1961 - The Richmond-Atkinson Papers Vol II - Chapter 3, The Times are Too Strong, 1865, p 137-198

       
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  1961 - The Richmond-Atkinson Papers Vol II - Chapter 3, The Times are Too Strong, 1865, p 137-198
 
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Chapter 3, The Times are Too Strong, 1865

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Chapter 3

The Times are Too Strong

1865

The perils and financial stress which hung over the Colony in 1864 grew more menacing with the new year: An empty treasury, stalemate in the field, and a paralysing friction between the Governor (Sir George Grey) and the general officer commanding (Sir Duncan Cameron). The Weld ministry, having come to terms with the Governor over its war policy, was disposed to side with him in his dispute with the British general, especially since the speedy termination of that wrangle was an essential preliminary to the full operation of self-reliance, to which the Government was pledged.

The struggle in the field was now a guerilla war, spreading haphazard from province to province. Weld and his colleagues were confident that it could only be won by Colonial troops, and they were impatient to bring matters to a head. 'The general is very little good for our work,' wrote H. A. Atkinson (now minister of defence). 'He wants so many men.' General Cameron, for his part, was frankly reluctant to risk the lives of the Queen's soldiers in a war which he now thought was being waged to acquire Maori land for pakeha settlers.

Preparing to open the campaign from the west, Atkinson accompanied Colonel Warre on a reconnaissance at Tataraimaka. General Cameron, commencing his march westward from Wanganui with a force of 650, began badly with a severe reverse at Nukumaru (24 Jan). This strengthened his aversion to the bush and he continued his march along the sea coast, leaving on his flank a strong Hauhau post (Weraroa) which he assured the Governor his force was not strong enough to reduce. The Patea river was crossed with 1700 men in the middle of February and a strongly entrenched camp was formed at Patea, with a depot of provisions and huts for 600 men.

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That was the position when, early in March, the Governor and the Premier (Weld) went to Wanganui to press upon the General the advisability of attacking Weraroa, the survival of which, they claimed, had greatly heartened the Hauhau forces. In this same week an atrocious attack was made on Opotiki, in which the missionary Carl Volkner was murdered with barbarous rites. Hundreds of miles away, in south Taranaki, a new leader, Titokowaru, was rallying his forces to overrun the settled country west of the Wanganui river. At this menacing juncture Cameron ordered the withdrawal of his advanced post at Waimate, thus virtually abandoning the west coast campaign and leaving the Hauhaus with the initiative. Distracted by the fear that they would cross the Wanganui river into the heart of Wellington province, Atkinson exerted himself to the utmost to organise a defence. He had just succeeded in reinforcing the garrison at Pipiriki when he was urgently recalled to Wellington to assist his frail chief in solving the Government's financial difficulties.

In the middle of the year General Cameron was recalled from the New Zealand command. He was on the point of leaving the Colony when Colonial and kupapa 1 troops, on the urgent advice of Sir George Grey, carried an outwork at Weraroa and occupied the main position without loss. Pipiriki was also relieved. These events were not only a signal success for colonial troops, they constituted a personal triumph for the Governor in his dispute with General Cameron. The situation, however, was grave. Martial law was proclaimed at Opotiki, and an expedition was organised to arrest the spread of Hauhauism amongst the Ngatiporou people on the East Coast. On 8 October Major-general Trevor Chute arrived to succeed General Cameron.

Politically, the ministry was in a desperate position. It had no money to pay its soldiers, nor even to carry on from week to week, and it was threatened with the loss of its leader, who was the hope of the country in its selfreliance policy. Weld was too ill to attend regularly in the House and he was scarcely able to transact departmental business, which multiplied in the absence of his colleagues. To crown the ministry's troubles, the nightmare of separation appeared again. This time north and south - Auckland and Otago - joined in

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support of a resolution demanding the division of the country, at Cook strait, into two separate colonies. When the crucial vote came, on 12 September, the Government had a considerable majority - 31 to 17.

When Weld resigned office on 16 October Edward Stafford was the obvious leader for the Governor to consult. A colonist of 25 years' experience, and a skilled parliamentary leader, it seemed inevitable that he should take office, but he received the invitation with the utmost reluctance. The responsibility was much greater than in 1856 and before undertaking it he tried to persuade C. W. Richmond, the frail, strong pillar of his first ministry, to become premier. Meanwhile he took office on 16 October with three mediocre colleagues, but he begged Richmond to believe 'how tentative a step this was', and how reluctantly taken, and appealed to him 'under a most serious and deep sense of responsibility as to what should be done for the Colony if it is to be preserved as one Colony. Will you come and govern it? Any and every office is at your disposal if you will - premier, colonial secy, treasurer, Native M. I have purposely kept all offices open. Indeed I have not myself taken or given to anyone any office of state yet, in order that as strong a 'colonial' Ministry - bound to maintain the unity of the Colony - as can be furnished in New Zd might be found . . . No proposition was ever made from one man to another with more urgent sincerity than that I now make to you, nor with a deeper consciousness of what depends on your decision.'

Richmond, replying from Dunedin on 4 November, reiterated with emphasis the resolve he had made in 1862: I reply that the government is on your shoulders, and on yours it must remain till a vote of the House relieves you of it. But, granting that you could offer me the premiership I say unhesitatingly that I would not take it. Nor would I accept office in any government ... I do not feel myself to have ideas likely to influence the course of events, nor powers to give effect to my ideas. The times seem to me too strong for the men - at least too strong for me ... I feel no energy for those strong and dexterous sweeps of the steering oar by which alone modern statesmen can expect to modify the tendencies of the current of opinion.' In the event Stafford added half a dozen members to his

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executive, and so entered upon his second administration, which was to endure for about four years.

In recent years the 'mob' or 'set' in Taranaki had exercised an influence in politics which Jane Maria Atkinson says was resented by some of their fellow settlers. Writing on 3 September to Margaret Taylor, she reports the election of her brother Henry to be superintendent of Taranaki: 'The only thing brought against him was that the family, which includes the Richmonds and Atkinsons, were too influential, so many of them are in the Govt. It is quite amusing to see the alarm or jealousy part of the public here feel towards our set, aggravating too, because ungrateful, as without our set where would Taranaki be now, for everything written, said or done of any importance during the last four years on behalf of this province has emanated from an A's or an R's pen, or tongue or sword - rifle, I should say perhaps, tho' many bullets have been fired by less influential people.'

In March H. A. Atkinson resigned from the Taranaki provincial council, and four months later he vacated office to throw himself with energy into the cultivation of his farm.

James Richmond, on joining the Weld ministry in June, resigned from the House of Representatives and was appointed to the Legislative council. An intimate narrative of current events is given in his letters to his wife (in Nelson) up to the date of her death (29 Oct). 2 Having defined the boundary of Marlborough and Nelson, Richmond resigned from the Nelson provincial council and returned to live in Taranaki. He found that his residence at Hurworth had been accidentally burned.

Death removes another prominent correspondent in 1865 - the Rev John Morgan, the missionary at Otawhao, whose reports on affairs in the King country had considerable weight with the government.

In the letters this year are occasional exchanges between Mrs Gore Browne and C. W. Richmond and between James Edward FitzGerald and C. W. Richmond. There is an interesting letter from

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FitzGerald with a forthright declaration of native rights, and a bantering rejoinder from James Richmond on FitzGerald's acceptance of office as native minister under Weld.


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Mary Richmond to A. S. Atkinson - - - The Wood, Nelson, 1 Jan 1865

This last year has been such a sad one, that the idea of happiness or brightness or anything like certainty seems to have passed away. ... I never entered upon one [a New Year] with so grave a heart. The thought of death and separation clings to me. I do not fear death as I did - the going away of all these dear ones has taken away much of the horror and the strangeness - and for myself, I can face the fact that I may before very long have to leave you all, though I long intensely for us to keep together. ... I know what you would suggest, dear Birdie, were I talking to you, and I feel it strongly - that one's duty lies straight before us - that we must go on bravely whatever happens - that these sad losses must lead us to trust more fully, and love more worthily and tenderly those that are left to us.

1865/1


H. A. Atkinson to A. S. Atkinson - - - Auckland, 3 Jan 1865

. . . We are now at work with Grey about the operations at Taranaki and Wanganui. The General is really very little good for our work - he wants so many men to do anything.

Grey seems all right about confiscating the land at Taranaki I had a long talk with him this morning in submitting a draft Proclamation . .. declaring that the whole of the country between Taranaki & Wanganui is to be taken for the Queen, also a large slice to the North.

Grey does not wish any of the troops to go, in fact I believe he will not let them . . . He wants us to say that it is necessary to keep the troops but we stick to our colours. He wanted to know this morning whether supposing the General said that he was prepared to send Home two or three regiments, if he was not sent to Wanganui what we should say. I told him that we should be prepared to recommend that the regiments went Home and that we would submit a scheme to carry on operations on our own account . . .

We have been in such a state for money that we have been afraid to call out the Bush Rangers, in fact we have been so hard up that we did not know whether we might not any day have had to stop payment . . .

I doubt whether G. G. will go to Otago after all. The General is very much against his going. Of course we strongly advise his going. He is for separation of Auckland from the rest of the Colony 'The native difficulties are no nearer settled than when I came. My facilities are not sufficient to govern the whole present Colony' - this he said to me. So the future is to be Sir G. G. and 10,000 troops.

We were obliged to take in Mantell 3 because Weld was completely done up and he has great faith in Mantell ... He is, as you say, only a weakness in the House but he is doing his work very well and is quite staunch to our views as to the treatment of

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the natives. I felt very grave doubts as to the wisdom of taking him at first but now I am getting . . . quite satisfied . . . Our work has been very hard and our anxiety about money matters did not tend to give us peace of mind. . . .

We should have had our Taranaki business done before but the Governor went and remained away at [? Kawau] for ten days. He appears to be anxious to do all we wish. No doubt he is laying traps for us but I hope we are too honest to be caught.

Grey has agreed for us to sell what we like of the land he has proclaimed under the Settlement Act . . .

v 6, p 51


H. A. Atkinson to A. S. Atkinson - - - Auckland, 7 Jan 1865

We have had rather a hard week of it . . .

The history of the affair is this. On the 15th Dec we recommended certain operations at Taranaki and Wanganui, being of opinion that the work could easily be done this summer. The Governor gave orders accordingly to the General and the movement that has lately taken place was the consequence.

At the beginning of this week we found out that the General considered that if we commenced operation at Wanganui and Taranaki it would detain the troops for two or three years and that he had better at once apply for reinforcement. This he wrote to the Governor. It seems that the General does not wish to do anything at either Wanganui or Taranaki, and there are all but, in fact you may say they are, positive orders from Home to report on retention of troops. Notwithstanding this Grey has determined to have a Taranaki campaign and so immediately issued his orders upon the receipt of our recommendation. Grey considers that the Home Government must not be allowed to retire until the Taranaki question is settled so that is what they have undertaken to do . . . that when the Home Government knows that he is not being forced into operation for the acquisition of land they will be willing to do the thing handsomely. All this must go for what it is worth. Before this we wrote and told the Governor that if the contemplated operation would necessitate the continuance of the troops in the Colony we could not recommend their employment.. . that if but for the proposed operations he and the General were prepared to send some of them Home, we would submit a plan to meet the reduced numbers.

This put the Governor in an awful state of mind. Our difficulty was that if we stuck to what we had written he would then have to consult with the General and send Home perhaps two regiments. The General would then have what he calls secured the various posts, allowed no movement on our part and waited for further orders from Home. This would have been another year for us. Well, to cut short a long story, as we were only part of the Ministry and Weld not with us we came to the conclusion that it would be the wisest course to withdraw our minute . . . until we were all present. This we did. We have also written to His Excellency to apply to the Home Government for permission to enlist from the regiments here 1500 men and said that upon getting their answer we shall be prepared to recommend an immediate reduction of troops.

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There can be no doubt that Grey is quite in earnest about the reinstatement of Taranaki. . . We should have settled it to day but for the bother about the Governor going to Otago. We advised him to go, his things were all on board, when the General and Commodore told him that if he went he was neglecting his duty and entirely losing sight of Imperial interests and that they would telegraph Home to that effect. So he has not gone ... I don't know what will be the effect on old Major Richardson.

With regard to Taranaki Grey says the punishment of the Natives there must be very severe. We had a long talk about the Proclamation with him this morning. He considers that . . . the whole of the rebel land from Parininihi to Wanganui should be declared taken for the Queen, the land of friendly Natives secured to them, and suitable reserves for all who come in. I have very little doubt but that we shall get something very satisfactory on Monday but I shall be glad to see it signed . . .

