1961 - The Richmond-Atkinson Papers Vol I - Chapter 13, A Spark May Kindle, 1862, p 736-812

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Chapter 13

A Spark May Kindle

1862

During the whole of 1862 no shot was tired in anger in New Zealand. Yet the menace of war persisted and as the year ended the Taranaki Volunteers were being resworn for duty. Waikato was now the centre of gravity.

The new Governor (Sir George Grey) worked amicably enough with the Fox ministry, which like himself was distinctly philo-Maori. He hoped by presenting himself to the disaffected tribes he might again pacify them without recourse to arms, but when he met the King chiefs, his offer to establish English institutions in their midst was received with distrust. Rebuffed in their earlier approaches, the chiefs were now trying to introduce their own ideas of government. Their runangas were actually asserting authority over people of both races, and even in Taranaki, where a quasi-peace had been concluded early on 1861, they were levying tolls on roads and bridges, interfering with surveys and mails and perambulating the settled districts fully armed.

In these circumstances the settlers lived uneasily; they were actually no better off than in 1861. They could neither return to their farms nor get relief from the government while idling in town. According to William Halse "Our most substantial and thrifty men are coming in, as the shoe pinches, for rations." Some leaders of the settlement were gravely embarrassed. H. A. Atkinson was offered, but declined, the post of resident magistrate at New Plymouth, and James Richmond pondered whether, if they could not work their farms in peace, "the mob" should pack up and establish a new Taranaki, in Nelson perhaps, where so many were now living as refugees. None of them thought of returning to the Old Country.

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On the surface national politics were placid enough, but before long the Governor and the Ministry were at odds on native policy. In July 1862 the Richmond-Atkinson group hailed with delight the downfall of the Fox ministry, which had been in office for little more than a year. It was replaced on 6 August by an administration led by Alfred Domett, with F. Dillon Bell in charge of native affairs and Thomas Russell of defence. But Domett's leadership of all the talents (including also Sewell, Gillies, Mantell, Crosbie Ward and Tancred) was not inspiring. He was an indolent man, dilatory in transacting business and making decisions, and he had a penchant for conceiving in his bosom great measures of statecraft that rarely took shape.

The darling of his mind in his year as premier was the raising of a force of mounted men selected for their character, physique and daring who should form the backbone of the Colony's law enforcement. It was to be an armed constabulary or frontier force for employment in pacifying the North Island. Domett had hoped that Atkinson would command "our pet force," but the Governor, who had just signed Atkinson's commission as captain in the Taranaki Rifle Volunteers, 1would not tolerate the strongwilled guerilla leader in command of the Colonial Defence Force. Meanwhile, being unable to return to his farm, Atkinson was "trying to make out on his military pay". With time on their hands, he and his brother Arthur toyed with a suggestion by James Edward FitzGerald, then editor of The Press (Christchurch), that they should write a history of the Taranaki war. "I don't see why we could not do it between us," Harry wrote. "It certainly would be nice to have the truth before the world." In August 1862 FitzGerald introduced his resolutions on native policy, appealing to Parliament in an epic speech to give the Magna Charta of their liberties to the Maori people.

W. Halse wrote in December that the situation in Taranaki was so critical that "a spark may kindle." The tension was relieved, however, by an incident which had all the elements of explosion. On 1 September the inter-colonial steamer Lord Worsley ran ashore at Namu Bay, a few miles south of cape Egmont. When it was known that passengers and cargo had fallen into the hands of Maoris who

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were ostensibly hostile the settlers in New Plymouth were apprehensive for their welfare. In response to public clamour the officer commanding the troops consented to lead a rescue expedition to the scene. Fortunately, before the troops marched out news arrived that hospitality instead of violence had been extended to the shipwrecked people. In a few days they began to arrive in New Plymouth, transported and conveyed by the suspected tribesmen. This incident might have been "the spark to kindle." Actually it had an opposite effect in allaying the suspicions of the settlers and improving their relations with the southern tribes.

Atkinson was still in the Taranaki provincial council. J. C. Richmond retired from it on accepting the commissionership of crown lands in Nelson and the editorship of the Nelson Examiner, but he still represented Omata in Parliament. Henry Richmond, on becoming provincial treasurer, transferred the editorship of the Taranaki Herald to A. S. Atkinson, who soon reappeared in the field with the Volunteers and as correspondent of the Herald.

C. W. Richmond was now out of politics for good. He had long yearned for the time when he could honorably retire. That time came on 12 Jul 1861 when he went out of office. He resigned his seat in Parliament (on 20 Jan 1862) and entered upon the practice of law in Dunedin. This he soon found to be uncongenial and too heavy a strain. ("My present life contradicts every taste and feeling of my nature.") And so in October 1862 he gratefully accepted a puisne judgeship of the supreme court. After his first sittings in the South Island his sensitive spirit was "humiliated by the constant deference paid to the position of a judge" and he "found himself in a queer dreary state, with doubt of my own identity."

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H. R. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - New Plymouth, 6 Jan 1862

Major Matthews offers to raise the rent of Beach Cottage to £60 p.a. if you reshingle the house put up a new fence all round, he having the whole of the 3 sections, and the shed. This will need an outlay of £30 at least.

A letter received from Mr Morgan of Otawhao . . . cheers us all up a great deal, as it appears that at the hui of lower Waikato at which some few Kingites were present Sir G. Grey adopted a very firm tone, and that a camp is to be formed at Maungatawiri and the road to it properly made immediately. Ngatiruanui are recommended to leave the European's farms which they now occupy (or claim . . .) on pain of being driven off and of having a line of posts established down the coast, when 'it will be for me (Sir G. G.) to say who shall travel that way'. I cannot think that there can be any particular virtue in the bounceable and half bantering tone which he seems to adopt, but probably the knowledge that he possesses the confidence of the Home Govt, and will be supported in whatever course he may pursue will do a great deal in the way of confirming the wavering, and perhaps his personal visitation of the different tribes may not be altogether a bad thing . . . will give him an opportunity of exhibiting a confident hearing . . .

1862/2

Mrs Harriet Gore Browne to C. W. Richmond - - - Government House, Hobart Town, 8 Jan [.1862]

... I liked your account of the diggers but is not [it] horrible that Mr Forsaith should be caterer for their spiritual food. I hear the Bishop of Melbourne (content with winning white sheep to the fold) preaches to the diggers from a fallen tree & works wonders among them. The more I see of the roughest of mankind the more I am inclined to believe that there is good in all men. Here I mean to go in for raising the rising generation. There are 470 in an orphan school (boarders) and 230 in ragged schools, it seems to me as if they were hardly made to respect themselves sufficiently and they do not know that truth is better than falsehood . . . The only line I see quite clearly is to improve the children.

Col Browne enjoys the fields & gardens round this house ... he likes his Ministers who are honest good men but not at all of the same calibre as you & Mr Whitaker. Indeed NZ compares favourably with every where we have been as regards ability & tone. I believe we are to have a ministerial crisis here this week, the House met yesterday and ministers are in a minority in the upper House which as it is elective controlls the finance but they say a dissolution would result in the same state of deadlock a majority in one House & minority in the other which will not pass the estimates.

v 6, p 1

Colonel Gore Browne to C. W. Richmond - - - Hobart Town, 8 Jan [1862]

My wife wrote to you that we had received a hint that our opponents would demand a committee of the H.C. to enquire into the causes of the N.Z. War, hoping

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that the dispersion of your Ministry and my absence would leave the game in their hands and that they would be able to obtain a verdict on their own statements. This may or may not prove true ... I therefore wrote both officially and privately to the Duke of Newcastle] by the last mail asking that ministers would not consent to such a committee without insisting that you, McLean, Whitaker and I should be sent for and examined.

I know this would be a great inconvenience and annoyance to you but I trust you will not desert me if the attack is made. In the case of a parliamentary enquiry Govt would be obliged to remunerate you not only for your travelling but for your loss of time and emolument.

I am convinced that your estimate of Grey is the right one. He threw dust in our eyes while we were with him ... He told me that he agreed entirely with me and regretted that he had been sent out. The only points he differed on were - First he thought I ought to have suspended Gold which he knew I could not do and the other was that I should have taken all the money I wanted for the management of native affairs & left the Impl. & Colonial Govt, to settle how it should be paid.

You will see that his plan for the future is almost identical with mine but he has altered the names of some of the officers & the phraseology in order that it may appear to be a plan of his own.

v 6, p 2

Mrs Harriet Gore Browne to C. W. Richmond - - - [Hobart], 10 Jan 1862

... I was all the more vexed in mind to hear of your retirement from politics. 2 I believe you are right as there is a duty higher even than that one owes the public, I am grieved to see by the tone of your letter that your body is still so much weaker than the guest it entertains, and I fear the racket of business life has not served to strengthen you ... I am sorry you will not be able to bear your testimony to the truth, which without opposing the Imperial policy you might have done, now they will be able to tell as many lies (is it too strong a word) as they like and there will be no one to gainsay them as Mr Whitaker is but powerless in the quiet upper house . . .

About the committee you think my fears unnecessary, but I consulted Sir J. Young who from being MP for 20 years is a good judge & he advised us to be prepared. He said it might be made a party question & that if so you could not depend on justice being done, he also recommended us to write to the Duke demanding that if there was a committee we might have witnesses & papers from N.Z. This he said he thought would render a committee more unlikely to be insisted on . . .

Do not forget that Thomson offered through Mr Wilson in June to visit Col Browne & Takrei did visit him in July to arrange about the August meeting when the Waikatos were to attend, and Paora brought a message from Thomson on the 25th July saying he would certainly visit Col Browne now they knew what Col B required of them & are not all these advances presumptions that they meant to submit?

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Poor Taranaki (I hate to think of it) & yet I believe Sir G can't blink that part of the question he must settle that & no institutions could satisfy even Mr Fox that the settlers could return there in safety till the natives are conquered. I agree with you in thinking Sir G is sure to go against Teira's title because he said to Mr Shipley 3 a year ago that Col B could never have seen the piece of land or he would have known that King had cultivated it. ...

I think I told you in confidence that I know Sir G. throws the weight of his opinion against the past policy & makes great capital out of the expense of the war. I did not believe in any man being such a profound humbug. I heard him with my own ears tell Col Browne he hoped the natives would not submit as it would be much better for both races that they should be conquered. I also heard him on another occasion say that it was a great satisfaction to him to find that Col Browne on the spot had adopted and expressed exactly the same opinions which he (Sir G G) had formed at a distance! ! and that it was a great pity the H Govt, had not left Col B in N Zealand! ! I was taken in I must say, & left N Z believing the policy we believe in would be followed . . .

The session . . . here seems a matter of such trifling importance, the members are some of them gentlemanly kindly men but there is not much seasoning & we have been accustomed to such spiced dishes that wholesome milk & water is insipid. . . .

v 6, p 2

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - Auckland, M 13 Jan 1862

. . . [F.D.] Bell tells me that the speeches to be published of the meeting at Kohanga containing the Governor's celebrated advice to Ngatiruanui, are very different from the account we got of them at the time, & worse by all the difference.

Tu 14 Jan ... A letter from Cowell of Waikato warning the Governor not to believe too much of what is said to his face. That it is quite on the balance whether they shall attack the troops or not & specially warning him against Tamati Ngapora as a thorough traitor. If it had not been for him the King movement would have died with Potatau.

Th 16 Jan ... A letter to Grey from Te Heuheu expressing great love but quietly informing him that their King will not be given up. The only error he has seen in Grey was his stopping the sale of guns & powder this was 'he kohuru.' The answer is a noble appeal to the cupidity of the man - 'I love you, as may be seen from the presents I send, but you say you have renounced me for another King, he therefore will make you rich & great while I shall do what I can for the chiefs who hold to me. Hereafter if you see them growing rich & great while you remain poor do not blame me.' This is ... as likely to succeed as throwing a sop to a wild beast would be to secure civil treatment. . . .

F 17 Jan . . . Had an interesting work to do, the translating of the Eleven Laws

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of the Runanga of Ngatitipa. 4 The 1st was they were to establish a Town for themselves at Taupari. 2. Each man was to have a site for his house. 3. They are to have a common farm reaching from Maati to Whauwhautahi. This is to be ploughed, the Government is to give them 8 bullocks to plough it with. 4. It is to be sown in grass. 5. 'The Governor is to give them the grass-seed, which is to be clean & have no bad weeds in it' . . .

W 22 Jan . . . N.B. For the first time in New Zealand bought water - 3/6 for a dirty tubfull.

Th 23 Jan . . . Aihepene Kaihau having bought a suit of clothes asks the Governt. to pay for them ... He is told he must pay for them out of his salary. His answer is 'Hi -- 5 - What do I care for your salary. If you won't pay for those clothes you may keep your salary.' Of course he will continue to draw his salary . . . The other day Eruera Patuone asking for a loan said 'It is only right I should get a little milk from the old cow.'

Su 26 Jan Wrote a short notice of C. O. Davis' Aotearoa 6 for the Tar. Herald. In afn. went with Maria to call on the Farmers - called, & came safely home. . . .

M 27 Jan . . . Went to the N.O. Another good letter from Waata Kukutai. It is a continuation really tho not in name of the laws made by the Runanga of Ngatitipa ... 'We desire that you will send us a doctor to live at our place. We desire also that you will send us a blacksmith & send him at once. We desire also four bullocks to work our farm with.' The conclusion is unexpected - 'We desire that the man who carries letters for an adulterer should be fined & if he persists in his work that he should be imprisoned.' 7

Tu 28 Jan . . . The only letter worth noticing is one from Ihaka Te Takaanini . . . 'Has been sick & asking for a bag of biscuit & a bushel of sugar.' Grey & Fox are rather unhappy because some account of the doings of their Ngatitipa Runanga has leaked out & got into the Cross where there is a very fair article on this & on a speech of Crosbie Ward's at Napier where he says . . . the Government will do all it can to prevent the individualization of (native) title & recommending the settlers to petition the Runanga (when established) on the subject of lease of lands &c . . .

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C. W. Richmond to A. S. Atkinson - - - Dunedin, 20 Jan 1862

As regards my future I have taken a decisive step and am now partner with T.B.G. successor to T.G.B. 8

1862/3

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H. A. Atkinson to A. S. Atkinson - - - Taranaki, 29 Jan 1862

I received the Spanish fowls all right . . . Rundle has James's seat in the [Provincial] Council and to-day Crompton got in in place of Curtis. Young Thos Bayly opposed him. Bayly polled 6 Crompton 17. . . .

Em writes that the manager of the [Ida Valley] run has unfortunately got drowned and says it is open to any of us. I am sometimes inclined to go in for it. Although while we are kept on pay I have nothing to complain of . . .

I enclose an order on the Bank of N.Z. for the amount awarded you by Sewell. You did not claim for rent. Why not? You had better send us a supplementary claim by return for one year and 1/4 at 20/- per acre.

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F. D. Bell to A. S. Atkinson - - - 31 Jan 1862

There is evidently some great misapprehension about the dictionary. John White has been to Mr Fox, having seen my minute, and Mr Fox came to me: since which I have sent for and just seen White. I understand White to say that the part he has taken in the dictionary is quite different from yours, and that instead of your being the compiler your part is more to copy than anything else. He also says that the arrangement between Sir G. Grey, yourself and him was not that you should compile the dictionary but that he should. If this be so I have only regret that John White and you should not have understood each other and that when I thought he and you were in fact working together with a definite object he should never have said a word to me before against your having the compilation.

You will I am sure see that this places me in a very unpleasant position towards everybody concerned, and you can understand that while the thing stands as it is, the proposal I made to you on the part of the Govt, is open to reconsideration. 9

1862/4

(Note unsigned) - - - 1862

Mr Atkinson entered the Native Office in April 1861 as supernumerary translator without salary on the (verbal) authority of Mr McLean. In August following he was appointed extra clerical assistant (with a salary of 8/- shillings a day) by Mr Smith acting on Mem 61-163. By Mr Bell's Mem. 62 he now draws salary at the rate of £180 per ann.

His duties are those of a clerk which in the Nat. Office are rather miscellaneous.

1862/1

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - Auckland, F 31 Jan 1862

. . . Got our Taranaki & Nelson letters . . . Hapurona has been put into the gaol. . . The beginning was in this way - Horopapera [son of Hapurona] went up to the 57th huts about some Maori women who were there on a disreputable errand and began

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to make a riot. Captn. Brown told him to go, & on his refusing took a stick and thrashed him. This was done twice I believe. Horopapera thereupon goes down to the Town to his father who is drunk, and the old gentleman becomes almost beside himself with rage and rum together ... so at last he is very properly taken up as drunk & disorderly . . . However bail was found & Hapurona went away vowing vengeance . . . Instead of appearing on the appointed day he leaves Matarikoriko of which he had the charge & goes to Mataitawa & is now supposed to be on his way to Waikato where I hope he may have a good effect ...

There is a hitch in my Dictionary work. Little White has behaved very shabbily. Bell acting on a misunderstanding in a memm. respecting our salaries, said unfortunately that I was to have £50 for compiling the Dictionary. White saw this & was very much aggrieved at not being put first - that it should be said I was the compiler, so instead of coming to me or to Bell he goes to Fox, telling him that . . . my work was more copying than anything else, that he was the man &c, making it look of course rather as if Bell & I were trying to get £50 on false pretences . . .

S 1 Feb . . . Had a talk with Bell. Withdrew all claim to the £50 as it was given (nominally) for the Dictionary. In afn. talked with White & told him what I thought of his method of proceeding, but did not settle whether to abandon the Dict, or not . . .

M 3 Feb . . . Called on the Governor. 'I had no desire to pry into state secrets but wanted help in a practical difficulty. Owing to the disbandment of the civilian force at Taranaki it was a critical time with most of the settlers there. They were quite as anxious as His Ex. could wish to stick by the place but they were family men & whether they did so or not would depend greatly on whether they foresaw a speedy end to the present state of things ... He said (slowly) 'Well, I should be very sorry if I thought it would not be settled long before a year - that is if it is settled, as I anticipate, pacifically - but if unfortunately war should arise & other settlements be destroyed as Taranaki has been, why then it might take fifteen years to settle it'. This was all, & not very much . . .

Tu 4 Feb . . . The Revd Mr Wilson came to the N.O. to say good bye as he is just starting for England ... He told me . . . Gen. Cameron . . . had told him that Sir G. Grey 'considered the (Taranaki) war a most iniquitous one'. It is a hopeful sign for the colony when a man in his place comes to such a conclusion & yet expresses an opposite one whenever convenient . . .

W 5 Feb . . . The doings of the Runanga at the Bay of Islands are worthy of notice. Their laws are that one man, the head of the Runanga, shall have £100 a year, 7 Runanga men £70 each, one Kaitiaki o te ture whatever that may mean £60, 7 assessors £50 & 16 policemen £30 each . . .

Th 6 Feb ... It seems our friends the Ngatiruanui & Taranaki have . . . established a decree that no man shall pass overland along the coast without paying £1, and Hoani himself had to submit before they allowed him to come through. I asked if this £1 was for food of horse or man but he said no it was simply for the right of passing through.

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S 8 Feb . . . When the tide was up went on board the Airedale; found some hay on deck & on that made my bed . . .

New Plymouth, M 10 Feb Landed about 5.30. . . . Afterwards went up to Poverty Square to see the Volunteers & Militia parade. [Col.] Herbert read to them the letter dismissing them & notifying F. Carrington's appointment. Any of them who desire it can be taken on to work on the roads at 4/- a day . . .

Tu 11 Feb . . . Wandered over our deserted kaingas 'thinking of the days that are no more' - James', Henry's, Harry's & mine. Found Richardson living in Harry's house & D. Jordan & French cutting cocksfoot about the clearings. This took away from the desolation of the place . . .

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J. C. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Nelson, 13 Feb 1862

I am oppressed with my own difficulties and cares . . . My work is thoroughly distasteful to me and I am sceptical of doing any good as some of them try to comfort me by saying I may do. My health is very shaky too and my prospects not bright altogether. ... It was therefore a great disappointment to me that you decided on staying south and indeed took absolutely no notice of anything to the contrary. I think the partnership with Gillies a mistake. He is a man with fine qualities, but as you have often said a partner and a wife are not things to be picked up just any day and anywhere. I think Otago a mistake for you and that here in Nelson you would have easily laid by £1000 per annum. . . .

We hear with surprise you are 'going in strong for separation'. I can understand acquiescing, giving way to the current that you may devote your attention to steering but 'going in strong' for a chilly negative proposition is past my understanding. Tancred is my authority. I hope altogether wrong.

1862/5

A. S. Atkinson to Jane Maria Atkinson - - - The Happy Valley, 14 Feb 1862

. . . Things are in a muddle. Henry's intention is to stick to the place as long as he can . . . Harry is wavering as to the sheep run ... As is his custom he wants to see what will turn up. In the mean time he gets 10/- a day as sub-commissioner of the Relief Fund ... If we come we shall have a little more society than we get at Onehunga . . . We shall be able to look after our property real & personal, and shall be clear of that rascally Government . . . Our income will be reduced £50 or £100 & some important sources of knowledge will be cut off . . .

If I get the sub editorship or some other intermittent work that with what we have will keep our pot boiling I should feel disposed to devote the rest of my time to my land . . .

With regard to pay the propositions are that men should have 28/- a week with one day out for work on their own places or 24/6 and two days out . . .

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Today the Mil & Volunteers had their last parade & were photographed by C. Brown . . . Harry gave them (or us) a very good address at parting & was in turn cheered with a good deal of feeling.

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A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, S 15 Feb 1862

. . . Became possessor of several waiatas, a small Hebrew grammar & the Psalms in Sanskrit . . .

