1866 - Carter, C. R. Life and Recollections of a New Zealand Colonist Vol. II . [New Zealand sections only] - CHAPTER X. THE ARRIVAL AT AUCKLAND...p 198-227

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CHAPTER X.

FRIDAY, the 23rd of October, 1863, was the day on which I left Wellington, in the steam ship, "Lord Ashley," and on the following 27th, I arrived in Auckland. Myself and other Wellington Members landed, and took lodgings at the "Masonic Hotel;" here we soon learnt that the House had opened on the 19th. During the evening of the 27th, the very day on which we landed, we were very much surprised to hear, that the Domett Ministry had resigned on that

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day, at about five p.m., and that, half an hour afterwards, the Governor's private Secretary waited upon Mr. Fox, at Dr. Featherston's lodgings, Parnell, and informed him, "he was sent for" to form a Ministry,-- to which Fox replied, he would wait on the Governor at half-past eight on the same evening.

On the next day, the 28th, Ministerial explanations were expected. Mr. Domett, who looked bluff and gruff, gave an incomplete explanation and sat down abruptly. Personal differences, between the Members of the Cabinet, and "Bell's overbearing conduct," were pretty well known to have caused its break-up; but of course Mr. Domett did not allude to these. Fox next rose, and explained his new position in a satisfactory manner. Soon after, the House adjourned till the 30th, to give Fox time to form a Ministry.

Mr. Fox was the only person "sent for." Knowing that his main chance in forming a Ministry, rested in securing the services of Mr. Whitaker as a Member of it, he solicited that gentleman to join him. Mr. Whitaker at first declined to do so, but afterwards was induced to accept the offer, after an interview with Mr. Wood, on the understanding that he should be Premier. The Ministry was then formed as follows: --Whitaker, Attorney General and Premier; Fox, Colonial Secretary and Native Minister; Wood--whose lot appeared to be to remain in office whoever went out--Colonial Treasurer; Russell, Minister for Colonial Defence; Gillies, Post Master General. Mr. Fox met the House on the 30th, and explained that he had formed a

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Ministry. His statement was well received, and he was promised support from both sides of the House.

This, to the Wellington party, was an unexpected turn in affairs. We had no idea of the Domett Ministry resigning. Fox, at this time, like myself, had made his arrangements to pay a visit to England; and our party expected little else to be done in the House, than a few small measures passed, and provision made for the expenses of the war.

In Auckland, "the war" was, so to speak, the principal trade that was going on; it was brisk and extensive, and the general topic of conversation. The streets bristled with bayonets, and resounded with the tramp of soldiers and militia-men. Late one evening, I was startled, in Queen's Street, by a strong voice, calling out, "Who goes there!" This brought to my mind the fact that "mild martial law" existed in Auckland, so I quickly answered, "a friend," and was allowed to pass on.

When one met at breakfast with many other persons staying at our hotel, the first question asked, was, "What news from the Front?" Armed men were constantly entering and leaving the town. One morning I went to see General Cameron inspect a large body of soldiers, in the spacious yard, or square, of the Auckland barracks, which are surrounded by a high stone wall, built by Maories. The General appeared a fine, soldierly, and stern-looking elderly man; he gallopped into the square amidst the sound of trumpet and beat of drum, and made his inspection with as much military

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display, stiffness and formality, as if he were reviewing troops on a European parade ground. This, to me, did not look promising for his future mode of conducting the war in New Zealand.

One morning, November 2nd, at three o'clock, I was awoke by some one calling out, "Meremere is taken!" "Many Natives killed?" I heard some one ask, "No, there was nobody there! the Natives were all gone!" was the reply; at this unsatisfactory intelligence I dosed off again. The day following, we had the news, that while General Cameron, for two or three days, had been trying the range of his guns, and trying to surround the Natives, the latter had escaped.

During this Session of the General Assembly, there was a great deal of discussion on the Bill for confiscating lands belonging to rebel Natives, which was ultimately passed, and may be considered as introducing quite a new system in our dealings with the turbulent part of the Native population; as it was intended to show them that they should no longer defy the law, make war, or rob and murder with impunity; but that if they did so, they should be punished by the loss of their only valuable commodity,--land. Besides this great Native question, there was another important one introduced, which was the long pending question of the SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.

The attempts made at various times to transfer the seat of Government from Auckland to Wellington, had failed, principally from the want of concert and agreement between the Wellington and Nelson Members.

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I had long seen the baneful effects of this, and I (this Session) stated in the House that I would rather see the seat of Government anywhere in Cook's Straits than that it should remain in Auckland.