I have stole a march on old Fitz[herbert] and persuaded Sewell to have the Debenture printed here at once and not wait for the plate from Sydney ... I quite agree with what you say about the immigrants, but the truth is there are only 3000 three thousand ordered altogether, including the Cape ones, so that we could hardly send any of them to Taranaki as the land is ready for them here and more ready for sale to pay expenses . . . Old Sewell is quite satisfied we shall do no good till the troops go and that we could do well without them. He is certainly quite sound at present upon all points. I think you will agree if we get that Proclamation out it won't be bad work . . .

v 6, p 52


Jane Maria Atkinson to Maria Richmond - - - Beach Cottage, 8 Jan 1865

If the infection theories are true there is no saying when one is safe again. I doubt anybody's carrying the fever who has not had it, but then I am a sceptic to the very backbone. I am not sure that I do thoroughly believe any thing but my own existence. . . .

[Arthur] was not far from being sent as member in Mr Turton's place. That double faced Chas Brown pretended that he wished Ar to go as the fittest man, thought it wrong supers should leave their Provinces etc., but our people took no action of course, Ar not trusting him, and also as having two of our set in the House it seemed for the public to say decidedly if they wished for a third. In a few days C.B. announced he would go if pressed by the Council. 4

1865/2


A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, M 9 Jan 1865

. . . The Airedale came in about 9 . . . Sir Henry Havelock was among the passengers & I nearly spoke to him to ask after young A. C. Havelock, his cousin, who went to school with us at Hawtayne's . . . They have sent our resolutions . . . home to the

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Sec. for the Colonies. Harry says they were much to the point & old Sewellus 'was delighted with them'. They have made little Creighton in the Cross rabid.

While waiting on the beach in the afternoon I had a long talk with a genuine Moriori (quy. Mooriori?) or real aboriginal of the Chatham islands & of some of the southern parts of New Zealand. I shall try & get some account of their language out of him but it will soon be extinct in Wharekauri (Chatham Isld.) as they all now talk Maori. Maori & Moriori are mutually unintelligible but no doubt they are only two dialects of one tongue . . .

v 35


A. S. Atkinson to H. A. Atkinson - - - Nelson, 10 Jan 1865

. . . Could not the Colony do something towards the Whanganui road by itself? For instance by taking up a position at Patea and letting part of the road by contract, according to Pitty's plan? It will be terrible if the summer goes over and nothing done -that will mean separation . . . Perhaps the general would not consent to hold the posts say at Tatara and Kai Iwi even. Why should not he do what he can for six months if you take the consequences of things being left incomplete?

1865/3


C. Brown to H. A. Atkinson - - - New Plymouth, 10 Jan 1865

Your colleagues had lunch with me at the Masonic with Cols. Warre and Lepper and Crompton and Doyne. Of Weld I saw otherwise very little . . .

Fitzherbert gave me what was evidently meant as a lecture to behave myself properly to Col. Warre, and even Weld told me 'he was a bold dashing officer, who if left go by the Genl. would do more than ever the Genl. would do, if down here himself ! ! ! ! ! Fitz said Col Warre was the man, 'who tho' perhaps not strictly economical' that everyone must bow down and look up to. I cannot say that I felt gratified, or that Fitz's lecture made the impression he intended on my mind.

As regards the £5,000, he required the unappropriated balance to be paid back . . . Fitz says I am to have no portion of it, even to survey the Oakura block, which he required the Province to undertake; he wanted to know if the Province had no balance of any Provl. Loan that could be used ... I told him we have overdrawn to the utmost at the B. of N.Z., and until the cmpstn. is paid we have nothing to play with . . .

Pleuropneumonia is here ... I agree with Col. Warre in thinking it came in the Hydra from Newcastle; he then drew the conclusion that the military would suffer a heavy loss now and hereafter in their cattle, because I had allowed the cattle to be landed from the Hydra. I told him we were quite willing to live to all time on mutton, to keep out any doubtful beef, but the Genl. had requested the Gl. Gt. to have the restrictions relaxed as regards cattle for the contractor. I think with Col. Warre, that as regards the military interest, it was a great mistake not to keep this place clean . . . It is pleasant to feel that if you do what the military want, or the reverse, you will probably give equal dissatisfaction . . .

1865/4


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G. F von Tempsky 5 to Major H. A. Atkinson, Minister of Col. Defence. - - - Cambridge, 10 Jan 1865

I write to enquire wether your visit to this part has been delayed for any definite period; if such should be the case I would beg of you to get me leave for eight or ten days, as my leave has now expired in awaiting your arrival . . .

Brigadier General Carey, Te Awamutu is my commanding officer to get leave from.

My position with the 3rd Waikatos, moreover, is becoming daily more unpleasant, on account of our different systems, so that I would like to see soon something definite that would put my system beyond the power of constant encroachments. My men also are doing nothing here and are daily deteriorating through inactivity and proximity of canteens . . .

1865/5


C. W. Richmond to Emily E. Richmond - - - Invercargill, 11 Jan 1865

Here I am comfortably established in Dr Menzies sitting room. . . . Watt 6 was in waiting on the jetty, and about a dozen more, which is a crowd at the Bluff.

I got some breakfast at the Inn . . . and having somewhat recovered my wind, started on horseback with Watt for this place - with an orderly serjeant of police in my train. . . . The country is by no means so desolate looking as I had been led to expect. The distant ranges of mountains redeem it from monotony. About the Bluff, there is a great deal of rata. The full beauty of its flowering is past, but its crimson masses in the bush are still most striking. I was especially pleased at finding so much bush close to the water's edge - dense and luxuriant bush all the handsomer for being somewhat wind-clipped ...

1865/6


C. Brown to H. A. Atkinson - - - Superintendent's Office, New Plymouth, 13 Jan 1865

There are no end of rumours here that it is Sir D.C.'s 'carriage that stops the way', that he refuses to let the troops work at 1/3 a day, and the soldiers lose by it. I said very well then, give them piece work at which they can earn at from 2/6 to 4/- a day, when the reply was that he equally disapproves of their earning money. . . . Col. Warre says he is ready to employ our settlers at piece work. I think there are now forty at work of those who have drifted into the Province.

Try and give the Otago men their town sections, and any of the others you can. It will go far to keep them here until we can import anchors for them in the shape of young women. When the free Gl. Gt. emigration ceases and we have land handed over, we can get plenty of immigrants who will pay 1/2 their own passages and give promissary notes for balance . . .

1865/7


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W. A. Mackinnon to Major H. A. Atkinson - - - Wanganui, 16 Jan 1865

. . . Nothing particular doing here as yet, with exception of a camp about 10 miles out. We are hourly looking for the General, who has not yet turned up . . .

There is a first rate fellow and a good officer, formerly of the Defence Force and now in the transport, if you can do anything for him by gazetting him to a Waikato Regt, I feel sure he would do the greatest credit to any corps he is attached to. His name is MacPherson 7 and the son of an old Peninsular veteran. If in your power I do hope you will keep him in mind.

1865/8


C. W. Richmond to Emily E. Richmond - - - Invercargill, ij Jan 1865

Menzies is all kindness and hospitality. He is a pure-minded man with a singular serenity of temperament. He lives very plainly, but sees a great deal of company in a quiet way . . .

You would feel very safe at this house as in the half acre garden (or rather waste of grass tussocks and reeds) . . . there live, and keep perpetual guard, a large black dog and an emu. The emu is the image of Robert Richmond, only with a smaller face, and kicks like a horse ... It will put its head in at the window and take bread out of Dr Menzies' hand . . .

Invercargill is a very dull place - as flat as Christchurch but not improved like Christchurch by gardens and plantations. The sections are divided in the back streets by rough fences inside of which stand the usual wretched little boxes which do duty in N.Z. for houses. Stumps and melancholy dead trees and snags stand all about the streets and sections. The main street is a fine wide one, double the width of Dunedin streets with a well metalled roadway and wooden footways of scantling . . . The gaps between the scantling are filled up with gravel so that a very solid and agreeable path is formed.

1865/9


A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, Th 19 Jan 1865

The Queen came in from Auckland & Harry in her . . . Harry says old Cameron is very rusty but for him the proclamation would have been out confiscating the whole of the land from Parininihi to Whanganui the friendly natives of course to have theirs back & rebels who submit to get enough to live on - but he objected & so it hangs. He is however going on with the Whanganui road.

F 20 Jan . . . Saw Harry again. He says it is true that Hapurona & several others are coming in disgusted with the murder of Henare Ngakoti. As soon as they are in he has told Parris to send out Ihaia & all the friendly natives to take payment out of King's people for the murder, as of course it will not be possible to catch the murderers themselves for trial. I heard from Tamati Kaweora that King [Wiremu

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Kingi] some months ago said 'his ears were stopped & his eyes were shut so that he should know no man who came' i.e. he should kill all.

S 21 Jan . . . Harry went down the coast in the afternoon with Col. Warre. . . . They go on to the Hangatahua to pick out a site for the village of the Otago companies, & they are also to receive the submission of Minarapa & other southern natives.

M 23 Jan . . . Harry came along at 5.30 p.m. & I had to draft him a letter of instructions to Parris about the friendly native expedition to Otupara to capture or punish the murderers of Henare Ngakoti, & then wrote it out fair. . . .

F 27 Jan . . . Saw the wife of Epiha (one of the surrendered Taranakis) & got some further information about their new religion, the Pai Marire. They now claim miraculous powers. They speak to cattle which immediately become confused & stand to be caught. A dog which committed a common doggish impropriety against the niu or worshipping post without any touching him began to bark & then at once died . . .

v 35


A. Cloete to Mary Richmond - - - London, 26 Jan 1865

... I hope that before many months have passed circumstances may have brought Edmund [Bishop Hobhouse] to resolve upon coming Home. If his successor is a man of sense and foresight he will at once decline the offer of services which must sooner or later be embarrassing to both and which are sure to lead to fresh disappointments which poor Edmund might well be spared after all he has suffered. I shall be most thankful if we can all return together to this country. Oh, if he had but been advised by those who knew him and foresaw how little he was fitted for the untried post he was undertaking, we might all have been spared what we are now suffering, and my precious Mary would have been with us still. It is that which makes the trial almost unendurable, but of course Edmund is spared that sting, for he believes that he did what he was bound to do-and perhaps it is well for him that he does believe it . . .

Mr Richmond's pen I have learnt to recognize with tolerable certainty. I was quite sure that the first notice (in the Examiner) was his . . . Our whole family feel grateful to you all for the part you have taken, and you have been brought into our own circle by it in a way that makes it seem as if they were personally acquainted with you . . . Will you tell dear Annie that I am most thankful to hear that she has kept some hair, which is greatly wished for here. I trust she will not part with any more of it, for home claims are the strongest, and there are many of them.

1865/11


F. A. Weld to H. A. Atkinson - - - Wellington, 31 Jan 1865

I write a line in case you should not be on your way down with Sewell. You are both much wanted we ought all to meet . . . We must force Grey down. It is whispered that the 18th R Irish behaved badly & that the troops are in a very demoralized

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state and things seem to have turned out very badly at Wanganui the Genl it is said talks of two years to get to Patea we must shortly go in for sending the troops away within a month or so if this is all they can do - I suppose the Genl won't let Warrei act - but as the Governor is away we get no information - Mantell has just arrived and as far as we understand you seem to have done all that cd be done about the Taranaki & Wanganui affairs - push on settling the Military Settlers - be firm if any more talk shd arise about removal of troops & about the Governor coming to Wellington. I hear that you have a lot of saddles out more than you want - if you can send some to the Canterbury Mounted Volunteers if you have no objection they are a fine set of fellows and work at their drill went to a great expense in clothing themselves to attend on the Governor . . . The Canterbury people say they have been refused leave to form an engineer corps without reason being given . . . you might as well give the reason privately thro me if you like - I don't myself see it. The services of the Wairarapa Mounted Volunteers have been refused (not by you) do you know why. The country is well adapted for cavalry . . . Come here if you possibly can if only for a few days. Sewell must come as it is impossible to do without the Atty Genl.

We also sorely need the Governor in Council - it won't do for us to go to him he must not absent himself from the seat of Govt & the proximity to the seat of war at such a period. When we meet we must put united pressure on him from the seat of Govt. . .

(Atkinson papers in Turnbull Library)


J. C. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Nelson, 2 Feb 1865

A miserable accident . . . has happened here. . . . Poor Robinson 8 and three men were drowned on the bar of the Buller a week ago, James Burnett and Gully narrowly escaping the same death, with four others. They were going in with fine weather but in a stumpy sort of boat with only a rudder instead of a steer oar . . . Robinson was a fair swimmer but the surf was very choppy and the escape was more a matter of chance than skill.