M 17 Feb . . . Called at the Nat. Off. There is to be a court of enquiry held about the thrashing Horopapera got, and Hapurona has been invited to come in & give evidence or write . . .

v 33

Emily Richmond to Maria Richmond - - - Dunedin, 19 Feb 1862

The hills are beautifully clothed down to the water's edge with bush, but with cleared fields here and there and grey stumps reminding me of dear old New Plymouth and giving the place a feeling of home. I believe you would all like the place . . . From what William says I believe it is still open to Arthur to come and be made a lawyer. Johnny Jones has offered £4,500 for one share in our run - I mean a fourth of the whole. I cannot tell you how I long and desire some of the tribe may be directed here if we stay . . .

William and Mr Gillies are doing an immense business, and were their capacity for work greater could have a great deal more to do than they have. Mr Whitaker amuses me. He talks in the most gloomy way of politics and says it makes him sick to read the New Zealander. Mr Bell is a capital man for sending us all the news, he is quite a masculine Lely in respect of being so circumstantial. Of course you did not believe William was going in for separation. Mr Tancred must have been joking. The old Major Richmond is ill at Invercargill. Mr Stafford has been doing jockey at the Canterbury races and now has gone to Timaru. William seems to me to be quite as fully occupied as when he was in the Ministry or more so. If you ever come to this place you will be surprised at the activity and bustle of the place and the crowds of men. William and Mr Gillies say that if the gold comes to an end they have so much fine country here that the place would not collapse. . . .

William has spoken to Mr Gillies about Arthur, the firm are willing to take him and give him his articles and £50 a year to begin with ... It is miserably small pay for Arthur but William says he might get more as soon as he finds out what he can do.

1862/6

Emily Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Dunedin, 19 Feb 1862

William was at Port Chalmers to meet us. We went up the lovely harbour in a small steamer. The bustle and crowds of people were most confusing after dear quiet Nelson. Mr and Mrs Gillies have taken us in. Mrs Gillies is a Newcastle woman and a most kind and unaffected person. . . .

1862/7

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A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, W 26 Feb 1862

In the afn. rode out to Omata . . . Went past the stockade to abandoned pas & riflepits & on to the Poutoko. Saw Ngarongomate - he had just come back from Moutote . . . where he had been to see the Taranakis. They had got a letter from W. Kingi and W. Tamehana telling them to open the road for the mail & for travellers but to keep fast hold of the murderers & the plunder. Tataraimaka is to [be] left kia takoto noa to be dealt with hereafter. The latter advice they accept - the former about the road they will not listen to: 'If the Governor wants the road open, let him come and open it.' This is all right if they will only stick to it . . . Coming back we rode over the 'battle field' great part of it now is overgrown with the cape gooseberry. The bullet holes are still visible in the fences & part of our firewood breast work is still left where we put it . . .

F 28 Feb . . . Charles Brown has got the regulations for Militia men working on the roads improved. They are to have 24/6 a week for 4 days work the other two to be spent on theirown places. 10 Carrington is still to have the laying out of the roads.. . . Burton is to look after the work itself, & he Harry & W. Halse are to be triumvirs but their power is not quite clear. . . .

v 33

Mrs Harriett Gore Browne to C. W. Richmond - - - Tasmania, 2y Feb 1862

(Strictly private)

. . . On an enclosed sheet of paper I have given you Sir G. G's opinion of the acts of the late Govt, and as I have no doubt that these opinions will become public in England through the medium of Blue Books ... I am extremely anxious that [Professor] Harold Browne [Cambridge] should be possessed of answers with which to refute them 11. . . Col Browne knows nothing of the promise of Crown Grants alluded to by Sir George nor does he think the Native Office knew anything of it, but you will be able to state that legally Col Browne could not have given them even if promised & that as to returning the land or not purchasing it the natives would have been the first to object. Again with regard to that Native Reserves Act. How can Sir George commit himself to what even Mr Swainson said was a mistake? About Teira's title, again they seem to me to have made a false step by condemning it without further investigation, but they are such cute men that I fancy they know what they are about . . .

So you have really settled at Otago and are doing well. I am so very very glad of the last part. I should like to see what effect riches would have upon that thin earnest face . . .

I fancy somehow that when all the institution business is done for the Natives Taranaki will be attended to & perhaps an example made of the Ngatiruanuis. This will hurt no ones sentiments and suffice for poor Taranaki. Do you see what capital is

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made of the road to Mangitauiri? I suppose the old Govt, would have done the same thing when summer arrived as no promise was ever given that the troops should never advance, only a conditional one that they should not advance without telling the Natives, which Sir G. G. has done. I believe Tomati Ngapora has come out a regular King's man, so much for Judge Martin's friend. I hear nothing of the Martins now & I do not know how they get on with Sir G. ...

My husband is busy now learning all about the country, & is going to ride 200 miles next week. I am busy trying to start industrial schools but I feel too small for my work & not enough up in details . . .

v 6, p 5

Jane Martineau to Maria Richmond - - - London, 27 Feb 1862

And now my dear friend let me express to you the great concern I, as well as all my family feel for you and yours during this time of trouble and commotion and how anxiously we look for news either public or private from New Zealand. All your former letters had given us the idea of your being such a happy united little Colony and now it must be doubtul whether you will ever again return to your old home, even to such houses as are left standing. There must have been sad mismanagement in the first outbreak of this rebellion and I don't wonder that you are greatly disgusted with both Civil and Military neglect and that your son has withdrawn from his position in the Government. . . .

You have a large tribe of grandchildren around you, all your family being married. Your accounts of your happy meetings while settled near N.P. were quite delightful: how glad should I be to hear that you were all assembled there again, but alas! I fear that it cannot be as so much of your property must have been destroyed by these dreadful Maoris. . . .

I wonder whether Mrs James Richmond knows that the women's classes do not meet now at the Working men's College; there had been a great deal of improper conduct on the part of some of the gentlemen towards the young women that Mr Maurice could not approve of and that some of the parents greatly objected to. He had remonstrated but uselessly and had no other alternative than to close the classes. They used to get up balls for these girls and take them out on Sunday excursions etc. Mr Maurice did not call a meeting knowing there would be a great deal of unpleasant discussion, but took upon himself the whole responsibility of closing the concern. The affair occasioned both him and Miss Sterling great distress and the ladies think he has done the right thing. My daughters . . . were however unwilling that these adult classes should be given up and have therefore opened them at some rooms near Fitzroy Sq. that they found they could have the use of in the afternoon. Many of the old pupils come (particularly the married women) and some new ones. My daughters are more busy than ever with schools and colleges and really work very hard. . . .

March 1st. I suppose your daughter Maria is in correspondence with Margt. Taylor and knows that she is still in England ... so you see she, poor thing is doomed

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to be always the victim ... Mr Edw. Taylor is in a very sad state of health and it is very painful to Margt. to have him so . . . He has now breakings out in both his legs which quite prevent his . . . delivering his lectures at the Gresham. The two last terms he has employed a proxy. . . .

James Martineau of course stands higher in talent, but he is so abstract that many cannot understand him; certainly I am one of those, though I have the greatest love and regard for the man. He and his excellent family are our near neighbours and a great acquisition to us.

1862/8

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - Auckland, M 3 Mar 1862

. . . Bell tells me he thinks the Governor's back is getting up. He has just told Takerei that the King is constantly frightening him; he is going to do this & that & he (the Govr.) can never live in peace. . . . Takerei went away in a confused state of mind, tells Bell he cannot make the Gov out at all, nor what he means to do . . .

M 10 Mar Walked to the N.O. W. Nera had asked for food as he was about to give a feast. Today his messenger came for an answer. He got an order for 6 cwt (flour, sugar & rice), all he said was 'Heoi ano?' 'He kore rawa' . . .

Tu 11 Mar . . . Another letter to Matutaera (from Grey) inviting him with many expressions of love to come & live at Mangere ... It is interesting to watch the pulling of the strings and to speculate as to how far the puppets will do as they are intended...

v 33

H. A. Atkinson to A. S. Atkinson - - - Taranaki, 5 Mar 1862

We have had a most fearful gale both my chimneys are blown down and a large hole made in the roof by one of them so I am in a nice mess. . . .

We had our meeting of Volunteers on Monday . . . about 180 are sworn in. I have 105 of them, Watt the rest. Good and Jonas are my subalterns, Webster and Corbett Watt's. Poor Hammerton only had ten votes! ! Hirst joined my company but could get no votes for anything so he and Hammerton are full privates. . . .

v 6, p 6

Electors of New Plymouth to C. W. Richmond - - - New Plymouth, 8 Mar 1862

It was with very great regret we read your letter . . . conveying your resignation of your seat ... in the General Assembly . . .

We desire in the first place to express our deep and sincere gratitude for your past services to this settlement and to the Colony at large. With regard to the value of many of your contributions to the general legislation of the Colony all parties are agreed . . .

Your conduct, however, in seconding that policy of Colonel Gore Browne in Native matters has been loudly censured, both in the Colony and in the Mother Country and the desolation of our settlement has been pointed to as the necessary

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result of that policy. It is therefore right that we should take this opportunity of stating our full conviction . . . that the measures taken at the Waitara, which led to the late disastrous war; were imperatively demanded by the circumstances of the case, and that to have then yielded to the arrogance of Wiremu Kingi, and the Land League, would only have had the effect of deferring the evil day, which would probably have proved even darker than it has actually been.

With regard to your present resignation ... we hope that you may be induced to reconsider your decision. Remembering that you have spent many of the best years of your life in conscientious toil for the benefit of the Colony with a remuneration far smaller than you would have obtained by . . . the exercise of your profession, and with an amount of anxiety under which your health has suffered severely, we feel that it would be very ungrateful in us, to ask of you further sacrifice of a like nature.

We believe, however . . . that your presence in the House merely as Member for the Town of New Plymouth, would be very greatly to our advantage, and we have some hope that you may be able to make arrangements for attending the session at Wellington or Auckland without serious detriment to your private interests. Even if we could obtain in your place a man of equal ability, it is certain that his experience and influence in the House could not compare with that which you have acquired. We are far from desiring to see that experience and influence used in the way of obstruction to measures of the Representative of the Imperial Government, and we are well assured that in securing you as our representative we shall be doing our best to guard against any such hurtful opposition . . .

The conduct of the present responsible Ministry in Native Affairs must also necessarily be submitted to the consideration of the General Assembly. Although a Parliamentary opposition to the Native policy of the Governor would be exceedingly pernicious, the most that can be required of the Colony, should its general opinion be unfavorable to that policy, is a genuine but perfectly passive acquiescence. That a Colonial Ministry should take a prominent part in proceedings of which the Colony at large disapprove, would be almost as unfit and dangerous as an attempt on their part to obstruct such proceedings . . . there is a subject, specially concerning this Province, . . . compensation for our losses during the late War. We are not aware what are your opinions with regard to our claims on the Imperial Government or the Colony, but we are satisfied that you will never undertake to press any claim, with respect to the justice of which we are at all doubtful. We believe however that your views on the matter whatever they may be will prove to be wise and just, and that you are more likely than any other representative whom we could select, to succeed in obtaining for us equitable treatment. . . .

[Signed by Charles Brown, superintendent, and 117 others.]

v 6, p 7

Mary Richmond to Emily Richmond - - - Nelson, 10 Mar 1862

If you and William settle at Otago we might as well be in England for what we shall see of you and what intercourse we shall have.

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Jas cannot get over his disappointment - the hope of Wm. coming to Nelson was a strong inducement to accept the work there. He certainly has not much love for the work itself - he groaned dreadfully over it at first, it seems so distasteful and laborious to him ... He has certainly this last two or three weeks written with much less fatigue and has been able to keep in advance of his work. He used to look so ill after writing that I was quite unhappy about him. I think the absence of the Bishop is a sensible relief. He likes Bishop Hobhouse - he is evidently an earnest man not thinking of himself but engrossed in his work. In this I think he is superior to Bishop Selwyn. I admire the latter very much for his strength of will, dignity and kindness but his self complacency always pains me, does it not you? . . .

After the Bishop had made the answer in his sermon to Henry's appeal on behalf of the Colonists and as we were meeting him constantly we thought it would be well to ask him to spend an evening with us - I hardly thought he would come. However, he came (the day after Jas's article on his address to the Synod) and revenged himself by not letting the article alone all the evening. He pretended to think Annie had written it - curiously enough Jas was completely unconscious of what was going on, being absorbed most of the time with Mrs Cloete and drawings. The Govetts and Fitzgibbons were there and seemed rather puzzled by the Bishop's conversation. It was amusing at the time but left altogether a painful impression. The Bishop was evidently made sore by the article. I was rather sorry that it was written - I agreed with it but it seemed to me rather superfluous and likely to vex the Bishop in vain.

1862/11

H. A. Atkinson to [C. W. Richmond] - - - (1862)

I am very much obliged to Sewell for the kind offer [the R.M. ship at Taranaki] he is prepared to make me, but I regret to say that I am quite unable to accept it. The office is not one that would suit me; and at the present time I could not think of resigning my seat in the House. Should there be anything for the Militia or Volunteers to do when the 'Policy' has had sufficient time to develope itself, I should be entirely at the service of the Government. Please thank Sewell for me.

We are to have our first parade tomorrow in order to save a day, tomorrow being a holiday on account of the races. You see I have got caught as judge.

v 5, p 64

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - Auckland, S 15 Mar 1862

. . . C. O. Davis requests that his handwriting may not be sent into Waikato. 'He has been in the habit of corresponding with them, & it was so well known there it might prejudice the cause' 12 ... At his last interview with the Governor Takerei said: 'Governor, your money is good; I will take your money, & I will put your clothes on my policemen, but I will have my King.'

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S 22 Mar . . . From Otawhao . . . Rev J. Morgan has been warned by the natives to take away his cattle from the land he is occupying, long since ceded to the Crown for Mission purposes. Gorst (R.M at the same place) sends in a report & though he does not mention this says 'the Ngatimaniapoto do not desire Law & order - their great passion is soldiering' . . . Thompson & Ngatihaua on the other hand do wish for law & order, but both parties join in distrusting the Government.

v 33

W. S. Atkinson to A. S. Atkinson - - - Taranaki, 16 Mar 1862

When Gorst was away the other day a party of natives entered his house made themselves quite at home and were very impertinent even insulting to Mrs Gorst . . . There seems to be no division amongst them on the King question; they all appear determined to reject the Queen's authority and refuse to make restitution for past misdeeds.

Ihaia was telling me on Saturday, that a letter has been received at Mataitawa from W. Kingi very recently telling them to hold on to the plunder, not to part with land, allow roads, or give up murderers. Sir G. G. ought to be kicked if he does not soon kick these precious niggers. . . .

Kingi Matakatea has been into town to make his submission and has written a letter to Parris brim full of love. Some natives here seem to think that we are going to make peace . . . whilst others, who I suppose are weak enough to think that there are such qualities as honesty and manliness even in the present Government don't believe in peace being made until we have put down the Maori King.

1862/12

C. W. Richmond to A. S. Atkinson - - - Dunedin, 21 Mar 1862

It is impossible for me to judge for you between the three plans of life which you lay out in your last. The New Plymouth Aphrodite (as Maria calls it) has for me as for you the greatest charm, and were I a bachelor I would not hesitate in my preference. Looking on my string of little ones it has not seemed to me right to follow my natural inclination, or I could willingly have mooned away the next two or three or even four of five years waiting for the possible settlement, doing my best to bring it about, and taking my chance with bullets in the meantime with the rest. My present life contradicts every taste and feeling of my nature and I adopt it only as a hard duty. But if you and Maria see your way to a livelihood and public usefulness in Taranaki it may very likely be right for you to stick to the dear old place.

As to the law, you would find the conveyancing practice here bear much the same relation to it as Tim's pounding in the mortar in the shop of Mr Cophagus . . . did to the art of an apothecary. The real law is wanted on Gillies's side of the office.

I am glad to hear what you say respecting the deposition of fatty matter ... in your brain. You would be all the more likely to do well in business by having the

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subtlety of your intellect somewhat blunted . . . Nevertheless I believe it [the law] is a thing which would as little suit your case as it does mine.

1862/13

Mary Richmond to A. S. Atkinson - - - Nelson, 26 Mar 1862

I am glad you have made up your mind not to return to Taranaki yet . . . till the course of things is a little clearer. The session may perhaps give us some light. . .. An R.M. or anything of that sort to my mind would be most desolate and unprofitable for yourself and your family ... I cannot help thinking William may yet retreat in a few months . . . Wm had been to Idaburn and felt much better for the change but directly he came to Dunedin again he was wheezy . . .

James is away. He went off last Monday week evening in a horrid little schooner to that horrid Grey and Buller - not that I really dislike the place nor do not take some interest in it, but it is so out of the way and there is no knowing when he can get back. Mr Elliott proposed he should go to give some account of the district as a matter of business and pay his expenses or rather his fare I suppose. I rather urged him to go - he has been wanting a holiday for some time - though the expedition may not be very pleasant. He had no companion but I hope he would pick up one from somewhere.

1862/15

Mary Richmond to Jane Maria Atkinson - - - Nelson, 27 Mar 1862

I was glad for Jas to get . . . three weeks freedom from spinning articles . . . but the expedition was not quite to my mind. I did not like his having to go by ship or his being without a companion. He went off so suddenly too that I am afraid he was not properly fitted out . . .

Mr Broughton 13 and his aunt and sister have arrived. I have not seen them but I have seen Mr Domett. He describes him as a nice young lad - as looking good . . . Mr D. speaks of the sister as a modest looking girl and the aunt as an active minded woman - strong on our side of the native question.

1862/16

J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Buller River, 30 Mar 1862

After a number of delays but without danger or rough weather at sea we have got thus far and I am stopping in a canvas public house full of diggers. The place is curiously remote from civilisation. There is a triangle of flat land, timbered or swampy, jutting into the sea at the mouth of the river and thoroughly isolated to landwards by a ridge of mountains and by the extreme rapidity of the river, a few tents or canvas houses, one or two of raupo, make the port and the diggings are 12 miles off in a gully of the mountain ridge. The Buller comes right through the chain.

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One little schooner is at anchor beside the river bank. Our own craft is still outside: the light wind and heavy bush make it impossible for her to get in. I landed with the rest of the passengers in a whaleboat. I have made two or three sketches but . . . what I make are all done against time. The company here is rough and dirty - not rougher than in ordinary public houses - hardly so rough but dirtier. I slept with a mob of about ten in a bunk of the roughest kind and amidst scores of fleas. The restless race of diggers seem to be ... up all night and a party started up the country at daybreak this morning but came back owing to the depth of water in the first stream ... I am talking all I can to the decentest men I can find and am getting to think that the West Coast will do. The gold is in fair abundance but the depth of the stream at Waimangaroa is too great for work except in a few places. About a dozen claims are worked profitably giving good wages to 50 or 60 diggers and the population may be about 150 including natives.

The Superintendent's party has gone up the Buller and will pass by the Inangahua or Thackeray to the Grey. We shall meet them there if all goes well. His Honor is showing great activity walking up torrent beds and going pickaback across rivers . . . The diggers are bitter about a road in which one of them they say was all but drowned in mud. This road is up the Waimangaroa and has just been made under Robinson's orders. I am heartily tired of being away darling but as I am out I must not lose the opportunity of looking at the Grey Valley, but the time will be longer than I had reckoned. Do not be uneasy, the homeward voyage is more likely to be quick as south west wind prevails.

1862/17

J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Buller River, 3 Apr 1862

I am very homesick and have at many times a mind to turn back but it would be wrong to lose a chance of seeing a district of so much importance to our people at Taranaki and to the public generally. We have dawdled on here waiting for more or better wind or else for dry weather - two days have been very rainy. I am quite well darling. I have made some sketches but have scarcely enjoyed myself . . .

1862/18

C. W. Richmond to Samuel Smith (London) - - - Dunedin, 7 Apr 1862

Will you be so good as to order me at Whitelock's Strand:
2 doz. white long cloth shirts with fixed collars;
4 Crimean shirts (flannel) small chequered patterns.
. . . Also 12 loose white collars.

Emily wants Kate to get her a black silk dress with small figure - all black. The figure may be a spot or star or anything small and neat. Price say about £4 if anything good and solid to be had at the price. Gloves for E.E.R. Half a dozen pairs of sevens neutral tints.

v 42

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C. W. Richmond to T. Richmond (Stockton on Tees) - - - Dunedin, 7 Apr 1862

It is difficult for anyone leading a quiet life to understand the kind of knocking about which I have been experiencing for the last six months and more. I had always expected on leaving office to be able to fall back on a quiet bush home in Taranaki. The war deprived us of this resting place, and obliged me, as it were, to begin Colonial life anew. But I found myself on leaving office in a very different situation from a mere beginner in the Colony. I had got a reputation very much beyond my deserts (as I honestly believe), which has been a great help to me, though it has not saved me, and will not save me, in this expensive place from a good deal of pecuniary anxiety, nor exempt me from the necessity of more severe mental labour than suits with the state of my health.

I have now . . . entered into partnership with Mr Thomas Bannatyne Gillies. We have one of the largest solicitors' businesses in the Colony . . . But our outgoings are large and we run considerable risk - so much business has now to be done with unsubstantial strangers from the neighbouring Colonies - of making bad debts.

Gillies ... is an excellent partner, a wonderful man for work, and to me is kindness itself. . . .

I have resigned my seat in the House and am out of New Zealand politics, I believe, for ever. I have been praised and censured beyond my deserts. Latterly I have received really quite a nuaseating amount of laudation. One cannot say so in public either to friends or enemies, but I freely own in private that I feel neither capacity nor disposition for public affairs, and have never justified to myself taking part in them on any ground but that of keeping out persons even more unfit. With such feelings I am not likely again to throw myself in the way of public preferment, though I believe at the present moment that if I were to lay myself out to take the Government I could have it, as the Fox ministry is unpopular throughout the Colony and quite disunited.

v 42

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - Auckland, W 9 Apr 1862

. . . Letters from Taranaki ... A Warea Native having taken two (settlers') horses sent word to Parris the owners could have them on paying £1. 'At present they are on the farm of King Matutaera.' Parris . . . offered the pound, but his messenger was told the pound fees were £2. 10 & that 10/- a day would be charged till this was paid. This looks like law & order - of a kind . . .

