicans are I believe the most influential people in the place . . . Everything is dearer there than at Christchurch, although all imported goods pass of necessity through Lyttelton. Poor Hamilton, 33 the collector of customs, condemned to reside there I pity from the bottom of my heart. He is a

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pleasant, amiable, gentlemanly man of about 32 who has not long since married a lady of a numerous house, a Miss Townshend... Their house accommodation we should think very limited even in New Plymouth. Indeed I find Canterbury behind all the other settlements in this particular . . .

Starting on Saturday morning on horseback with Hall 34 for Christchurch. My portmanteau was carried over the hill on a pack-horse. Carts do not use the bridle path. Heavy goods are unladen from the ships in the harbour into boats, which go out of the harbour again round Godley Head and then over the Sumner bar . . . into the Heathcote River, which is navigable by boats for a few miles . . . The only good thing about Lyttelton is its building stone of which there are two kinds in use. One is a dark red sandstone grit which works very easily when fresh hewn but hardens by exposure. The other is a yellowish white freestone. They are building a new bank of these materials which contrast very well . . . Mrs Hamilton is a pleasant woman who plays on her new Kirkman's piano very well in the old style - plays Beethoven and Mozart in good time and articulately. . . .

Sat. 17 Oct. Well I really must get over the Hill out of that dark, dull Lyttelton, so Jack Hall and I will jog on and now have reached the summit of the Bridle path. We pull up our horses and sit admiring the grand view which thence opens upon us . . . At the foot of the hills green corn fields and meadows showed the hand of man, and . . . some six miles distant lay Christchurch a little patch of scattered houses, a mere nothing in the vastness of the plain - no building of any elevation marks the town.

There is not in this Church of England settlement so much as a shingled spire. When the time comes however . . . the Plains will afford a magnificent site for a Cathedral. A great Gothic roof like Lincoln would loom like the Ark for fifty miles around. The brown of the plain melting into the purple and violet of the mountains with their 'shadow pencilled valleys and snowy dells' makes a beautiful picture with the foreground of the crags and fantastic summits of the Port Hills . . .

Mounting at the foot of the descent [we] were soon cantering along to the Heathcote Ferry which we crossed in a punt with three or four other mounted persons on their road to Christchurch market. This Heathcote, understand, is more like a canal . . . than our rivers of Taranaki . . . The Avon is clearer and swifter, flowing brightly over its beds of watercress and dividing Christchurch town site from corner to corner. The roads are long, straight sandy . . . The beginnings of streets are scarcely more imposing than New Plymouth . . . The land is as flat as a pancake - treeless featureless - except the little river ... I forgot to mention the patches of bush. Four or five such are visible from the summit of the bridle path drawn up like regiments in the plain. They are mostly white pine and of very limited extent. The largest at Kaiapoi (about nine miles from Christchurch) is in the hands of the natives, having been reserved for them by Mr Kemp when he bought the district. We should think these patches wretched affairs at New Plymouth but here the timber alone is worth £30 or £40 per acre! !

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Monday 26th Oct. ... As the weather looks threatening this morning I sit down to continue opposite Tancredi who at the same table is composing a lecture on History to be delivered at the College here.

On arriving at Christchurch ... I got my name put down at the Club ... I also got introduced to the Gressons. Mr Gresson is a barrister of the Irish Chancery. He seems a most amiable worthy man and a sound lawyer. Mrs Gresson also is a very nice person . . . there is that quality and sociability about all of them which one finds in well educated Irish people . . . They live in one of the largest houses in Christchurch but it is a very small one. The style of living here is much more primitive than at Wellington and Auckland - more the New Plymouth style. Dinner parties are unknown. There are no Mrs Golds sweeping into salons in black velvet or brocaded silk. Very wisely they confine themselves to tea parties with an occasional ball . . .

The same Saturday I went to the Provincial Office and made acquaintance with the Deputy Superintendent, Mr Bowen. 35 Fitzgerald ... is gone to England and Mr Bowen acts until the election of the new superintendent. Bowen also is an Irishman and appears a gentlemanly quiet man disposed to be very friendly. With his son, a clever young Rugby man, one of the Editors of the Lyttelton Times, I have contracted an alliance. With all these Canterbury gentlemen I find myself in substantial agreement on public questions, and what is of more importance, in general tone of thought. Bowen is a poet and a great admirer of Domett. Whilst there is great liberality of feeling at Canterbury they keep fast hold of the old formulae. In all the houses I have yet been in they use Family Prayer - Gresson, Tancred and Hamilton all have it.

There seems to be no snobbish exclusiveness at Canterbury - no such ridiculous airs as some of our half bred New Plymouth people affect to give themselves.

On Sunday went to church and heard a plain practical sermon from the Bishop, Dr Harper. The church is a temporary one, but a nice little building. Music indifferent. The church bell is hung on a frame close to the ground outside the church. It is amusingly out of proportion to the church being a regular Tom of Lincoln, as tall as a man and as big round as Mrs Wynyard in full crinoline - the gift no doubt of some rich English patron of the Colonial Church in this its model settlement.

Monday and Tuesday I passed loafing about the town ... On Monday I drank tea at Mr Wilson's. Wilson you may recollect is the clergyman who accompanied the Bishop of Christchurch to Auckland. 36 He has no cure here, does some farming on his own land - has 8 daughters. ... He is a very sensible man . . . words carefully selected and well pronounced - scholarlike . . . His books are very dusty and I should judge he is rather indolent and in want of more intellectual stimulus. He does not like Sewell . . . Wonders how a woman like Mrs Sewell could ever have married 'such an old sinner as Sewell' . . . There is a rumour here that Sewell is to be made a judge

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which the people don't seem to like. Sewell's intellect is more thought of than his moral nature.

Tuesday Oct 20. Hamilton came over from Lyttelton this afternoon, we took tea at the Gressons and settled to start next morning for a place called Rangiora ... I was to ride a little mare of Hall's.