I have sent you by this steamer an Elephant. It is addressed to the Exhibition but if you can find a pen for it in your backyard please consider it yours. It has fallen very short of my intentions. The arts don't go well with politics and general business. I may live to improve it or substitute a better: in the meantime I hope it will not shock your eye. See Braithwaite about hanging it and if you don't think it looks well you are entitled to withdraw it, by my instructions to Braithwaite.

1865/14


A. S. Atkinson to H. A. Atkinson - - - Taranaki, 3 Feb 1865

It has occurred to me that you had better get things a little more forward before the session. I mean particularly with regard to your army. Why shouldn't you begin getting it together at once! ... Of course we all know the advantages which would

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follow our having a well organised and really efficient body of men, though small. They would just do what Cameron and his men will leave undone; that is, really frighten the Maoris, and certainly the sooner this is done the better. . . .

They will ask you: have you finished the war or what have you done? then unless Cameron mends his pace you will have to say: 'We have done our best - Gen. Cameron is nearly at Patea and will be there we hope next summer'. This of course won't be enough, and all the fat will be in the fire. Of course by then you will have to devise and complete your plan for an army. Well I say, devise it a little sooner and get it set going. Unless you have something satisfactory to show, we of this island shall be left to our own resources. . . . Get it under way now if you possibly can. It will be something material to show and the colony will not repudiate what is done . . .

1865/15


F. A. Weld to H. A. Atkinson - - - Wellington, 4 Feb 1865

(Private )

... I hear today that the Natives suffered great loss at Nukumaru 70 killed and the fighting chief Peihimanu of Waitotara and 3 other chiefs - but the troops I hear were all but beaten & the 18th especially did not behave it is whispered as well as they ought - It is evident that Cameron won't give Warre a chance as troops have just arrived by sea from Taranaki. I have sent a memo to Grey pressing him to come down - also a delegation in case he doesn't to enable me to call out militia. I have done it already enough to furnish sentries over Comt. stores magazines &c at request of Col Dwyer who is ordered with the 14th to the port - People are all coming round to say the removal of troops is the right thing.

(Atkinson papers in Turnbull Library)


H. R. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - New Plymouth, 8 Feb 1865

We have had a great fright about the little baby who had a severe fit of indigestion and looked most alarmingly ill with it. ...

You will be distressed to hear of the state of Dessy's family. We none of us think there is any hope worth speaking of for poor little Frank, and Ronald is exceedingly poorly also and looks most delicate. I am glad to hear that they are going to try to get rooms in some house near the sea. They cannot go to Maria's on account of scarlet fever. . . . Little Esther has the scarlet fever but is doing very well. Wilson Hursthouse is gradually mending but looks very gaunt.

1865/16


A. S. Atkinson to C. W. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 9 Feb 1865

Our war is nearly at a standstill. The fact is the General is selling us - he will not fight and will not agree to confiscation down here to any extent and thinks the war unjust. The reason is he is sick of being here. He says it will take him 2 years to

[Image of page 151]

get to Patea and he must have 2000 more men. Grey is supporting the Auckland curs in their cry for separation and imperial protection - 'His abilities are really not equal to looking after the great diversities of interests north and south.' I heard this from Harry this morning, but of course I know it will find a safe resting place in you. It would not do to get about . . .

1865/17


Maria Richmond to Emily E. Richmond - - - Nelson, 9 Feb 1865

Sunday Feb 19 . . . Annie has felt compelled to give up the evening service, feeling it quite impossible to attend to Mr Johnstone's vapid discourses ... Mr Maclean, 9 though undoubtedly out of his vocation as a clergyman, preaches, I am told, plain sensible sermons - his opinions are those of the Broad Church and he is an admirer of Robertson and Maurice ... He preaches every Sunday morning, but not in the church ... he does daily service when in the country for the Bishop.

The Macleans have just had a crisis in their affairs and will have to leave their present charming house ... to live at the college . . . The house they now live in was taken with the hope of filling it with boarders, at that time the college was so prosperous that room could not be found for the pupils offering. Unfortunately the tide turned and they have never had but one boarder and are paying rent of £100 a year . . . Though he goes in at a reduced salary he expects to be a gainer by the change. From what I hear of Mr Maclean and hear of Dr Greenwood I cannot help thinking the former much the fitter man for headmaster - he understands boys and can be genial with them and yet keep them in order.

1865/18


Thomas Richmond to Maria Richmond - - - Stockton on Tees, 14 Feb 1865

Last week the foundation stone of a new Ragged School was laid, and the reporter gave some account of my Grandm's good old Uncle Harvey as one of the first to encourage Ragged Schools by his own example. I think you will recollect something of his history.

1865/19


A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, W 15 Feb 1865

. . . Just as I had done breakfast Harry came in and proposed I should ride with him over the Oakura block as he was going to look out for sites for the military settlers' villages. ... A reconnoitring expedition of the Col's had just come in. McKellar & his men had been with it. They went down a mile or two beyond Warea saw smoke inland had a few shots fired at them & came back. They brought away 7 horses, two cows & a canoe . . .

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F 17 Feb ... A report was brought in the evg. that some friendly natives had seen some of the enemy at Ratapihipihi, which caused quite a bustle after the long lull. The gallant Colonel addresses the populace in the street 'You keep quietly in your houses & I will take care the Maoris do not come into Town' & he accordingly puts sentries & pickets all round the Town. Harry & five others rode up to Hurworth to fetch in some men at work there . . .

S 18 Feb . . . After breakfast went into Town & saw Hamuera. He was one of them at Ratapihipihi yesterday & from what he says & the way he says it I have no doubt they did see the 'wild men' yesterday. He saw nine, they had apparently been trying to cut the friendlies off by getting between them & the Town but a woman Rihi saw them first & gave the alarm 'Ko te whakaariki - ko te whakaariki' . . .

Su 19 Feb . . . Harry is going to call out 50 Bushrangers to keep our own country clear - a very necessary step. The officers will be Jonas, Free & Lawson & the men picked from the two companies. I should amazingly like to join but for the rascally paper.

v 35


A. S. Atkinson to Mary Richmond - - - Taranaki, 18 Feb 1865

I am afraid unless someone intereferes that I shall have to join the Bushrangers again (in fact I had the pleasure of perambulating the country at 3 o'clock this morning) which will be extremely inconvenient to Maria and detrimental to my own business, but as the people are obliged to go into the bush for a living and the inimical negroes have already been prowling about Burton's Hill, I do not as yet see how it is to be avoided . . .

1865/20


Jane Maria Atkinson to Maria Richmond - - - New Plymouth, 18 Feb [1865]

You will be shocked to see by today's Herald what mortality there has been amongst children. All infants I might say. The deaths there inserted were from diarrhea or dysentry. Dr Wadsworth says there are few pure wells in the town, and the long drought makes them worse just now. There has been no rain to wash away impurities from the surface and after all the sanitary talk and domiciliary visitations, I know of nothing having been done towards any system of drainage . . .

1865/21


Mary Richmond to A. S. Atkinson - - - The Wood, Nelson, 21 Feb 1865

. . . James is not at all bright and well and would I think feel my absence especially just now when he is anxious and worried about the superintendency. I heartily trust he will get out of it. Before I was aware, and almost before he was himself, I think, he let himself get drawn into promising to stand if no one else could be got to do so likely to keep out Mr Saunders. He has tried all he could to persuade Mr Blackett and since Mr Stafford to stand but without success . . . James thinks it not at all

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improbable that Mr Saunders will not stand . . . and in this case he will not feel the same need to act . . . For every reason I shall very much regret it if he is elected and his own present quiet office ... is altogether a much more desirable one.

1865/22


W. B. D. Mantell to H. A. Atkinson - - - Whanganui, 28 Feb 1865

... In accordance with our colleagues wishes I have told Rookes to suspend enlistments in cavalry for the present. With what he has raised & the Volunteers and Mily Train the Genl has about 150 cavy. enough to scour the whole coast. Logan speaks highly of Rookes' efficiency. Rookes leaves for the Patea this morning by order of the General but his horses are nearly knocked up having returned only last night from escorting 68th to Waitotara . . .

Rookes tells me our cavalry here already costs about £100 per diem - What will friend Fitz[herbert] say?

(Atkinson papers in Turnbull Library)


A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, S 4 Mar 1865

. . . After breakfast carpentered a little. At 2 attended parade, for which I got 2/6 & for our expedition the other night 10/-. Talking of expeditions . . . one (of the 70th) under Major Ryan went up 8 or 10 miles behind Te Arei. Saw Henry Newland was present. He says it was bush all the way ... to the Manganui . . . here they heard a splashing & shouting & a lot of natives came right into the middle of them & they caught 2 men(Nepi & Ihakara) 3 women & 2 children . . . Not a 100 yards off they saw some going away, one at least with a gun, two shots were fired at them without orders & Newland was taking a sight at one with the gun when Major Ryan came up to him swearing & said he would try and by court martial that fired 'another shot', so he escaped . . . the soldiers crossed the river to put some salt on their tails. . . . Ihaia's men near Kaipikari laid an ambush & shot four wild men, the advanced guard of a party of William King's coming for potatoes, only four concerned on each side but the friendlies had the first shot at a yard or two's distance & therefore won . . .

Th 9 Mar . . . Col. Warre started for Otago. No great loss you would say, unless you knew Col. Mulock of the 70th who reigns in his absence.

F 10 Mar The wind was blowing very hard last night & this morning at high water ... I went out having observed an alteration in the outline of our immortal jetty, found a curious scene at the boatsheds. The waves using spars, buoys &c as battering rams had knocked in the front of the bonded store & other offices . . . the great embankment had disappeared but there was the engine ...(... used for pumping) with its funnel sticking out of the water looking as if it had a long job before it. Noah's Ark (Holford's punt) had been on a cruise inland & carried away the footbridge . . .

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W 15 Mar . . . The Rangatira came in from Wanganui . . . news received there from Auckland of the murder of the Revd. Mr Volkner at Opotiki (Bay of Plenty) just by his own church . . . The Revd. Mr Grace & the crew of the schooner Eclipse were prisoners. Mr Grace about the time of the last war was as great a rebel as any in the island. I don't know what he has been doing lately . . .

F 17 Mar At noon went to the Court House to be elected for the Grey & Bell in the Prov. Council. There were four electors present ... I complimented them & the electors generally on the interest shown in provincial politics. I felt this mark of their confidence all the more flattering as coming unanimously from so large a body of electors & I should never despair of New Zealand politics while I saw a mere provincial election draw together such a gathering as the present one' . . .

v 35


M. Lepper to H. A. Atkinson - - - Taranaki, 9 Mar 1865

I consider it only my duty to call your attention to the manner in which the Mounted Volunteers are treated as regards the horses captured from the rebels by them - The Land Transport get the first pick and the refuse put up to sale. This I think very hard after half killing their own horses catching them that they should not get the pick and let the horses be marked with the mark of the General Govt and when the war is over let them be sold for the benefit of the same and don't let the Imperial Treasure chest be the only gainer as it is at present. . . The men swear they will catch no more horses the sum allowed per man is so small that it is not worth mentioning as it is to be divided among the whole force composing the expedition . . .

(Atkinson papers in Turnbull Library)


H. A. Atkinson to A. S. Atkinson - - - Wanganui, ly Mar 1865

The Governor is still here ... He is very much put out by the murder of poor Mr Volkner . . .

Pehi has taken the oath of allegiance but Topia his son, has refused to do so. The Governor sent for him the other day and he came down (I am sorry to say I only arrived just after the interview had ended.) Topia said he was not to be frightened into taking the oath - admitted that he was implicated in the murders of both Mr Hewitt & the Revd. Mr Volkner . . . and claimed to be the highpriest of the Hau Hau's. Nothing of this was known either to Hori Kingi or to Mr White when Kingi made terms with Pehi. Grey seems to think that Pehi's people will follow Topia in refusing to take the oath; if so there will be war again here up the river.

I have come up to see about Militia matters and also to organize some Maori and Pakeha Bushrangers. I have found a little difficulty with the Maories owing to the terms of peace they have made. They consider they are not at liberty to make any fresh move without Pehi people and that being organized in the way [I] propose would be taking action, but all the young men are very anxious to join. Booth has gone up to Topine's people to administer the oath to them . . .

[Image of page 155]

The Ahuriri is to take 200 Military settlers to Patea. The General is moving on a little but he is in a very rabid state of mind. He is severely civil to the Governor in his private note and is always abusing Ministers. I think he and Grey have quite split. Grey is coming fast round to our opinion that the sooner he goes with the troops the better, but he says he must first make the General go through to Taranaki.