Th 10 Apr . . . Saw at the N.O. ... a Maori without a lower jaw. It was shot off at Mahoetahi ... he did not feel it at the moment but when he tried to speak he found there was something wrong ... He wears a bit of calico round his head which keeps his tongue in its place - otherwise it hangs down & he becomes inarticulate . . . Fulloon understood him perfectly.

Good F. 18 Apr ... In evg. went up to the foot of Totaraiahua to an ohu 14 of

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Tutanekai who are digging potatoes there, to get the names of some stars, but the testimony was too conflicting to be worth much. Perhaps the red star in the Scorpion is Rehua.

F 25 Apr . . . Letters from Wiremu Nero [te Awaitaia] about the Waipa & Whaingaroa road. The King party will oppose it. But he quotes & agrees with what he calls a saying of Grey's, which otherwise would not have seen the light, 'We' (you & I) 'must make this road or we shall be laughed at by the King people.' . . .

S 26 Apr . . . The answer to W. Nero's letter is . . . 'that it is perhaps too late . . . to begin it this year, but that a surveyor (Percy Smith) shall be sent at once to look out the best line.' Fox talks to Halse as if it must be done, war or not. Fenton has advised it in a report & Grey has encouraged Nero in it - but they 15 are all so crooked & shifty that it would be quite premature to suppose they mean it . . .

v 33

Mary Richmond to Jane Maria Atkinson - - - Nelson, 22 Apr 1862

James is not yet back. It was five weeks last Monday since he left. . . . The Jane I believe is being looked for daily now, though Mr Brunner, who has just returned from the Grey and Buller, tells me, by way of comfort, that Jas will very likely be away a month yet. . . .

I feel with you about the little coasting schooners, and have besides a thorough distrust of and dislike to the sea ... I have never felt James being away so much before, though one might suppose I might have become inured to it by this.

Then comes that horrid session. ... I am very sorry it is to be at Wellington . . . It is a mockery to call Wellington nearer ... I am very sorry to think none of us will be present to watch in the House and hear Jas and Harry, and support and cheer them between hours ... I believe it was right for us to come here on the whole, but we feel extremely solitary, and cut off from our own people . . .

What do you think about teaching very little children prayers? Do you think it better to wait, and let what we can teach come fresh upon them when they are older and can take more in, or would you never let it seem strange or new to them, but come gradually - grow with them - I incline to the latter course . . . The chief thing is I suppose to instil a habit of looking up - to awaken reverence. I have taught Anneliz a short evening prayer . . . Once I was rash enough to make a few remarks, but they were followed by such a shower of eager impracticable questions, that I have remained silent since.

Do you ever envy people their clear beliefs? It is more and more a wonder to me how people can believe so much - so many things - easily and tranquilly. I look upon the Bishop and Mr Turton (both I believe earnest good men) when I am at church, and marvel to see and hear them go through so much unhesitatingly. Even Annie is a wonder to me, though she is very different and she teaches at the Sunday School, both from the Old and New Testament. I should be in great difficulty were I called upon to do such a thing.

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April 26 . . . [Arthur's] beloved Taranaki - I suppose you are right in going there, but I have some little doubt ... I should have preferred your coming here, though I do not know what there is for Arthur to do except a co-editorship with James . . .

1862/19

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - Auckland, Th 1 May 1862

. . . Today I saw a letter from Gorst reporting on the state of Waikato. He says plainly it is not that the King's law is upheld as opposed to the Queen's but that there is a complete absence of all law. The young men who fought at Taranaki rove about the country with guns in their hands taking horses (pakeha) & what they please - that unless something is done at once, the country will be in a state of brigandage. The King's runanga he says is more powerless for good than he himself. He has called upon them to do justice in 5 or 6 cases in which the Maories are clearly in the wrong; & he wishes them to have time enough 'that their failure may be clear and patent'. This is really hopeful. It does not look like patching up or bribing into quietness & it is all the more valuable as coming from a man a special pet of the Bishop, & who started with the notion that love of law & order was the root & strength of the King movement . . .

M 5 May . . . talked with Bell In the session 'he intends putting his hands in his pockets'. He will not take office under Stafford nor Stafford under him, so that there seems little chance of even a decent Ministry, till the present one fall to pieces from its own want of cohesion . . .

v 33

Jane Maria Atkinson to Mary Richmond - - - Onehunga, 6 May 1862

Your letters speaking of James's continued absence would have made me very uncomfortable and anxious if Arthur had not brought with them the satisfactory assurance from Mr Bell that the Jane . . . was entering the harbour as he left Nelson in the Airedale.

I agree with you that at 7 the mind is hardly more ready to conceive of a Supreme Being than it is earlier, but I think it will be easier to give a feeling of reverence and awe in connection with the name of the Heavenly Father then than now, tho' of course with different children one must act differently, their natures varying so much. With Edie I know the whys? hows? wheres? etc. etc. with respect to the unseen would be endless and chiefly unanswerable so I feel content to let it rest at present.

1862/21

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, Su 11 May 1862

We were off Taranaki soon after midnight . . . landed about 8. 'So I return to thee once more little city of my dwelling to which I belong on this side the grave' . . .

Th 15 May Slew my mataika, i.e. wrote my first article for the Herald - a mild thing on Nat. Affairs,

v 33

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W. H. Welford, Mosley St. and Postern, Newcastle, England - - - 14 May 1862

Mr R. W. Carr,

Bot. of W. H. Welford
Ironmonger and Iron Merchant

69 cutlasses and frogs	10/- £34.10.0
1 Extra frog	2.0
1 Box and lining	18.0
Freight and carriage	1. 7. 5
	£36.17.5

I have charged these swords a low price. I have no doubt but you may realise well upon them, the steel is excellent - they are old government blades

1862/22

Rev J. Morgan to C. W. Richmond - - - Otawhao, 15 May 1862

... Mr Gorst was appointed R.M. at Otawhao. Up to the present time he has not been able to make the slightest progress amongst the kingites and many of the accounts in the New Zealander are quite erroneous. Whatever progress Sir G. Grey may have made in other districts, he has not made the slightest amongst the real kingites. Upper Waikato remains as when Governor Browne left us ... I can assure you that I do not consider either European life or property safe in Upper Waikato. The natives plunder cattle or horses at pleasure, on the very slightest excuse, rescued from Mr Gorst a half caste lad who had been brought up as a European, because he professes to belong to the maori king, & have committed numerous other offences. I have reason to believe that Mr Gorst in his correspondence & reports to the Govt, has been very faithful, & that they reveal the lawless and unsettled state of this district, & will prove that the king movement was not an effort to obtain law & order. At present there is no law, Maori or English in Upper Waikato. European property was far safer here 20 years ago than it is now.

My object in now writing is to recommend you to request your brother to move in the Genl. Assembly for copies of all reports & correspondence between the Genl. Government & Messrs. Gorst & Armitage, magistrates of upper & lower Waikato. Mr Armitage's will tell a favourable tale of progress, but to use Mr Ashwell's expression, 'there is much surface work.' Not one of Ngatimaniopoto have come over, although the N. Zealander boasted of the whole tribe. A few only of Ngatihikairos joined Mr Armitage. Mr Gorst's reports & letters will show the real state of the district . . .

v 6, p 8

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A. Black (bill of lading) - - - London, May 1862

Frederick Welford
Ship and Insurance Broker,
Coal Fitter, &
General Commission Merchant
Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Shipped by the Grace of God, in good order and well conditioned by W. H. Welford in and upon the good Ship called the Indian Empire whereof is Master, under God, for this present Voyage Black and now riding at Anchor in the River Thames and by God's Grace bound for Auckland New Zealand to say the following, viz.:

Two Boxes contg. Hardware
weight

being marked and numbered as in the margin, and are to be delivered in the like good order and well conditioned at the aforesaid port of Auckland, New Zealand (all and every Danger and Accidents of the Seas and of Navigation, of whatever Nature and Kind soever excepted) unto Mr R. W. Carr, New Plymouth or to his Assigns, he or they paying Freight for the said Goods, to be paid here ship lost or not lost with primage and average accustomed. In Witness whereof the Master or Purser of the said Ship hath affirmed to two Bills of Lading, all of this tenor and date; the one of which ----- Bills being accomplished the other to stand void. And do God send the good Ship to her desired Port in safety. Amen.

Dated in London May 1862.
Andw. Black

1 to 2 Boxes R.W.C. If not taken from alongside in six days from arrival will be landed at Consignees risk and expense. Weight and contents unknown not liable for leakage, breakage or rust.

1862/20

C. W. Richmond to Maria Richmond - - - Dunedin, 20 May 1862

You must, however, not be surprised ... if your Dunedin correspondents occasionally fail to reply by return of post. The vessel is only bound to stop 48 hours here which is a very different thing even from stopping 48 hours off N.P. The port is 8 miles off and it not unfrequently happens that the return mail closes a few hours after the delivery of our letters from the North. This, and (alas) asthma the pitiless, must excuse many of my apparent wilful failings . . .

The weather has at last broken ... It is the winter south westerly weather of the North Island translated into snow and hail. The rattling of the sudden hail showers yesterday was startling to the uninitiated. . . .

I am sorry to say I still, on this eminence, suffer from asthma, though not so distressingly as on the lower ground. I believe that the end will be that I shall, at an early day, (earlier even than I myself intended) have to beat a retreat northwards towards the sun.

1862/23

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W. H. Seccombe to - - - Taranaki, 20 May 1862

(Copy)

Sir,

As the late proprietor of the Tavern known by the sign of the Omata Arms, which was destroyed by the Natives, during the late unhappy disturbances and from which as a brewer I derived my principal support. And having heard that three applications had been made for permission to open a - canteen and one application for a spirit licence I beg leave to state that should such an accomadation be required in the district, I should be most grateful if you would confer the privelidge on me. And I should be happy to errect a small building for the sale of beer, wine, & groceries, or for the sale of beer and groceries only, to the garrison and to European settlers in the neighbourhood . . .

1862/24

Jane Maria Atkinson to Margaret Taylor - - - Taranaki, 28 May 1862

. . . The town [New Plymouth] is very much altered, having I should think nearly double the number of houses in it which it had at the beginning of the war. It is not very dense now and is in many respects improved; the houses are not all as villainously ugly as I expected to see them, knowing the hasty packing case principles on which the majority have been put together for a temporary purpose. A great many of the outsettlers have built with the intention of dragging out their cottages whenever their farms became once more safe to live on and cultivate. It is amazing to me to see the way in which people cling to this place, not that it is remarkable they should like it, but that after the losses and vexations endured here and the protracted delay yet to be borne before the end comes, people not actuated by any romantic feelings or exalted principles should not prefer at once seeking their fortunes in more secure and go-ahead spots is really incomprehensible. Of course to many there are practical difficulties in the way of removal; their all has been invested and is lost for the present at any rate, and the hope of again using their land and recovering some portion of their capital, joined to the difficulty of moving a family and commencing without capital in a new places holds them. But numbers of unencumbered men without special ties to the land remain here and seem inclined to see the troubles out and make a fresh start here if settlement ever regains its legs . . .

v 38, 507 (t.s.)

Jane Maria Atkinson to Mary Richmond - - - Taranaki, 1 Jun 1862

[James] must have been rather worried by his protracted voyage. His articles seem to me better than ever since his return ... I wonder whether you will notice Arthur's appearance in the T.H. ... It is a great comfort that he seems to enjoy writing for the paper. I only wish Jas and Henry had the same faculty for enjoying the work as they must do it. I do feel very much for you in losing Jas again so soon, and wish it had been possible for you to spend the time of the session with him at Welling-

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ton ... He and Harry will feel so different this time without C.W.R. to advise and consult with. I hope Mr Fox will be turned out whatever comes after; a Sewell or Wooden Ministry would be more endurable, but I am afraid there will be no vision amongst the Opposition so that the Fox Ministry may survive because there will be no captain to lead the attack on it. . . .

I suppose after the session the Staffords will go to England. For the good of the Colony I think it is a pity Mr S. is in the House at this time, he will prevent the Opposition fron uniting, no one likes him for leader and he won't consent to play second fiddle I imagine, now Wm. is not the ist. I can hardly think C.W.R.'s advice to hold aloof from public affairs is sound, it seems to me that we want men with sense enough not to be made cat's paws for Sir G. Grey, and just the way to make a mess of everything is to advise our best men to leave public affairs to the fools and knaves, for of course they will be busy whatever advice to the contary is given.

Jun 3. A steamer is in sight dearest Mary, but which way it is bound we do not yet know, I must however finish this off as the weather is unsettled. It has been a windy wet night and perhaps only one boat will get off to the vessel.

1862/25

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, Tu 3 Jun 1862

. . . The Queen being in from Auckland, the news is . . . Nera's road from Whangaroa to Waipa stopped, the King party threatening to fight . . .

Th 5 Jun . . . Wilson Hursthouse came back in the steamer, from the Otago diggings. He has kept himself while away but is in debt for his passage money.

S 14 Jun Read as usual before breakfast (Caesar & Mill on Rep. Gov) ... At 3 p.m. attended public meeting to hear the reply of Gov. Browne read to the memorial 16 sent up some time since. It was a foolish affair - 'The tired wild hearts & feeble wings that every sophister can time' are not fit to be trusted with the management of their own affairs. There is no one here to lead a meeting now - I tried to convince them that two & two made four, but weakly . . . However I got a little practice in oratory. . . .

v 33

Jane Maria Atkinson to Emily E. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 3 Jun 1862

I have hardly yet realised the fact that we are in Taranaki again - all seems so different. ... As soon as Major Matthews leaves the Beach Cottage there will be another packing and removal to go there. Ar and I intend to have the bedrooms built on moveable principles adjoining the B.C. [Beach Cottage] kitchen. In case they are not afterwards needed ... we shall take them to the bush, when it becomes possible to live there again, a consummation devoutly to be wished and firmly believed in as coming by Ar . . .

1862/26

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H. R. Richmond to J. C. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 3 Jun 1862

Arthur has half the salary from the Herald now, and does all the work. I want him to take the thing altogether. . . .

1862/27

H. A. Atkinson to Robert Pitcairn - - - 10 Jun 1862

[Draft]

I have made an application for the lease of the land in the names of yourself and Mr John Rogerson. A Mr De Lacy of Melbourne and Dr Samuel on behalf of himself and Martin have also applied for the lease. . . .

The Superintendent is not inclined, nor is the Council, to enter immediately into a lease, they wish to know more about the value of this sand in England ... to send home a 100 tons and appoint some person in England on behalf of the Province to deal with persons who may be willing and able to work the sand. . . .

I will now answer the questions contained in Mr Rogerson's letter seriatim: a ship of 430 tons would take from 6 to 10 days to discharge according to the weather;... No cottages could be got for the workmen, it would be necessary to build them - sawn timber varies in price here from 18/- to 25/- per 100 feet, it is now worth 25/-. Bricks range from 160/- to 250/- per thousand, but can seldom be had for less than 240/- unless you import. They are to be had in Auckland, Mokau and Wellington at about 70/- per thousand. Meat is now from 4d. to 6d. per pound, which may be considered a fair average price: bread 2 1/2d. per lb., which is rather low but... Groceries all about 20 per cent, and slop clothes and boots fully 40 per cent higher than the English prices. There is plenty of good stone on the beach which is used for building most of the chimnies; this can be had for the getting. The nominal price of lime is 5/- or 6/- per bushel but . . . the masons import the limestone and burn their own lime - limestone is got from the Pelorus, Massacre Bay, Kawia and Whangaroa. The best comes from Whangaroa ... in any quantity. There is a good harbour and a ship of 200 tons can go up close to the quarry ... It costs now about 50/- per ton delivered here in small quantities, freight out of that being 30/-. A ton . . . produces 18£ bushels of very strong building lime. . . . There is an unlimited supply of timber for charcoal, but it is . . . only burnt in very small quantities as there is no demand.

Labour of all kinds is very scarce in ordinary times . . . No mechanic works for less than 1/- per hour and they generally make 10/- per day of 8 hours. An ordinary labourer gets 5/- or 6/- per day (of 8 hours) but you cannot get a good one at less than 6/-.

A vessel of 430 tons would in my opinion be too large to pay in the coasting trade, but I have no doubt . . . would pay very well indeed by making one or two trips direct to Taranaki. . . . With regard to the steamer I hardly like ... to express an opinion. Such a vessel is very much wanted, and would have paid very well before the war when we had a great deal of fat stock fit for the Auckland market. We still suffer great inconvenience from our goods being carried past in the mail steamers. . . . The Government . . . are not prepared ... to make any offer.

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Very few horses are used in this Province for draught, the work is mostly done by bullocks owing to the bad state of the roads. A cart with two bullocks and driver costs from 10/- to 12/- per day, with four bullocks 15/-.

Coal sells, when we get any at about 80/- per ton. It has hitherto come from either England or Australia . . .

1862/28

J. C. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Nelson, 13 Jun 1862

Many thanks for forwarding Lord Grey's letter. What can we expect of ignorant men, when learned and clever Earls announce that no fact can upset their a priori conclusions ... Sir G. Grey argued in precisely the same way with me on the subject of the pressure from Taranaki. 'Nothing could convince him etc. but it was natural and he did not think the worse of us for it.'

I have to apologise for my long diffuse articles in the paper. . . . Dulness is the gift of fortune but to cut it short ought to come by nature. . . . The Assembly will be dreary without you.

1862/29

Emily E. Richmond to H. A. Atkinson - - - Winchester Cottage, Dunedin 15 Jun 1862

William has never put down the £150 but now he says he wishes you to consider it our subscription to your military pay ... I thought this message might ease your heart for you must have enough to do to make all ends meet.

1862/30

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, M 16 Jun 1862

. . . In the evg. Henry read to us the Revd. T. Gilbert's book on the war (Settlers & Soldiers). We were perhaps more gratified with it than the author would have wished.

Su 22 Jun . . . Henry told us he thought of adopting one of R. Brown's half caste children.

Th 26 Jun . . . Last night two prisoners (a Maori & a soldier) escaped from the gaol & went off . . . The military prisoners are in the habit of going out of a night whenever they choose, & coming back before morning if not too drunk. They have now posted a sentry.

v 33

J. C. Richmond to C. T. Batkin (Auckland) - - - Nelson, 25 Jun 1862

. . . Your papers are so vehemently opposed that I can hardly say I trust either though I think the antecedent probability in favour of the Cross ... I proposed to him [Elliott] that we should get a regular correspondent, not a hot partisan or the hack of a party but an honest intelligent looker-on ... I told him I thought you would be able to get us correct information and that I was sure you would put it into a readable form . . . We do not care for views but want as literal and detailed accounts

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of fact as you can get on any of the interesting topics of the day but more especially on native affairs. Every trait or incident of the dealings of the two races . . . may indicate more of the real state of affairs than the show transactions at runangas etc. where men ought to be and maoris are on their guard.

We don't want to pry into state secrets and suborn you for the purpose . . . but you are in the way of hearing gossip and can judge of its truth. . . .

Will you think of this and name your price . . . Long or short as Providence may send events . . .

1862/31

R. Allinson to C. Brown - - - 30 Moorgate Street, E.C. London, 26 Jun 1862

. . . The winding up of the affairs of the Taranaki Steel Iron Company (Limited) is finally arranged and only waiting the legal formalities to be closed.

These arrangements comprehend the vesting in a new company the interest held by the Taranaki Steel Iron Company in the leases of iron-Sand granted to Captn. Edward Morshead by your Provincial Government, and also the ship intended to convey the materials, plant, and a staff of officials and workmen to New Zealand; It also comprehends the concentration in the new Company of the interests of Martin and Soblechero, Captain Morshead, the creditors and shareholders, and all other parties whatever, and so soon as the various documents are completed and signed . . . the Company will announce itself to the world and cause all necessary matters to be done as regards the original leases to effect their exchange, for those which your Government . . . has undertaken to grant in renewal.

The new company find they will have to carefully review the machinery, materials, and stores, which the old company had provided for the erection of their works and furnaces, deficiencies requiring to be supplied before despatch of the vessel to avoid any delay in the operations on your side after its arrival; they have also to make another selection of suitable officials to conduct their operations in New Zealand with the artizans ... so that their operations when commenced in the Colony may be effective . . .

I have also to state that every exertion shall be used to . . . give practical effect to the company's intention of vigorously proceeding to convert into a merchantable commodity the iron Sand leased to Captain Morshead . . .
(True Copy Wm. Northcroft) 1862/32

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, F 27 Jun 1862

... A party of Matakatea's people from Umuroa were in Town to day. They brought with them a lot of pigs for sale & for these they had had to pay a toll of 6d a head at the 'gate' at Warea, for their horses 1/-, carts also 1/-. It was proposed that the men themselves should pay the same rate as pigs but this was not enforced as they were such near neighbours & of the same tribe though rather disaffected to the King's.

v 33

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A. S. Atkinson to H. A. Atkinson, M.H.R. (at Wellington) - - - Taranaki, 30 Jun 1862

. . . There are two or three interesting items I have just heard - don't mention them publicly . . . until ... I have seen the natives thro' whom the news comes.

1. The Maori policeman who went down after the two escaped prisoners found them at Moutote, the pa of our old friend Parenga Kingi. He demanded them and was told the Maori was one of themselves and the Pakeha had been sealed with the seal of the King. He was also told not to come again - which however he is willing to do.

2. The road to Waireka is to be stopped (i.e. the improvements are not to be allowed) this is what the rungana says but what runanga I do not yet know.

3. Touet and Sutton are threatened with being turned off their land, also by authority of a runanga.

N.B. Col. Warre is reported to have said if this is attempted he will occupy their land to prevent it.