I wished the Members of the two Provinces--Wellington and Nelson--to come to an amicable arrangement respecting their rival claims. The present Session was a favourable time to effect such an understanding: as Mr. Curtis, and two or three other Nelson Members, were staying at the same hotel as myself, Fitzherbert, and W. W. Taylor. I talked the matter over with Mr. Curtis--a leading man--and we (Wellington Members) several times discussed the business in a friendly way with the Nelson men, and found them far from indisposed to submit the rival claims of the two provinces to a species of arbitration.

At last it was arranged that a meeting on the subject should take place in the large room of the Masonic Hotel. This Meeting took place on the 11th of November, and was attended by twelve Members, namely: Taylor, Carter, Fitzherbert, Featherston, Harrison, Renall, and Rhodes--for Wellington (7); Saunders, Domett, Curtis, and Wells--for Nelson (4); Eyes-- for Marlborough (1); total 12. Mr. Domett was appointed chairman, and Mr. Fitzherbert, secretary. After considerable discussion, the following three resolutions were unanimously agreed to:--

1.--"That it has become necessary that the seat of Government should be transferred to some suitable locality in Cook's Straits."

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2.--"That in order to promote the accomplishment of Resolution No. 1, the above-named Members of the Provinces of Wellington, Nelson and Marlborough are prepared--having reference to the past experience of discussions on this subject-- to forego their own provincial prepossessions, and submit to the final arbitrament of an independent tribunal, especially authorised and directed to select the particular site of the future seat of Government of the Colony of New Zealand, within the above named Provinces."

3.--"That proper steps should be taken to request the Governments of New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania, to appoint a Commission consisting of three gentlemen, unconnected with New Zealand, to take evidence and determine the site. One Commissioner to be appointed by each of the above named Governors."

Agreed to nem. con.
(Signed) " A. DOMETT."

The above were the original resolutions. They never appeared in print; but subsequent resolutions were founded on them.

On Friday, the 20th of November, as agreed on, Mr. Domett moved the following resolutions:

1.--"That it has become necessary that the seat of Government of the colony of New Zealand should be transferred to some suitable locality in Cook's Straits.

2.--"That, in order to promote the accomplishment of this object, it is desirable that the selection of the particular site in Cook's Straits should be left to the arbitrament of an impartial tribunal.

3.--"That with this view a Bill should be introduced to give effect to the above resolutions."

After these resolutions were proposed, the 3rd one

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was withdrawn, to allow an address to the Governor to be subsequently introduced in its stead. There was now great excitement and agitation amongst the Auckland Members; our party was anxious, though confident; but, as four of our supporters had decided to leave for the South, on the Tuesday following, it was absolutely necessary, for our success, that the debate should terminate at this Sitting. Our opponents knew this, and it was to their advantage to shelve the question, or prolong the debate. At three o'clock, the "orders of the day" came on, and the debate stood over till the evening. In the evening it was resumed; exciting scenes took place. The Auckland Members were alarmed and loquacious; one of these gentlemen, Mr. O'Neill, contended, that the seat of Government belonged to Auckland as a matter of right, and said (amidst roars of laughter), that, "Many years ago, the colonists had been dropped at Auckland." Our opponents next moved an adjournment; this was defeated by a majority of 27 to 15. Shortly after this, Mr. Fitzherbert moved, "That the question be put." This closed the debate, and made the Auckland party very angry. Mr. Stafford, excited, and with a face almost as white as a sheet, exclaimed, "That's very unfair, Sir, it's very unfair!" and to mark his disapproval of it, he left the House, the Auckland Members following at his heels. Mr. Mantell then moved, that Mr. Stafford's words be taken down.

The Speaker proceeded to put the question, when he found there were no "noes," under these circum-

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stances the division could not be recorded; but to allow of this, Messrs. Fitzgerald and Rhodes went to the negative side of the House, and the numbers then stood --"Ayes" 24, "Noes" 2. As it was said that the above resolutions were carried by a "fluke," next day, Saturday, the 21st, a meeting of our party took place at the "Masonic Hotel," at five p.m., when twenty-five Members of it were present, and a series of resolutions, comprised in seven paragraphs, drawn up in the form of an address to the Governor, by Mr. Fitzgerald, and embodying all that was thought necessary to remove the seat of Government, were agreed to and entrusted to Mr. Fitzgerald to move in the House.