P.S. The story of the Cross about our having words with the Governor has not the least foundation in fact. We are on better terms than ever through his split with Cameron.

v 6, p 53


A. S. Atkinson, journal - - - New Plymouth, S 18 Mar 1865

The Ahuriri came in from Whanganui with more particulars... The atrocities committed on the unfortunate Mr Volkner were greater than we first heard - They hung him, cut him down before he was quite dead, took his heart out, cut pieces off it & ate them. They stood in a row with upturned faces & open mouths while the priest went along with the newly severed head letting the blood drip into their mouths. Having cooked the brains they made an offering of them & subsequently ate them . . .

Tu 21 Mar The Ahuriri came in again from Whanganui and left with the two companies of military settlers (Cap Brassey's and Pennefather's) and the 50 men who are to be Bushrangers - only a few of them have learned the business. J. Hirst is in command, W. Newland Lt. and Chapman a military settler ensign. . . .

S 25 Mar ... In Town I saw one of the Taranakis who came in with Minarapa . . . I was asking him about it [the taking of Kaitake]. He said I will tell you why it was taken. Te Ua (or Horopapera Tuwhakararo) had told them that if they bragged or boasted too much (whakapehapeha & pikirapu) it would be taken - 'the neck of the land & of the food would be broken but not that of the men' - as it turned out. I was curious to know where the first niu, or worshipping post, was set up & when he said at Kaitake during the present war I said I did not see it there. 'To you,' he said, 'it was a color (a flagstaff) to us it was a niu. So that in cutting down the flagstaff we were laying irreverent hands on the original Pai marire niu of New Zealand. I have the truck or top of it at home.

v 35


H. A. Atkinson to A. S. Atkinson - - - Wanganui, 20 Mar 1865

... I have only just come back from the Governor . . . The General is furious at being refused reinforcements. Grey with my advice is putting it in strong. We must support Grey against the General or we shall be done.

Topine('s) people have refused to take the oath. We are going to tell the General that if he can't do the work we can and that he may send Home some troops as soon as he likes.

v 6,p 54


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Maria Richmond to Emily E. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 20 Mar 1865

I had a very rough landing here. It was supposed for some time before we reached Taranaki that no boat would come out. Happily however it did come, but I had to submit to be lifted from the side of the vessel, not attempting to descend the ladder. Imagine me seated not precisely on the top step of the ladder, but even with it, told to let my legs hang over the side for the men to take me down. In the midst of my fright a thought came over me that the sailors could not complain as Mary once did, 'you never let us see even your legs', for I could not by any possibility adjust my dress with a view to propriety ... I was the only female in the boat, and as we neared the land I was nearly overwhelmed with boat cloaks thrown over me to preserve me from the surf. I think however that all escaped a wetting.

1865/25


J. C. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Nelson, 22 Mar 1865

The watercolor drawings last sent were all meant as illustrations of the coal field at the Buller. I made the outlines last summer when out on public service, and Gully's drawings were made in office hours. They belong to the Prov. Govt. If you would like to have a drawing or two of Gully's I think I can get you better ones than you have seen. We are great cronies. He is a thoroughly modest, sensible man in matters of art and my feelings about painting are rather a healthy supplement to his. So if you send an order I will see about the subjects and get him to qualify his crudities of color. He has a capital notion of atmospheric effect and with good models before him and more time out of doors would have been a fine landscape painter.

I am afraid I shall not succeed in getting down south. Yesterday was the election for Supt. . . 10 Barnicoat is in a majority of 52 in the Town and Waimea but Saunders's stronghold is Motueka and he may come up neck and neck.

1865/26


H. R. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - New Plymouth, 29 Mar 1865

I have received £90 on your account as compensation of which £60 is 3 years rent on your 20 acre clearing and the remainder for damage by thistles. You will remember that you . . . spoke of devoting what was awarded to some public purpose in N Plymouth; and . . . that the remainder should be presented to the Taranaki Institute. I understood you to agree to this, but as the amount is a considerable one I prefer to have your approval in writing before actually appropriating it.

I have had an offer from St. George for our Hua sections. . . . £150 for the six sections, which is just twice the original purchase money and will be I suppose about an increase of 10 per cent p.a. for the time they have been in our hands. . . .

I am turning my attention to getting prepared for the duties of an R.M. should I have the chance of that office, which is not unlikely . . . You must not think it is mere restlessness that makes me wish for this change. . . . The salary is better and

[Image of page 157]

paid by the General instead of the Provincial Govt. The work is more varied and more human and must I should think afford many opportunities of doing good in a quiet way suitable to my Telemachian nature.

My doubt is whether I am not naturally too undecided and too nervous for the post but these defects I think can be got over by acquiring a sound knowledge of its duties. ... I have been spending some of my leisure time lately in reviving my knowledge of German and find great delight in reading some of Schiller's and Goethe's poems in the original - not delight only but much strength and comfort.

1865/27


F. A. Weld to H. A. Atkinson - - - Wellington, 29 Mar 1865

. . . We cannot get on here without your presence. . . . We are not clear as to the exact position of affairs. It appears to me that placing all the military settlers sent for at the river will complicate matters as regards Patea, and we must not delay the occupation of the Patea country ... It appears clear that Cameron is going to do nothing, and consequently the sooner we ask for the removal of the troops and stop all expenditure the better. Now we must have you here and get accurate information from you . . .

We very much want to have a consultation with the Governor and with you. What measures are to be taken to follow up the East Coast murderers? We can take none, if any are to be taken, until the Governor is here. Again we are sending up about Waikato affairs, selling hospitals, steamers etc. The hour for the session is drawing near, and we can't stand for an hour unless we have completed our retrenchments. Besides this we want to consider the advisability of removing the bulk of the Tauranga military settlers to Patea country. Tauranga seems a simple weakness, but then our engagements with the Arawa must be considered. It seems that affairs at Wanganui no longer need a Minister's presence.

As to pay of militia, we cannot get the money . . . We cannot pay more. Of course what you may have promised will be done. There will be some payts. of this kind, too, at Hawkes Bay as we have had to form a volunteer force. Do come at once (and bring the Governor - you and he should be here together if possible).

1865/28


H. A. Atkinson to A. S. Atkinson - - - Wanganui, 30 Mar 1865

In my last I told you things did not look well on the river, and that the Governor and I intended to do a little on our own account to set things straight if possible . . .

Shortly - we have bought a block of land and established a post at Parikino, about 20 miles up the river. We have sent the 200 T.M.S. up the river for a short time to secure the posts. They are now at Corinth, about 20 miles further up, and we shall be in possession of Pipiriki (where we intend to establish a strong post) on Sunday or Monday. These two places secure the whole of this coast and render it all but impossible

[Image of page 158]

for the inland tribes to get into our land. The Governor was almost shirking from Pipiriki at the last moment, but I kept him up to the mark and he spoke to the Natives like a man to-day.

Our going to Parikino had a wonderful effect on both rebels and friendlies. Yesterday 24 Pipiriki men came down and took the oath. If we could have got the Gundagai we should now be at Pipiriki - but as it was probable that if we took her the troops might be without groceries for two days the possession of Pipiriki was not allowed to weigh in the balance, so I have determined to do it with canoes. I don't think there is now any likelihood of our being resisted but we shall of course be prepared. I have enlisted 100 Maories as militia. I shall go myself up to Pipiriki to see that all goes right and then I shall go to Wellington. The Governor goes tomorrow in the Esk.

We have written to the General to tell us how far he means to go that we may decide what we will do. I find we could get 200 of these Natives for grants of land to take possession of any part of the land on the coast we liked to name. I am inclined to start a mixed force from where the General stops from Taranaki and the North of the Waitara. Keep this quite to yourself. I am anxious to get to Wellington to settle a plan. . . . The Governor is behaving very well. I get no peace all day long here I shall be very glad to get away.

W. Thompson 11 is a regular [? twister]. We have got certain information of his double dealing.

P.S. Ask Jonas to see Mace, McGuiness and Johnson about their subscription to the Volunteer fund. ... I did not mean any of our men to join Patea Bushrangers. I want them for something else. I have not forgotten them.

v 6, p 55


R. Parris to H. A. Atkinson - - - New Plymouth, 8 Apr 1865

(Private and confidential)

A month ago I . . . heard that Colonel Warre was going to Wellington where I thought he would be likely ... to explain away his objections to the employment of our Native allies under the terms of your instructions to me in reference to which he is evidently displeased . . . From an observation of his yesterday I am afraid his state of mind is not improved ... On telling him that I was going to send our allies up towards Ngatimaru he replied in a very unpleasant tone . . . 'What is the use of disturbing the Natives when they are all quiet. If any of them are made prisoners the Government let them go again.'

This last remark applies to two Natives who we made prisoners during an expedition inland of Te Arei. The Colonel handed them over to the Civil court by which they were tried but as they were unarmed when captured there was no evidence to convict them. Consequently they were left in gaol pending instructions from the Govt which I

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received on the 3rd inst to the effect that they were to be 'Liberated on parole on the understanding that they made Waiwakaiho their home.'

The Colonel said 'it was very extraordinary that the Government should have liberated them without communicating with him.' This no doubt is the sore. Had they been Military Prisoners it would have been different but as they were civil Prisoners the case was very different. The Colonel's unwillingness to aid us in this arrangement for the employment of the Native Allies is as I told you calculated to make matters anything but pleasant for me - However I have been accustomed to it for the last five years and shall not now be much disheartened. - If it is your wish for me to still carry on do write me by return of post. The expense incurred up to the present time in employing them (over two months) is under £100.

(Atkinson papers in Turnbull Library).


Major H. J. Coote, memo on the formation of the Police Corps 12 - - - 13 Apr 1865

The Corps should consist of the most efficient men that can be procured and must consequently be well paid. It would be better to have fewer men than to have an inferior class. Consequently I would strongly urge that they should not be taken from the troops in New Zealand with a few exceptions for the following reasons:

1st. The British Army is enlisted from the lowest class.
2nd. Their training is such that they have no self reliance, which will make them inefficient when detached in small bodies.
3rd. The men who will be drafted for New Zealand service would in all probability be such as colonels of regiments wish to get rid of.
4th. The mode of conducting this war has been such as to dispirit the men. It may, however, be necessary to form a portion of the Corps without delay. These I would take as far as possible from the 65th Regiment and discharged men of the 58th who know the country. I would further recommend about 200 men being enlisted from the Royal Artillery as it takes time to make a good gunner. The force should consist of:

An Inspector General,
1 adjutant
4 inspectors (at Wellington, Auckland, Napier, and Taranaki),
20 deputy inspectors,
50 Serjeants
1160 constables
20 buglers
4 armourers,

A small corps of Native guides who could generally be employed in collecting information and serving notices amongst the Native population . . .

[Image of page 160]

In consequence of the heavy expense it would entail I should recommend that as few men as possible should be mounted. Horses must be had for the artillery companies that they may be prepared at any moment to take the field, but the Volunteer cavalry, if sufficiently encouraged, will be perfectly capable of doing any duty that can be required of them. In fact I think they could do the duty better than regular cavalry in rough country.

Distribution:

350 Auckland
250 Wellington
200 Taranaki
200 Napier

The expense to be borne by each province in proportion to the force allotted . . .

Arms - Short double-barrelled rifles of the best quality and revolvers. A few men to be provided with billhooks and axes.

Dress - Simple and strong with a good capote. Under clothing to be found by the men.

The present police force to be either abolished or incorporated in the new force.

It would be desirable to extend this organisation to the Southern Island as soon as practicable in order that a well trained force could be brought into the field in the event of foreign invasion.

I consider officers who have seen service in India to be better adapted as a class than any others, especially those who have served with irregular corps, and the best constables that could be procured would be from the Irish Police.

Barracks - The barracks should be constructed so as to afford some protection to the women and children in case of emergency, but not so large as to require many men to protect them . . .

The deputy inspectors should be resident magistrates and have power to call out the militia or volunteers if necessary.

13 Apr . . . The Irish Police . . . are men of respectability, well drilled and trained to act as constables, accustomed to be detached in small parties in the midst of a turbulent population which gives them an amount of self reliance that would be invaluable here. Some years ago when I was in Ireland they were the finest body of men under arms in the country . . . Some of the officers of the Irish police would also be very valuable.

I would recommend that one half of the force should be enrolled for a longer period than the other, as it would be highly injurious for the term of service of the whole police force of the country to terminate at the same time.