Wednesday Oct 21. Breakfasted at Gressons and about 10 started with a change of linen rolled up in oilskin, and our waterproofs at our pommels. I have had to ride lots of strange horses at these settlements . . . after a few hour's riding and getting to know 'the gifts' of my animal I am all right. On the road we fell in with Mr Cookson (a merchant here) and the skipper of the Cornubia, a heavy sailor who could not stand trotting . . . The Courtenay river is broad - nearly double the width of the Waiwakaiho but not so deep where we crossed it as the Waiwakaiho ford. The bottom very level and good. On the far side we saw a horse with saddle on ... a man attempting to cross had . . . narrowly escaped drowning. He must have been drunk or a great fool, for certainly the passage was easy enough . . . This story will show you what a Hero your husband is, and how quietly he encounters these perils, and what a little he makes of them . . . The Courtenay is here divided forming an island on which Captain Steward or the Governor in his name, has purchased land . . . There is a good deal of flax swamp and sand hill and the general aspect of the country is dreary . . . The lesser branch we crossed in the horse ferry. The punts are huge flat trays . . . hauled across by means of a rope crossing the river and attached to posts on each bank. The fees are at some ferries 6d, at others 1/- for a horseman . . .

The little wooden church at Kaiapoi by Mountfort, is quite original in design. It is in fact all roof like a V. hut ... If you like we will build an earthquake proof house in the bush on the same principal. We dined and baited our horses at Kaiapoi . . . The present road to Rangiora is very circuitous . . . We made an even wider circuit in order to call on Mr and Mrs Raven - a clergyman and his wife who occupy a farm in this neighbourhood. Mrs Raven only was at home - she struck me as a remarkably clever little woman. They have a good library - Greek and Latin classics, theology and modern literature. I suppose there are more copies of the Greek dramatists in Canterbury than in all the other settlements put together. Few houses seem unprovided with their Tennyson. In the union of literature and simplicity the Canterbury colonists have realized the ideal of their Founders as far as it is generally allowed to man to realize his ideal. Mr Raven was out with his bullocks. We afterwards met him with a team of six, but as he was breaking in a pair of young ones he was afraid to stop to speak to us.

After leaving the Ravens we found ourselves ... on the open plain ... all galloping ground. The chief vegetation of the plain is tussock grass . . . like the bent grass in sandhills such as you have seen at Redcar. It is not eaten by the sheep and scarcely by the horses. The real pasturage is the fine grass which grows amongst the tussocks ... Besides the grasses there is flax, tutu and wild Irishman ... It grows at Nelson also but I never saw it in the Northern Island ... It is a glorious feeling of freedom one

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has on these plains, and nothing to stop you for 30 or 40 miles at a stretch - nothing indeed for a hundred miles but the rivers which however are formidable obstacles enough . . . Their beds are often a mile wide or more bounded by shingly cliffs. Here they range about spoiling a wide tract of country and with their blue water threads cutting it up into little shingly islands clothed with a scanty vegetation . . . Those which issue from the first range are not formidable, those also which take their rise in the snows are generally fordable in many places. But when the warm norwesters bring rain upon the mountains and swell these monsters, not with the rain alone but with the melted winter snows, woe betide the traveller who trusts himself and his steed to their treacherous waters . . . When the Rakaia is white with the clays brought down to him by his mountain feeders, the stock owner must give up the thought of the chimney corner at his trans-Rakaia station for that night. Many a fine fellow has found a grave upon those barren shingle banks. It is the greatest, almost the only danger of the settler's life . . .

A little village is springing up at Rangiora under cover of these 300 acres or so of kahikatea whose long straight poles are utterly unlike the Taranaki forest with its various and abundant leafage and its tangled undergrowth . . . The house we were bound to was that of Mr Hamilton Ward, a young man who has lately married the youngest Miss Townshend. We found him away 'draying' Mr Moore's wool. His wife is a pretty little person with the limited experience and ideas (I should guess) of a colonial-reared girl. She plays very fairly and has a nice voice . . . With the H. Wards are living newly arrived friends who seem to be in temporary partnership with the Reeves's. Mr Reeves is a stout, healthy young fellow city bred - was in a Banker's house, then tried the Stock Exchange (where he did not succeed). After tasting the pleasures of London from opera house door to Cremorne and Rosherville in company with friends addicted to gorgeous waistcoats and neckties and redundant jewellery he appears to have become smitten with the daughter of some warm city man living in good, not to say luxurious, style at Clapham . . . Altogether Reeves has not done ill for himself. His wife has the manners and appearance of a lady, plays well - very well - but without much feeling, sings not very well - a plain face, dark hair and nose slightly upturned, very tall and a good figure - dresses well and has especially beautiful collars and sleeves. Mrs Reeves so far from objecting to smoking is decidedly of opinion (all her opinions are decided) that all gentlemen should smoke . . . The Reeves have a little girl and a boy 37 born in Lyttelton just after arrival - the very heaviest little lump of lead I ever took hold of. An excellent little fellow, never cries or has anything the matter with him, and sits in his chair amusing himself for hours. N.B. only seven months old! Now this is real goodness. Reeves takes kindly, even enthusiastically to his new work - nothing could induce him to take office work again. So absorbed was he in his function of bullock driver to the plough man that he could scarcely say good bye. These people conform readily to the public opinion of a place where no man is above his work . . .

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Thursday 22 Oct. Day threatening wet. Walked about through the bush discussing with Boyse 38 - a surveyor married to another Miss Townshend and staying with Mr Torlesse married to a fourth! whose house is within a few yards of Hamilton Wards'. In the afternoon made a party to visit the Torlesse's station at Fernside about six miles beyond Rangiora. Boyse drove Mrs Boyse and Mrs Ward in a basket cart, Hamilton and I rode. You may go as straight as you like without river, fence, hedge or ditch to hinder you. Still people generally follow a beaten track if there is one.