Unfortunately, for ten days previous to this meeting of the 21st, and also now, Dr. Featherston was precluded, by a serious illness, from taking any part in our seat of Government proceedings; being a very delicately organised man, he was often ill. During the latter half of the month of November, he was suffering acutely from bronchitis, and sciatica, and became so weak, that he could hardly walk or talk, and was obliged to keep his bed for several days. I used to go and see him then twice a day. The elasticity of his mind, and his cheerfulness, during this serious illness, greatly surprised me. He was a most careless man as regards taking care of his health; on a very cold day he would go out very lightly clad; he was an inveterate cigar smoker, and relished his glass of wine,--to deprive him of either was a great punishment. On Sunday,

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November the 22nd, he was ill, but out of bed; Mr. Brandon and myself were sitting with him, when Mr. E. Fitzgerald came in; the Doctor then asked Mr. Brandon to give him (Featherston) a glass of wine, on which Fitzgerald interfered, and said, "Don't give him a drop, in his present state of health he imbibes and smokes too much already; the other day, when I called, I found him taking a dose of chlorodine, for asthma, and then drinking wine, ad libitum, after it." Featherston laughingly replied, that he had not tasted wine for three days, so Brandon was allowed to give him one glass. It was remarkable to see such a delicately-made man go through so much mental labour as he did. Exercise and excitement appeared to suit his constitution best; on this occasion, Fitzgerald read his seat of Government resolutions to the Doctor, who approved of them, when Fitzgerald made the following remark: "Now, I will propose these resolutions with a most discreet speech, and not, as you say I did on the Loan Bill, make an indiscreet one, and lose a number of votes."

On the 25th of November, the Address was moved by Mr. Fitzgerald, who made a long, able and conciliatory speech. Mr. Gillies here raised a difficulty in the shape of a point of order, but this obstacle was removed by the Speaker's ruling, which the House upheld by a majority of 25 to 12. Mr. Stafford moved, as an amendment, in effect, that it was inexpedient to change the seat of Government in the then critical state of the colony.

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After this amendment, the discussion continued until two o'clock in the morning, when the division bell rang, the House divided, and the result was declared to be 24 to 17--giving a clear majority of seven in favour of removing the seat of Government. This result was announced at a quarter past two in the morning, and was received with great cheering.

As the "Rangatira" steamer was to leave for Wellington in four hours after this important division took place, I forwarded by it, to the editor of the Independent, a brief account of the debate and the division; Mr. Renall also, at the same time, sent to the same journal, an interesting "Provincial Analysis" of the division lists, showing how the Members for the different Provinces voted on this memorable occasion. It was drawn up in my presence, by one of the Canterbury Members, Mr. Thompson, and, as it clearly shows the detailed result, I here insert it.

For. Against. Absent, or including pairs, did not vote. Total

Further (monetary) resolutions were carried in the

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House, which confirmed the decision and completed the arrangements for moving the seat of Government. An Address of a similar purport to that carried for the removal of the seat of Government in the House of Representatives, on November 25th, was moved in the Legislative Council on the 30th of the same month, and was carried by 11 to 8.

Thus ended the seat of Government question, for the decision of which Wellington is more indebted to Mr. Edward Fitzgerald than to any other man in New Zealand. At an early period of our last and successful agitation for the removal of the seat of Government, he had made his arrangements to leave for Canterbury, where he was much required; but our party pressed him to remain, which he consented to do, and gave up his passage (which he had taken in the steamer), in order to remain and fight the last battle for the seat of Government. Had he left Auckland when he first intended doing so, our plans must have fallen through.

Mr. Fitzgerald, on the 15th of September, 1854, moved in the House of Representatives, "That it is desirable that the next Session of the General Assembly should be held in a more central position of the colony." The numbers were, 11 for, and 13 against this motion, which was lost through the defection of E. G. Wakefield and that of his son, as I have stated in an early part of this volume. In the year 1863, on the 25th of Nov., Mr. Fitzgerald proposed and carried resolutions which had the effect of removing the seat of

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Government to Wellington, in the year 1864; 1 Mr. Fitzgerald therefore, made the first and last move on this important question. Mr. Fitzherbert, by his tact and management as secretary to our out-door meetings, rendered great service in the same cause, during the Session of 1863. I have dwelt at some length on this seat of Government business because the subject may be interesting hereafter, and I am enabled to do so from having been present (in 1863) at every meeting on the question, and from having been an active promoter of the movement.

The seat of Government question and the war were the absorbing topics of discussion during this, the THIRD Session of the THIRD Parliament of New Zealand.