1865/31

[Minuted by F. A. Weld (premier) to H. A. Atkinson (Minister for Colonial Defence) 25 Apr 1865]


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Mary Richmond to A. S. Atkinson - - - Nelson, 16 Apr 1865

We are sending you two bushells of apples by the Airedale . . . Apples are painfully scarce and dear this year. They have been bought up unusually early by people here, and also by people in Canterbury and Otago. . . .

Ripstons could not be had - nor many russets: these apples we send are mixed russets and Cambridge pippins - both are good keeping apples.

1865/32


Maria Richmond to Emily E. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 18 Apr 1865

. . . With your letter came no less a personage than the Honble. Major Atkinson, Minister of Defence, looking perfectly well in his usual hopeful, cheerful state of mind, and appearing, as he always does under any circumstances, prosperous or adverse, as polished as a new pin. In this respect his wife matches him well, wearing always the best of everything and plenty of variety . . .

1865/33


Maria Richmond to Emily E. Richmond - - - New Plymouth, i May 1865

7th. I think I told you that Mr Good was going to stand for the office of superintendent - it turns out that he is not eligible, not being on the electoral roll . . . Henry who has been before requested to stand is asked again, he does not incline to it, but it is thought he will be elected whether he will or not as the only person at all fit. Perhaps Charles Brown will change his mind and try to retain the post. It was Mr Watson who was supporting Mr Good to keep C.B. out - there is bitter enmity between them . . .

Eliza says it is quite settled that they remove to the Bell Block to a farm. Des has taken 200 acres of land, 600 sheep at a rent of £300 a year; a lease of 7 years and to leave the same number of sheep and the same age.

1865/34


F. A. Weld to H. A. Atkinson - - - Wellington, 4 May 1865

You and Warre seem in the language of a French Bulletin to have been 'covering yourselves with glory.' At Wanganui I can't think what they are about. Weraroa pa does not seem to have surrendered after all. If the General would only go away we might do something. However Warre's action will restore the prestige the Genl's inaction has lost at Wanganui & which has neutralized even the Pipiriki success to a great extent, at least for a time. The notification from the Genl that authority has been given to issue cash advances for paying the Wanganui militia has been received by the Governor and has been sent to Wellington . . .

Has the Genl written to the Governor to say what he is doing? Has the Governor written his intended letter to the Genl or forwarded him any memo? has the Govnor

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asked him to remove any regts? I can hardly write I have been writing till my hand will hardly hold the pen.

P.S. Just reed yours of the taking of Warea I go home to drink your health hurrah

(Atkinson papers in Turnbull Library)


Jane Maria Atkinson to Emily E. Richmond - - - Beach Cottage, Taranaki, 23 May 1865

With respect to James's resigning his seat you should take into consideration that ... he is certain not to be returned for Taranaki unless he returns before the next Gen. election. The party here jealous of the influence of the Mob always represent him as having deserted the place, and would use this cry with the ordinary folk so as to keep him out. If he comes back he will soon be popular again and could resign his Gov appointment when he saw other ways of earning money and might be of greater use to this Province than he can be by stopping her member for one more session. Of course he might get in for another Province and do the Colony good, but his heart is still here, and he does not wish to cut his ties to it altogether, if he can find means to return with prudence . . .

1865/35


Maria Richmond to Emily E. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 28 May 1865

Des's plans are now entirely changed and he has accepted a commission as lieutenant under Captn Good who is going to a place a few miles on this side of the White Cliffs to have command of a body of friendly natives.

1865/36


J. C. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Nelson, 1 Jun 1865

I wish I could have an hour's conversation with you now about the strange and embarrassing state of public affairs. I think we must not give a single glance back to the days of pupillage. It is clear that Great Britain washes her hands of us. It makes one dull to see the little wisdom and growing taste for preaching that distinguishes public men at home. Cardwell talks as if great governments were impeccable and small communities a natural butt for dull commonplace sermon. We knew in February 1860 that an era had arrived for the Colony, but hardly reckoned on such a result as has come. The main event, virtual independence, could not have been avoided that I can see. Weld, Harry and I have throughout entirely agreed, and I cannot blame our conduct. Only I wish that Weld had been up earlier in the session when Whitaker and Fox took office ... I felt that Wood's incompetency, Russell's joint-stock-companyism and lax conscience, Fox's pliability and Whitaker's desire to acquire a competency might let us go anywhere. If you had been in political life these things would not have happened. I resisted all I could ... I cannot yet understand how the hard-headed Whitaker was betrayed into the 'Memorandummiad' as FitzGerald calls

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it. I fear he felt that so long as money was being freely spent in Auckland his private game was being played . . .

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Jane Maria Atkinson to Emily E Richmond - - - Beach Cottage, Taranaki, 6 Jun 1865

. . . The winter has begun early and roughly here. The wretched Col. Warre has gone down the coast in a little steamer with the Bush rangers. He is to meet General Waddy and complete the line of posts to Wanganui . . . Harry is expected from Auckland on the 9th but he proceeds very shortly to Wellington and Jane is not to expect to see him till the session is over perhaps in 5 month's time! Such is the penalty paid by the wives of great men.

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Maria Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 9 Jun 1865

I have read with great interest Dr Newman's Apology, but he does not carry me to Rome. I want the proof of the Church's infallibility. I have also read with great pleasure Dr Whately's Life which we had in the house at the same time. How widely these two diverged and yet not so widely perhaps as those two earnest brothers.

Richmond and Flinders have gone with Col Warre southward, for what object I don't know. Poor May Henderson has lost her brother. He was in the Mounted Corps, and was shot by the Maoris, five of whom lay in ambush for an equal number of the Corps, and four of whom were shot and two mortally wounded in return for O'Neill's death . . .

1865/40


J. C. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Nelson, 11 Jun 1865

I have been having a little trouble in Provincial matters. Our friend Alfred Saunders wants to rid himself of me. He has had no sort of quarrel and has never suggested that I am not efficient, but I have declined to continue Provincial Secretary, an office I reluctantly accepted under poor Robinson for the sake of peace . . . 13 Saunders has modestly requested me to resign that one of the clerks may be appointed [Commissioner of Crown Lands] in my place: and I have declined to comply with his modest request. He has recommended the Council to give me half my present salary. It seems to me that even at this late hour in the day the General Government should assert itself and check an impertinence of the kind ... I hate fighting but I suppose it is good to have some of it to do.

In the middle of my warfare came an invitation from Weld to join him ... I was struck aback when I found myself in for it, for I do not feel great at administration and have no patent medicine to offer. . . .

I am glad the picture looks decently well. It was intended to be much more

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elaborate and is but a blotting of what I had in my mind to make ... I must make an excuse after the session to go to Dunedin and take my colors with me to give it a little more finish. The foreground was painted the day it was put in its case to go south.

What is the difficulty in transplanting a qualified Church of England to the Colony. It is evidently not merely the state props that keep the episcopal church standing at home. It is as you say that after all any written document interpreted by scientific analysts of language must be freer and less dogmatic than the will of an unscientific dogmatic majority of churchmen. But I do not quite see the difficulty of placing a church absolutely as regards dogma in the same position with respect to the courts of justice here as the Church of England is at home. Is it that a true bishop cannot be submissive as to dogma to the supreme court's interpretations of the Articles and Creeds without dissipating the divine afflatus? After all that would not be much, and no worse than happened at the Reformation and has righted itself since as far as the sentimental pain of most Protestants goes. I am very glad you are turning your attention to this. I often meditate dimly on the possibility of a Colonial Church; I would like the basis for you of the supreme court to interpret, to have a little more of the Maurician haze about it than the present creeds, etc.

1865/41


Jane Maria Atkinson to Mary Richmond - - - Beach Cottage, New Plymouth, 18 Jun 1865

What is your feeling about James's joining the Ministry? I am afraid it will be too anxious and fagging a life for him, tho' I dare say the companionship of a man like Mr Weld will be wholesome and nourishing to his mind. What will the House say to three of the ministry being Taranaki members? 14 suppose Taranaki is too insignificant to make other places seriously jealous but no doubt Auckland will avail herself of the circumstance as a grievance. . . . You will find Wellington healthy and there are Mrs Sewell and Mr Domett as well as the Welds. . . .

I fear the Native militia will not be of any use here. The Company with Capt. Good and Decie refused to go to the place Harry had appointed and they hold so loosely together that the corps may fall to pieces any day . . .

1865/42


Maria Richmond to Emily E. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 19 Jun 1865

About Des and the farm. Harry, who leaves N. P. today, has taken it with Mr Pitcairn, according to Jane, who spent Saturday afternoon and evening here. These two talk of nothing but sheep and bullocks when together, she says that Hal's heart is quite in farming and that he longs to be back at Hurworth, which she does not . . .

1865/43


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J. C. Richmond to H. A. Atkinson - - - Nelson, 22 Jun 1865

Stafford has been behaving very badly to Weld and also to me privately. ... It will not do to trust him at all when his own conceit in engaged. I wish you would make Weld go home. Depend on it, it is of great importance . . .

I wish you could find time now and then to let me know how things go on. My mind is full of misgiving and it will be a relief to hear bad news. Even Grey is so radically a rogue, and men in general so commonly apes that there seems very little room for hope. What does your dear stupid old General propose? . . . Has he any plan of his to replace yours, and any plan that you or the Colony could help in, or is it only some vague idea that it would be best for England to keep an army here for ten years?

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Mary Richmond to A. S. Atkinson - - - Richmond Hill, 22 Jun 1865

I cannot say that I personally at all approve of James joining the Ministry, but I remained passive in the matter and did not dissuade him from it - for I could see he felt drawn to the work, and his post here had become so extremely distasteful that it was a daily oppression to him and seemed quite to affect his health and spirits. Mr Saunders has acted in a very narrow party spirited way, and not very straightforwardly - so that James hated having any dealings with him . . .

1865/45


J. C. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Wellington, 24 Jun 1865

I have lost money by Elliott and find it impossible to realise my greenbacks except at a ruinous sacrifice and I had reckoned on these for finishing up my payments for building.

. . . Here I am installed in the Col. Secretary's Office ... I wish, dearest William, you were in my stead for this is a sort of forlorn hope and needs your active intellect and judgment . . .

It is oppressive to feel the weakness of the Genl. Government when the utmost vigor is needed. One is performing a sort of egg dance among percussion shells of very lively kinds . . .

1865/46


Col. H. J. Warre to H. A. Atkinson - - - New Plymouth, 24 Jun 1865

Pardon my trespassing on your grief at this early day but I cannot resist sending you a few lines of condolence to express Mrs Warre's and my sincere sympathy in your great sorrow and bereavement. 15 The deep feelings expressed by all classes of the community at your great and unexpected loss are sufficient to show the estimation in which your poor wife was held, and it is only in truth I add that we feel as much as any the great sorrow it has pleased God to make you suffer. May God grant you strength

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to bear it and to seek support and some consolation in the onerous duties which you are so admirably conducting for the reinstatement and restoration of peace to your adopted country.

1865/47


Jane Maria Atkinson to Mary Richmond - - - Beach Cottage, Taranaki, 28 Jun 1865

You may have seen Mr Pitcairn and learnt from him the sad news he has gone to carry to poor Harry. I can hardly bear to think of what the blow must be to Harry, he seemed to us to leave home cheerfully and with no misgivings about poor Jane. . . . Dr Rawson seems so convinced that it would have been impossible for Jane to live thro' her approaching confinement that we ought not to regret her sudden departure for her own sake, she was spared suffering ... On examination he found that she had been for long living on the edge of a precipice, to use his words, the formation in her throat . . . allowing just barely sufficient space for the respiration absolutely necessary for life . . .

I did indeed feel for you in having to part with James before your strength had returned, for I know how much more separations and troubles of all kinds seem to master one in times of physical weakness. I cannot believe it is right, nor do I believe that James can contemplate your continued residence at Nelson if the Weld Ministry retains power ... If you are determined to keep on a modest scale in spite of your dignity you might make all ends meet and I suppose you are not laying by much at Nelson. Do you think James a likely man to accompany Mr Weld to England? I trust not, as he has no aristocratic relations at home. I could not bear him to go alone and I could not bear you with all those little ones to undertake the voyage. I am sure if all survived to reach England you would never try to come back.

1865/48


J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Wellington, 28 Jun 1865

. . . Pitcairn came by the coast from Wanganui to tell Harry this miserable news. He was the only friend who was near at her death. ... I am very glad for Harry's sake that he is in full active work. He is not a man to brood over a trouble but I think he would be heavily depressed by this if he could, as he wishes, go back to Taranaki. He feels that he has no right to throw up his office at present, there is too much work to allow of it, and this will defer and soften the blow to him.