4. It is said they (the Maoris, Taranaki I suppose) are going to cut a line from Mangaone round through the bush to Waireka (cutting most of the bush settlements) beyond which we are not to go - whether this means for settling or road making or what I don't know yet.

1862/33

W. Halse to H. A. Atkinson - - - New Plymouth, 30 Jun 1862

Our native news is darkening. The natives are discussing the question of altering the Omata road past Waireka (which they pretend to claim for blood spilt and by conquest, we having abandoned it, like Tatara, and the rural district generally) and Fred Carrington assures me that they will not suffer the alterations to be made, but will even come on the land to oppose . . .

Fred C. this morning tells me the natives are talking of walling us in by a line cut about a mile inland through Richardson's right away to Omata, this will take from us three quarters of our farms and lands. The idea is not mere gossip, Parris has the boundaries indicated by the natives themselves . . . There is some authority down from Auckland to employ the troops roadmaking. Pity this was not done at the start, time and the weather being dead against the work just now. . . . Have you read that infamous article in the Saturday Review headed 'Cheap Governors'? Of course it will be disproved but meanwhile works mischief.

1862/34

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, Th 3 Jul 1862

... In Town met Tatton & Upjohn and went with them to look at a memorial to the Govr. on the state of the Province ... It is rather weak but served as a text for a long discussion about the proposed migration to Tasmania & the sins of the Herald anent it . . .

S 5 Jul . . . The 50 tons iron sand for Rogerson & Co to experiment upon is all shipped & the vessel leaves today.

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Su 6 Jul . . . C.W.R. renews his offer on more advantageous terms still. He will give me my articles & guarantees me £100 a year at first but thinks it likely that Gillies would say I should have £2 a week . . .

v 33

Ii. A Atkinson to A. S. Atkinson - - - Wellington, 8 Jul 1862

The House met yesterday but as there was no Governor to open us we remain shut up as far as doing business goes . . .

Fox tells the Governor that what the Colony wants is a firm and lasting peace . . . no patching up, that then he is sure the House will vote whatever may be necessary ... He is very strong upon the advisability of well licking the Southern rascals. But after all one feels it is Fox speaking and you begin to look about for some other meaning . . . At any rate is it something to have this all in print with his name to it . . .

I went over and had a long talk with old Sewell last night. He asked me whether I had read the papers on the Table ... He seems to have no doubt . . . that Grey will before long pitch into the Southern natives. They are going to ask for a loan of £100,000 for making roads, Sir George is going to have roads right through the country. The Ministry have not committed themselves in any way with the Home Government Sewell says about responsibility in Native affairs . . .

There are a lot of gooseberries and currants out at Hurworth in my garden. Don't you think I had better have them in? They will be sure to be spoilt if they stop out there another year.

v 6, p 9

J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Picton, 8 Jul 1862

We have been in this beautiful little place since noon. I . . . dined with Mr Baillie, brother of Capt. Baillie you knew in Auckland. Capt. B. is Superintendent here. Picton is a good deal like Nelson in situation, a patch of level land at the head of a bay and surrounded with hills . . . The harbor looks very much like Loch Katrine, in tone of color. . . . There are somewhere between fifty and one hundred houses and several miles of metalled road. Several of the houses are neatly finished and the Government offices though modest are not mean looking. Will you ask Mr Domett to bring my tin sketching flask, . . . and my corded trowsers from Baker's.

1862/35

C. Brown to H. A. Atkinson - - - New Plymouth, 9 Jul 1862

I am sorry to tell you the P.C. is given to backsliding in your absence, the Council agreed to cancel one lease, but when it came to the second, grave doubts arose, and Northcroft had to let the resolution stand over, a second time yesterday. I think I have convinced Crompton, but Gledhill will not be convinced, he is in Judas's interest, and you know the amount of low cunning, mainly Yorkshire, that he can bring to bear

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to evade the points of a case. ... I wonder if he owes the Jew 17 money? He advances all the expenses incurred by the Jew going north and south as expenditure under the lease to Morshead. The Jew was examined before the Committee today, hurra there are hopes. Mrs Brown has just come in, and heard the Jew storming the other side of Devon St., at the scoundrels 'in authority'.

I have made my proposition, and it appears to be taken kindly to by the Provincial Council, that the Colony should pay the interest of the sum required to compensate us in full, and the future revenue of the Province should be saddled with the principal, some few say, the saddle is not on the right horse, I quite admit that, the Imperial horse ought to bear it, if not that the Colonial, but you know . . . that the Colony will pay no more. I write to the Sptdts. to know if the various Provinces will give settlers credit in buying land to the amount of the value of their land here, for say five years. I believe the result of my proposition will be, that if it is carried out, and hostilities recommence this Province will be comparatively abandoned, while I am Super I shall stop, when my salary ceases, by a Super perhaps becoming unnecessary. I must move if I cannot live here; but take it on the whole I believe it is better if hostilities recommence that everyone should have every facility to leave and start afresh that cannot do well here; and if we have peace the sooner compensation is given the better for the Province. Can a location be found in the Nelson Province for a transplanted Taranaki?

1862/36

C. Brown to H. A. Atkinson, M.H.R. 10 Jul 1862

I have just seen Revd. Archdeacon Govett, he says he had just seen Revd. H. Brown, who has just seen Js. McKellar, who has just heard (Mr Govett supposes through Mrs Hetley from the Bishop) that 'War is inevitable', he further says he never saw Mr Brown look more delighted.

1862/37

G. R. Burton (deputy Superintendent) to H. A. Atkinson - - - New Plymouth, 10 Jul 1862

I am shaky in body and mind and a letter is an effort. In a few days.we shall have paid all the thistle claims, and then I think the whole concern will be closed except about 12 claims of absentees . . .

Col. Warre has acknowledged me. Probably 20 men or so will be sent out to Omata, and understuff cutting will begin for a good width on both sides of Rev. G. Bayly's road. It is not improbable that the Taranakis may object as they call the Waireka stream and a line running just inside the thick bush right away to Waitara their boundary. Pardon my stupidity I cannot help it - I am to be overhauled by two doctors in 1/2 an hour and then I shall know what is my condition ... I have been obliged to remain at home altogether for many days and now I am rather here for reference and to sign my name than anything else.

1862/38

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Mary Richmond to J. C. Richmond - - - Nelson, 12 Jul 1862

. . . All along I have urged Arthur's being a lawyer - but apart from that I should be much relieved by getting him and Maria and the children and as many more as possible away from Taranaki for a time ... It seems as if war was almost inevitable At any time it would have been painful to have one's relations in a place where they would be called upon to fight, but now when one has such a distrust for the Government and of how the war will be conducted one is more than ever loth that they should be engaged in it ... I suppose our going to England is not practicable - even if we made up our minds to leave all here at once. . . .

It makes one melancholy to hear such a politician as Mr Bell talk. Such as he would hardly save a nation.

1862/39

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, Tu 15 Jul 1862

. . . Bill has been talking about Waireka to Komene who was there. He confirms the ... trenches were full of natives (hiding) during the whole time of the storming, but he thinks it had a favourable effect on our position, as it diverted their minds from the ambush it was intended to lay for us in the gully. They would have got us in rather an awkward position if they carried out their intention. He speaks approvingly of the 'Miritia' as having a just confidence in their guns which they know to be 'he rakau kaha' (say 'an efficient weapon') and being in such good company he (the militia man) when he sees the enemy goes on nothing doubting, but a soldier is said to look over his shoulder to see what is going on behind as well - in which according to Komene he does not show a proper consciousness of the sufficiency of his weapon for the emergency.

v 33

C. Brown to H. A. Atkinson, M.H.R. - - - New Plymouth, 16 Jul 1862

... I would suggest for your consideration if limiting the security for the principal to the land revenue will not be open to this objection, which will no doubt be urged by the Native party, that we are practically offering the Native land as security, that we are in fact framing an inducement to the Colony to take the land from the Natives and give it to us; of course I have not this objection myself, but Mrs Grundy is a strong woman, and we had therefore better mind what she says. What say you of this? . . .

F. A. C[arrington] showed me a letter from Bob Erangi yesterday. The Southern Natives have had a meeting and determined to take possession of the land on the south side of the Waireka, and make a kainga where the Omata Church used to stand . . . Bob urges that the work should be commenced on the south of the Waireka, so that the onus of commencing the offensive be thrown on the Natives.

Col Warre wished me to take the commd. and I thought it advisable also, because there are, I understand, many who say they won't go out again, and in my position,

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my example is of more value than anything I can say, or more than any others, and all I have left now determines with my life.

Burton is to go for three months ... he doubts ever coming back; I think myself his return is very doubtful.

It is very necessary to have another captain or two of Militia, as a first move I am going to propose Good for a captaincy; taking the senior lieut. of Voltrs, gives me an excuse for passing over the Militia Its. who are none of them so fit for it as Good ... I asked Messenger if he would like me to recommend for Lieut, and take his chance of being potted, or keep to the Office and give up his commission. He said he should not like to be potted, but he would not be out of it, so parson and clerk will be in the field. I spoke to Mrs McKellar about Lt. A. McKellar, she told me his health will not allow him to come back. I think he ought to be made a capt of Mil. at Canterbury.

1862/40

G. R. Burton to H. A. Atkinson - - - New Plymouth, 16 Jul 1862

The doctors have been putting me under an examination, the result of which is that my left lung is in their opinion slightly diseased - that if I go away at once to a drier climate (Morton Bay recommended) and take care of myself, I shall be alright, but if not it may and will spread too far.

I have applied to the Colonel and it was put in garrison orders on 13th that I have leave of absence for 3 months on sick certificate subject to the approval of the Colonial Government and the Lt. General Commanding ... so of course I do not wait but am off to Auckland by Queen on 26th, and hope to be in Sydney by August 8th . . . The Government must make some fresh arrangements . . . They have half killed me.

You will hear nothing more of me for months I suppose. I intend to get out of the world of N.Z. 18

1862/41

Maria Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Taranaki, 16 Jul 1862

You would guess what a relief it was to me to see Mr Bell, ... I supposed that all the Auckland members were on board the unfortunate White Swan with the ministers, and was therefore much surprised when Mr [C.J.] Taylor and Mr Bell appeared and the news that Mrs Sewell, whom I have been commiserating, was safely at home was a great pleasure, she will be a great comfort to Mrs Bell.

1862/42

W. Halse to H. A. Atkinson - - - New Plymouth, 17 Jul 1862

. . . Friend Burton goes on three month's leave ... It is, I fear a running away from death . . . Burton is of the true grit and we can ill spare him even for the limited leave . . . The applications for relief are coming in fast now. Many men who

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were too independent to ask favour of even government are feeling the pressure of this continued suspense which is far more ruinous than war. The relief money is I fear spent, and the little realised from sale of stock etc. We owe much to Taranaki and Ngatiruanui and live in hope that in the spring they will be called to account. Not that I think a shot can be fired in this country without occasioning a general blaze, but 'what will be, will be' . . .

The natives are . . . most hostile. They, (the Southerns of course) have decided on handing over the whole of our land, including the Town, to his black majesty who can't [be] such a fool as to accept it, though fool enough not to see his countrymen's interests . . . May they have strength of mind to stick to their determination, say I, and to reoccupy Waireka, which they talk of doing. I can plainly see the Government have a plan for the unravelment of all these twists, and that time is an effectual part of it. May no one here do aught to precipitate it. A time of reckoning must surely come to these off scouring tribes, or there is no justice on earth. The most absolute terrorism prevails amongst themselves. Parris tells me there are men including Matakatea anxious to come over, but this could not be accomplished without forfeiture of their lands even if they escape with their lives. . . .

Our Book Society opened last Monday. C. Brown assumed command of Militia and commences with a down on Frank Standish for that affair with a Maori free and easy, which the Natives themselves exonerate him from.

1862/44

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, Th 17 Jul 1862

. . . Talked with Henry about his adopting little half-caste Brown - recommended that the adoption should at first be a simple understanding to provide for it to set it on its legs that it may run alone, as if hereafter it becomes really one of the family an adoption in its true sense will be still open to them ... In evg. read Hunter Brown's report on the Urewera. It is very interesting. The Maori part is of course Fulloon's.

F 18 Jul ... At breakfast read to Maria Gorst's Rept on the state of Upper Waikato. The conclusion especially is admirable. He sees differently now to what he did a year ago when he was looking through the Bishop's & Sir W. Martin's spectacles

v 33

A. S. Atkinson to H. A. Atkinson - - - Taranaki, 17 Jul 1862

James . . . will have told you of William's having renewed his offer to me about Otago. Talk with him about it and let me know what is right. I don't want to break up the mob but to do what is for the common good. You are both rash fellows so do not mistake your first crude impression for the kernel of the matter. . . . Our negroes are going on satisfactorily. The great meeting at Kapouiaia has confirmed the intimations given in the Herald. Road making beyond Waireka to be resisted. No pakeha to be allowed beyond a line which will include (for them) most of the bush.

1862/43

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J. C. Richmond, to Mary Richmond - - - Wellington, 18 Jul 1862

The chances of seeing him [C. W. Richmond] again are sadly remote. Unless indeed I accept a proposition made by Dr Menzies that I should go and take the Southland paper which is going out of Smallfield's hands. . . .

I cannot describe to you the difference that William's absence makes to me. The very soul seems gone out of the House. I miss hourly his eager eyes and voice and can find nothing to rest upon. Weld is not up yet: he will be a great comfort to me. Domett is as usual trenchant and sensible and I think stirs more this session, perhaps owing to C.W.R's absence. Fitzgerald is quite a surprise to me and gives me mixed pain and pleasure. He is not the nervous bright eyed man I had imagined, but rather of the lymphatic look, pale blue grey eyes, light hair half grey, a heavy body and 6 feet high or near it. He is constantly joking, and very well he jokes, a thoroughly Irish genius I think. He pursues theories to destruction and has no idea of 'limiting his efforts to the possible'. He greatly loves to have sympathy in his schemes, and I fear generally gets very little. He has a scheme for the native difficulty on the same general basis as the policy of 1858 and ... I am inclined strongly to back him. He would adopt the King movement, and furnish it with means. By this he would reckon better to bring about a reductio ad absurdum of the thing, or if it has enough life to effect any organisation and establish a power, he would hope to rule it by means of the purse strings, and at all events to give some few chiefs such a taste of the pleasures of position, as to enter the small edge of the wedge in respect of land sales, . . . though I think it as likely as anything ... to produce a peaceable result I cannot take it with all the adjuncts he insists on - what he calls complete responsibility of the Colony, command of the troops or withdrawal of them. The Colony will not hear of it, nor the Mother Country. . . .

19 Jul I quite agree that Arthur should go down to Dunedin ... If war is imminent he is best out of it, and if we are to resume for a time the purely temporising policy . . . the settlement of Taranaki cannot revive and is no place for him. It would then be quite on the cards that all our people in the broad sense should go and form a new Taranaki in Southland.

We had an interview with Grey yesterday. The old fox has very likely no plan, and his reticent air is perhaps only a screen for vacancy. He is wonderfully pleasant. . . . But Fitzgerald is my delight, he is a fine supplement to Domett. A walk with him on these hills is a great treat. His manner is quite free from assumption or anything that repels, he is as full of antics as if he were a young thing of Annie's age and full of health. I can hardly persuade myself he is my 'audacious writer' in the Press. All he writes is written off hand and, it is difficult to imagine that he is ever venomous in heart. But he is brilliant and bold and gives his fancies the rein.

1862/45

C. W. Richmond to T. King - - - Dunedin, 19 Jid 1862

I agree with you and James, and the rest of the runanga that my success or in

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the representation of the town, if unfit, will be worse than useless. 19 For all this, I do not think I should be justified, under the circumstances, in witholding my resignation. If I had not made up my mind to abandon politics it might be different. The people might say, 'for the sake of keeping you, we dispense with your attendance for this one session'. But it can never be their wish that I should continue to hold the seat when I tell them that I do not mean to enter the House of Representatives again. And unless it were their wish I could not think of retaining my seat.

I send you another copy of my resignation in case James should have lost the one I sent him. I do this because I wish to put myself in your hands as to the time of doing the deed and the manner. On the spot you can better judge than I can of what will best serve the interests which we all have at heart.

I am delighted at your connection with the Bank of N.Z. 20 Russell and I had a talk about you and he has a high opinion of you. I believe 'a career' as the French say 'is open' to you there - one for which you are every way fitted.

Tom Gillies and I. . . have taken the building just vacated by the Bank of N.S.W. and are . . . doing a very large business already with every prospect of its development to an extent which we shall find it difficult to cope with.

1862/46

C. W. Richmond to A. S. Atkinson - - - Dunedin, 20 Jul 1862

On the whole, I say, that the climate of Dunedin does not suit me . . . and consequently that I intend to leave the place as soon as I have realised a little money. Something we must leave to chance (or shall we say Providence) in human affairs. I fully expect you will make good your own footing when once introduced here.

You are under a mistake in supposing that three years service will qualify. Three years pupilage to a barrister (practicing exclusively as such) will suffice, but there is no such animal in N.Z. as a barrister who practices exclusively as such. Here I am a mere sol[icitor] and you would have to serve 5 years . . .

Living on the whole [is] some 50 per cent above Auckland prices, but likely to be lower as the market gets organised.

1862/47

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, Tu 22 Jul 1862

. . . Called in at the Nat. Off. there saw Wi Kingi's daughter, Pene his son-in-law & Rua, commonly called Te Roite (Lloyd). The two latter were by when Lieut Brookes was killed 21 ... He was up to his shoulders in the swamp, & thinking the case desperate, I suppose, offered to give up his sword holding it out hilt foremost to them; but they said 'if we stretch out our hand to take it he will bring the other end down upon us.' Just then a soldier near him shot one of them dead and wounded Tamehana 22 and this of course sealed his fate - even if it had been doubtful before. In the afn. . . . found

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two men who had been at Waireka . . . One or two things they brought within the regions of knowledge . . . The . . . 'three pounder' that interested us so much was as we supposed Messenger's blunderbuss which they had found in his house. They say that if the attack on Burton's hill had been made while they were there . .. they must have suffered great loss, as they were not at all in a state for defence. A little Caesar & other delectations in the evg.

M 28 Jul... W. Kingi Matakatea of Umuroa has been in bad odour with the rest of the Taranaki since he renounced the King. Last week one of his men was pulled off his horse & the horse itself was stabbed so that it afterwards died. W. King threatens vengeance. Parris thinks he could raise 100 men, which is a considerable part of Taranaki. He is also related to Ngatiruanui. It will be curious if they get to loggerheads among themselves . . .

v 33

R. Pitcairn to H. A. Atkinson - - - 30 Blessington Rd., Lee, Kent, 26 Jul 1862

I have tried to see Morshead . . . some of the persons connected with the old country had not yet been quite got rid of. Morshead said that Samuels had no claim on the company ... I have been this morning with a large iron master about the sand, he ... is going into the matter with some others in the North so I don't expect much difficulty or delay after we get all settled about the title. If we can get it in our own names it will be so much the better . . . they will be perfectly willing to give something in shares for the lease and the trouble of getting up the compy. ... I will take care that your trouble has not been for nothing but that you shall have some of the shares that we get. . . .

Discount is again down to 2 per cent ... so this is a very favourable time for getting people to come forward . . .

I also hope to hear about the Nelson sand and whether it is good and we can get it - if so I shall try and work them in conjuction if possible.

The Northerners [in the United States] have lately been getting much the worse of it much to the satisfaction of all here.

1862/48

L. A. Hammerton to H. A. Atkinson (M.H.R.) - - - New Plymouth, 28 Jul 1862

... I should be glad if you would use your influence with the members of the Government to procure my appointment to the register office here either as deputy registrar, clerk or whatever the addition may be ... I was intended to be a member of the legal profession. I served as an articled clerk in England four years and after serving here one year wrote . . . about being admitted and was informed in reply that my having served 4 years in England would be of no avail here as I had been articled to a solicitor ... I was again in 1859 articled to my Father and his death in 1861 again cancelled my articles after serving another year and a half... Since serving my last articles the law with regard to service of part in England has been altered and I

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could pass now by being articled to some solicitor for i year but in consequence of my losses I am not able to do so as articled clerks generally have to give a premium instead of receiving a salary and in addition I would have to support myself and family . . . during that time ... I am now living on the little I have left aided by my salary as 'clerk to select committees'.

1862/49

J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Wellington, 30 Jul 1862

I have been a good deal out of sorts with late hours and excitements and with the attempt to make reports for Elliott, in which I have signally failed . . . All . . . look on the runanga system as a mere cloke for the waiting policy, and the idea of Grey standing by 'in a Mephistophelian spirit' is one not peculiar to the Nelson Examiner . . .

You can imagine the state of growling and discontent that Domett is in, strenuously resisting the attempt to make him 'the pillar of the people's hope'. He was stopping with Mantell when the message from the Governor came asking him to go and advise on the formation of a Ministry. After starting he turned round and asked Mantell 'Don't you think its yielding too much to rotten conventionalities to go?' Fitzgerald is bent on getting him to ask Fox to join, and Domett is half inclined to it, in order to stave off the abominable wrangling that the Wellington men are sure to raise if in opposition. I am willing to support Domett, let him choose what colleagues he will, but there are a large number who absolutely detest Fox. . . . On the whole my hope is that a Ministry may be formed without him so as to carry on through the session and that the country on a new election may pronounce clearly as to him and his courses. I have been up late continually in conferences and conspiracies on the crisis. . . .

You will be glad to hear that I am chairman of the audit committee and shall earn my money very easily as the books and vouchers are all gone to the bottom in the wreck of the W. Swan. I have mastered the mysteries of the accounts . . . and feel equal to my business, which is a great satisfaction. I have also made a simple suggestion for clearing up the printed statement of account to the vulgar comprehension, which meets the approval of my colleagues Fitzherbert and O'Rorke.