On the evening of the 21st of November, just as I was starting to go out and dine at Government House, I heard that there had been a hard-fought fight, and that prisoners had been taken at Rangiriri. When one or two other Members and myself arrived at Government House, there was no one to receive us, and the place appeared deserted. Presently, Governor Grey came

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down stairs, and said to us, "We are all busy with the telegrams of news from Rangiriri." On shaking hands with him, I said, "There appears to be good news, Sir George," to which he gravely replied, "And bad news as well,--many of our people are killed and wounded." We were then shewn into the drawing-room, where we found the Private Secretary, Captain Bulkeley, and his lady. Soon after this, when a few other guests had arrived, we were ushered into the dining-room, and sat down to a dinner, a la Russe.

The dinner table--spread over with silver plate, fruits and flowers--looked brilliant and gorgeous. The whole of the dessert was on the table, and, consisting as it did of pine apples, bananas, oranges, and other foreign fruits, on silver dishes, profusely decorated with flowers, it had quite a luxurious and tropical appearance. Of course, no viands appeared on the table. The soups, fish, slices cut from the joints, fowls ready carved, and made dishes, were handed round to the guests by the four servants in waiting, one of whom, the butler, was in livery. During the dinner the Governor was called out several times, as messages kept arriving from the "Front." On one of these occasions he took out, from the dinner table, Miss Wiseman, whose father, Sir William, had then just arrived with detailed news from the "Front." When the Governor returned to the table, he informed us of the number of killed and wounded, and of the state of the latter; amongst the slightly wounded officers, was Mr. Alexander, who was Miss Wiseman's fiance, and this circumstance

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accounted for the Governor's conducting Miss Wiseman from the table, prior to his giving us the names of the officers who had been killed or wounded in the assault. After dinner we partook of the dessert, and of the choice, rare and plentiful supply of wines, which accompanied it; and after that, coffee; and then we were shewn into the drawing-room, where, as the Governor looked so sad, and expressed his regret at the severe losses in men sustained by our troops at Rangiriri,--the company thought it better to retire early, which we did. Government House at this time, and during the whole of this Session, looked empty, gloomy, and cheerless. All the gaiety and pleasant evenings of Governor Browne's time had departed from its silent halls.

For several days after the assault and surrender of the Maori fortress Rangiriri, Auckland people were in a state of great excitement and rejoicing; and well they might be, for this was the first great success achieved, and the first large haul of prisoners taken by British troops--in a war with the Maories.

Rangiriri is a naturally strong, hilly position, on the right bank of the river Waikato. On the eastern side, it is bounded by a lagoon and the Waikari lake; on the west by the Waikato river; on the south, by a deep creek--which is the outlet for the waters of the lake into the river--and on the north, or land side, by parapet walls, 21 ft. high, extending from the river to the lagoon. On the west side, parallel to the river, was a line of trenches and ditches;

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in the centre of these front defences, was a strong redoubt, about 60 ft. by 30 ft. Thus, we see that Rangiriri was surrounded by water on three sides, and defended by rifle pits, most formidable deep ditches, and by thick and high earth walls on the fourth--its land side and front. These defences of water, trenches, and parapet walls, enclosed a considerable space of ground, on which were the Maories, with their redoubt and numerous rifle pits.

The attack was commenced on the front or land side, at half-past three o'clock, on the afternoon of Friday, November 20th, 1863, by the artillery opening fire upon the enemy's works, from two 12-pounder Armstrong guns, and one small gun--a 6-pounder. At near 5 p.m. the grand assault was gallantly made by the land troops in front, who, in the face of a heavy fire, carried the main line of entrenchments, but were brought to a standstill by the central redoubt--to which over 200 of the enemy had retreated. While the above troops were engaged in storming the entrenchments, a party of the 40th had been landed from the river in the rear of the enemy's position, and made great havoc amongst the Maories now flying from our soldiers, who had carried the line of works in front. At this time many of the enemy were shot down, or drowned, in their desperate attempts to escape through the lagoon and its swamps.

The central redoubt was still untaken, and was filled with brave and desperate savages. Several minor attempts to take this redoubt were unsuccessful. It

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was then that General Cameron, who commanded in person, ordered an assault to be made by 36 artillerymen, armed with revolvers, under the command of the brave and able Captain Mercer. A desperate attack was made by this gallant band, when poor Mercer fell mortally wounded, and his companions were compelled to retire with a heavy loss, and under a withering fire. Two other assaults were made by the "Blue-jackets,"--90 sailors being led on with undaunted vigour by Commander Mayne, who was wounded, while his dashing party--cutlass in hand--was compelled to retrace its steps on both these occasions. What was to be done--it was now getting dark? It was decided to wait till next morning.