At Fernside live Mr Henry Torlesse and his young wife - seemingly a very nice young couple . . . After looking at the woolshed and contrivances for washing, during which Boyse and I nearly tilted ourselves off a marvellous platform contrived for wisking the sheep into a tank of water five feet deep, Henry Torlesse, Hamilton and I rode some three miles further on to the Mairaki downs to get a view of the plains . . . We ascended these downs by a gradual rise till we reached the summit - Trig. Pole No 5. From this point . . . there is no hill to interrupt the view for I suppose one hundred and twenty miles. In the extreme distance the snows of Mount Peel hang on an horizon like that of the ocean itself ... In all this country I did not see a single sheep. A run is fully stocked with one sheep to three acres. The feeding power of an artificial grass at Taranaki is therefore 15 times that of this land. On the other hand the whole of the acquired land at New Plymouth, including bush, could not make two good runs. Many single runs are larger and there are hundreds. There are already in Canterbury more than 20 times as many sheep as we have in New Plymouth, but the population is only 2 1/2 times that of Taranaki.

We returned to tea at Fernside and then just before dark saddled our horses and rode off. We found our way very well by the light of a dim moon . . .

Friday Oct. 23. Started for Christchurch. It was blowing a norwester and it was hard to keep our saddles - I was nearly off several times . . . Fortunately the greater part of our journey we had it behind us. There is no enjoyment in riding in such a gale, it is right down hard work to keep your seat. I do not think a lady in a habit could have ridden at all . . . When we got to that place [Kaiapoi] it was doubtful whether we could cross the river there was so much 'sea' on. It took three men to haul over the punt on the narrow branch, but the broad branch was easier as the wind did not blowiozewit. We did not attempt the ford as the Courtenay was getting white.

Tancred's house is on the road from Christchurch to Kaiapoi and just as we came up he drove out in his dogcart, he was going to fetch my portmanteau from Smarts . . . We drove into town, put my mare into Hall's paddock and I returned in the dogcart to this house. I sit writing this (on Monday 26 Oct) . . . beside Tancred who is still going on with his lecture. Mrs Tancred ... is mending stockings like a good housewife on the sofa. They seem very happy together.

Tancred is of course a capital fellow. I learnt here for the first time that he has served eight years in the Austrian Army in Italy. What a curious experience. I am always plying him with questions about the state of the Army, feelings of the officers,

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their relations with the Italians, about the Hungarians, Croats etc etc. It was an Hungarian Regiment of Hussars that he was in. Few of the officers were Austrians - most of them from other states of Germany and many English. The cavalry officers are mostly of high rank. Their Colonel was Prince Lichtenstein, a great nob, and Tancred's captain a cousin of our Queen, on the strength of which relationship he was accustomed when at Buckingham Palace to tu toyer her Majesty when addressing her in German . . . What a curious world of feeling this opens to one . . .

This is a rickety house but Mrs Georgie of course manages to give her rooms an air of comfort and refinement. There are books and good books, almost all of them books that I either have read with profit or that I desire to read. In theology there are many of Hare's works, Maurice's, Bunsen's - even the Phases of Faith (partly uncut), some numbers of the Westminster, Arnold's Lectures on History, Smyth's do., Gibbon and other standard histories. I always look at the books in a house which give one some idea of what the inmates think about and of what they think.

Saturday Oct. 24. Nomination of Superintendent. Heard the hustings speeches of the two candidates. There was not the ghost of a joke and scarcely the shadow of an idea in either speech. Both seem moderate men, holding that the superintendent's main business is the promotion and supervision of public works. Both deprecate over legislation in the Provinces. Joe Brittan is a much cleverer man than Moorhouse, who seems a softie. The show of hands was for Moorhouse, the announcement of which fact was greeted by a burst of music from a drum and two trumpets in the employ of that gentleman and by the display of several large calico flags of his colours. The whole thing very flat.

Sunday Oct 25. Mr and Mrs Tancred drove up in the dogcart. I walked. There is limited accommodation at the church and it is necessary to be in good time if you want a seat. We had a dull sermon from Archdeacon Mathias, a horrible fat parson fitter for an innkeeper than for a clergyman. The Bishop is away somewhere. I forgot to say that he called on me the other day and I returned his call and had a talk with Mrs Harper. She is an exceedingly lively, talkative, pleasant sort of woman - a nice frank countenance and a beautiful figure . . . There is a large family - half a dozen daughters and as many sons or more. The girls seem nice girls - four are 'come out' and no. 2 and 3 are already engaged. The young ladies seem to go off here at a fine rate. In the evening Tancredi and wife went again to church . . . After church Tancred undertook to read a sermon of Maurice's but nearly fell asleep over it (a thing I never do) so I had to take the book and finish. Tancred is not well having been suffering from boils and is very somnolent.

Tuesday Oct 27. Had a ride with the Tancreds. At starting my little stupid mare thought fit to be troublesome which gave me an opportunity of showing what a splendid seat and grasp of the pommel I have. Dined at the Club. Bowen in a scot because some personal epigrams upon the candidates in the election for Superintendent and their supporters had been inserted in the Lyttelton Times (which Bowen edits)



[Inserted unpaginated illustration]

REV. J. WHITELEY
B. G. HOLMES
CHARLES BROWN
SIR G. GREY
R. R. PARRIS
I. N. WATT
A. DOMETT
MARY DOMETT

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by his collaborates: Mr Crosbie Ward. Bowen walked over at dead of night to Lyttelton, knocked up Ward and seized and destroyed the whole of the issue of the paper, which was printed ready for publication on the morrow.

Wednesday Oct 28. ... Hall dined with the Tancreds. We were all of us dull and sleepy - at least I was ... Hall is a good little fellow but borne. Has no general conversation, knows nothing of literature. They call him 'Petty Sessions' at the Club.

Thursday Oct 29. I rode out today with C. C. Bowen to his father's about 3 or 4 miles from Christchurch. They have a nice little farm. The farms about Christchurch are to my ignorant eyes more like farms than anything I have seen in New Zealand.

My fellow passengers in the Taranaki Mr and Mrs A----- have taken service with Bowens, which led to a funny passage. The A-----s had heard of my visit as expected. The day before I came Mrs A. raised an objection to waiting at table. 'Anything but that' she said. She would bring things to the door, so the Bowens, as colonial masters in duty bound, acquiesced. The fact was Mrs A . . . had been a cabin passenger in the schooner and had sat at table with me. She had thus felt herself to be on a level with the Colonial Treasurer and was of course unwilling to descend.