You will be glad to hear that Taranaki is looking up in the legislature. A considerable number of influential men advocate the fullest recognition of our claims and Governor Grey unites in this without hesitation, going so far as to say that it is a good claim whether against the Colony or the Empire. I believe that if we can get Domett in the saddle some bold and practical schemes may be carried. I am doing all I can to press the notion of a large organised immigration of men under engagement for five years to occupy the frontier country north and south as semi-military garrisons - the consideration to be in work and land ... I can hardly understand how it has escaped Fox, but perhaps Grey is afraid of it and resolved on pancakes and nothing but pancakes for thatching Groly pool. I am so possessed with the practical

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character of the scheme that I quite wish to be in office to forward it. I need not tell you not to breathe such an idea to anyone. It seems to me that it is utterly unfit for anyone to make the least direct move to such a thing and if a man does not suggest himself to his neighbours by his previous evidences of fitness, it is not often that he is fit. ... It is just possible but not very likely that I may be asked to join in a ministry. Not very likely because by name and previous action in the House I am not calculated to disarm opposition, which is at this moment the most important requirement in a minister.

Hal is rising in estimation in the House, and has been named by various people among possible ministers. His clear and decisive manner gives confidence, and he has been paying attention to a dry subject which few have any knowledge of, the standing orders of the House and of Parliament. . . .

1862/50

H. A. Atkinson to A. S. Atkinson - - - Wellington, 31 Jul 1862

. . . We have as yet done nothing in the way of work but have turned Fox out. His Ministry was so very rotten that it could not stand the least pressure. Domett will come in very strong this I have just heard it is the last news (10 a.m.) Fox is said to be going to Wanganui and gives up all idea of taking a leading part this session. . . . I can as yet say nothing about who will go in with Domett. We have had great trouble to get him up to the mark.

He is the very man for us 23 he will see us through our difficulties . . . The Auckland papers will have the only readable accounts of the debates; they have good reporters here. The Cross & N.Z are working together. . . .

v 6, p 9

Mary Richmond to J. C. Richmond - - - Nelson, 31 Jul 1862

We are anxious ... to know what our side has made up its mind to do. I hope it will manage somehow to concentrate its energies and have some real union and not merely be a collection of separate individuals ... If a change of Ministry is effected, could not Mr Domett be induced to go in? It always seems he is one of the real statesmen of the country and ought to be made to take his place. ... Mr Gorst's report . . . I must say is more than I expected of him. It is wider in its view and much more impartial and philosophical than I thought it would be. He confesses, you see, to having gone to Waikato with a very different view of the matter, but then it shows a candid liberal mind to have been open to conviction. . . . His account certainly gives me a strong impression of truth. . . .

I can fully understand how you must miss William - he was the soul of the house and his eager eyes (I am very much taken with your vivid words) the light of the house. I never admired him so much as in that old corner. His face and eyes were quite beautiful at times - the spirit shone out so clearly - you almost forgot the

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body. ... I am glad to think you have Mr Weld now. I have a great liking for him - he seems to me like a Bayard, or some such gentle and honour-loving knight come to the nineteenth century - most refreshing to look upon especially in this new country. . . .

Aug 2 Saturday. Late last night Mr Hibble knocked at our door bringing your letter and the exciting and delightful news that the Fox Ministry was out and Mr Domett likely to go in. I cannot tell you how pleased I am. Any possible ministry would be a change for the better, but to have Mr Domett in is excellent. . . .

About your joining the ministry, if you should be asked, I hardly know what to say, dear Jas. I am sure you are the right man for it . . . but I am doubtful about your health whether the wear and tear would not be too much for you. You and William are so painstaking, and take all these political affairs so much to heart that I am afraid for you. You must judge whether the work would be more trying to you than the newspaper ... If the ministry were broken up again, no doubt some newspaper office would open its doors to receive you. . . . Why is not Mr Weld proposed? Mr Domett, Mr Weld, you, would make a splendid ministry. . . .

I am shocked at the idea of your even endeavouring to report. ... I don't know what you can be thinking of to try. To be special correspondent - editor - member and committee man surely is enough without attempting the work of reporter. Let Mr Elliott get the speeches from the Wellington papers.

1862/51

C. Brown (Superintendent), to H. A. Atkinson - - - New Plymouth, 2 Aug 1862

Burton is going away on sick leave and I have taken command of the Mil.

The road beyond the O[mata] stockade is not to be proceeded with yet, which I am glad of, for if there is a doubt about hostilities, let us have them in fine weather.

I have written to Col. Balneavis for 500 great coats, and an authority for the purchase and making up of 500 suits of Nelson tweed for the M and V to be repayed by a stoppage of 3d. a day, which will repay it in less than a twelvemonth. . . .

You have some walnut trees at Hurworth, will you put a price on them and let me have them; it is doubtful if they will transplant without some loss now, next year the chances will be worse. . . .

Nelson tweed is made in more than one colour, you and Watt had better think over in what way you would like my proposition modified for the Vol. that need not interfere with its being sanctioned.

1862/52

W. Halse to H. A. Atkinson - - - New Plymouth, 2 Aug 1862

I have sent by the present post . . . the 'Military Claims' . . . Should the Govt, decide on getting a vote and dealing with the claims, leaving the question to 'future adjustment' it will be necessary to appoint a board to formally enquire into their

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correctness. . . . You may have a slight conception of the mountainous nature of the job. This pile alone in Chilman's office was 1 1/2 feet high. . . .

Fred Carrington is levelling some hillocks in the town, and doing something about Herekawa, though this seems better suited for a gentleman's park (as does most of his road making, so completely in its place is every stone) than for the rough roads that should serve us in our present plight.

1862/53

Jane Maria Atkinson to Margaret Taylor - - - Taranaki, 3 Aug 1862

I can't bear to think that you live so deprived of all musical food and that the last remaining years of your voice are being wasted. . . . Arthur's vocal performances are all that I rejoice in just now of the German school, 'Im thal' and 'Im Wald' are his favorites, when at outdoor work . . . Fesca and Schubert he quite appreciates, Mendelssohn and Beethoven, but I don't think he cares for either Mozart or Haydn. ...

When at Auckland we treated overselves to 4 volumes of Carlyle's Miscellanies, and his translation . . . The consequence has been that Ar is fired with an ambition to study Richter some day in the original; in vain I damp his ardour with accounts of the tremendous difficulties to be surmounted . . . Arthur has such a real love for the study of language it seems a pity he should not spend his time in a great degree upon it. He has now got a character as almost a learned Maori scholar having only been much occupied about the language for two years . . .

Aug 5 . . . William, or rather the firm of Richmond and Gillies, offer to take Arthur as articled clerk . . . Altho' living is very expensive in Dunedin we expect to get on very well with £200 a year (you know we have £1000 invested at Canterbury which happily brings us a hundred a year regularly independent of Northern troubles . . . We hope with £102 compensation money and £100 still left from Aunt Wright's legacy to put up a little box which will hold us 4. ... I have always felt the greatest wish to see Arthur learning to be a lawyer with William, but then I have always pictured it as happening here, with our set unbroken, and our own land and possessions still ours. Now we are in a great measure taking a leap in the dark. . . . In three years Arthur will be able to practice ... I support myself in leaving Taranaki with the idea that if the poor little Province survives the next 3 years and has recovered from the state of coma in which it is now plunged, that we can return with a tolerable certainty of Arthur's doing a good business here as solicitor . . .

We shall feel it best to delay our return home [to Taranaki] until we can come as independent gentle folks to improve and beautify our property for our pleasure, not our profit . . . My second fear is that our removal may tend to the further dissolution of our Mob, since every one that leaves takes away one more inducement to the rest to remain. However they all know we are Taranakians at heart, and that nothing will hinder our return except it be of a nature also to drive them all away. I have a very strong motive . . . beyond my wish for Ar's entering on a settled business, and that is the belief that there must be more fighting here before the place can ever become

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even moderately prosperous. When hostilities recommence the civilian force will again be used and . . . there seems abundant probability of another series of mistakes being enacted, perhaps this time of a rash and hasty character, since the slow and do-nothing style is universally condemned. The idea of having Arthur act as part of a Volunteer advanced guard, is . . . anything but attractive. ... I wish all our men could find employment elsewhere. I dread the next campaign and yet I see no hope for the future of the whole Northern Island if the marauding murdering tribes south of us are to be let off scot free. ... I believe it will be a sounder state of society when each individual does his own defence - but the mixture of regular military men, with their cut and dried notions, their hopeless thick-headedness, amongst the irregular officers and men, who could really do the business here far better without their control, is galling to witness.

Aug 8 . . . The news from Wellington has given us great satisfaction, the Fox Ministry has at once fallen ... it required a great deal of bullying from his friends and supporters to make Mr D[omett] consent to take office. He is an old acquaintance of Sir G. Grey's and always had friendly relations with him, at the same time he . . . will never allow himself to be made a cat's paw of as Mr Fox and his colleagues were to the disgrace of the Colony.

1862/54

Mrs Harriett Gore Browne to Mary Richmond - - - Tasmania, 7 Aug 1862

I must say I have a profound belief in Sir George's mesmeric power. He is absolutely unscrupulous and while he gains one by flattery he will frighten another by threatening, convince a third by his arguments and buy a fourth by his favors. I know how he deceived me by his cordial hearty approval of Col Browne, the value of which we can now estimate by the printed despatches, and I believe there is no doubt but that he has silenced the people of Auckland by threatening to remove the troops to Wellington, a threat the foolish people were geese enough to believe, and so I fear men's eyes may be blinded. . . .

When I was reading to a dozen dying women in the hospital the other day I was much startled by coming across an answer to one of her [Anneliz] questions 'I say God does not send you sickness, God wishes you to be healthy in body as well as soul'. The book I was reading was one of Kingsley's volumes of sermons and I hardly knew what effect it would have on the poor sick creatures I was reading to, but it did not seem to puzzle them as it did me. Surely we cannot admit that a power distinct from God can do to his creatures what is displeasing to Him? I should certainly prefer believing that the pain as well as the pleasure comes from the Father in Heaven and will be all for the good, but it puzzles me how to receive and bear troubles that seem to come from sin and from our fellow men, and yet I think practically I have found them useful too, so we are driven to Mr Tancred's optimist views. . . .

Col Browne has his public office in town where he goes every Monday and Thursday so that people very seldom come to him in the country and I therefore make

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his study my morning room and only migrate to the drawing-room when a crowd of morning visitors take me there. It is a very pretty room with your husband's water color framed and put upon a stand in the middle of the room and the large photograph of the House of Assembly in N.Z. occupying another prominent place.

We always breakfast at nine to a moment, and then after ordering dinner we all dawdle out with the bairns to feed the chickens and stroll round the garden; then on Mondays and Thursdays we go to town, sometimes driving, sometimes walking, Col Browne doing his business at the office and I teaching a class at the ragged school and paying visits till he is ready to go home. On Mondays I have a music practice . . . about 20 people come and our contraltos and sopranos are excellent. Weber's Oberon is our study at present. On Thursdays some very nice good girls come to read Whately's essays on Bacon and they do us all good. . . .

I am sorry to say that I am patroness of 4 societies - A female refuge, Ragged schools, Orphan Asylum and Dorcas society. The 3 first are new brooms so that in order to make them sweep clean, great exertion is necessary and I am not up to working with committees, and do not understand my duty as president. . . . The Roman Catholics and Dissenters seem to have a natural antipathy and always go different ways, and I am inclined at present to think that whatever may be best for countries, an enlightened despotism is the best thing for societies and I enjoy my ragged school class and my hospital reading more than all the societies put together.

Our session began on the 22nd of July and there is a desperate fight going on, as if there really was anything to fight about beyond petty questions of reduction etc. It seems so strange to us to feel how small the questions at issue are, and how much more deeply we are interested in those of N.Z. ...

Capt. Steward is absent on a hunting expedition, Miss Atkyns has gone to a ball and Miss Greenwood is reading Tom Brown at Oxford aloud to Col Browne who is sitting by the fire and every now and then I have to stop to listen to some very good bit and have lost the thread of my own discourse. . . . Tell Miss [Annie] Smith I am so grieved to hear she is going to leave you. She was a gleam of sunshine among the clouds. Tell her I should like to hear the witches' dance and have got an Erard piano now.

1862/55

J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Garwith's Hotel, Wellington, 7 Aug 1862

I will . . . answer your question about my body. It is situated in a little public house called by courtesy an hotel at the higher part of the town and near the north end. The house is an L in form and the bar occupies one end so that the other limb, containing three parlors and several bedrooms let to Colenso and Dr Knight, Stafford and Weld, and Hal and myself, is out of the way of the noise. But, moreover, it is not a boisterous public house, being high above the wharf and far from the barracks. I live very regularly on the whole and get exercise and I am much better in health . . . yet quite unfit for the incessant toil needed to make a figure in the Assembly.

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We had an eloquent speech from Fitzgerald yesterday on Maori policy. 24 I suppose speaking with reference to the smallness of all human things one may say a splendid speech. I should think it is rare to hear such an one in even the Imperial Parliament. ... It was the speech of an able, imaginative, generous advocate, and left out of sight the qualifications which a practical statesman is obliged to admit. Yet as a general declaration that we have arrived at our political majority and have the solemn duties of our position to take up, and as exhibiting the grounds of hope apart from those of misgiving as to the future of the natives, it could hardly be improved upon. . . .

There is ... a startling despatch from the Duke of Newcastle . . . He seems to be taking the tone of the Goldwin Smith party and to hint at an early virtual severance. I think he will not press the thing so far as that at any early date, and when he does Exeter Hall and a large party outside will have something to say. Yet the mere conception of the thing by a Secretary of State for the Colonies is a very marked sign of the times.

1862/56

C. Brown to H. A. Atkinson - - - New Plymouth, 9 Aug 1862

There was a strong and angry feeling here at Sir G. G. having omitted all condolence or sympathy with our losses and sufferings, in his speech to the Assembly; civility it is said costs nothing, Sir G. G. ought to have known or remembered that sympathy expressed for the Taranaki people would have cost nothing and would from him have had the good effect that civility from others in other cases has. . . .

Poor Burton died at midday last Monday ... I feel no doubt that the war was the cause of his death, he was only 37 years of age. Mrs Burton did not wish a military funeral, as she only wished those to attend who would do so without being ordered. . . . Col Warre had a bad cold, and therefore met the funeral near the cemetery, he offered the 57th band, but for the reason given, Stapp said he did not think it would meet Mrs Burton's wishes.

Since the Col. has returned from Auckland, an excellent understanding has existed between Military, Militia and civil authorities. I do not see what you propose to gain by the motion you have made for the correspondence about Stapp's arrest, I am afraid it may produce a coolness between you and the Col. that I was anxious to see avoided . . .

We have asked for £200,000, because the Relief of 3/- in the £ is all gone. . . . The Provl Govt, is holding as trustee the sums realised for unclaimed cattle and sheep, this unless the Southern natives are squeezed, will not I think reach a £100.

1862/57

W. Halse to H. A. Atkinson - - - New Plymouth, 9 Aug 1862

. . . The conviction is that poor Burton's death is solely attributable to the war. His command at Omata was a very anxious one, and the exposure of the stockade

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tried the soundest constitutions. Is there any probability of his important services there being recognised by the Government? He had a great deal to do with the stockade, its construction etc., was a most vigilant officer, and had the entire confidence of the garrison.

Our Council are very wroth at the Governor's silence respecting Taranaki in his address. . . . Meanwhile matters with us are deplorable, our most substantial and thrifty men coming in, as the shoe pinches, for rations. As Pheney said some weeks since, the policy is making one large union of the place. Amongst the recipients are Arthur Hoskin, Charles Sampson, Richard Langman, James Dingle, all landowners and once prosperous farmers. There must be by this time upwards of 100 names on the relief list. I . . . see grounds for fearing that the past is not to be redressed, and that we are to be left, as we are, until the natives weary of opposition.

1862/58

W. K. Hulke to H. A. Atkinson, M.H.R. - - - New Plymouth, 9 Aug 1862

You are, I see, doing something about a new Militia bill. C. Brown and others have suggested the introduction of a clause to permit the purchase of exemptions. This will make it more acceptable, and really do good - say £20. It will enable substitutes to be provided by Government and as you well know, will not really prevent the person who buys his discharge, volunteering on every occasion. Yesterday the battle about the iron-sand leases came off - 3 voted in favor of Morshead - 8 against so they are lapsed if we can do it legally. Gledhill is up in arms about it. Samuel yesterday nominated Halse, Watt and Weston to seats on his board of management believing he had made it alright. I have little doubt but that there will be a law suit about it . . .

1862/59

J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Wellington, 13 Aug 1862

I think Domett will stand. I have not been tempted in the ministerial way. We felt it to be likely to weaken Domett if anyone conspicuously attached to the late Stafford Ministry should be with him and my name more than my merits were against

1862/60

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, F 15 Aug 1862

Got ready about 9.30 embarked in Richards' cart (Blanche, Maria, Ruth, Edie & I) to look at Hurworth again - Edie never yet having seen it consciously & Maria not since the war & the disappearance of the houses ... It was one of the finest days we have had since we have been here, 'the heavens laughed with us in our jubilee.' We went to our place, drank to our next merry meetings in the Awatuna & had dinner on the little hill. After that I dug to find buried crockery until we started to go back, but did not hit on the right place . . .

v 34

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J. C. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Wellington, 15 Aug 1862

You are much disgusted I dare say that poor old Dom[ett] should have been shoved into the miserable task of advising Her Majesty in this Colony. At such a moment Fox should no doubt in poetical justice have been allowed to drain the cup of failure . . . Fox really fell down without a blow. He could only count about 18 votes and we could count 20, the rest of the House was cross bench with that most eminent of cross benchers Fitzgerald, the veriest marplot, not except Sewell in the Colony . . . Fox saw he sat by sufferance and his pride was hurt. . . .

All sorts of difficulties are evident . . . arising out of our jarring constitution. But if Domett gets fairly at work he is quite able to fight them. He is now at work at an address to the Crown appealing against the late despatch of the D. of Newcastle. . . . Fitzgerald will of course ask us to accept the whole control, ask for the withdrawal of troops and absolute admission of natives to the freehold of their lands and the privileges of subjects. If words really represent the ideas they ought to represent this would be all right, but Fitzgerald knows nothing of the Maori question, and seems to think the natives a sort of oppressed! nationality that is to be won by granting certain well defined claims . . .

1862/61

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, F 22 Aug 1862

... In the evg. Henry & I attended a public meeting in the old Wesleyan Chapel for the formation of a Soc. for the improvement of young men . . .

S 23 Aug Corrected proofs before breakfast. Went up with Henry to Decy's shop to see Grayling smelt some iron sand, but he wasn't ready . . . Tamati Kaweora called in. He was telling me . . . how old Potatau (Te Wherowhero) had likened himself to a ruru mobbed by a flock of popokoteas, the latter representing Waikato worrying him to be King - how they flew round him crying 'ti, ti, ti, ti' 25 till out of weariness he consented.

v 34

C. Brown to H. A. Atkinson - - - New Plymouth, 23 Aug 1862

With respect to the command, it is with me more a matter of feeling; there are no officers of the M, V or 57th. whose noses I would follow in preference to my own in the field, except you and Major Butler. If you have the same feeling as regards my probosis, it is a toss up between us; if you have more confidence in your own, the command ought to be yours. I can see no other reasons, I think the Col. Govt, might reasonably hesitate to bestow a mark of approval on me, which might be regarded as an indirect blow to the military for their part in the Waireka affair, with you it could not be so, as I only appeared in the charges against Col. Murray. Moreover I think the Militia have less objection, none I may say, to take their officers from the Volts, while the Volts, (beginning with the senr. captain) would strongly object to a Militia

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officer being put over them. I think it is due to the Volts., to encourage them by . . . giving them the preference in promotion. Morrison is very savage with me for recommending Good for a captaincy . . .

Native Policy. The fault I have found with all the schemes for bringing the Natives under our institutions and modes of Govt, is, that it is always proposed to give them everything but the one that we all care about, the spending the money. The Govt, always retains this power, it is willing to pour money out like water, but the Govt, is to decide who the recipients shall be, and how much they shall have; this is the way to 'divide and conquer' by fostering the suspicions of the opposing natives, not the way to promote that fusion of races and cordial submission to the Govt, that will ensue on the power to appropriate money. The natives show, in everything they are doing, their imitative faculties. Give them a Native province, and a revenue at per head, or adult male, and I believe they will soon come into our system of Govt. . .

I would ascertain the amount they contribute to the revenue, and give them the whole of it. This could easily be done by taking the average of customs revenue per head in the Middle Island . . . that . . . would show pretty correctly the amount contributed by the Natives. I think the amount would be found to be about 10/- a head per annum. It would also answer the useful purpose of showing how much the Natives contribute, and how much they get from the liberality of the Outcasts of Great Britain.

The laws of the Colony, or Provinces, not to be in force in a Native province until passed by a Nat. Prov. Council etc . . .

1862/62

Maria Richmond to Emily E. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 23 Aug 1862

I am sure you would be glad to see Mr Domett dragged to his duty at last, 'better late than never'. I was thankful for James's escape. I doubt whether he could stand the toil of public affairs, and then the chance of being turned out again at any moment, after incurring the labour and expenses of another removal of his family.

I was much surprised to see Mr Gillies' name in the new Govt. It is supposed here he has only taken office temporarily 26 until his place can be filled up: if otherwise how will this effect William? Can he carry on his present large business alone? Unless Mr Gillies has made his fortune it seems incredible that he should give up his lucrative profession after being at such expense to establish himself for a position so uncertain in tenure . . .