During the night the troops were not idle, for by dawn of next day a breach was ready to be opened. The "forlorne hope" was told off and everything got ready for a grand final attack, when a Maori appeared on the top of the parapet wall, with a white flag in his hand--whereupon the whole of the Natives in the redoubt, to the number of 183 men and two women, surrendered unconditionally, giving up 175 stand of arms, and becoming our prisoners. Our loss was great--37 killed, and 98 wounded; total, 135 officers and men hors de combat. The Native loss was never clearly ascertained; it was supposed to be 100 killed, and the wounded in proportion. The General reported, on November 24th, that 36 bodies of natives had been buried. I, myself, am of opinion that the Native loss, in killed and wounded, did not much exceed ours. Unlike

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most Maori fortresses, this central redoubt at Rangiriri was unprovided with any opening in the rear, from which the natives could escape when forced into it from their trenches and oiitworks. It was a simple square enclosure without flanking angles; and once the Maories were driven into it by our men, they had no means of escape. Although our troops were unable to carry the place by assault, they surrounded it and had the Maories completely at their mercy. When daylight broke, they immediately appreciated their position, and had no alternative but to capitulate.

As I felt some interest in seeing these Natives, who had fought so valiantly, and who were now our prisoners, I went, on the 27th of November, to Otahuhu, where I found 78 of them had just arrived, the remainder of the total number having already been put on board the Curacoa. The 78 prisoners whom I saw here were confined in three low wooden huts, at the Otahuhu "camp;" some of them were lying, and some sitting on raised wooden benches, which extended the lengths of both sides of each hut. They were all without shoes or stockings. Two or three of them wore woollen trousers; the others were bare-legged rascals, the most of whom had the upper part of their bodies covered with blankets. Some hid their nakedness with old shawls, and several wore old pieces of sacking tied round their loins, and dangling about their legs. The majority of them appeared to me to be very fatigued and foot-sore--and well they might be: for they had walked a long distance that day, over macadamized and dusty roads, under a hot sun, and with uncovered heads.

These Maori prisoners looked a ragged mob of men. A few of them were fine strapping fellows; tall, stout, and clean-limbed. There was nothing of a ferocious aspect in any of their countenances; some of them

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looked sullen, most of them downcast; others were cheerful. Amongst them there were several mere youths; and out of twenty-five natives in one hut, I counted ten grey, or iron-grey-headed men, one of whom was 6-ft. high, and, I should say, was nearly seventy years of age; he had been shot through the body, the ball passing out close to the spine, between the shoulders, yet this desperate wound was doing well, and did not appear to concern or trouble him.

Amongst the prisoners was a chief, named Ti Oriori, he was a handsome looking man, well formed and of the middle height; his countenance was pleasing and intelligent, and his complexion olive coloured; he was wounded in the legs in two places. Taking these natives altogether, they were equal in stature, size and build to the same number of men taken, indiscriminately, from the population of a rural district in England. A native interpreter, Mr. Wallis, being present, I requested him to ask them some questions, which he obligingly did, and to which the following was a general reply.

They told him (Mr. W.) that they had surrendered and given up their arms, knowing, at the same time, that they had lost their lands; but after this loss and act of submission, they had expected to be set at liberty, and that peace would have been made. After this, the interpreter told them that they must give up all hopes of seeing their homes again; this was grievous consolation to them, and deeply affected some of them, for two or three of them drooped their heads, and when they

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raised them again, I noticed the tears running down the furrowed cheeks of two aged warriors. Most of the others ate and drank heartily of biscuit and water, conversed freely with the interpreter, and, probably, thought their present fate not so bad as running the great risk of being killed in the redoubt. As a guard over these prisoners, one volunteer, with loaded rifle was placed inside the door of each hut, and two other armed volunteers were stationed outside each of the hut doors. The finale to the capture and retention of these prisoners was, that some time afterwards, they were allowed to escape, and then encouraged and assisted to return to their homes; Governor Grey received great blame on this occasion.

At the beginning of December I was still in Auckland; the end of the Session of 1863 was near, and I was preparing to leave New Zealand before it finally closed; but before I announce the time of my departure let me--however imperfectly--tell something of what I knew and thought of those three remarkable men, who were politically designated, "the three F-s."

The following sketches are based upon trustworthy information, and upon personal knowledge and observation extending over several years.

The Three Wellington F-s.