Friday Oct. 30. Going out of the room during breakfast for my hankerchief met Mrs A----- on the way out with supplies for the breakfast table. She shied but I said,

'How do you do Mrs A-----? how is the daughter?', which restored her composure.

The election for Superintendent is at this moment going on. Moorhouse is ahead in the town which was deemed Brittan's stronghold. The opinion seems to be that Moorhouse is the man. He has got a great start of his adversary in one matter - he has engaged the only Band in Christchurch! His qualifications however are universally admitted to be negative. Some people here openly represent it as (what the Lyttelton Times inadvertently expressed it) a contest between Knave and Fool, between King Stork and King Log; and Log is likely to be preferred . . .

1857/43


Emily E. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Parnell, 1 Nov 1857

... I went to the government ball with Mrs Bell. Mr Stafford took us in and brought us home. It was a capital ball. I had a presentiment you would arrive in the middle of the entertainment. A number of natives were at the ball with their wives. Mrs Wynyard danced with one native opposite to Captain Bulkley and a native woman.

v 3, p 105


C. W. Richmond to H. Sewell - - - Christchurch, 9 Nov 1857

You will be surprised to receive a letter from me dated from what I may I suppose call your own province . . .

We have just got definitive news of your success. Everybody here is rejoiced at it and gives you great credit. Even your old enemies the Church Trustees appear

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melted. 'Rien ne reussit comme le succes'. It will no doubt greatly strengthen Stafford's administration. I think we shall all be agreed to propose to the Assembly to grant you a proper remuneration for your eminent service to the Colony . . . Your advice not to call the Assembly until the latest possible moment concurs with the resolution we had already taken . . .

I repeat what I have often told you that I shall be ready and glad to make room for you by resigning the Treasurership, so that if we are in you may feel, I consider, sure of a place. As regards our chances of holding on, they are better than I was disposed to think them when I last wrote. With you we should I think be quite safe. Neither Canterbury nor Nelson are in the least degree disposed to place confidence in the Wellingtonians. I mean the political mind of neither place is with that party. Fox's Americanism disgusts, and what is more alarms - most justly alarms - the thinking people, and as yet I am disposed to believe that the thinking people will control the votes of their representatives in the Assembly . . .

Moorhouse is returned by an overwhelming majority as Superintendent. More than 1000 polled and Moorhouse had more than 2/3rds of the votes!! I must say I am glad of it. It is better just now that the superintendents should not be men of an active political mind. Robinson is in again for Nelson. He too will suit our book very well. Featherston is in again for Wellington. He was opposed by a Dr Welch - a puppet of E. J. Wakefield's who ran Featherston hard in the town of Wellington. But Featherston's majority in the province was as large as Moorhouse's here. The Napier people all voted for Featherston, preferring him to the other man.

Hall is in an amusing state of mind. He is beginning to have his doubts concerning the elective principle . . . He is evidently scared at the prospect of the ascendancy of the Blue shirts, and half inclined to go for a strong General Government. He is a good little man but certainly no politician. For with him a probable ground, however trivial, will always outweigh a less probable ground however weighty ... He is always weighing out scruples of mint, anise & cummin. In this sense alone can Hall be considered 'the cummin man'. I verily believe that for 2/6 worth of present injury to the province of Canterbury, he would risk a Native War in the North.

Fitzgerald's departure is a great political relief. He and Stafford were always at loggerheads. I believe I have closed all the topics of controversy. I have been doing all I can to make political friends for the Ministry - and have been begging the people at all events not to imitate Fitzgerald's childishness and throw themselves into Ultra Provincialism merely because they don't like our Cabinet. I tell them if you don't like us, for Heaven's sake turn us out, but don't abandon your principles because you don't approve of the tone of a despatch.

I have a scheme for curbing our friends the superintendents, by carrying a little further our principle (for ours it is) of Financial Separation and Political Union. First .... pass an act empowering the Governor to delegate his powers over the police, gaol . . . Analyse the Expenditure into

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(1) Expenditure of the Central establishments, including all those on the Civil List.
(2) Native expenditure
(3) Local expenditure of the Genl. Gvt. in each province.

In this last I should include resident magistrates, police, . . . which should be borne on the General Estimates, as well as Customs and Post Office. Charge each province with a contribution to the expenditure under the 1st and 2nd heads proportionate to its revenue and with the whole of the expenditure under the third head. Lastly, handicap the provinces by placing on the Estimate votes in aid of the general service of those in which the expenditure might be proportionately the least, thus securing to each the whole of its own surplus. It would of course under such a scheme be the interest of no province to clamour for an increase of the Govt, establishments within its own boundary.

Then I would delegate to the superintendents the charge of such departments on the Genl. Estimates as it might seem advisable to place under their superintendence . . . If the supt. should be able to save on the services under his charge his province should be secured the benefit... It is a very wrong state of things under which no Government is charged with providing for the whole of the ordinary services of Government. On the one hand the Finance Minister knows nothing and the House of Representatives knows nothing of the provincial services - some of which are of prime importance -on the other hand the Provincialists in the House try to jam the General Govt, by restricting its expenditure to some definite aliquot part of the revenue (as in Fox's absurd resolutions) without considering or caring for the necessities of the Colonial Government.

I am much struck by the solid prosperity of this place. Cultivation is extending rapidly. Every corner, or suspected corner, of the country is taken up for runs. There is just now a rush to the West Coast by the newly discovered Hurunui track. Land Fund averages £2,000 per month. Customs approaching £20,000 per annum . .. Altogether the export of wool from the Colony will not I think, be much under £200,000 this season.

Oct 24 [sic] At sea off Cape Egmont. Although so confirmed a philosopher of the nil admirari school you will I doubt not duly estimate my courage and friendship in continuing this letter in a norwester off my beloved mountain. I am propping myself up against the leg of the cabin table of a coaster of 80 tons, and writing between the lurches. 39 I left Port Victoria on the 11th November, called at Wellington, came on in the Wonga Wonga through Tory Channel and French Pass to Nelson, which last place I sailed from in this vessel bound for Taranaki and Manakau. It is just three months since I left Auckland ... I like Stafford's idea of a locomotive minister, but pity the poor wretch if he is to knock about in coasting craft as I have been doing.