1862/63

D. Atkinson to H. A. Atkinson - - - Taranaki, 24 Aug 1862

. . . C. Messenger was not able to change your bullocks so he has bought another one (for £20) to match the best of the two and is willing to let you have Dragon and Sunooker for them, but you will have to pay £20 and take the odd bullock. If you

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agree ... let me know at once. Greaves wants to buy Dragon and Sunooker, he offers £40 for them on trial and is to pay the hire if you do not agree to his terms.

1862/64

J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Wellington, 24 Aug 1862

... Mr Domett is quite firm in his position if he chooses to hold it, but he so hates the parliamentary part of the business that I can hardly feel sure of him till the session is over. He has offered me the commissionership of crown lands at Nelson, which puts me in a very great perplexity. I had, in my eagerness to get him to take office, agreed to take any duty, either temporary or permanent, that would make it more easy or agreeable for him to go in. Immediately after he had got in I felt it was a mistake, but just kept quiet, hoping nothing more would be said of it. But now he comes down and claims that I should take this commissionership. . . . It is . . . the one that I should consider most suitable . . . but I have a strong opinion that one should not take any permanent office under government whilst sitting in the Legislature. All the good I could ever hope to do in such a position would not counterbalance the mischief of its being commonly thought that all men who go into politics are venal and that I am an example of it. I told Domett I would take a temporary appointment, and if he retired from office soon, or if some fit man appeared, give the thing up again. But of course this could not be made public and so the obloquy would remain. I think I must communicate with my constituents about it . . . Domett and Stafford are highly contemptuous at my scruples, or rather Domett will not hear of them and pleads my promise.

Sunday evening . . . We are all wonderfully weary of this session . . . everyone is fidgetting to be off, and we are working overtime as mechanics say, usually sitting on Monday. There is a vast deal to do . . . The printers here make great bungling and delay.

Harry made a very good speech the other night on behalf of the petition of the Provincial Council of Taranaki for compensation. Fitzgerald was highly delighted at it and has asked him to contribute articles to the Press describing the war, to be afterwards published as a book. . . .

The past week has been on the whole fine ... It was very pleasant to pace up and down in front of the building now and then when tired out with talk. The House of Assembly here is a much better building than at Auckland. It contains two halls with a sort of degraded Gothic window in the gables, standing some distance apart and connected by a range of offices. The refreshment rooms are clean reputable places. It stands on a terrace some distance back from the water and has a good view over the town and harbour. In the direction of the Hutt valley it is very beautiful, the distance closed by the Tararua mounts - their peaks covered with their winter's coat. . . .

It would astonish you to see how some of the members bear up against the work, indeed laugh at it. There is a meeting almost every night in Bellamy's for singing and

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joking and drinking whisky toddy after the House rises. On the day of the great melodrama . . . 'the convivial' as they call it, was very brilliant. The incorrigible Mantell says that after the melodramatic entertainment, the House dropped the dramatic and became mellow. Hal and I stopped an hour to hear Fitzgerald sing 'Garry Owen' and 'St Patrick' and Carleton too was very great in the 'Arethusa'.

Fitzgerald is a capital artist but has lost his voice - no wonder if he always burns the candle at both ends as he does now. I never heard of a man in bad health taxing mind and body as he does but I suppose he can't help it. He has taken a dislike to me for which I am sorry but I can't help it. I think that Fitzgerald requires that you should be on his own level in abilities or else that you should defer to him. Now I look up to him as a man of genius and information but I am obliged to differ from him and cannot express my differences with brilliancy enough or effect enough to gain his respect so he has evidently taken to dislike me. I ought to have more wisdom and character at 40 than to care but I cannot conceal from myself that it pains me to be disliked by anybody that is not very bad or contemptible.

1862/65

W. Halse to H. A. Atkinson - - - New Plymouth, 25 Aug 1862

I am very much relieved to gather . . . that the rude memorial of our Superintendent and Council may not do us the harm I feared . . .

I have sent this vessel the Military claims numbering 126 . . . Poor Burton and I agreed to a draft report before his death . . .

Whiteley has been with me several times on the subject of getting his daughter divorced from the scoundrel who abandoned her 3 or 4 years since, and 2 young children. The man has several names always preserving the initials . . . and surname by which he was married to her ... I suggested that he should write asking if the Assembly would entertain a divorce bill, and I promised to write you on the subject. Should the answer be favourable, Whiteley will if necessary proceed to Wellington and give all information . . .

The Council and the Supt., are at loggerheads with 'Alonzo 27 the Timid' anent the road. One tells the working party that the road is to be stopped by them, and the other orders Hirst not to metal the road. Whatever Fred's demerits, he is the engineer, not the Council. ... It is quite time these expensive cross purposes were put a stop to.

I am glad to find that the subject of the appointment of superintendents is engaging the attention of the Imperial as well as our own Parliament. Between the two, the monstrous anomaly must be put an end to. Would James Richmond consent to be the nominee of Taranaki, think you?

Is it to be a brush or not, and do you want one of those beautiful revolvers? Dr Monro (in a private letter to C.B.) gives his opinion in favor of an expedition to the south.

1862/67

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H. A. Atkinson to A. S. Atkinson - - - Wellington, 28 Aug 1862

. . . We are now working all day on Mondays and Wednesdays (besides committees) and very seldom break up before midnight. For the last two nights it was just 2 before we got away. . . .

Owing to the fresh discovery of gold in Otago the members are, I am sorry to say, going off on Saturday, we are therefore pushing on all the measures they are most interested in. The Native lands bill too, has taken up a great deal of time . . . We have settled that direct individual purchase from the Natives is to be allowed . . . We three voted in the majority. 28

. . . You see I have gone in to support the [Taranaki] Memorial. It certainly is strong, but I do not think it has done us any harm by its tone, and it has given us something by which to bring things to a head. I have no doubt but the House will grant us the loan asked. I am decidedly of opinion that this is the best form in which we can ask for compensation. I feel satisfied that if it is once granted us that the Province will have to pay but a little back. FitzGerald was very complimentary about my speech. He thought he was up in the Taranaki question but he had no idea (so he said) of what had really taken place. He is very anxious that I should write him twelve articles for the Press upon the Taranaki war! ! ! He considers that it is very important that the truth should be known in England, he would write a preface to the articles, afterwards publish as a book, and undertake to have the book reviewed in the Times. ... He would give two guineas an article without the copyright. I told him . . . that I would talk the matter over with you all. I don't see why we could not do it between us all. It certainly would be nice to have the truth before the world.

William is to be offered the Otago judgeship, salary £1500 a year by this mail. . . . I have not seen Gillies to ask his opinion as to whether he thinks William will take it. I am inclined to think he had better, what do you think? . . .

P.S. Sewell is Attorney General, but without a seat in the cabinet. Domett can now do almost as he likes, the Wellington men have quite given up, as you will see by the speeches of the three F's. This of course is very much in our favor. Fox will I believe support us, but don't mention this. I have had a long talk with him upon the Taranaki question.

v 6, p 10

J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - House of Representatives, Wellington, 28 Aug 1862

We have had a good many sharp Political battles and late exciting sittings . . We had a long debate on a Native lands bill of the new ministry ... I made the longest! and I think the best speech I have made on this question, there was not much in it, but it was pretty connected and delivered easily and with more life than usual. I was rather amused to find nearly the same line of argument pursued at great length by Dr Featherston who came to the exact opposite conclusion. Domett made

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a capital speech, and Bell in reply was very effective . . . The division was 27 for, 10 against . . . the largest majority that ever passed a second reading of a political measure of importance in the Colony. I believe the bill if passed will be a perfect revolution, and will do more to settle the native difficulty than anything that has yet been dreamed of. ...

The last gold discoveries are making the Otago men very restless, 29 so we are anxious to get a vote tomorrow. I have made two small speeches since I began writing. . . .

Aug. 29. Friday morning. We adjourned at 12 last night. . . We lose Weld today he goes to Picton to a land sale . . . and he will get back to his little pre-Raphaelite lady and babies overland. It makes me dull to lose him: next to Domett I agree more entirely with Weld than with anyone else in the House: but Dom one cannot get to talk to now . . .

I have been teazed a great deal by several men on my side of the house for the obscurity of my speaking and voting. Stafford is very wroth, and a curious corroboration of the idea that I am an ambigouus man came the other day from Williamson, who asked me to go to Auckland and take the New Zealander. Stafford was highly amused and delivered me a long lecture on this text, declaring that all the House thought I was going to rat to Fox. ... I confess to a certain preference to voting with minorities, and feel doubtful when I find the majority is very strong on my side.

Domett continues to insist on my taking his commissionership and I have agreed if he will stay there I shall take it to keep his place warm for him, but I am far from satisfied to take it even on those terms.

Menzies has reiterated his offer about the Southland paper. He seems to anticipate a great and sudden progress at Invercargill from the opening of the Upper Molyneux goldfields. He says, 'Don't be tempted by any official position to throw away a chance of getting onto the tide in a rising place'. He had mentioned me to Heale, who is the surveyor of Southland, and Heale is very urgent that I should go. ... Gillies too says if I go down with him tomorrow he will put me in the way of making more money in the next two months than all the time I have been in the Colony - which is a very likely promise without being necessarily a very attractive one if the truth were known.

1862/68

A. Domett to C. W. Richmond - - - Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 29 Aug 1862

It is the intention of His Excellency the Governor to constitute a new district of the Supreme Court to comprise the southern portion of the Middle Island. It is therefore necessary to appoint a judge for the same.

There is no one in New Zealand whose appointment to such an office would give more general and wellgrounded satisfaction than that of yourself; nor any one who

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could better perform its duties or maintain its credit. I have therefore the honor to request you to be good enough to inform me whether you will accept this appointment.

v 6, p 11

Emily E. Richmond to A. S. Atkinson - - - Dunedin, 2 Sep 1862

You have heard I dare say that the Gt. have offered William the Otago judgeship. He strongly inclines to accept it . . . He desires me to tell you that you had better come and get a few months experience in the office which he cannot leave for three months or so if you are willing. . . .

You would I know have been the last to wish William to stand in his own light. The comparative rest of a judge's life is so attractive to him now. He looks forward with pleasure to having time really to study the law, with a £1,500 salary which will give him, we hope, a little spare money to buy books. Mr Gillies has . . . behaved so generously and handsomely that it quite afflicts William to think of leaving him with so much on his hands. . . .

Our poor manager [at Ida Valley Station] writes in a state of distraction. The diggers have come and insisted on having all the eatables they can get from him, and threaten to burn the place about his ears if he will give no more. Three men were killing and cutting up the fat sheep and selling the meat at 1 & 1/2d per lb on the spot, when we last heard. There is said to be great distress among the diggers; report says an ounce of gold being given upon the diggings for a pound of biscuit. William says he would like to go digging with Henry and you. Many men have thrown up good situations of £4 a week. Hitherto the clerks have remained firm, but these diggings unsettle people a good deal.

1862/69

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, W 3 Sep 1862

. . . Frank Ronalds (& Henry) came in with the news that there was a steamer ashore about fifty miles down near Whatino, & that Parris had gone down to try to get to the people who were reported to be on shore with W. Kingi Matakatea's people . . . Parris found it hopeless to try to get through the 'gate' 30 & so came back. Every one was talking of the expedition which the Colonel had ordered for tomorrow to fetch up the people from the wreck. There was much excitement & great hope that something was to be done at last, that we had come to the beginning of the end, but about 2 Parris got letters up to say that the Warea natives were themselves going down with their carts to fetch the people up - &c and at the same time it was seen that a boat was coming up from the southward, which soon came in, Capn. Bowden was in it. The steamer is the Worsley with the mail for England on board bound for Sydney via Manukau . . .

Th 4 Sep . . . Parris, Col. Warre, the Super & Gledhill & Cap Bowden rode down to try again to get through the 'gate' but were stopped, & Parris thinks nearly detained as well, but that they made a run for it on seeing rather suspicious movements of the

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enemy. They told Capn. Bowden as he came up by sea (to the Town) he might go back by it, but would not let them go on payment or no payment. They however wanted to be paid for the trespass in coming to the gate & were very insolent when they did not get it.

S 6 Sep ... In the afn. the first of the wrecked people came in, on horseback, & later one of the cargo boats came back & landed the women & children. They had picked them up at Tatara . . . Most of Taranaki was on the beach.

Su 7 Sep ... I spent great part of the morning in Town. The rest of the wrecked people were up & the bullock carts & horses by which they came, with their native owners - all the latter rebels. Settling accounts was going on & distribution of food. It was curious to see these fellows whom we have been trying to knock on the head industriously, for two years, & who have tried with equal industry to knock us on the head, here in the midst of us. They have constantly defied our authority (i.e of the law) & show no signs of any intention to abandon their old custom & before long we shall probably be at each others' throats again, but there was nothing like ill feeling shown & everything was settled quietly. They told Parris when at Tataraimaka that they had a bullock & horse belonging to the pakeha among those they were bringing up. Parris said they must not bring them into Town (as Graham 31 had promised that none of the cattle should be taken on this journey). The horse was his own - Kimikai 32 - & is called 'Te Hoari a Te Kawana'.

v 34

H. A. Atkinson to A. S. Atkinson - - - Wellington, 3 Sep 1862

. . . James moved the resolution I sent you in my last in a very good speech. After some talking upon the subject FitzGerald moved the one you will see in the Independent . . . this I am happy to say the House carried. Fox and John Williamson did not like to say that the Colony was in no way responsible for the war considering that the Stafford Ministry had advised the Governor upon the matter . . . FitzGerald would make no alteration, so they left the House as they would not vote against the resolution on our account. They are both behaving very well in this matter and are I believe anxious to do all they can to help us. A select committee . . . has been appointed . . . When Sewell was examined he spoke very favourably for us. I have been requested to report upon Sewell's award, showing where it falls short of our actual losses ... I am quite satisfied with the progress we are making . . .

v 6, p 12

J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Wellington, 3 Sep 1862

There is a grand ball tonight in the House which we are giving to the Wellington people. The rooms are very well got up and they are large handsome rooms although in a mongrel carpenter's gothic style of architecture ... I have had five pounds taken

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from me to pay the expenses, although I would have preferred the business of the session proceeding to any dozen balls. The Legislative Council chamber is to be the supper room and the H. of Reps the dancing room: eight musicians will play in the public gallery, and the old fogies will have cards in the speaker's room. Dr Menzies and Watt are the active spirits in the affair.

I shall go to report for dear Annie on the appearance and dresses of the pretty girls of Wellington. Miss Featherston is the best looking I have seen, a slight graceful figure with a neatly cut face and warmish auburn hair . . . Then there is a Miss Park whose eyes show very well through a dark veil and who gets a hold on Bell's easily captivated heart.

You will be glad to hear that we have had a vote equivalent to complete compensation for Taranaki ... I do not know how the Colony can put a sufficient premium on remaining there to have much effect unless Grey will say out manfully 'I intend to insist on the enlargement of the Provincial territory as punishment for the past aggressions of the Ngatiruanui and as strength and security for the future . . . He likes to be dark and enigmatical, or rather he prefers to be committed to nothing lest it should afterwards be said 'You failed'.

In connection with Taranaki I am greatly inclined to accept the commissionership of C. Lands. It would be an immense satisfaction to me to help a number of our poor people to resettle in the Grey country, as I should have opportunities of doing perhaps if I were in office . . . Dr Monro has spoken to me urging me to accept it, and Stafford wishes it too. However I shall wait ... to hear how far it falls in with the wishes of Robinson and his allies.

I think I told you Weld had gone and Fitzgerald, Richardson, Gillies and others. It makes one feel one's school days over again, it is like the last days of the half year when some lucky boys have already got off home and a few are hanging about the dusty school room.

I believe Bell is going to ask Arthur to take a place in the native office again. I suggested it should be the editing of the Maori Messenger and Bell assented. . . . In the Auckland papers you will see ... a discussion about the Maori Messenger in which I referred to C. O. Davis . . .

I went out to dinner last Saturday at Mr St. Hill's, brother of Windle and res. magt. here. He is a pleasant friendly little man. On Sunday I was at Mr Ludlam's at the R Hutt. otherwise known as 'Bricks'. He is an old settler, who has a nice farm at the lower part of the River. He is a capital sensible man of 45 or 50, intimate of Weld in old times. He is a botanist and has the finest collection of forest trees I have seen in New Zealand. His garden is well planned and in order and his house pretty.

1862/70

A. S. Atkinson to C. W. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 7 Sep 1862

. . . Bell says he is anxious to secure my help in the Nat. Dep. The only thing worth having, the Ed. Maori Mess[enger] I am not fit for and, besides, it would involve exile, and work among aliens.

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Even if you escape this judgeship there are worse dangers ahead - Premier - Governor or, what can't surely be far distant in these days of rapid development, first President of the New Zealand Republic . . . The substance of what I say is serious though the surface of it looks only absurd.

I suppose these Waikouaiti diggings will make living more difficult. Public affairs are looking much more cheerful. Fox's leaving the stage is like getting rid of a nightmare . . . Old Domett's consenting to govern us is a really great blessing. . . . If Mill's rule is a true one that those are most fit to rule who are least willing we have got the right man at last I think . . .

The day after we heard of the wreck when Parris was turned back at the 'gate' . . . though even the fate of the people was uncertain, Col Warre in a moment of enthusiasm ordered an expedition to be got ready to go to the rescue, and men moved cheerily abo.ut, believing that the question was at last to be tried. . . .

The trial did not come off, as our Warea friends sent word they were going to bring up the Pakehas in their carts, which they did. The payments were - a horse (for the journey) £4, a cart £5, crossing a river 2/6, royalty at the 'gate' 5/- each and 1/- the carts, guns and swords detained as contraband. Cap Bowden, who went round in a boat, not allowed to go on board his own vessel - the 1300 oz of gold not yet brought in. Graham (R) has gone in search.

1862/71

A. S. Atkinson to H. A. Atkinson - - - Taranaki, 8 Sep 1862

. . . FitzGerald's proposition about the articles is very good and should be entertained. We are bound to do something of the kind, if we can put it into decent shape - and we could not certainly have a better chance. Of course whoever does it you must lend the influence of your name on the title page. . . .

1862/72

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, W 10 Sep 1862

As this was the anniversary of the accession of Potatau, Parris & I rode out to Mataitawa to see them raise the King's flag there. At Bell Block we were joined by Lieut Waller . . . Passed Manutahi & went through the bush, smelling & looking as only bush can, but as we had been delayed on the road waiting for Tahana, we got there just after the flag had been hoisted & while the karakia were being chanted. They wound up with part of the church service or some other Pakeha prayers. We went into a whare & sat in state receiving visitors, that is the men of the place who came in one at a time to shake hands. A great many of them hongi'd with Parris & seemed very glad to see him.

After the reception we went outside where the hui was assembled. There was a little speaking - not very much - the sum of it all was this: 'Heoi ano te kupu ko te

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kingi ko te oneone 33 - varied a little in form by Tamati Reina of Ngatiruanui - 'Ko nga mea e taehatiana e au - ko te kingi, ko te oneone.' 34

(Flag illustration) The top which was the new flag was red & white with red cross & three squares with crosses on them and the word KINgI (with a very small G.) The middle one blue with three squares. The lowest like the top but with the words NIUTIRENI (no middle stroke to the E.)

Tamihana (of Kaipakopako) in speaking of the King movement stated as one of the causes of his distrust of the Governor the fact that he kept the pakehas in Town & did not send them back to their farms. This sounds curious.

They all spoke quite temperately & there was nothing the least approaching the least incivility to any of us. There were several notable characters present: Tamihana, Paora (known as little Paul) a firstrate fellow for fighting, Patukakariki, Erueti who proposed the murder of Parris at Urenui when he was saved by Epiha & Hone Pumipi, Obadiah who was present if not assisting when Crann was killed, Wi Kingi's son & daughter, Katatore's widow & others . . . This place during the war was looked upon as a great stronghold ... & so it might easily be made . . . [It] might have been seized at any time & all their plantations would have been at our mercy. It is a magnificent country. Round Manutahi especially it is the very perfection of land, . . . We wondered as we came along what it would be in fifty years. Alas alas, what shall we be?

Coming back Parris said what I think to a great extent is true, that the Natives as a whole are happier than we are. There is no doubt their minds are much more equable than ours. They have fewer interests & therefore fewer griefs. They have not our highest pleasures, nor our deepest woes . . . Their contentment with a little is a lesson to us ... I know this that going among [them] commonly makes me want to help in saving them, but it is not possible.

v 34

J. McDowall and Sons to R. Pitcairn - - - Johnstone, Scotland, n Sep 1862

We . . . enclose an engraving of a self acting circular saw bench adapted for a saw feet diameter, or any size under that. The framing is of iron, and 60 feet long, which is sufficient to cut timber 30 feet long without any shifting after it has been placed on the table. There are three rates of feed motion . . . The price without saws for one with a wood top is £120, or with a wrought iron top £150, the weight about 4 1/2 tons.

We make another bench adapted for a saw 6 feet diameter . . . very suitable for heavy timbers ... It is usually 60 feet long to cut 30 feet timber, the weight is fully 7.1/3 tons and the price £240 - saws not included ... A ten horse horizontal steam engine with boiler and everything complete . . . would cost about £240 . . . the cylinder 11 inches diameter, stroke 24 inches.

1862/73

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A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, S 13 Sep 1862

... In evg. read Miss Briggs' acct (in the Herald) of the wreck of the Worsley to Maria. It is curious to read the impressions of a person quite new to them, thrown among the Maories suddenly & in such a way . . .

v 34

J. C. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Wellington, 13 Sep 1862

. . . [Mr Justice] Johnston has said he will exchange from the Cook's Strait station if it is desired, and you could then live either at Nelson or Wellington, as the climate etc. suited. I hear the Otago men want a judge versed in criminal law, and not too mild. Gresson is thought too mild. ... If you prefer Cook's Straits ... it is probably open, if Gillies and others express to the Government what they have said in private about Johnston. . . .