ISAAC EARL FEATHERSTON was a younger son of a Newcastle merchant, whose business consisted principally in supplying the lead-mine country of West Durham, &c. with groceries. His father had

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also a retail grocery business in Collingwood Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He likewise owned lead mines in the country, and house property to a considerable extent in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and the family were considered wealthy. His son, Dr. Featherston, graduated at Edinburgh, where he studied medicine; he afterwards travelled through France, and a good deal in Italy, when travelling was not so common as it is now. Finally, he commenced practice in Newcastle as a General Practitioner, and was getting on very well, when his health compelled him to leave England for a warmer climate. He was very nearly going to Australia, but an interview with Edward Gibbon Wakefield decided him in going to New Zealand, which he did in the "Jane Forbes," in 1841, and acting as Doctor of the ship. I believe he was brought up as a Wesleyan--his mother belonged to this persuasion. He had a brother a clergyman in the Church of England, and a sister married to another, the Rev. T. Dixon, of South Shields. At the request of Dr. Featherston, I called on his sister, Mrs. Dixon, (in 1864) who, with her husband, received me very kindly, and spoke most affectionately of her brother, the Doctor, and his family. She told me that the Doctor's mother was still alive, and an early riser, though she was then eighty-six years of age. She also remarked that, "though the Doctor was not a born gentleman, he was one by nature."

In personal appearance, Dr. Featherston was, in 1863 a very slightly made man, rather above the average

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height, with an intellectual head, a pale face, and "sparse" hair and whiskers fast turning grey. At this time he told me he was forty-nine years of age, and he thought Fox was fifty-one, and Fitzherbert fifty-two, or thereabouts; so that, by his own account, he was the youngest of the three "F's." Featherston was an eloquent speaker, but his voice being naturally weak, he was sometimes, while making a speech, almost inaudible; and, in listening to him, one was constantly afraid that he would break down,--which, however, I never knew him to do. When he spoke he gave the impression that he was speaking from his heart, and that he believed all that he said; his delivery had that peculiar charm which belongs to fervour and earnestness combined. He was aristocratic in feeling, but democratic in action. His administrative talent was great; he was capable of generating large and original schemes, more especially financial ones, for he delighted in statistics and figures. When he believed what he was doing to be right--though his friends might consider it wrong --he adhered to his principles through good and evil report; this led many to say that he was "obstinate." He generally succeeded in leading his party; but no party ever entirely led him. When he was in the wrong he rarely admitted the fact. He could, whenever he pleased, be severe, both in writing and speaking upon his political opponents; but he was kind to his friends and faithful to his party and to his avowed principles. Featherston, indeed--from feelings in which selfishness had no part--to a great extent, neglected his private

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affairs for those of the public,--upon which he bestowed the most sedulous care and attention. He was naturally of a generous, chivalrous, and disinterested disposition. He was also the trusted and constant friend of the native race; and, in the ordinary course of affairs, it is hardly to be expected that Wellington will ever find another public man more disposed, or more able to promote its welfare than Dr. Featherston has, at all times, proved himself to be; it will be equally difficult for New Zealand to produce, during the present generation, a patriot and a politician who shall be his superior in all that constitutes the essential attributes of a Colonial statesman.

WILLIAM FOX was born in the year 1812, at Westoe, near the mouth of the Tyne. He had a Scotch tutor until he was twelve years old. He was then placed at a Durham school, under the Rev. J. Carr. At seventeen years of age he went to Oxford (Wadham College) and graduated, B.A., in 1832, and M.A., in 1834 or 5. A partnership having been arranged for him, with Mr. Carr, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, he was articled to him and served three years; at the same time reading with Clayton Walters, a Conveyancing Barrister. After this he joined the firm (Carr's), but not liking a Solicitor's practice, he gave it up and kept terms at the Inner Temple, reading at the chambers of E. Badeley (who was then a special pleader, and afterwards a distinguished "black letter" Barrister),--and, subsequently, with Sergeant Halcombe. At the house

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of the latter gentleman he met Mrs. Fox (who was Mr. Halcombe's neice), and, becoming engaged to her, he determined to emigrate, rather than wait for the slow promotion attending on practice at the English Bar. Before emigrating he practised in the Temple as a Special Pleader for one year, and was called to the bar a few months before sailing--in November, 1842-- for Wellington, New Zealand,