During my stay at Christchurch the three F's have received a signal discomfiture. Indeed their political power is for the present broken. Jerningham Wakefield has returned the whole of his list of twelve for Wellington City. 40 Even Clifford - popular

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Clifford - is ousted, being on the poll far below the lowest of the Reform candidates. Fitzherbert did not dare to stand for the Town, but tried the Hutt and got beaten, Ludlam being returned at the head of the poll. Hunter, another nominee, is at the head of the poll in Wellington. Revans has been beaten at Wairarapa by the casting vote of St Hill, the Returning Officer. Fox has sneaked in for Wanganui after his rejection by the Town. Featherston gave great offence by the tone of his speech returning thanks upon his election as Superintendent. He reflected strongly on the private character of some of his opponents, calling them by implication, robbers of the widow and orphan, with other passionate expressions, and he openly defied the Wellington majority against him, telling them he would not be bullied by a town mob. In fact he mounted that high horse of his once too often and with too lofty a vault. I dined with him and had a long political talk with him. He feels most acutely this great reverse and I should not be surprised if it should prove too much for his feeble health.

At Nelson there is on all sides great exultation over this fall of the seeming mighty. A party so arrogant in power is unpitied in its disgrace.

At Wellington itself one breathes a freer air. The reign of terror is at an end. Preparations were making when I left for celebrating the event by a monster banquet of the Thermidoriens. 41 They talked of inviting me. I shd. have of course refused, as the victory, though in effect one for the General Govt, and our own administration, was a provincial affair.

I must not omit to notice a great sign and portent in the Wellington sky. E. G. Wakefield is out again and walked down to poll for the Twelve Reformers.

Concurring with your own success at home, these events seem to establish us very firmly in our seats. The general idea is that there will be no opposition next session. We shall, however, be on our guard and must not let our heads get turned.

Auckland Dec. 5. . . I confess I am somewhat alarmed at finding that the acts of Parliament do not provide for the inter-provincial adjustment. Nelson is much dissatisfied with the equal apportionment of the £12,000 amongst the three southern provinces. The Nelson people say their mountains are a valueless property compared with the sea-like plains and fine valleys of the south. I hope our prestige will enable us to carry through the scheme in its integrity . . .

v 41, p 149

H. Sewell to C. W. Richmond - - - Abingdon, England, 14 Nov 1857

I write a few lines - rather to save appearances and that you may not charge me with absolute silence than for anything that I have to say ... I would have sent all my correspondence but I have not clerk power, being obliged to copy my own letters.

About the Loan - we may think ourselves lucky . . . With the Bank rate of discount at 10 per cent you can imagine how little chance there would be of our

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getting our 4 per cent Loan off at par... So I expect you will be duly grateful to me for having made this, what I consider (and other people too) a very beneficial arrangement.

I am, to tell the truth, worried about the steam matter. It was dreadfully provoking just as I was on the point of closing the very desirable arrangement with the Company here to be obliged to suspend it upon the bare and very improbable chance of something being done at Melbourne . . . The Treasury of course wont make an unconditional contract with the chance of another having been made in the Colony, and the Company won't send out ships except on an absolute engagement from the Treasury . . . Things in my opinion look very gloomy, particularly money matters. It seems like the beginning of the end.

About myself ... I still have the animus redeundi to the Colony, but the uncertainty of my pecuniary position . . . and other things . . . keep me in suspense. I need scarcely say that this makes me anxious and very uneasy.

1857/44


H. Sewell to E. W. Stafford - - - Abingdon, 14 Nov 1857

[Later] ... As regards the Loan- . . . The offer of the Union Bank may be considered as accepted, and you will be able to make yr. arrangements accordingly.

As regards the Steam Postal Service, ... I anticipate that no final arrangement will be made at Melbourne or Sydney and so soon as this is distinctly understood I trust that it will [be] practicable to establish . . . without delay arrangements with a company in England.

As regards Military and Naval Defence. I have nothing further to apprize you of except that I believe that Sir George Grey has diverted for India one of the regiments destined for New Zealand. Of course (that being so) the regiment about to be removed from New Zealand will remain till replaced by its successor . . .

1857/45


Jane Maria Atkinson to Margaret Taylor - - - Taranaki, 15 Nov 1857

. . . We are having about ten acres of bush felled which lie between our east windows and the Henui river . . . the river bank is too steep to permit of our seeing the Henui. We shall, however, gain a view of the opposite bank, and the forest in its untouched freshness hanging over a river is much more beautiful than on the edges of new clearings where the axe and fire leave it ragged and scathed. . . .

Lely allows each of her four children £50 per annum . . . Arthur's capital (about £650) we have in our land, house, horses and clearings. Having no rent and our garden beginning to produce, our household expenses are a mere trifle. I can't make out that we spend nine shillings a week in living, but a great deal of our business is done by barter (we exchange cheese for milk, butter and eggs with Hal and Dec) . . . We have bacon and hams of our own curing. The mares, besides their usefulness, give fair interest in their foals - Nancy's first (Sleipner) for £15 before he was broken in. Horses

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have fallen in value greatly of late, as the Maoris are not so rich as they were and are now sellers instead of buyers of horses. James has just given £35 for a very nice mare that two years since would have cost him £60. Arthur and I with our land, house, horses and £50 a year feel I think quite as rich as we should in England with four or five hundred a year; we are quite at ease. At any time by working for others . . . Ar could greatly increase our money income if we felt the necessity.