You will be sorry . . . that I have resigned my seat in the House of Representatives. This was to me a real sacrifice. I go to the Legislative Council simply as a matter of duty and business. We discussed long who should be the victim and I was forced to agree that personal feelings apart the least inconvenient arrangement was for me to be offered up. 16 I am therefore a peer of Cutfield and old Stokes . . . My colleagues understand that I only agree to be promoted for the single session and if we hold together the matter is open for readjustment ... If we break up it seems as

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though the Colony were set adrift on a chaotic sea and the healthy promise of twelve years broken and betrayed.

The dissensions between the Governor and General are running as high as they can run and the week has seen events that will keep the storm alive. The Weraroa pa you remember was left in his rear unmolested, when Genl. Cameron marched or sneaked along the coast to Patea. It has remained ever since armed to the teeth and defiant. The militia and native contingent have been anxious to take it and were bivouacked close by, when the other day the garrison of the pa made a proposal to surrender to them and flew a white flag. The commanding officer, Brigadier Genl. Waddy, being informed disapproved of Major Rooks and Von Tempsky taking any action, and a force under Colonel Logan who came to forbid the militia taking action appearing just as negotiations were begun, the natives were frightened and broke off. It is doubtful what the next step may be. Some of the native contingent. . . say the men in the pa will not surrender to Genl. Waddy and the soldiers, who have never so much as moved to attack them and whom they say they beat at Nukumaru close by. They will, however, surrender to the militia officers, to Mete Kingi and the native contingent. General Waddy . . . writes . . . that they will surrender to him this day. Is it not a paltry ambition, to wish to appear to receive a submission from men who despise them? What a happy colony to be in the hands of such defenders. I hope Waddy may be right, for I am as sick of bloodshed and slaughter as the Peace Society can be . . .

Te Ua, the Hauhau prophet, has said he will bring confusion among the forces of his enemy ... To make the thing complete the soldiers and militia should have fought it out before the pa . . .

The gloomy part of our view is our finance. Great Britain could by a little foolscap paper and prints of the Queen's arms rescue us from our difficulties at no cost to herself, but we shall find it hard to show her that this is her duty. The Governor has been behaving throughout very well towards the Weld ministry and has written clear and strong recommendations to the Colonial Office to give us the help we want. Grey is a curious being. He seems much happier in his present company and his present warfare than when he was fighting his late ministers . . . His manner is gentle and amiable to a marvellous degree but one remembers the claws under the velvet. . . . General Cameron has been long and systematically acting the spy or censor of Governor and Colony and some of his expressions are echoed back in despatches to the Governor. It is certain one or other must be recalled soon, and one does not know how soon . . .

1865/49


Mary Richmond to J. C. Richmond - - - Jul 1865

I am indeed very sorry about your giving up your seat in the Lower House - very sorry. It gives me quite a chilly sensation, - the thought of you taking a seat in

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that quiet, sleepy, unknown Legislative Council. 17 I think the only fair way would be for Ministers to [do] this painful duty by turns. I trust something will happen to disinter you soon. I try to console myself by thinking you will perhaps have less work and be able to keep better hours.

1865/51


David Monro (Speaker House of Representatives) to J. C. Richmond - - - Nelson, 1 Jul 1865

... So you are promoted to the serene atmosphere of the Upper House. I hope you may like it better than Sewell did. But I have a painful recollection of the expression of poor Sewell's face when after business transacted among the Lords, generally terminating in his vote having been given on the losing side, he used to come up and refresh himself in the more disorderly society of the popular chamber. Perhaps, however, it may be more tolerable to you as you are likely, (I hope so at all events) to have the majority of the 'contents' on your side.

1865/52


J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Wellington, 1 Jul 1865

. . . Harry bears his great trouble as you would expect manfully. I think even here, however, that it grows on him as he realises it more. I trust for his sake that we may continue in office for a year. He has a strong wish to be off and make a home for the young ones but he sees that there is no good to be immediately done by it: the children being young and in good hands will not get to be strangers to him if he should be away for several years. He feels that he is of use and has a strong interest in his work. If he were to return to his empty house now, cheerful as his nature is, he would be much broken down by the change . . .

1865/53


H. A. Atkinson to A. S. Atkinson - - - Wellington, 8 Jul 1865

. . . My loss at times seems almost too much for me while at other times I can scarcely believe that God has really taken dearest Jane from me. But God has been very merciful to me in giving me strength to bear my burden. I am very much inclined to leave politics, but I don't see how I can do so at the present time with honor.

I want you to bring me down in addition to the things I mentioned to Pitcairn my old German watch and the Bible Jane and I used to read. It has Robert Alexander's name in it and a bookmarker that dearest Jane gave me before we were married. . . .

v 6, p 57


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C. W. Richmond to Maria Richmond - - - Dunedin, 16 Jul 1865

By the way I see that Scoffer's article 18 on the origin of Pai Marire roused the excellent Whiteley to a mild rebuke. I, however, agree with the Ed. T.H. that the best form of religion to be had is wanted for savages, because you yourself want it (if you want any) and think you have got it; and somehow it happens that it never answers to try to teach any religion but the one which the teacher himself holds. Is the religion of the Pakehas - (rangatiras or tutuas) that which the missionaries have tried to teach? Is the religion which they have tried to teach even that which they themselves wholly believe? I think the answer to these questions would throw some light on our small success as religious teachers with the Maoris, and other persons. But it is not a newspaper subject, and I warn the T.H. to keep off it.

1865/54


J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Wellington, 18 Jul 1865

We are all abundantly employed and I shall be yet more, as I am sorry to say Mantell is resigning. I am generally at the office at nine, dine from half past one to three, then to the office again till half past five, then a walk, then tea and to the office again from half past seven till ten or eleven. We shall not be worse during session.

1865/55


J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Wellington, 18 Jul 1865

I dined yesterday with a pleasant young officer Lt. Clarke of the 57th who is intimate with the S. P. Kings . . .

The quarrel with the General is as hot as ever. The Govr. has gone to Wanganui hoping to receive surrender of the Wereroa pa 19 . . . The native militia and Von Tempsky's men are eager for the fray, dancing war dances and begging to be let go at the pa. The East Coast is all on fire. The loyal natives and the Pai Marire and Kingites are fighting ... A small band of Volunteers and Military settlers has gone to another little war near the East Cape from Hawke's Bay and we have sent arms and stores . . .

1865/56


Mary Richmond to J. C. Richmond - - - Richmond Hill, Nelson, 27 Jul 1865

... I am very much disappointed Arthur is not returned - quite aggravated to think of his being kept out by that stupid fussy Mr Gledhill. 20 Mr Rawson says he got in by voting for himself. I have long wished Arthur to be in the House and should have especially liked it at this time.

1865/58


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J. C. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Wellington, 24 Jul 1865

Grey is in luck again. Cameron leaves on the 1st August and takes with him the news that after abundant pacific offers, Grey took Wereroa pa on Friday or Saturday without a scratch to one of his militiamen or native contingent and has 50 prisoners, including two who shared in the murder of Volkner.

... If Gladstone would lend us half his surplus at 3 per cent we should do. We shall yet be crushed by finance unless there is great patriotism hidden away in Otago and Auckland ... I do not think there will be any active aggression on the late ministers in their absence by Fitzherbert, who groans most under their misdeeds. He has been a most valuable Minister and restored discipline which had entirely gone under Wood . . .

Sewell makes a great deal of difficulty of the bankruptcy business. I have lately seen something of its working in Elliott's affairs . . . The principles are evident. Give the estate to the creditors to administer, and give it very quickly before it wastes. Protect the innocent insolvent, punish the reckless one, and compel the supreme court to be more liberal in determining points of law without requiring all the expenses of actions. Speed in the administration is all you can help creditors to ... I dare say you will laugh at my summary . . .

I am overwhelmed with tape. Mantell has resigned and I am doing two offices. Gisborne and Rolleston are admirable men. Rolleston has not been long enough in the place to take all that he might do on himself. I feel that I ought to be his clerk but shd not make such a good one as he. I am very sorry Mantell has gone. He is a good honorable fellow but too sensitive for pushing through the briars of official life . . .

1865/59


H. R. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - New Plymouth, 28 Jul 1865

The other matter was to know positively from you what you would wish to have done with the £90 which I got for you ... for your clearing at Hurworth. . . . You said something about devoting it to a public purpose, . . . I proposed that the thistle money (£30) you should keep and present the remainder to the Taranaki Institute. Of course I shall be very glad if you think it right to do this as I am very anxious to get up a good library and to lay the foundation of a museum for the Institute, but you might on reconsideration think £60 too much to give away in that way and I have also felt I had somewhat misunderstood your ground for not taking the money when I wrote about it, so that, however tempting it may be, now that we are just entering a fine new building and could easily spend a thousand or two, I shall keep my hand off it until I hear from you.

1865/60


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J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Wellington, 28 Jul 1865

. . . We had tendered our resignations, or rather had announced to the Govr. that we should do so after the Assembly met. There was no hope of doing any good whilst Genl. Cameron remained and the instructions were in force from the War Office under which the discretion was given to him when the troops should be removed. He was absolutely stubborn about the Weraroa pa, and the small remains of the three million loan were oozing away in most unprofitable expenditure. Added to this the excitement among the Hau-hau and other hostile natives was reviving and their spirits were sustained by the unmolested position of Weraroa . . . We felt ourselves stale-mated. The Govr. on receiving our memorandum was at first surprised but afterwards agreed in its propriety and said he should follow suit and tender his resignation. I do not know whether he has done it or not.

The confusion about the surrender of the pa . . . was an additional reason for our course. We advised the Governor to go to Wanganui and look to this Weraroa business. He did so and showed an amount of sense and judgment in his movements which would make a hero of him if stated in the hyperbolas of a military report. . . . The whole Militia and native contingent, with some 57th men, went up the river to relieve Pipiriki as soon as the pa was taken.

Mr Cardwell's latest despatch is materially different in tone from preceding ones. He will not send reinforcements . . . Our policy is to be on our own heads: we must defend the land and positions we take . . . The despatch seems to restore to the Govr the discretion about removing troops . . . When this despatch came to hand and Genl. Cameron's resignation was known also to be accepted, our position changed. We redrafted the Governor's speech making him say, I shall remove five regiments' etc. He said, on this being shown him, 'You must withdraw your memorandum about resigning', and we did so . . .

1865/61


J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Wellington, 1 Aug 1865

There is not more than a fair day's work of ordinary business in the Native and Col Secry's. office if one were not interrupted . . . Even the short sittings of the Legislative Council occupy a good deal of time in preparing, and the necessity for discussing in cabinet if a government is to hold together, and the interviews with individual members are a heavy tax on one's time so that I hardly have time to do more than eat, sleep and take moderate exercise. The cheerful aspect of our affairs out of doors enables me to go on under this pressure, but I am not man enough for it if reverses should occur to our friends Native or European . . .

We spent a few hours on Saturday very pleasantly at the Sewells'. News came in from the East Coast relieving us from anxiety caused by a rumour of the death or captivity of Maclean, who is now Supt. of Hawkes Bay and had been taking succors to the East Cape natives as agent for the Genl. Govt, and Hal and I went over to tell Sewell. There we found Domett, Fenton, Mr Seymour (Supt of Marlborough) and

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Sewell's son, a sensible highly educated clergyman and had the liveliest and most cheerful talk for a couple of hours that I have had for years. I wished you were there.

I have got a hulk full of prisoners of war to take care of . . . There is infinite joking . . . about these prisoners. The distance of the hulk from Govt House and the wisest method to be adopted for permitting them to escape in safety. The lawyers can't decide how we ought to deal with them, whether they can be convicted of anything - for it is doubted whether they are British subjects, therefore doubtful whether they can have been guilty of treason against the Queen . . .

Poor old Cameron, one quite pities him to have to take home the news about Weraroa and these papers at the same time. They are as complete a justification of the policy of the government as could be demanded. . . .

I hope dear little Alla spent her birthday merrily. ... I was ashamed of my own dullness - not being able to write to my own little child with a less jaded manner. It is a great gift to write to children well - given to high and pure and simple natures.

1865/62


George Yates Lethbridge to H. A. Atkinson and R. Pitcairn - - - Taranaki, 5 Aug 1865

(Sale of stock )

In consideration of the sum of Six Hundred pounds, now received I hereby make over to H. A. Atkinson and R. Pitcairn all my sheep, all my branded cattle and those unbranded bought from the persons in the annexed list [of 20] - and 1 bay horse - all now in Taranaki - between the south bank of the Waiwaikaiho and the north of Oakura.