Fox was a genuine Saxon in appearance. In stature he was near the middle height, and inclined to corpulency. In 1863 his hair was of a sandy color, and his whiskers grey and bushy; his complexion was somewhat sallow, and his countenance good-humoured. The tout-ensemble of his outer-man presented the appearance of a bluff country gentleman. As an Oxford graduate, he was, of course, a man of intellectual attainments and ability; but his mind was cast in a different mould from that of Featherston. Being physically strong, he could make a speech of two or three hours duration without much effort or preparation; his voice, though not wanting in power, was limited in compass, and could never rise above a certain pitch: accordingly, whenever he attempted to speak in a higher key than usual, he failed for the most part, and his voice sometimes broke down altogether; this gave rise to the saying, "Fox lost his crow." His speeches were often illustrated by racy anecdotes, and made trenchant with biting sarcasm; he could not resist the temptation of making a telling hit, even though it should wound the feelings of a moderate opponent, and make the latter

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his bitter enemy; his speeches had undoubtedly the fault of being exceedingly personal; yet, in private life, no man was kinder, more affable, or more agreeable in his manners and conversation, than William Fox. It might, perhaps, be said of him, that he was somewhat vain of his attainments and of his oratorical powers; few men, however, are free from a weakness of this kind--if weakness it be: everybody has his hobby, and takes a certain kind of pride (commonly called vanity) in some personal quality, or attribute, or in some external or acquired advantage peculiar to himself. This was the case with Fox. During the Session of 1863, after he had just concluded a speech, he came over to where I was sitting, and said to me, "Did I speak well--I fancy I spoke too high?" to which I merely replied, "You made a good speech," which slender meed of approbation did not, I fancy, fully answer his expectations. Fox, on the whole, was more capable of working out great ideas than of originating them, and he was a tractable colleague whom it was not difficult to lead. He never enjoyed the reputation of being a clever or a skilful financier; this, perhaps, was his weak point; but, on the other hand, he was both a luminous and a voluminous political writer, and wrote with singular facility and perspicuity on every subject that he handled. Few men--perhaps no single individual--contributed so much to the political and colonial literature of New Zealand, in the shape of speeches, books, pamphlets, reports, leading articles, letters and miscellaneous contributions to the news-

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papers, as Mr. Fox has done. Fox was a very economical man in pecuniary matters, and in his habits of living exceedingly abstemious; he was a very moderate drinker, and neither smoked nor played at cards. In private life he was supposed to be religiously inclined, and was just, sociable and pleasant towards those with whom he came into contact. Mr. Fox has also been a great traveller, and when he and Mrs. Fox have completed the tour in Syria, &c., which they are now (1866) about to commence, it may, I think, be safely affirmed that no other New Zealand colonists have travelled abroad and seen so much of the world at large as they will have done.

Mr. Pharazyn, a friend of Mr. Fox's, gave his opinion of Mr. F's. financial abilities rather broadly, as will be seen from the following passage, extracted from Mr. Pharazyn's letter, which appeared in the Independent, of June 2nd, 1855:--

WILLIAM FITZHERBERT! What shall I say of my old friend, Fitzherbert? I regret to state that I have but meagre information to give respecting his early career. I understand he was the son of a clergyman, and that he graduated at Cambridge, "going out in

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honours." He studied medicine in Paris, and afterwards commenced practice as a physician in London , but getting disgusted with the slow progress he was making in his profession, he decided upon going to New Zealand, where, about the year 1841, he commenced business as a merchant and ship-owner, in partnership with one, Partridge, who afterwards died in Sydney. Mr. Fitzherbert arrived in Wellington with a considerable capital of his own, the bulk of which was lost in unfortunate speculations. In business he displayed great energy and enterprise, though these qualities were not always accompanied by sound judgment.

Mr. Fitzherbert was a wiry and compactly-made little man, with a thin sharp visage--a large Roman nose--grey whiskers and a large head, nearly bald. Intellectuality, blended with a certain kind of comicality, was stamped on his features; he was not so generous or so liberal as Featherston; nor yet--in a pecuniary sense--so careful and economical as Fox. He lived well, but was very temperate in the matter of eating, drinking and smoking.

In his official capacity, he was--by fits and starts-- industrious or inert. His administrative ability was considerable, and was greater than that of Fox; but in some things he was crotchetty, and not excessively scrupulous in trifles. He was an excellent debater, and, in this respect, superior to either Featherston or Fox. As an orator, he possessed a clear, ringing and strong voice, and his language, at times, was forcible, convincing and eloquent. I have

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heard him make speeches in which he indulged, in a way that was inimitable, his peculiar vein of sarcastic humour, which to him was natural; this was a gift which, if exercised on the stage, would have gained him a fortune, and acquired for him the reputation of being one of the most accomplished actors of the day. His delineations in the humourous and the tragic line were exquisite. He sometimes appeared to act his speeches in the House, for he alternately advanced and retreated--gesticulated and leered--smiled and apostrophised--in such a way, as to rivet the attention of his hearers, while he convulsed them with laughter.