I expect Harry could make a financial statement more satisfactory to a business man. He is the Hurworth carter, has bullocks, cows, rears calves, pigs, turkeys, ducks, fowls, keeps an establishment of two men and two boys, makes butter and is going shortly to begin cheese making. I don't know how all his schemes answer. I believe he considers clear of all expenses the dairy gives him 25 per cent on capital invested.

v. 38, pp 342-4


Jane Maria Atkinson to Emily E. Richmond - - - Hurworth, 15 Nov 1857

Henry has resigned his Treasurership and seat in the Prov. Council ... It does not appear to me to matter much what the Council does for it is quite sure to be undone, either it is informal from the want of a proper law office here ... or else the poor dear Maories are supposed to be interfered with by the Council's legislation ... I shan't be sorry if James loses his election . . .

v 3, p 106


H. A. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, S 21 Nov 1857

Got my horse ready and had breakfast then rode out to Mangorei to get in what voters I could, they all came in. James as we expected got well beaten, but we had hoped to have made a better show Sunley 89 Richmond 35. James resigned about three o'clock we could have polled ten or twelve more. ... I bought 5 pigs of McKellar a few days ago for 8/- a piece, ... I think they were cheap at the money.

v 24


J. Morgan to C. W. Richmond - - - Otawhao, 24 Nov 1857

During my late visit to Taupo, 42 Mr Alexander as J.P. examined as far as he could the charge against Mr McDonnell ... As Mr McDonnell lives 80 miles from Napier and witnesses had to be taken from Taupo to Napier, it is probable that some delay will take place. Mr Alexander considers it a case for the Supreme Court ... Mr Alexander and myself felt quite satisfied that the offence had been committed by Mr McDonnell and Mr Tanner. The evidence against them is a spy glass left at the village, 2nd. a letter in Maori to W. Poihipi of Taupo stating why he McD. violated the graves, i.e. because they had been delayed at Hiruharama. He . . . acknowledges that he had assaulted and beaten their guide. 3rd. Mr McDonnell on his arrival at Napier stated what he had done to Mr G. S. Cooper and others, and Mr Cooper in a private letter to

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myself says, 'When McDonnell and Tanner arrived here they made no secret of what they had done - indeed they seemed rather to think it a good joke than otherwise'.

If this case comes into the Supreme Court it will be attended with much expense to Government. Mr Alexander and myself thought that it would be better settled out of court if possible - the Government threatening to prosecute them unless they paid sufficient to satisfy the natives. Mr Alexander and myself thought that about £50 should be offered to the natives. McDonnell is poor but Tanner is able to pay but unfortunately he is in England. Under all circumstances of the case we came to the conclusion that as the natives have a just cause of complaint and as their feelings in the most tender point have been outraged and as Europeans so seldom offend in cases of the kind, the Government if necessary should make compensation to the natives. They will not understand first being called to Napier to prove their case and then to be told that they must go to the Supreme Court at Wellington or Auckland and lastly that Mr McDonnell will be kept in prison. This is so contrary to their ideas that I feel certain it will irritate their feelings and exasperate them. Some of the Taupo natives told me that the first feeling was to attack the out-settlers. This was opposed by others, and they determined to lay their case before Government.

I therefore (as my private opinion) beg leave to recommend the Government . . . to empower either the Resident Magistrate at Napier, Mr Alexander, or myself, to offer to compromise the matter with the chiefs for about £50, and then let the Government oblige Messrs McDonnell and Tanner to pay the amount . . .

Minute by E. W. Stafford:

For the Govr's information - I think Mr Morgan's suggestion a good one.
E.W.S.

1857/46


Jane Maria Atkinson to Maria Richmond - - - Merton, 6 Dec 1857

We were visited by the most tremendous gale from the south east, ... It is not possible to feel sure you were not out in it; as it is, the opinion that these strong south easters do not extend very often 50 miles north of this place consoles us, as also the notion that if it caught you it would not be on a lee shore. I prefer believing that you were in harbour for the wind's fury alone it seems to me would be dangerous . . . Harry's new strong-looking cow shed is blown over and the roof in three pieces. Henry left his house and slept at ours (Ar was at home) quite expecting his roof to be carried away before morning . . . All here stood firm and even the little ventilator stood like bricks and mortar rather than like wooden Venetian blinds. Six panes of glass are all the house has lost, but the beautiful elders, the hydrangias and other favourites have looked most woe begone since . . .

Harry has bought all James's pigs, so those 'mysteries of creation' are off Mary's mind . . . How a butter or cheese-making dairy farm is to pay without pigs I am at a loss to imagine. If James keeps cows he must take to raising calves, as they are used

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for milch cows and working bullocks before finding their way to the butchers (that goal of all farm stock). Mary can I suppose shut her eyes to their being 'part of the system'. I have been advising James to let his cows to Harry for a time, for I foresee in the present state of matters that no Waiwakaiho bridge plans, no house improvements here or superintendence of Hurworth clearings can go on. What with morning and evening meetings and most of the dairy work and butter making (the house work will be as much as Mary can manage . . .)'

1857/47


C. W. Richmond to J. Flight, New Plymouth - - - Auckland, 7 Dec 1857

I write to inform you that from all quarters reports are reaching us of R-----'s unfortunate relapse into a degrading vice. It is manifest that he cannot be allowed to retain his situations under Government unless an immediate and thorough reform takes place in his conduct - which is a public scandal.

I also desire to represent to yourself that you will not be justified in refraining to report his misconduct officially. I fully appreciate the motives . . . but in justice to your own official position you will, I consider, be bound to speak.

R----- has no reason to doubt my friendly feeling towards him. Glad indeed should I be to see him rescued from the abyss into which he is sinking. But I cannot interpose to ward off from him the just consequences of a continuance in this degrading vice.

v 41, p 152


J. Morgan to C.W. Richmond - - - Otawhao, 9 Dec 1857

I was glad to hear of your safe return to Auckland from the South. Since you left we have established the overland mail to Napier and it works to our entire satisfaction. I have had a good deal of trouble about the bridle path to Ahuriri, the natives on the line interested in the Maori King movement being generally speaking opposed to the opening of the road until the Maori King has given his consent. I was told this by a leading chief at a public meeting ... Mr Alexander of Ahuriri . . . has also met with obstruction. We are, however, both of opinion that the opposing chiefs will give in. At the present time about two thirds of the line between Otawhao and Napier is open for immediate improvement. We shall improve the parts open and complete the entire line as soon as the opposing chiefs give in . . . Our difficulties have not been few arising from the number of distinct tribes interested on so long a line of road . . . I was out 11 days on my late journey to Taupo ... I find that nearly all the broken country between here and Taupo can be avoided . . .