1865/63


J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Wellington, 8 Aug 1865

Henry has been here these 24 hours and I half expected he would be my epistle but he has been obliged to put off till the steamer for Wanganui and Taranaki sails, not having finished his business. 21 I have been at dinner today at Govt House. Grey is in high spirits. Certainly he has a lucky star, and everything has conspired to make his enemy look small and him look large. To add to his triumphs here, it seems his successor at the Cape has got into some trouble by a course diametrically opposite to what he recommended and pursued and some of the Caffres have been instituting comparisons most favorable to him. I hope and believe, however, that in his elation he will not turn upon us . . .

You must think seriously about coming here now. I do not want to hollo before I am out of the wood but I think we shall weather the present session. . . . Wellington I find much more agreeable than I had expected. The weather has been very uncertain, scarcely two days alike but sometimes exquisitely still and fine and although more blustry than Nelson hardly worse than Taranaki. . . .


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Mrs Domett was at dinner at Govt House today looking fairly well and at ease in her mind. She is pleased at the distinction of her son 22 who has been in prominent position at this Wanganui fighting. . . .

I am reconciled to the slow House ... I should have got bewildered at the first start if I had had to attend and fight in the House of Reps. I do not feel as if I should ever go back again at least so long as I have to do with the Govt.

1865/65


Mary Richmond to J. C. Richmond - - - Richmond Hill, Nelson, 8 Aug 1865

The view from here looks more lovely than ever . . . The long mountain range, tipped with snow, has that transcendental look that charmed me so much when I was staying at the Port. The whole view looks as if it might melt away. I sigh to think of leaving this sweet place. Its loveliness is very soothing to me . . .

I am very much interested in the correspondence between the Governor and Gen. Cameron. Some of it amuses me very much - the childish snappishness of the General - the courtly good temper of the Governor, at the beginning. The ending of one letter especially made me laugh. 'Is not this miserable weather? I have no English news to tell you' in answer to a cross letter of the General's. The want of control on the part of the Gen. will tell much against him. I am amazed at the free way in w. he abuses all . . .

1865/66


Mary Richmond to J. C. Richmond - - - Richmond Hill, Nelson, 10 Aug 1865

I feel horribly sure you will weather the session and very much distracted in my mind. I know I should be extremely sorry if I heard the ministry were out, and yet I do not enjoy your being in. I cannot look forward calmly to our being separated for a year and yet I hang back from leaving this beautiful place - I thoroughly enjoy it and am already fond of it. I like a quiet life too with our children - I like this place for them. I shrink from the more public and town life that we should lead at Wellington. . .

The Governor's triumph is wonderfully complete - I do not wonder at his elation . . . There does not seem any likelihood to me of his turning against the Ministry. He must feel it is the best there can be for him as well as the country. I feel very hopeful now of a better state of things - peace long talked of and hoped of peace coming at last . . .

I hope you will not forget my anxiety that there should be some law made whereby women can be separated from bad drunken husbands and their earnings secured to them. Do remember this . . .

1865/67


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Mary Richmond to A. S. Atkinson - - - Richmond Hill, Nelson, 11 Aug 1865

I cannot get over my vexation that you are not in the House . . . Don't you feel aggravated when you see that stupid Mr Gledhill sitting in your place?

Of course you have read the correspondence between the Governor and the General . . . The Governor comes out in quite pleasing colors by side of the crusty, unreasonable General. The latter is quite childish and silly from his prejudice and ill humour. The Governor can afford to be good tempered now, but I suppose it is his nature to be urbane . . . The Governor's letter . . . shows up the General's inconsistencies, his evident determination not to act with the Colonial Government ... It is a great triumph for Sir George Grey to have taken the Weraroa pa with less than 500 Militia, partly native, without loss, after all the fuss the General had made about it and his having really declined attempting it as dangerous and impossible with his force. James talks of Sir George Grey's luck but I think his success in this case is fairly attributable to good judgment and courage. He saw what was the right thing to do and struck to it. ... Is Mr Stafford vexed do you think not to be in power after all? One would almost think so to account for his foolish and unfair charges . . .

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A. S. Atkinson to Emily E. Richmond - - - Wellington, 14 Aug 1865

You will probably have heard ... of the elevation of FitzGerald to the ministerial bench, as Native Minister. Harry thinks he will give a good deal of additional steam power to the ministry and I dare say he will, but he is such a visionary, if not a quack, that one does not like it altogether . . .

1865/69


J. C. Richmond to Governor Gore Browne (Hobart) - - - Wellington, 14 Aug 1865

... I did not sit down to merely take up your time with general gossip but to ask you whether in the event of its being thought desirable to deport our prisoners of war they could in any legal way be taken charge of at Hobart Town. We have fifty-six now in a hulk in the harbour and it is of the utmost public importance that they should not be let loose again on the country. At the same time I think they should be treated not as convicts but as prisoners of war. They were taken in arms but we have nothing to connect them with any of the atrocities that have lately been committed. My view has always been that, putting special treacherous acts aside, the Maori should have always the benefit of the doubt whether he is to be a British subject or an alien. Grant him the advantage of both positions, but insist upon subordination and peaceful demeanour. We could by special act legalise the deportation of our prisoners of war. It would be better than going into constitutional questions such as indictment for high treason would raise, better than trial by court martial. The friendly natives claim, fairly enough, that we shd not let the enemy loose again whenever he is caught, to have the labor and risk of a second capture . . .


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Suppose such special legislation to be effected, what would be the position outside the Colony? Could the men be kept under a Colonial act? And would your Government consent to assist? We presume that nowhere would it be easier to keep them than at Hobart Town ... I cannot go further than to ask you for private information, but the custody of these men has been put upon me and I am very anxious to do my work better than was done last year in Auckland.

... I have no doubt on the whole you will sympathise with us in the quarrel with Genl Cameron. Is it not a fitting retribution that Featherston the holy and just should be tied to the Waitotara block as we were to the Waitara with all the same sort of eggs thrown at him as were cast by him? . . . You will be astonished that FitzGerald has joined us . . . We want his energies for the degeneration of the rebellion into Hauhau is a wretched symptom. You will rejoice to see that this brings its good with it by compelling all the reasonable men of the Maori race to side with us.

We are much shocked and grieved at the loss of poor Fulloon, who died I think in the endeavour to do his duty to his countrymen on both sides. He had grown up a fine-spirited, brave fellow . . .

We have now a dull headquarters, nothing to replace the pleasant social meetings at Govt House Auckland which we owed to Mrs Gore Browne. The female element in politics is very vital even if it is not to be directly seen . . .

P.S. Weld is almost used up or he wd have written. He is not physically equal to his work.

(National Archives, Gore Browne Papers, 1/3, no 49)


J. C. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Wellington, 14 Aug 1865

How continually I wish you were near to help in our confusions. FitzGerald has just joined the ministry. I feel that in agreeing I eat a little dirt. Great as his abilities are his rash judgment has been yet more prominent for the last four years and have done us no little harm. His personal energy will be of immense value and his fertility of resource ... It is in my mind a sacrifice nevertheless to have joined him . . . My chief difference with him is that he will be for ever insisting on applying constitutional maxims and asserting constitutional rights when they don't apply ... It is a species of formalism very astonishing in a man of FitzGerald's calibre. I hope when we come to practice he may abandon this and like ideas . . .

I see very little that works well except the government of 'our pakeha,' the Rogans and one or two of the same stamp - very few indeed. We ought to strengthen their hands with money for the payment of constables etc. and try to extend the system.

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J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Wellington, 18 Aug 1865

I cannot say how much I envy this silly letter that is going to you to try and tell how much I love you and with what gratitude I look back over the nine years that we have had each other for principal compauions. Yon must not think it only a loose

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way of speaking or a habit without meaning when I tell you my joy in you grows day by day, and is tempered only by the fear of parting. I can form no image of heaven or any better life without you, and the days spent away from you are almost lost. . . .

FitzGerald has joined us in Mantell's place .. . There is a very natural and healthy mistrust of FitzGerald. His talk and writing has had an excessive unreality about it and I think clever, well informed and brilliant debater as he is that he very often loses the plain thread of reason in his views. I have, however, more than hope that his confusion of idea will not follow him into practice ... I think he calls things by wrong names . . . but he knows that digging is done by spades although it is his fancy to call them reaping hooks . . . His ideas in the present emergency are so far as they appear practical, and his energy is unquestionable . . . But being myself but chip in porridge, I did not like to offer any objection to a man so full of resource and capacity . . . FitzGerald having been well received today I see no rock very near in our course . . .

My work is now comparatively light and consists chiefly of winding red tape. The visits to the Lords are most tranquillising. Their house is a haven of rest, cool, quiet, easy, and they come down so much to the other house that they know all they want without my telling them. We have passed a dog bill, and a bill for having labels on poisons and putting them in blue bottles. This may show you that our intellects are not overtaxed. . . .

Dr Hector has arrived, full of life and energy. I hope to have many pleasant hours with him. He is lodging at Garwith's for want of a better place . . .

I dined a day or two back at Major Coote's, a very kindly, lively soldier of Sir C. Napier's lot, who fought in the wonderful battle of Meeanee. He says that on that occasion with a skilful enemy, five to one at least, he never saw a single sign of nervousness in the British line. Is it not a remarkable evidence of the power of individual mind over men, that these soldiers who with a Napier, a Clyde or a Havelock to lead them never count heads, should be so utterly miserably pusillanimous (pussila - a girl) under Cameron and his officers?

. . . Fulloon was a fine brave young man. The natives have no salique law and by his Maori mother's side he was the best blood of the Bay of Plenty Ngatiawa. He went down to endeavour to restrain his tribe from acts of violence, but he was too unguarded in his denunciation of Hau-hau and a section of his tribe which had always been disposed to mischief and had supported Kereopa and the murderers of Volkner paid his hard words in this treacherous way. I think if we are prompt this new outrage will make friends for the Government by alarming the well disposed natives into active support. The Arawas against whom C. O. Davis's abominable suggestions were levelled, have set out to take Fulloon's murderers and probably one of the gang is already dead. They badly wounded a man with the coat of Pringle, the captain of the Kate upon him, and not knowing him and not finding his name in the warrant from T. H. Smith they left him at his pa. He was trying to escape and they were acting under magistrate's warrant.

1865/72



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OMATA STOCKADE, TARANAKI


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HOKITIKA, 1870S


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PA AT PARIHAKA


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THE LAST "NIU"
J. C. RICHMOND

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Mary Richmond to J. C. Richmond - - - Richmond Hill, Nelson, 21 Aug 1865

Many thanks for your sweet kind letter. I cannot tell you how much it has refreshed and comforted me - and I much needed comfort for I have had a time of much anxiety with the dear children. I cannot tell you how I have longed for you, especially in the night and when I have been alone nursing them . . . Yet I am thankful you have been spared the anxiety and fatigue. Thank God they are mending now, so I can write happily to you on this our wedding day. Dearest James I am deeply thankful for your love. I feel quite unworthy of it, but still I am glad and thankful to accept it. I am sure it will help me to be better. I feel very peaceful today, rather weary and weak from want of sleep, and the fatigues of nursing, but full of great joy in possessing you and the dear five children . . . One night I did not sleep at all - the three one after the other requiring constant attention, and the fire having to be kept up, for the weather was very sharp and the change from day to night very great . . . Dr Cusack . . . said there was little doubt it was scarlatina, and immediately ordered me and the children into the drawing room - the carpet and all soft goods to be removed, the cracks of the window frames and the ventilator stopped up, and a good fire kept up night and day. He considered . . . that all the children would have it, and said I had better make this large room the infirmary . . . The change has been more than medicine for all of us ... I felt a different creature. The largeness, freshness and sunniness of the room are most delightful ... I am thankful my strength holds out so well. I am often very, very weary ... It will be better now, for my mind is easier about all, ... I feel a thousand fold repaid for all my labour. . . . Poor Mrs Burnett has lost her dear little baby with scarlatina . . . All the young Blacketts have the fever but are getting over it . . .

I am astonished at Mr FitzGerald's being in office. How do you [and] he look one another in the face and get on after all your blows?

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J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Wellington, 23 Aug 1865

The session goes on somewhat languidly ... I do not believe in any great resistance however. There is no possibility of organising a party on any intelligible principle . . . Otago and Auckland men feel that an alliance between them has no permanent basis and would not do to found a government.

The success on the East Coast too will have a favorable effect as regards the belief in the practicability of dispensing with troops. Our little band of untried men at Waiapu . . . have followed the good example set by Von Tempsky, Brassey and the Governor at Weraroa. They have taken a pa by assault without big guns and with a handful of men in less than half an hour, utterly routing and destroying the enemy . . . The effect of this on the spirits of our men and allies is wonderfully good. The whole East Coast is in a very precarious state and a few sharp successes are absolutely necessary to prevent the evil reaching in a virulent form to Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa.