Fitzherbert, in his speeches, was often very happy in his comparisons of persons to animate and inanimate objects, and so far did he carry his illustrations, that I have heard one of his speeches called "The Great Zoological Speech," and another, "The Gastronomic Speech." I believe Mr. Fitzherbert was a native of Shropshire. During the Session of 1864, he became a Member, as Colonial Treasurer, of the Weld Ministry; in 1865 this Ministry, it was said, thinking too much of itself, went out, and was succeeded by a Stafford "scratch" Ministry. At this time New Zealand had become noted for its annual Ministries.

There are few who knew Fitzherbert well, who will not admit that he was a gentleman of singular talent and great intellectual ability, besides being a scholar of undoubted reputation; and the name of William Fitzherbert--in conjunction with those of Fox and

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Featherston--must long remain engraven on the pages of our Colonial history.

Besides these three Wellington "F-s.," there was a fourth "F.," Edward Fitzgerald, of Canterbury, a remarkably clever man--an Irishman by birth--who, in my estimation was the most eloquent speaker, and the most accomplished orator in the New Zealand Parliament; at the same time, I thought him a theoretical statesman. During the year 1863, Featherston told me that Fitzgerald had informed him, that every word of the great speech on Native Affairs, which he (Fitzgerald) delivered during the Wellington Session of 1862, was committed, by him, to memory, and repeated, almost word for word, as originally arranged, and without hesitation or faltering. I heard this speech, and to me it appeared a marvellous effort of eloquence;--on he went, giving utterance to an unbroken flow of polished sentences, full of meaning, and rounded periods full of grace and elegance -- thrilling some, fixing the attention of others, and convincing all -- that physically and mentally, nature had made him for an orator. If this speech, committed to memory, was a great master-piece of eloquence, I have heard him deliver impromtu ones, not quite so elaborate, nor yet so long,--but with the same felicity of language, and the same continuity of thought and expression, that marked his great oratorical display (of 1862) to which I have just alluded.

Fitzgerald's speech, delivered in the Session of 1863, on the Loan Bill, was considered a very eloquent one.

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Though I noticed that, for effect on the House, it was a failure, yet it was delivered just after he had risen from dinner in the refreshment room, and after he had more suo "cracked" a bottle or two, and "quaffed the rosy wine cup"--ad libitum. To make a speech, under almost any circumstances, seemed to require no effort from Mr. E. Fitzgerald, while his commanding figure, and his power of language nearly always secured for him a large and attentive audience.

I have now arrived at the end of my first New Zealand career. So far, I may say, it had been a successful one. Then why was I leaving the country? Was I not satisfied? I have before mentioned my real motives for taking this voyage to England; but I may here add, that, after all, I was as weak as other mortals: I was also influenced by motives of a less serious character, for I was not yet satisfied: I was ambitious to see more of the world. It may be that I desired to appear eventually in another position in life; there is nothing wrong in this confession, I hope,--most men wish to rise in the world: it is natural for them to do so. Does not the labourer wish to become a mechanic --the mechanic a professional man--the professional man a landed gentleman--the gentleman a lord--the lord an earl--the earl a duke--the duke a prince-- the prince a king--the king an emperor--and the emperor, like Napoleon III. does he not sometimes want to play the part of Providence? Yet, after all, is not the amount of happiness allotted to each of these individuals about equal? or rather, mayhap, is it not greater

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amongst the lower classes than it is amongst the upper ten thousand? I leave my readers to answer these questions for themselves.

There are many facts of an interesting and important character relative to New Zealand, which in the course of the present volume of this work I have omitted to mention, for want of space to devote to the subject. My matter is too large for my book, and therefore I suppress it, and pass on to say, that after thirteen years' sojourn in New Zealand, I left the Masonic Hotel on the 1st of December, 1863, was accompanied to the wharf by several friends, and when I arrived there, I found that the steamer, "Auckland," -- by which I was going -- had started from the pier and was under way out of the harbour. I gave a man ten shillings to take me off in his boat, if he could. I jumped into the boat, the boat-man pulled vigorously; the Captain of the "Auckland," fortunately, saw us, reversed his engines, and I was soon on board, and on my way to Sydney, leaving my adopted country behind me for the present; but not without the hope of seeing it once more after the lapse of one or two years.