About a month ago Rev. Messrs Garavel, Paul and myself forwarded to Mr Stafford a Memorial praying that Mr R. R. Hooper might be appointed Medical Attendant to the aborigines at a salary of £60 per year. Am I at liberty in this, a private note, to enquire whether it is probable that the Govt, will grant our request?

1857/48

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O. Hadfield 43 to C. W. Richmond Otaki, 14 Dec 1857

As there is no one in Wellington able to give any information in reference to certain documents, ... I hope you will excuse the trouble I now give in asking you to be so good as to supply the information, ... The fact is that Pitiori and Ropata Hurumutu received these scrip [copy enclosed] as part payment for certain lands sold by them. They were issued after Sir George Grey's regulations in reference to the sale of land at 10/- and 5/-, but these chiefs now tell me that these documents are laughed at - that they are told to consider them as so much waste paper ... As these are headed 'Special' and were received by these two natives as equivalent to £50 I conceive it would not be creditable to the Government to disappoint them in the expectation which the documents have, when fairly interpreted, raised. You will very much oblige me by considering this subject and letting me know the result.

The Featherston party have fallen still lower since you were in Wellington. The electors are determined to have St. Hill for superintendent in the event of a new election. If this should occur I scarcely know how his present office could be supplied. There is one person who could supply it, and whose appointment would give very general satisfaction - I mean Mr Dillon Bell. Would he take it? Could you spare him? Mr Fox has been attacking me as a politician. I plead guilty to the charge: the state of things requires it. I hope yet to see N.Z. right itself but shallow politicians get it into a mess.

v 3, p 107


J. Morgan to C. W. Richmond - - - Otawhao, 24 Dec 1857

At the time Mr Schnackenbergh wrote to the Colonial Secretary the line between Mokau and the coast was probably impracticable for horsemen in consequence of a large land slip during the heavy rains last winter on the very ridge by which they ascend Taumatamairi. It is true there are 10 crossings of the Awakino, but with proper exploration perhaps several or all of these could be avoided. On the Ahuriri road in a few hour's journey there are nearly 40 river crossings, yet we hope (D.V.) to accomplish that road . . .

Wiremu Toetoe is closely related to the natives living at Mokau inland where the road branches off to Taumatamaire, and has lately written to them asking them to explore a road for the mail ... If therefore a road is found would the Government approve of sending the Taranaki and Wellington mails alternately by Kawhia and by Otawhao and Mokau inland - supposing the expense of the postal service not to be increased by the arrangement? ... If the country is once opened for mail service it will be open for travellers, and the Aborigines as well as the Europeans will reap the advantage. Opening the country must improve the position and advance the civilization of the natives. . . .

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Since writing the above I have seen Wiremu Toetoe. He says ... a road may be carried between Mokau river and Awakino river so as not to cross the latter . . . Wiremu says that there is only one difficulty to be overcome, i.e. to find a good ascent to Herangi mountain . . .

1857/49


C. W. Richmond to T. Richmond - - - Auckland, 27 Dec 1857

From what I have seen of Canterbury Province I am much inclined to invest in land there, or on mortgage. I can see nothing to prevent them from going steadily ahead. The only other part of the Colony which tempts me in a nearly equal degree is Ahuriri - which however I have not seen.

I greatly enjoyed my southern tour as it gave me opportunity not only of acquainting myself more exactly with . . . the other provinces, but also of knowing and becoming known to the best men in the Colony. It has made me feel less unfit for my position than I did. I was everywhere very well received both by friends and (political) enemies. Thank God I have no personal enemies . . .

At Wellington society is quite in English style - a bad imitation that is - as it is here. Nelson and Canterbury are less pretentious - a much sounder state of things in my opinion. At Wellington I was at dinner parties every night almost. At Canterbury no one gives dinners, and Nelson dinners are very easy affairs. Except its Church of Englandism, which however is of a mitigated kind, I should on the score of society prefer the Canterbury Province to any. I consider too that its material prosperity is more certain than that of any other province. They have no Native difficulty, and a large supply of land. The wool export this year will be £75,000 and must advance rapidly. Wellington is a fine province, but its finest district, viz, the Manawatu and Rangitiki, on Cook's Straits is still for the most part in the hands of the Natives. Ahuriri though in the Wellington Province is physically a separate district. Canterbury is the only one of the present six provinces which is physically one. The rest must split up . . . This great plain is almost treeless . . . and to anyone accustomed to the luxuriant bush of Taranaki . . . the country appears desolate enough. Not my fancy but my judgment approves of Canterbury.

Oddly enough I was staying most of my time in the S. with Richmonds. At Nelson I was quite a fortnight with old Major Richmond, who has a very good house there and at Christchurch (Canterbury) I was three weeks with Tancred who not long since married the Major's only daughter Georgiana. These Richmonds are from Ayrshire. Do you know anything of them? The Tancreds are amongst the best people (best in the best sense) in New Zealand. Tancred's brother, Sir T. Tancred, came out to do wonderful things in New Zealand but could not get on with his work people, and went home again . . .

The General Assembly meets 31st March. We are considered by friends and enemies to be very strong . . . Our Wellington foes have had a great defeat in their own province. The populace they have always flattered has turned against them.

[Image of page 331]

Featherston has indeed got returned again as superintendent, his adversary being quite contemptible . . . But Featherston's chief supporters have been ousted. This greatly strengthens Stafford's administration. I confess I am only half glad of the prospect of a renewal of my official lease for a couple of years ... It is disagreeable to be . . . kept grinding away at the official tread mill.

v 41, p 28


Jane Maria Atkinson to Emily E. Richmond - - - Hurworth, 27 Dec 1857

Thursday was spent in preparations for our Christmas feast next day. Mince pies were baked, the 16 lb. pudding boiled, etc. etc. Henry went down with three horses to fetch up the girls ... From half past five till past nine a.m. on Christmas day the rain poured down. Of course an outdoor dinner was impossible and even an indoor meeting seemed doubtful; however luckily it cleared up and eighteen Hurworthians ... dined in our long room where kauri boards made a capital extemporary table. We missed our absentees very much, no Lely etc., no Nellie, no Teddo, no Hal, on a festive occasion like this seemed strangely unnatural ... On Christmas day we all went to tea at Hal's . . . Mary provided plum pudding and mince meat which she and I made; Hal turkey and ham, also almonds and raisins; Ar and I beef and gooseberry pies; the Ronalds party five fowls.

v 38, pp 345-6 (t.s.)