We have had hard work to keep old Dom[ett] up to the mark. He has been on the point of resigning ever since he was in. He cordially hates his job and I cordially pity him. There was a 'ministerial crisis' yesterday. Old Sewellus has been law adviser without seat in Ex Council till yesterday, and then, the session being over and he having enjoyed pegging away at the Government bills, says that he must understand his position, and wants a seat in the Cabinet. There was some sort of vague talk that this was to be so before. Well, Domett let him in, when out goes Tom Russell and Bell said he would follow Russell who is his last love, without the attachment being altogether reciprocated, I think. So Dom was in a pretty fume. Fox put a question today 'with no intention of embarrassing' but on 'constitutional grounds' as to Sewell's position. Domett replied that he had agreed to take him in but after circumstances had reopened the matter. Whereupon Sewellus beckoned from behind Mr Speaker to Fox, who announced that he altogether resigned, amid a loud cheer from a large section of the House. Sewell gets worse and worse, and his draughting is as careless as his politics are mischievous.

Domett presses me to take his commissionership, but I am out of heart and want to be out of public life. I came to New Zealand for something different and my health is very shaky, so that I pine for quiet country life again.

Grey is very flattering about Mary and Margie and says that if they had no parents he should like to adopt them. So you and Em may die happy.

1862/74

C. W. Richmond to A. S. Atkinson - - - Dunedin, 16 Sep 1862

. . . Though I have not given my final answer about the Judgeship yet I think I shall take it. It seems a harbour of refuge from this turmoil. I am not attracted by it in itself, and I know that at first, especially, before the duties become familiar I shall have plenty of vexation. But a solicitor's practice in Dunedin is not pleasant . . .

1862/75

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H. Sewell, minute on position of sheriff (raised by Maxwell Bury) - - - 18 Sep 1862

(True copy)

Mr Justice Johnston's letter opens a question of considerable importance viz. the status, liabilities and allowances of sheriffs throughout the Colony.

I do not myself think that the office in the Colony is of any great importance . . . The custody of jails & execution of criminals is already taken from them. As to the old constitutional functions & powers of a sheriff such as sitting judicially in county courts, acting as escheator for the Crown, execution of writs of ad quod dominum &c they are for the most part obsolete or inapplicable to the Colony . . .

The most important duties are those of summoning & striking juries, and executing the processes of the Supreme Court . . .

The gentleman who fills the office of sheriff cannot be expected personally to summon jurors or keep order in court. If the office is to continue, he must have some person to discharge the subordinate duties . . . but I am under the impression that this part of a sheriff's business might be done by the registrar of the court.

As regards the execution of processes of the Court, the sheriff has no bound bailiff, he therefore has no security for the faithful discharge of his bailiff's duties, though he himself remains liable to suitors in cases of default.

I think the bailiffs should be made officers of the Court, and that rules should be laid down for the discharge of their duties, which the registrar might see to, and the office of sheriff might be discontinued. This would require legislation . . .

v 6, p 15

C. W. Richmond to Maria Richmond - - - Dunedin, 18 Sep 1862

I have decided to accept the appointment of Judge. I have come to this conclusion with very mixed feelings - being very sorry to give up this business and my connection with T.B.G. I say I am sorry to give it up, yet I feel not strong enough to cope with the business for a prolonged period.

There has been some talk about my exchanging districts with Judge Johnston and fixing my residence at Nelson. This would be very pleasing to me, but seems not feasible as the judge of the Middle District ought to reside at Wellington.

1862/76

C. W. Richmond to Colonial Secretary - - - Dunedin, 18 Sep 1862

... I now beg to say that should you recommend me for the appnt. of judge of the proposed new Southern district of the Supreme Court I shall be prepared to accept the appnt.

Owing to my having been engaged or consulted in a great many cases at this place it would, however, be impossible for me to hold court here immediately, but I believe that arrangements might be made to lessen this inconvenience if it should not appear to you so great as to interfere with my appnt.

v 42

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A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, Th 18 Sep 1862

... In evg. did the first half of Sat. 1.5 (Hor.) a splendid thing - How they went down the African canal with lazy boatmen tormented by gnats & frogs that would not let them sleep, & how on a happy day they were joined by Virgil & went on rejoicing together. The story has come down to us through two thousand years, & is passing us by, going on to delight others two thousand years hence who will never hear of us, any more than we know of the long line of readers who have preceded us. 'Omnia tempus edax depascitur, omnia carpit' 'Labitur et labetur in omne volubilis avum.' Let it go & we'll go with it.

Su 21 Sep . . . About 10 started with Henry & walked to the meeting of the waters i.e. the junction of the Mangorei & Waiwakaiho . . . The bridge across the Mangorei still has Maori inscription on it made during the war 35 . . .

v 34

R. Pitcairn to H. A. Atkinson - - - Lee, London, 21 Sept 1862

I go out in the Silver Eagle to Auckland . . . There will be no need for them [the provincial government] to send the 100 tons home immediately, for the 47 tons you have shipped for Rogerson will be sufficient ... to experiment on . . .

I suppose that before this reaches you a new agent for the Province will have been appointed in place of Mr R. Mutrie deceased. . . . Such a man as John Gladstone or John Morrison would be the best man to appoint.

1862/78

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, M 22 Sep 1862

In the course of a short conversation on the war Carleton (who is staying for a while) said he had heard at Govt. House Govr. Browne & Grey talking about the causes of our disasters. Browne said: 'It was that damned fellow Gold that was the cause of it all.' Grey: 'Why didn't you supersede him & take command yourself.' Browne: 'It would have been as much as my commission was worth.' Grey: 'I should have risked my commission.' This is just what we said Col. Browne should have done, but this was his weak point - a fear of responsibility. . . .

S 27 Sep Orig. of Species before breakfast ... to the Nat. Office & saw some letters from Wi Kingi Matakatea & others in which it is distinctly stated that R. Graham gave them the wreck & all the things on board with one or two exceptions named. Ngarongomate who was present confirms this, & there is very little doubt it is true & so their plundering it can hardly be grumbled at . . .

v 34

A. S. Atkinson to C. W. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 24 Sep 1862

I hear from Harry and James that Bell is likely to offer me the editorship of the Maori Mes[senger]. There is nothing more than a possibility of my taking it for several

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reasons: 1st. It is leaving my more obvious duties (or shall I say pleasures?). 2nd. I think it is very likely that the Govr. and I should not agree as to how it should be carried on. 3rd. I think the case is almost hopeless and I do not see much duty in it. 4th. If they were to offer me salary enough to tempt me away I should think it was more than I was worth and so should not take it. Of course the man who did the work as it should be done would be worth as much as a Native Minister of ordinary stature but I don't think he is in New Zealand - and certainly I am not the man . . .

1862/79

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, F 3 Oct 1862

... I got a vague letter from Bell offering me 'dictionary work' or something of that sort at Auckland. If I would 'come up things should be made pleasant' ... I own a weakness for the Dictionary . . . but it is not very likely they will tempt me into the Nat. Serv. at Auckland especially ... A letter from James offering me a share in the ed'p of the Examiner if he takes the Com. Crown Lands . . .

v 34

A. S. Atkinson to C. W. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 6 Oct 1862

You once asked me for my views of the King Movement. I have gone into the general question rather crudely but with good intention being provoked thereto by FitzGerald's eloquent crudities . . .

Speaking of FitzGerald, do you know that during the session he proposed to Harry to write a history of the war? To be published as a series of articles in the Press and afterwards as a pamphlet, which he undertakes to get reviewed in the Times - each article to be paid for but the copyright to remain with Harry. What do you think of this? We have been considering it, but I don't know that it will do much good. To set us straight we want another war, not an account of the old one. But supposing we did this, I want to know something of the law of libel.

Supposing we speak of Gold in such a way as would convey to a stranger the most true and most forcible notion of him and his doings - as that the only active service in which he was fit to take part was the dinner service - or described him as a complimental male of the Cirripedes, which according to Darwin is a mere sack without mouth or stomach . . . putting it all of course in grave historical language - would this be libellous or only fair criticism? Is it libellous to damage a man's professional character when he never had any? And what may we say of Pratt in the peach grove? Does the law suppose him to have done his duty there? and if not what amount of aberration does it allow to be noted? When you speak of a publication as libellous that damages a man in his profession, you would hardly apply this to the abuse of military men unless you are bold enough to think that promotion bears some relation to merit or good report.

1862/80

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A. Domett to C. W. Richmond - - - Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 7 Oct 1862

I have the honor to transmit to you herewith a commission under the hand of His Excellency the Governor and the Seal of the Colony appointing you to be a judge of the Supreme Court of New Zealand.

Under the circumstances stated in your letter of the 18th instant, His Honor Mr Justice Gresson has been requested to be good enough to hold courts at Dunedin till such time as you consider it will be proper for yourself to do so, and has been informed that you will, no doubt, take any portion of his duties in exchange, should he desire it, which it may be possible for you to undertake.

v 6, p 16

A. Domett to C. W. Richmond - - - Colonial Secretary's Office, Wellington, 7 Oct 1862

I have the honor to enclose copies of a letter . . . from His Honor Mr Justice Johnston and of a memorandum thereupon which raises the general question of the necessity for such an office as that of sheriff in this Colony . . .

Without pronouncing any decided opinion on this subject, I am disposed to think that in this matter some consideration should be given to the dignity of the Supreme Court and of its proceedings, and that, with that view, the existence and presence of an officer like the sheriff may possibly be advisable.

v 6,p 18

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, W 8 Oct 1862

.. . Reweti & another came into Town to see Parris. They are from the King's runanga at Warea. Reweti was the spokesman & Parris says I missed a great treat in not hearing him, he spoke splendidly. Some men were for the King at their own kainga & for the Queen in Town, but he was a King's man here or at home. 'You English people are declining. You think to rule over all the earth, but does God mean it for you?' 'Where-ever houses were burnt the land was his,' Bill said.

F 10 Oct . . . Heard from Parris that yesterday two Maori lads came in & said that two horses had gone through the 'gate' onto their land. They wanted 5/- each toll & 35/- each for bringing them in before they could be given up. . . . Bayly offered to pay the 5/- toll & fetch his horse himself. They said this would not be allowed, & so the matter rests.

Su 12 Oct . . . Called on Harry who is better. He says that when the Taranaki members went to see Grey & Harry told him that settlers had seen their own ploughs &c at Mataitawa, he said 'I have a great mind to order the soldiers out to go and fetch them, but perhaps I had better not' . . . When Harry told him that the Maories at times offered to bring back your horse for £5 or £10 he said: 'Pay the money certainly & get your horse' - principle not being involved I suppose . . .

W 15 Oct . . . Started with my hook for Hurworth to cut thistles. I took off the tops of those already budded . . . My old clearing is pretty clear but in parts of the new one they absolutely cover the ground to the exclusion of all grass . . . The day

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was splendid & I enjoyed it all greatly, thinking also of the 'fugaces anni' & of the scenes & actors that Hurworth has witnessed - now 'portions & parcels of the dreadful past.' But the place has too much life in it to let one get melancholy (not human life, as I was the only representative of mankind, but innate vitality - if this has any meaning.)

v 34

C. W. Richmond to T. Richmond (Stockton on Tees) - - - Dunedin, 17 Oct 1862

A great change is just going to take place in my life. I have accepted a judgeship in the Supreme Court. I do not feel by any means so confident about my fitness for such a station as our colonial public seem to do. I shall, however, spare no effort to fulfil my new duties. . . .

My salary is £1500 a year, with addl. 'Gold' allowance to meet the extraordinary expenses of living here . . .

The Chief Justice (Sir George Arney) is sending an order to his brother in England for wigs and gowns for all the judges of the Supreme Court. . . . My wig measures I send to you and will refer the person who is to give the order, to you. Here they are:
Inches: 22 round,
13 from forehead to poll, 13 over ears,
15 1/4 from temples behind the head,
7 poll.

The wigs and toggery are expensive. I hear they will cost £40.

v 42

C. W. Richmond to A. J. Johnston - - - Dunedin, 18 Oct 1862

The Chief Justice has written to me intimating a strong opinion that the first Court of Appeal and the conference of Judges should be held at Auckland. He writes, 'Judge Johnston, albeit a Wellington lover in general, is indifferent on this particular occasion and hints that there may be advantages in holding this conference at the seat of Govt. I also am of opinion that it is so to be desired'. ... I have replied . . . that it is a matter of personal indifference to me where the Court is held.

I have read your charge to the Grand Jury at Hawkes Bay and I have to thank you for the kind allusion to myself. I fear I must fall very far short of the expectation which I unfortunately seem to raise.

I may mention that Gillies is very desirous that you should hold the next circuit court here. I know he thinks you would break in some of the Australians of our Dunedin bar, who have a tendency to 'buck-jumping', and make the task of keeping them in their places easier for my inexperience. . . .

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F. D. Bell to H. Sewell - - - 20 Oct 1862

Mr Richmond's patent has now been signed. A district must be assigned to him. He has to take the oath of office . . .

There is no express direction in the Supreme Court Acts as to the taking of the judge's oath before any particular functionary. The oath should in my opinion be taken before the Governor or before some person duly authorised by him to administer it. I think a dedimus potestatem from the Governor to Mr Justice Gresson should be issued authorising the latter to administer the oath . . .

v 6, p 22

F. D. Bell, to C. W. Richmond, J. - - - Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 21 Oct 1862

The Government has had under its consideration the question of the steps that it would be necessary to take consequent upon your appointment as a judge of the Supreme Court: and I do myself the honor to enclose copies of a minute by me, and of a reply by Mr Sewell suggesting the course that should be pursued. I have now to request that in accordance with Mr Sewell's suggestion your Honor would be pleased to consult with Mr Justice Gresson, and advise the Government, as to the boundaries of the district to be assigned to you.

In the mean time Mr Justice Gresson will, in pursuance of the 6th section of the Supreme Court Amendment Act 1862 . . . make the necessary request in writing to your Honor to exercise his jurisdiction at Canterbury, in the event of your and his deeming it advisable to interchange your sittings for the present.

The dedimus empowering His Honor Mr Justice Gresson to administer the oath of office &c to you has been signed by His Excellency the Governor, and is now transmitted to His Honor with the request that he will take the necessary steps in relation thereto.

v 6, p 21

A. Domett to H. A. Atkinson, M.H.R. - - - Nelson, 1 Nov 1862

What could possibly have put it into your (generally) sensible head to imagine that I could dream of putting A------ K----- into our pet force? Mr K------ did apply to me and I saw him for a hasty moment one morning just as the House was meeting ... I need scarcely say that that Trumpeter is a fellow of the sort I have a special aversion to - blustering - windy - boastful - impudent - and false and hollow, I imagine, to the heart's core . . . perhaps also, from what I have heard, cowardly. At any rate he never shall have from me even a private's berth in that force, which I want to get composed of picked men.

I wish to see what kind of war machine we can compose by choosing every man, officer and private, purely for his fitness for the work he has to do. Of course we shall make individual mistakes, but I think we may be able to get a whole (on these principles) that shall be a credit and a reality.

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I have not even thought of any one for that Force - except two or possibly three. I should put yourself at the head of it. That is the only fixed idea of appointments I have. But I have not yet talked of this to Sir George Grey, so that I am only telling you purely my own notion on the subject . . . Meanwhile think of men whom you know to be cool in danger - determined and plucky and active. They must or should join to these qualifications that of knowing how to obey orders. But that may be taught them - the other things can't . . .

Your ideas of the Force are precisely mine - thought on one point I have some doubt - as to the proportion of Maoris to Europeans. This must be considered.

I can easily imagine the Taranakians are wearied to death. But they must bear up yet awhile. I do think Grey most sincerely desires to reestablish them and I am sure I do. But I do not see that we can attempt anything until we are in a position to act most decisively, and if that can possibly be done without producing a general commotion or war, I think I may say it will be done. But I cannot pretend to be able to say (for I have not the requisite knowledge of the natives) whether we should or should not produce this general row by acting at Taranaki.

1862/82

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, M 3 Nov 1862

. . . In afn. went up to Harry's to look over a memorandum he has written for the benefit of Domett & the Govt, telling them on no account to occupy Tataraimaka . . . but to decoy our friends up to Waireka again & there offer them up. It is of course the rational scheme.

W 12 Nov . . . Henry Halse writes to his brother giving a short account of the Waikato meeting at Peria. The main thing is that they declare they will allow no steamers up the Waikato. This the Govr appears determined on doing & Halse says the Harrier has gone South for a small steamer of some kind to be manned with her men. Crosbie Ward is to get a more suitable one at Sydney . . .

v 34

Maria Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 5 Nov 1862

Editing and thistling now take up all Arthur's time ... 1 suppose it is useless regretting, but it does seem a pity his time and talents should not be devoted to a fixed pursuit. It seems to me that literature is his vocation, for though he will spend hours in the composition of a mere friendly letter and then produce a page or two of note paper, he writes off a leading article with astonishing facility and with none of of the groans of spirit with which James's and Henry's offspring are brought forth.

1862/83

H. R. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 7 Nov 1862

Something . . . was spent for cutting thistles on your clearing last year. We have almost decided it will be best to let them take their course there for the future . . .

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trusting to natural causes, such as the growth of the tribes, or their supposed gift of dying out, to get rid of them ultimately.

We are of course very much rejoiced at your appointment to the judgeship although its apparent tendency to . . . permanently separate you from the rest of your family is a serious drawback. . . . Taranaki, unless we all agree to abandon it, ought to be looked on as the headquarters of the mob of which you are the leading member. You must not forget that you have a duty to your poor obscure friends, whom you sent out here as well as to your wife and family and the public. . . . You must set aside £50 or £100 p.a. as necessary travelling expenses in order that you may shed the light of your countenance upon us from time to time: neither the mountain nor the little limpets sticking to its base can go to Mahomet and he must therefore come to them.

The iron sand question is still in a state of 'embranglement' and the constant expectation of a renewal of the war prevents the Provincial Govt, from going vigorously to work to clear it of its incumbrances . . . The Govt, is hampered by a promise rashly given to Samuels, as agent for Morshead . . . that the lease should be renewed after the end of the war . . . The Province has no wish to repudiate fair claims, but strongly desires to get rid of Morshead, who has totally failed to carry out the intention of the leases ... As the value of the sand is now fully established, it would if considered equitable, prefer to compromise the matter by either granting to this Company the beach on one side of the Huatoki, reserving the other for a home speculation, or by giving a lease of the whole on terms more favourable to the Province. The former alternative would I think be the better . . . competition to secure the charcoal burners a proper price for their produce. . . .

Native matters get worse and worse . . . We dread here the idea of a general war as much as those who will suffer directly by it, but unless a sudden sharp blow in one place can improve the position, there seems little hope of avoiding it . . .

The Treasury business suits me very well and I am only bound to be at the office three days a week, and can get my work done on an average in four. I have a good deal of time to myself, for gardening and so forth . . . My present intention is to keep this office if I can for a good many years even if we should be able to return to Hurworth. ... I believe I shall be able to carry on my farm in this way employing a good farm servant with less anxiety than if I were to give up the certain income -on the other hand to live altogether in town when there was a chance of going back is a thing which neither of us could well bear . . .

Is it not a pity that James has not a salary of £750? it would then be

10 talents : 5 talents : 1 talent: : £1,500 : £750 : £150.

v 1862/84

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C. W. Richmond to A. J. Johnston (Wellington) - - - Dunedin, 8 Nov 1862

It has always delighted me to see how you (who might have made yourself a stranger to us Colonists) have appreciated the real greatness of our seemingly small affairs and have cast in your lot with us. This also draws me to the Bishop of New Zealand, in spite of everything.

I agree in your high estimate of the judicial office, and if ever I am able to feel well up to my work I have no doubt I shall delight in it. But my inexperience will make my first steps painful. I shall look to you for advice and assistance as far as circumstances will allow.

As regards your offer to hold the next circuit court here ... I would of course rather sit anywhere than at Dunedin (where I have practised) until I shake myself quite clear of the chrysalis - and my wings stiffen . . .

Jane Maria Atkinson to Margaret Taylor - - - Taranaki, 12 Nov 1862

... I suppose you may consider us settled in Taranaki, until the settlement moves off en masse, which it may have to do before long if Sir Geo. Grey does not unveil his deep policy and show us the way back to our land and farms in security. The natives all through N.Z. grow more and more encroaching since the reign of rose water and bribery commenced . . .

Harry is very popular - his speech in the House has won him renown all thro' N.Z. Those who heard it said it was quite eloquent in its manly simplicity and it brought before many members facts about the war and our state since never understood before . . .

1862/85

C. W. Richmond to Colonial Secretary - - - Dunedin, 14 Nov 1862

In accordance with the request conveyed in your letter of the 21st ult. I beg to state that in my opinion the strength of the Department of Registrar of Deeds at Dunedin during the current year should be increased . . .

It seems right that I should mention a circumstance affecting the question of the necessary strength of the Department which has come to my knowledge in the course of the inquiry ... It has become a practice in the Dept. for the clerks to take one hour in the middle of the day for dinner or luncheon. The present registrar, finding such a usage established, has not liked to interfere with it, although he has remained at the office himself during the customers' hours. Conceiving it to fall within the spirit of your instructions that I should rectify this abuse, I have requested the registrar at once to put a stop to the practice.

v 42

A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, S 16 Nov 1862

... In afn. went out with Maria . . . getting some cresses where they have just diverted the Mangatuku. In evg. did a little Ov. Fasti, some of it very nice - & meant

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for Taranakians or others oppressed by fate 'Omne solum forti patria est; ut piscibus aequor Ut volucri vacuo quicquid in orbe patet.'