O. Hadfield to C. W. Richmond - - - Otaki [1857]

(Private)

I am afraid that you will perhaps think it strange . . . that I should have written to you an official letter declining to have any inspection of the Otaki School. When you spoke to me on the subject, as the school was in the receipt of funds from the Government I would have no objection to your proposal. I now start afresh, and hope to succeed better when working out a system of my own, than when trying to do what I had but little hope I could perform. I told Sir George Grey when he was leaving the country [1853] that I thought I should not want support for the school more than four years. I have now arrived at that period, & I think I can do what I anticipated.

I may as well add that in the present state of party excitement in this Province I have been reluctantly obliged to decline an inspection which could in my opinion have answered no good end; otherwise I should have wished that the Government should have been able to obtain information which might have been useful.

v 4, p 1

1   In The Maori King (1864). See also N.Z.P.P. 1860, E. and F.
2   1857/35.
3   The official part of this correspondence appears in N.Z.P.P. 1858 and 1860.
4   George Cutfield was elected superintendent of New Plymouth province.
5   At 10.45 the highest number was 9 (for Hulke).
6   Harry supplied us at 6 1/2 a gallon.
7   For the sale of pork, cheese, ham, bacon, mutton, eggs, fowls etc.
8   A nice little sow to farrow in a month--£3.
9   C. O. Davis (1817-87) arrived in New Zealand about 1830: a strong advocate of Native rights, and a distinguished Maori scholar.
10   Charles Christopher Bowen (1830-1917) afterwards speaker of the Legislative Council (knighted 1910).
11   J. P. Robinson, superintendent of Nelson.
12   Robert Mailler was in command when the William. Denny went ashore at North Cape on 3 Mar 1857.
13   Emily Charlotte Stafford, who died on 18 Apr 1857, was the only child of Col. William Wakefield.
14   Rev. John Morgan (1810-65) joined the C.M.S. in New Zealand in 1833.
15   William Gisborne (1825-98), then under-secretary in the colonial secretary's office.
16   Whitaker was Attorney General in the Stafford Ministry.
17   Sir Donald McLean (1820-77).
18   For the Governor's information F. D. Fenton, R.M. for Waikato, drew up a list of the tribes, places of residence and chiefs of Waikato. (See i857/12a and P.P. 1860 F3, app. B).
19   Father Garavel, Roman Catholic missionary at Rangiaohia.
20   As district land purchase commissioner.
21   Apparently of date 17 Jun 1857.
22   Rev James Buller (1812-88) joined the Wesleyan mission at Hokianga in 1836. In 1857 he was chairman of the Wellington district.
23   Rev J. Whiteley (1806-69) joined the Wesleyan mission at Hokianga in 1833. He was murdered by Hauhaus.
24   Sir James Graham was first lord of the Admiralty in the Grey and Aberdeen ministries. Though retired, he still exercised great influence in Parliament.
25   Stafford in his reply (9 Nov 1857) intimated that the request (for £300,000) had been sent to the Secretary of State.
26   Sir Robert Donald Douglas Maclean (1853-1929).
27   A. Domett and Mary George (nee Nelson) were married in the registry office at Wellington in Nov 1856.
28   Major Richmond's daughter Georgiana married H. J. Tancred.
29   A brig of 150 tons, wrecked on the 13th. She was sold at auction, her cargo of potatoes realising £200.
30   Sidney Stephen (1797-1858) came to New Zealand as puisne judge in 1850. In 1857 he was sole judge and acting chief justice.
31   A judge from 1855-57.
32   Herman Merivale (1806-74) was born in Devonshire and educated at Harrow and Oxford (where in 1837 he was appointed professor of political economy). In 1841 he published Lectures on Colonisation and Colonies. In 1847 he joined the Colonial Office, soon became under-secretary and transferred in 1859 to a similar post at the India Office.
33   W. J. W. Hamilton (1825-83) came to New Zealand with captain FitzRoy (the Governor) in 1843 and became his private secretary
34   Sir John Hall (1824-1907), arrived in Canterbury in 1852. He was premier (1879-82).
35   Charles Bowen (1804-71), the father of Charles C. Bowen, was speaker of the Provincial Council (1855-64) and deputy-superintendent (1857-60 and 1862). He returned to England in 1865 and died there 3 Apr 1871.
36   James Wilson (1813-86), born at Edinburgh graduated M.A. at Cambridge and was ordained. He settled in Canterbury in 1851, took a prominent part in the church conference of 1857 and was later Archdeacon of Akaroa.
37   Hon. William Pember Reeves (1857-1933).
38   John Cowell Boys (1824-89).
39   The Kate Kearney, with C. W. Richmond on board, sailed from New Plymouth for Manukau on 28 Nov.
40   The Provincial Council elections in Nov. 1857 produced a deadlock between the council and the superintendent (Featherston). Featherston resigned, and was re-elected 28 Jun 1858.
41   The revolt of 9 Thermidor II (27 Jul 1794) brought about the fall of Robespierre and the end of the reign of terror.
42   The account of Morgan's journey from Otawhao to Taupo was reprinted in the Hawke's Bay Herald (16 Jan 1858).
43   Rt. Rev. Octavius Hadfield (1814-1904), born in Isle of Wight, joined the C.M.S. in 1837 and after being ordained at Paihia by Bishop Broughton volunteered to open the mission at Waikanae. He was archdeacon of Kapiti (1849) and bishop of Wellington (1870-94). A consistent advocate of Maori rights Hadfield was widely trusted also by successive governors.

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