Tu 18 Nov . . . Science of languages before breakt. Finished off the handle of my thistle adze . . . The Claude Hamilton came in sight. Domett came ashore about I, looking well, also Mrs Domett & Alfred. 'The boy,' as Edie calls him, has a fine, good face with splendid brown eyes like his father's. Old Dom came & had some food with us ... so we had a little talk with him - a fine old fellow. They went on board about 6...

Su 23 Nov ... In the afn. while we [were] sitting on the beach among the rocks reading Prof, at the Breakft. Table a matuku, a small blue heron, came down near us. I have not seen one for several years.

F 28 Nov . . . After tea dressed myself rather uncomfortably & after calling at Aunt Helen's for Maria & the others went to the new mess-room where there was a ball going on, given by the officers. Wasted a good deal of time, & some money too, for after playing whist industriously for about an hour I was told I had lost 6/6, which rather startled me as it was buying an hour's dulness too dear I thought. I was recompensed afterwards by meeting with the new surgeon of the 57th, Dr McKinnon. He has a great taste for natural history & several other points in common. 36

S 29 Nov . . . Went to Herald Office & finished off, then went to Decy's & afterwards called on Dr McKinnon with some Maori books I promised to lend him. He has a splendid library of nat. history & a great many other books that I should read or have read . . .

v 34

C. W. Richmond to Emily E. Richmond - - - Christchurch, 19 Nov 1862

Lyttelton and Christchurch are looking beautiful. The gardens at both places are at their best and are full of flowers. The trees seem to me much grown. Strawberries are beginning to come in but the drought is against them. . . . Having left my luggage in the Custom House I walked round to Dampier's Bay. The manuka is in full flower and the shores of the little cove are dressed with it, as if for a bridal. The window of the little sitting room was open - a great rose bush full of flower bloomed in front. . . .

Xchurch has grown and makes a good deal of show from the Port Hills. It sparkles in the plain like, not a grain, but a good handful of salt. The curve of the railway begins to define itself, sweeping out with the mathematical precision which marks its class from the foot of the great hill. Far away into the plain you can trace green squares of cultivation encroaching upon the browns and yellows of the natural vegetation. Beyond, dim in the haze sweep the great unaltered, unalterable mountains, their higher summits streaked with snow.

In the evening I went to Church, had tea with Mr and Mrs Reeves (Reeves now edits the Lytt. Times). . . .

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The Harrier has come down, report says, to buy a little steamer for the Waikato. They have bought one, and as an experiment stowed away 150 men in her with 60 rounds each. This is rather ominous of the use to which it is intended to put her.

On the way to Xchurch, Hamilton and I met the Lances on their way to the Harrier feast, Mrs Lance looking very charming in a grey riding habit. They are living at Eylam [Ilam].

Mrs C. Bowen came yesterday. She is tall, good looking . . . and wears dresses as wide as Mrs Gore Browne, whom in figure though not in face she somewhat resembles. . . .

28 Nov. I have been to one ball and one public dinner. I did not dance at the former nor speak at the latter. Mrs Lance was at the ball looking very handsome. I found it very dull as I knew scarcely anyone and went away before supper. The dinner was given to Capt. Sullivan of the Harrier. The Harrier has bought and taken away a little iron steamer for the Waikato. Weld has written asking me up to his house. . . .

They [the Gressons] appear to be a perfectly amiable family . . . They have a game played on the grass flat with wooden malls (or hammers) and wooden balls, called croque, or some such name.

1862/87

Maria Richmond to Emily E. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 19 Nov 1862

Our fine dreams about Mary and Annie not being separated seem at an end . . . as Annie has broken off her engagement of ten days with the 'accomplished scholar'. I believe it would have gone on but for that 'clever but tyrannical old lady', Miss Briggs. This, however, is only my conjecture. Annie seems disposed to take all the blame upon herself - it is a great blow to dear Mary. Miss Briggs has had the management of the Broughtons so long that she does not like to give up the reins and will not I dare say be satisfied that they should be made happy except according to her idea of what ought to make them happy . . . Miss B. may be very clever, but there must be a deficiency of common sense and judgment in her. I suppose she has had too much of her own way in the world; how few of us can stand this! . . .

Henry has resigned the editorship of the Herald wholly to Arthur and looks some years younger in consequence, though he has thereby lost a large part of his income. He is now luxuriating with Des in smelting experiments, his heart is in the iron sand he feels much more at home dealing with things than with men. The editorship seems to sit wonderfully lightly on Arthur - it gives him a chance of venting his sarcasm upon his less gifted fellow mortals, but I hope and believe he will restrain his propensity within proper limits.

1862/88

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Mind you stick to the ministry about all the matters upon which we are agreed, viz. compensation . . . and you might suggest if anything is to be done in the way of decorations for the Taranaki Militia and Volunteers, that it would be much better to give Victoria Crosses to those who have deserved them than to give the C.B. to Herbert, who deserves nothing beyond what he has got. . . .

P.S. ... I have been so long doing nothing that it is a positive necessity to me to delay no longer the attempt to earn a living, even beyond that of a captain's pay and I will not begin business here again until things are settled satisfactorily.

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C. Brown to H. A. Atkinson - - - Superintendent's Office, New Plymouth, 30 Nov 1862

... I have called the P.C. together to pass the supplies, they have adjourned to the 15th . . .

I have given the question of compensation a great deal of consideration. To me personally I do not think it makes any difference whether 10/- in the pound is paid, or the scheme is carried out that we licked into shape; I look at it that whether we temporise or fight, it will take certainly two years more before we can return in safety and certain peace before us to our farms. In that time the majority of those entitled to compensation will have dribbled any instalment of the principal away . . . One says he will send for £500 worth of bottled ale and porter, another will send for prints and calicoes, another for tea and sugar; their doing so would not involve them in much loss if Taranaki was on its progress again, because the population flowing in would maintain business at a prosperous level. ... I am for the Govt, taking up the mortgages, and paying 5 per cent on compensation and 5 per cent on value of farms; all rations issued here to be deducted from the interest allowed (or rent previous) and rations to cease here ... As I have delegated the matter to you, you must do what you think right and feasable . . .

P.S. Get us the money to complete St. Germain Sq. I have as yet only 26 houses free to put 40 families in that will be driven in by hostilities, the 4th side will give about 18 more houses.

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C. W. Richmond to Emily E. Richmond - - - Dunedin, 30 Nov 1862

I hate the idea of opening the Court. I don't like the state of the thing, and Judge Harris's 'wig' pinches my forder. I have had more difficult responsibilities, but have never been afflicted with the weight of so much dignity. Fancy everybody in court rising to receive 'His Honor the Judge' loudly announced by the sherrifs. This would please a great many people who would nevertheless pretend that they did not like it. But me it does not please. The dignity is one of the great drawbacks of the new career. Then the business of a criminal court is of a most unpleasant, and often most disgusting character - worse than surgery.

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Do not suppose however that I am repenting of my choice. I knew what the work was like and realised the thing thoroughly to myself. I find the work in chambers pleasant and light in comparison with private practice. I know I shall delight in the study of the law.

The Sewells have arrived. ... I have not yet seen Mrs Sewell. Sewell is still attorney general pro tem. The Ministry are making efforts to induce Whitaker to take the Office without political responsibility . . .

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W. Halse to H. A. Atkinson (M.H.R.) - - - New Plymouth, 3 Dec 1862

We are most anxious for news of the effect the steamer (supposing her to be already in the Waikato) is to have on the natives. I can't bring myself to think they will stand it, though with their habitual deliberation they may not act at once. The spark may kindle elsewhere as it did at Omata following the attack on the L pa at Waitara. We were hoping to get some news by the Paranihinihi from Mokau this morning, but some chief has tapued the road north of that place owing to a squabble about a Maori woman.

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C. W. Richmond to Emily E. Richmond - - - Dunedin, 37 3 Dec 1862

As the Gothenburg is said to be sailing tomorrow I send you a dry line to say that I have got through dreary criminal business except one case. I got on tolerably well, though at fault as to some minor matters. In this new business the impression one makes upon the public is a main consideration, and what that is I cannot tell. . . .

Sewell and I went into the Pro v. Council together last night. It was rather dreary - all about law of which I have had enough. ... I went to call on the Sewells, they were out and so I walked along the greenest roads I could find along the side of a clean mill-race and at last sat down and mooned by the side of the Avon. I feel in a queer dreary state with doubts about my own identity. Don't suppose I am insane - it is being 'judged' everywhere and sitting with horsehair on my head, cautioning and chastizing and reprehending, that makes me feel queer. If I had even sat as a magistrate or had much to do with courts, it would be different. . . .

The lawyers here, 'The Bar', have asked me to dine with them at the Royal Hotel on Monday at 7. I have accepted. The glories of public life are dearly bought.

I feel tired, not with the amount of work but with the strain on the nerves. I am vexed it is so and feel humiliated. It is solely the want of experience . . .

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C. W. Richmond to J. C. Richmond - - - Christchurch, 4 Dec 1862

I am staying here with the Gressons - the unfortunate judge himself being still occupied with the mass of business we have worked up for him at Dunedin. I finished

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the criminal business of the circuit court here yesterday afternoon. ... I believe I got through pretty well considering my absolute inexperience. I have taken less than the ordinary interest of Englishmen in the proceedings of criminal courts and have had everything to learn. You may judge I have felt the occasion a very trying one. . . .

The people here are a very orderly set and feel the necessity of supporting lawful authority. Everything has gone on very smoothly hitherto. . . .

There are a few mistakes in the print of my charge to the Grand Jury ... I purposely made it as flat and short as possible.

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J. C. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Nelson, 4 Dec 1862

You will have heard of my profligacy in accepting a benefice from my political ally. I am now installed in the large tranquil land office at Nelson, to the disgust of the Superintendent, who doubts me or thinks me fast or at least dislikes provincial patronage being diminished. The berth is not a fat one for Dom[ett] tore off the receivership of land revenue, which he had enjoyed, leaving the pay £400 per annum instead of £550. I am able at present to furnish copy for Elliott and shall probably continue to supply half the necessary quota on an average, so that as we are not high-minded and have no proud looks, we are provided for, if I am equal to my duty, as long as I creak on. But I feel very creaky. . . .

I am thinking of setting out after Xmas to look at the Provincial estate. I shall go to the dry cow Amuri. Duppa tells me the buying mania will spread into the hill runs even to the snowy country.

We have had some beautiful sharp practice just now among the run men. Duppa having bought and sold his run, tried to use the money to punish Robinson for past offences 38 and actually squeezed £3000 out of him to forbear bidding against him. Is there any chance of doing any good at law in such a case; is it allowable to conspire to defeat an auction? There were other cases, besides, and the thing will probably grow into a system. Duppa tried the same thing on Macdonnell with no great success in that case, and I rather fancy his prophecy about the sale of the hill runs indicates his intention to operate on other neighbours with the loose £50,000 at his disposal . . .

My political spirits are very very low, last session was a dull one. Bell disgusts me, FitzGerald is preposterous and bursting with self sufficiency, Stafford is no comfort to a weary soul, Dom. is gone away and wants probing daily to make him any good, and Grey is a humbug. There is not one man here to talk to with advantage ... I sometimes think I must burst through to Canterbury to get sight of Weld.

Domett has promised to act decisively one way or another about Taranaki before the summer is over, that is a crumb of comfort. If we cannot keep the negroes in order it would be most cheerful to clear out and try to get a bit reunited. I am very anxious for an end of the present condition of things; to forget the past shame if possible in making a new Taranaki at the Grey or some other fitting place.

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By the bye do you think money would be forthcoming in Otago to open the West Coast colleries? The coal in quantity, quality and accessibility is beyond doubt very important. I am afraid Robinson [the superintendent] is going to make a great mess by undertaking it as a public work. Would you ask Gillies what he thinks of this and how we should act to get confidence among the Otago people?

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A. S. Atkinson to Mary Richmond - - - Taranaki, 7 Dec 1862

Whilst writing to Sam ... I was forced to think ... of the old painful question of the strange inequality and seeming arbitrariness in the distribution of suffering, and the first thing that occurred to me was that I should apply to you for light - as having more of the prophet in you or revealer of the hidden things of the unseen world than any other I know. So tell me why it is that young creatures like Kate and Alice, who have led blameless lives and hardly ever offended against what we call the laws of health, suffer daily and hourly and seem doomed to wear out their life in pain; while others . . . who for the greater part of their lives have been at war against almost all law and who have brought their spiritual life to consist of a little intellectual mechanism and a few emotions that bear no fruit - while these survive sound in body and limb and have even the wind of circumstance tempered to them though they have shorn themselves of the covering God first gave them?

I suppose you will say that we see only a fragment of the whole plan - that these too will have to pass through the fire when their time comes - and I almost hope it - for I cannot see how else they shall be cleansed. The most I can get to is this - that the fogs which we cannot see through, by rising a little we may get to see over - but you will tell me all.

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C. W. Richmond to Emily E. Richmond - - - Christchurch, 7 Dec 1862

The FitzGeralds were here last night. They sang together and separately. FitzGerald was very hoarse and did not sing well Mrs F. did. She sang the Maid of Judah, Mozart's Addio and several other things.

I have felt much out of spirits this afternoon. . . . The worst of being a judge is that one seems to lose one's personal identity. I don't know myself. I dare say it is very good for me to feel the weight of the judicial character - most disagreeable things seem to be good for one - but I do not like it. It is like going into the Church, and being called the Reverend. I do not think it is worse, but it is as bad.

I take walks by myself down some long green street every day. The walks are dull compared with ours. It is one great flat. The Port Hills in one direction, about 4 miles off, and the chain of mountains 40 miles inland in the other are, however, fine objects . . .

I think from what I wrote the C.J. that the court of appeal will very likely sit in Christchurch. We shall be too many I doubt for the bar. It would be very absurd to have only two barristers - Gillies and Travers - and four judges.

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Judge Harris's wig is a little less uncomfortable for talk than it was at first. The old gown does very well.

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A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, M 8 Dec 1862

. . . The Storm Bird . . . came in about 3, bringing Harry . . . We are to have £25,000 more (another 3/- in the pound) besides the £5000 thistle money. 500 Germans are to be introduced into this place before next September . . . The Govr. & Ministry are at loggerheads . . . the consequence is that public work which touches Native policy at all is almost stopped . . . Grey wants to make the Ministry & thro them the Colony responsible for war if it should arise - to quiet the outcry in England about expense. There is not much hope for us while a pure quack holds our destinies in his hands . . .

S 13 Dec ... In afn. called on Dr MacKinnon with my beetles. Looked at the parasites on one thro' his microscope. Then attended public meeting . . . 'the deputation appointed on 31 Oct. are to answer Domett's letter' & as of course no one is satisfied with it . . .

Su 14 Dec . . . Tried my microscope & got some very nice results especially with the pollen & anther of a nasturtium. Dr MacShaen came in while I was doing this & having some ferns with him I saw for the first time what their seeding apparatus is like. . . .

Note on 19 Dec: Dr MacKinnon I find talks Gaelic, which makes it rather tempting to learn it.

v 34

H. R. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - New Plymouth, 8 Dec 1862

We expect Harry back . . . (possibly with the appointment of commander of the new Colonial Regiment). He was to have consultations with the Ministry on Taranaki affairs, especially with regard to the payment of compensation . . .

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Mary Richmond to A. S. Atkinson - - - Nelson, 16 Dec 1862

... It seemed mockery to me to be addressed as a seer, when the only possible reason that could be given for it is that I think I see or feel more darkness in the world than my fellow creatures, and yet that I can see no way to get more light. I am as much oppressed as you by the pain and misery in the world and the unexplicably unequal distribution of them. ... It seems selfish to be rejoicing over one's own happiness. It seems almost as if one was rejoicing in injustice when one knows how thoroughly and comparatively unworthy one is of their blessings.

I cannot believe or take comfort from the view one of the Psalmists takes of the difficulty - the 63 Psalm was read in church on Sunday. I thought of you and your letter and felt you would agree with me in refusing to take his solution, namely 'Now God does set them (the prosperous) in slippery places and castest them down and

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destroys them'. Whatever comes I cling and will cling to the belief that God is a merciful, loving Being and strives for the good of all, and believing this I cannot believe that the world is yet under his controul - or that it is as he intends it to be. I suppose that I should be called a Manichee that I believe that there is an evil as well as a good power. At all events, with this belief the world in its present state would be more comprehensible. Certainly I cannot see that the world in any part is such a miracle of harmony and perfection, as so many preach, as to be evidence of a good and just God. It rather looks to me like some great machine which has somehow got broken and out of order and goes on working and marring and will do until it is set in order again.

Believe is too strong a word when all is as misty and vague as it is with me. I can hardly believe, however, that all that happens to us comes directly from God . . . Through all, however, I firmly believe there is a good, just God striving to set us and the world right. I trust that somehow good will be the final goal of ill - that good shall fall at last, far off, at last to all. We must strive to cling to this through all. Certainly the existence of such a creature as Sam - his love, courage and trust - are a great help to me, and make it easier to trust the larger hope. He must be 'of God' - faintly shadow to us what God is.

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J. C. Richmond to C. T. Batkin - - - Nelson, 17 Dec 1862

... A Mr Carr of the Upper Mangorei district, has just received the enclosed invoice and bill of lading of cutlasses to arrive in Auckland per Indian Empire. His correspondent has sent them without consulting him and he may not know what to do with them. ... I could think of no customer except the government, and promised to write to you, and ask you to enquire if they want such arms for the river fleet or Daldy's Corps. I imagine her Majesty's commissariat would charge more for them and Carr would be glad to get them off his hands ... on any reasonable terms . . . Perhaps you will be so kind as to do what is needful to prevent their being seized, and put them in proper custody till he has time to think what he will do next.

I feel very dull here now that Domett has gone. He was the only man I felt really to be a friend . . . But Domett stands on the same ground as we do and is a hater of conventionalism of all kinds ... I had rather have his company than his room . . . The land office here is a most healthy berth. My private apartment is as big as any two that you possess in the Auckland offices, and all are airy and large. The work is light and the pay more than enough for me . . . The losses by the war have set me on the saving tack and I find myself turned the corner now and in a fair way to repair the waste of twelve years in New Zealand. . . . Though I am the most peaceful of men I have scarcely a hope that we can get off the long score our twenty years bungling have run up without paying for it dearly. I feel much amused at finding myself treated as an incendiary by my dear old grandmother your New Zealander. Why don't you Auckland men have a press revival? For an Empire city

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you are in a very feeble state. No province except Wellington so low, and none of them are too high in tone.

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J. C. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Land Office, Nelson, 17 Dec 1862

... I have a few bank and steam co. shares and intend speculating a little in land on the W. Coast. My idea is to buy a piece, subdivide it and let half say on a purchasing lease and the rest on the usual terms, so as to get the benefit of the improvements shared by myself as capitalist and the lessee. That seems a fair and probable way of proceeding.

You see I continue to maunder on in the Examiner. I may well object to spicy writing, having no time to distill spicy things myself and no genius for them either. Moorhouse tells me I have the best of the chaff with J. E. Fitz. I hope so. He is a great donkey with all his Irish genius. . . .

I hear from everyone that the unchristian occupation you have begun suits your health. Moorhouse says you look quite 'a new creature', but still as grossly fat. .

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Form D.
ARMS ACT, 1860.
No 879 License to Import
Colony of New Zealand, Port of Auckland

This is to authorise C. T. Batkin Agt to R. W. Carr of New Plymouth, within seven days from the date hereof to land from the Indian Empire [at] London the undermentioned Arms, Gun powder, or Warlike Stores, viz.:--69 Cutlasses to be stored in the magazine. Dated this 22nd day of Decr. 1862

Licensing Officer. W. Young

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A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, Tu 23 Dec 1862

. .. Went to the Militia Office & got sworn in again as a volunteer (No. 2 of course). At 11 Gen. Cameron inspected us Militia & all & was very complimentary to the volunteers. After this he went on board the Harrier, & we came home to dinner first getting 3/6 for our morning's work . . .

v 34

A. S. Atkinson to Mary Richmond - - - Taranaki, 28 Dec 1862

When I called you a prophet I certainly did not intend to mock you. I appealed to you because you were as different from me as anyone I know - a difference not so

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much in degree as in kind - and by all that difference nearer to the light; or at least further from the darkness. My belief is . . . that moral goodness and spiritual nobleness are what give insight into the ways of God - that those who most obey the divine will, know most of the divine mind.

You first-class girls have ten times more of the direct light of heaven than we muddier fellows get - and if you are not the seers that you ought to be it is because you will not treat yourselves fairly. You get the light and know whence it comes, by direct perception and have already the highest evidence of which it is capable . . .

Dear Mary, I feel as truly as you do 'the riddle of the painful earth' - though not as often or as acutely, because my sympathies are duller and heavier.

Even my faith reaches to this . . . There may be very good reasons for the present state of things . . . They may be undiscovered or even unappreciable by us, as we are now . . . When we get to the standpoint of the Creator, we shall see the why of all things, but until then our knowledge must be in scraps and fragments . . . Could you carry on all the action of life before your children, and convince them that there was no seeming caprice or injustice or incongruity in what you did, and make no demands upon their faith? It is to suppose their mind as strong and their experience as wide as your own - yet between your relation to your children and God's relation to us all the difference is almost infinite.

The rough answer which I have got for myself and which serves my practical needs lies in the (to me) enormous absurdity involved in the thought that this universe can in any way be the sport of circumstance - or that anything like organic derangement of it could endure a single hour ... I cannot but think that the organic derangement you speak of, the permanent disruption of the due relation of things must have brought the whole universe to ruin. Of course I cannot prove this but I feel as if it were capable of proof . . .

But, dear Mary, I have written not controversially for a triumph that I should not get, but as to one that I love, one of the few that I feel bound up with if I may say so without presumption and whom I would gladly help in a real trouble as I know yours to be -

But if it falls wide it will only be what I expect. It is too curious a reversal of the order of things for me to preach faith and trust to you - to make failure surprising.

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