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Our friends the Arawa are in arms to the number of 500 in the Bay of Plenty to capture the murderers of Fulloon and Volkner . . . The murder divides the Ngatiawa men of the Bay. I think we may confidently hope for assistance from Fulloon's relatives.

. . . Harry has never been very well since his great loss ... It is not only his private trouble, his public work has been very heavy and he has had headache and something like vertigo in common with FitzGerald and myself . . .

I am going to dine at Featherston's today. On Sunday morning Arthur, Mr Batkin and I had a climb onto a fine hill at the southern extremity of the harbour. The panorama is superb, the day was very fine. I am more than reconciled to Wellington, the climate suits my health so well, it is fresh and maritime. Arthur says this is owing to the dead shell fish on the beach which give the smell we associate with the sea. But it is not the seaweed smell but the coolness and peculiar moisture ... If we shod, have to be here a year I think you will enjoy the beauty of the place and the friendly society. There are more sensible people here than in Nelson and then the frequent visits of people from other parts of the Colony on public business all tell in favor of social intercourse . . .

I hope, my darling, you think your new brown gown suitable. Have it made up very smart with bright blue or green ribbons.

1865/74


J. E. FitzGerald to J. C. Richmond - - - 'Press' Buildings, Christchurch, 25 Aug 1865

I object to your doctrine in theory and in fact. In Theory. I abjure the mohammedan philosophy that what must be must, and I decline to excuse our own errors by saying that no matter what we did the result which did happen would have happened ex necessitate. Statesmen must seek to rule events whether they can do so or not. But there is an end to all statesmen's gospel if they submit to the domination of events as a justification of policy.

Secondly as to fact - if we came with clean hands into court I should say you were right but as what we have done is exactly that which in the nature of things must have produced the results which have followed I decline to blame, to throw the blame on the results instead on what we have done to produce them. If we had given the natives our law and they had resisted it you would have a case, but as we did not you have none.

Two rules are deeply fixed in my mind. 1. To expect men to respect law who don't enjoy it is absurd. 2. To try and govern a folk by our courts and at the same time to say that our courts shall take no cognisance of their property is amazing folly. Two-thirds of the Northern Island is held under a tenure which is ignored by our law. Is it possible to govern any people by a law which does not recognise their estate in land?

I blame no man for the past, but for the future I take this as my guide that a people cannot be governed by a law which pretends to be powerless to deal with their

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property; and that one race cannot govern another as a pariah class - make laws for them, and so on ignoring their right to partake in the making of those laws.

You may mock me as to Maoris sitting in parliament. My dear Friend, I am not a fool nor attribute to political forms mysterious virtues, but I know all that the sitting in parliament brings in its train and I say that ignore tenure to land and ignore the sitting in parliament and all that belongs thereto and the alternative is war, extermination to the weaker race and financial disaster to the stronger. You say how do I like my new allies? 23 I always knew I should have them and I rejoice. It is the fulfilment of God's law - if men will not do right for right's sake they are made to do so by the punishments vice invokes. Old Rowland Hill appealed to his congregation in a strain of awful eloquence when pickpockets frequented his chapel, but, he added 'if there be any present with whom such fearful considerations have no weight I beg to tell them that there are policemen amongst the congregation in plain clothes'.

The Middle Island would not lisen to the appeals on behalf of right, they are beginning to shriek when they find Auckland's hand in their pocket. Our time is coming, mine at least, for that vile traitor Fox will see no time ever again.

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Jane Maria Atkinson to Emily E. Richmond - - - New Plymouth, 27 Aug 1865

We are to have the [provincial] election directly. Henry's supporters are in better hopes than they were, they expect it will be a near run. I don't like Chas Brown to get the better of a Richmond a second time, but for Henry's sake I don't wish him to get in. I fear there will be nothing but worry and he seems now to have more variety in his old office and to be so much interested in the Taranaki Institute that he has plenty of occupation. . . .

When will the sheep run have made your fortune so that poor C.W.R. can retire to a dry climate in the interior of N.Z.? I fear he will be worn out with asthma and judging before you save enough out of your income to set him free, he seems to be more asthmatic every year.

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J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Wellington, 28 Aug 1865

. . . The air of politics has been a little lowering and there is a large number of discontented members hanging about the cave of Adullam but I do not think there is a David to take the lead. Featherston is not happy. He has never liked the idea of the troops going . . . Stafford too is uneasy but I think it is that he feels he has separated from his friends and the only party that have principles and a policy reaching at all ahead. I do not think they cod. work together . . . All hope for the Colony is gone if we continue this habit of sessional changes of ministry. Still the air is not clear and bright and I do not feel as confident as I did a fortnight ago.

If we survive the week you may seriously begin to turn about for a remove. You will find Wellington a much better place to live in than I have sometimes described .. .

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I dined on Wednesday with Dr Featherston and on Saty with the Sewells. Featherston's household reminds me a little of Frindsbury. You enter and find no one to greet you . . . You hammer and nobody comes . . . Sewella [Mrs Sewell] is looking older but as sweet and ladylike as ever. Dr Hector was there and Mr Coxe, and the Rev W. Sewell. We spent a very pleasant evening laughing immoderately over Miss Rye . . .

Arthur and I took a good walk along the side of the harbor yesterday. The weather was very lovely, and the water deep blue, lapping softly on the stones and filled with schools of little fish that took a quarter of an hour at a time defiling through a passage through two rocks. We sat and discoursed of the moon and the unvoyageable sky to our hearts' content . . .

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J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Wellington, 29 Aug 1865

... I can hear Colenso's unmusical tones from the House of Reps, which is next to my office, and I must go home to my lodging to escape him . . . We are getting our last confiscations and our amnesty printed - ending the war by proclamation! as FitzGerald says, but at the same time we are sending down to the Bay of Plenty to take if possible the murderers of Mr Volkner and Mr Fulloon . . . The residences committee have reported against building houses but recommend that the Govt should get leases of proper houses to be allowed free of charge to any minister not belonging to Wellington . . .

I shall be disappointed at never getting you into the interior of Nelson before leaving but we may find an excuse for visiting Otago in the summer and seeing friends and country at the same time . . .

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Stephen L. Muller to E. W. Stafford - - - Blenheim, 31 Aug 1865

You will excuse my troubling you at this busy time, but I have heard that it is the intention of the Govr. to raise a Colonial Corps to be on the same footing as the Canada and Cape Regts.

I have just reed, a letter from Eugene [H. Muller], who is anxious to get a commission in the Corps, and has begged me to write to you. ... He is at present attached to the C.T.C. as acting lieut., and has been with that corps, in Waikato, Tauranga, and is now at Patea ... He is on the strength of the 3rd Waikato Regt.

1865/79


Mary Richmond to Jane Maria Atkinson - - - Nelson, 1 Sep 1865

How fervently I wish we were about to move to Taranaki instead of the strange land of Wellington. It goes to my heart to leave this beautiful place but it would be very different if we were coming to all of you. I have, however, the consolation of

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feeling that when the ministry is out we shall come and that now James will have work and society congenial, which he had not here . . .

Mrs Warre . . . will be quite a loss to Taranaki society. She impressed us very much as a thorough lady, refreshingly sensible and pleasant. . . .

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Jane Maria Atkinson to Margaret Taylor (Syrgenstein, Germany) - - - Beach Cottage, Taranaki, 3 Sep 1865

. . . Harry is gaining great credit as our Col Defence Minister he is certainly splendidly energetic & prompt. He has the making of a hero in him. He is of a nature that 'feels no fear, & knows no death' & is moreover simple, straightforward, unpretending. The Governor has had such a quarrel with the General that he has made a firm alliance with the Weld Ministry . . . We always hoped Mr Weld would be able to act with the Governor if any one could. He is a real English gentleman, & you know I don't use the term lightly & it includes so many excellencies, both external & internal, that one cannot enumerate. It is very pleasant to think of dear old James as associated with such a man, for they will be able to appreciate each other. I do hope for the credit & real good of NZ that the present Ministry may hold office for some time. . . .

Arthur went to Wellington on the 29th of July as the Herald's 'Own Correspondent.' He was very nearly going as member for Omata in James' place for you must know that poor Jas to his chagrin, has been obliged to be elevated to the peerage . . . James was considered best suited for dealing with the old respectables (or buffers, or codgers, as I have heard them disrespectfully called) - so had to consent to the dull honor of becoming a peer. The House of Representatives is an infinitely more lively & exciting arena, & years ago, when the Stafford Ministry held office, Jas declined a peerage as he said when he entered politics he should prefer being a representative of the people. Arthur lost the election by one vote. He would have gained it by one but that two of his supporters who had to walk in from the Waitera contrived to lose their way & reached the polling booth as the doors were closing. . . . Arthur really is an experienced politician. He has been present at every session of the Gen Assembly but one during the last 5 years . . . His thorough knowledge of Maori & much better acquaintance with Maoris & their ways would make him really a useful member ... he is intellectually a good deal above average. When one remembers that he only had about a year & 1/2 of regular schooling & that at a very second rate school he really is a wonder. He has entirely educated himself & will go on educating himself, I have no doubt, till his dying day even should he live another 50 years.

8 Sep 1865 ... You will be astonished to hear that poor Henry has entered on public [life] & is now the Superintendent of Taranaki! ... Of late Hy has roused up a good deal about public affairs & at last seemed quite pleased to be returned by a good majority. . . .

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There is no doubt Harry would have been chosen had he not gone into a wider sphere, as he is very popular in the Province for his gallant conduct all thro' the war as capt of the Bush Rangers. Henry is less known, but he will I think be liked when he is known. In fact the only thing brought against him was that 'the family,' which includes the Rs & As, were too influential, so many of them are in the Govt! ! It is quite amusing to see the alarm or jealousy part of the public here feel towards our set, aggravating too because ungrateful as without our set where would Taranaki be now, for everything written, said or done of any importance during the last four years on behalf of this province has emanated from an A or R's pen or tongue or sword - rifle I should say perhaps tho' many bullets have been fired by less 'influential people'!

v 6, p 58


Mrs Gore Browne to Mary Richmond - - - Government House, Hobart, 3 Sep 1865

How delighted I was to see you once more in the photograph Miss Greenwood brought me . . . and with it recollections of such anxious craving days as I hope never again to know. Oh! the woe of hearing of the crushing and at the same time unnecessary miseries of brave people. Taranaki and the sufferings it endured in 60 and 61 puzzle me still in a painful way. Why should stupidity be as severely punished as crime and why should so many people who were neither stupid nor criminal be punished for the one who was? . . .

I am very glad to hear that Mr Richmond is in the Ministry and so is Col Browne, he believes in the Richmond family and he thinks that with two such straightforward drivers as Mr J. Richmond and Mr Weld the coach of state must keep along the high road, however steep the hills or deep the ruts and that it will ultimately reach its destination without being lost in bye ways and quagmires. . . .

What a witty agreeable cabinet your husband makes one of. What jokes they will chuckle over and what sketches they will make on the blotting paper of the executive council room. I quite regret that I am not at hand to appropriate them. The present ministry have also another strong point in their wives! ! I do not think there has been any ministry with so many pleasant and popular wives, Mrs Sewell is a host in herself, altho I remember she meekly remarked that succeeding Mrs Whitaker in office made her feel ashamed of her straw bonnet and woollen shawl, then Mrs FitzGerald is clever and agreeable and Mrs Weld loveable and pretty so that when you and Miss Smith go over you will make a charming society . . .

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J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Nelson [Wellington], 4 Sep 1865

. . . We are all well. Hal is much better and I am quite recovered. Our great sessional fight is not yet over . . . the Provincials . . . are laying their heads together to make the river run up hill and to spend half a crown out of sixpence a day. I do

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not think we can be beaten, but they will lay their heads together for some time before they give up the attempt . . .

There has been a good deal of small sickness among the Govt. - FitzGerald, Fitzherbert, Weld and Sewell - Richardson the only sound man . . . We have wound up our confiscation, issued orders for the settlement of returning rebels, and proclaimed an amnesty. We have also proclaimed martial law at Opotiki and boldly reproduced the 'Ture whawhai' translation - 'the law of fighting' which was said to be so mischievous in 1860.

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J. Stephenson Smith to Major H. A. Atkinson - - - New Plymouth, 4 Sep 1865

May I venture to solicit your kind interest in my behalf for the office of Crown Lands Commissioner become vacant by the election of Mr H. R. Richmond to the office of superintendent . . .

Having, as you are aware, being engaged in the sale and purchase of land, and holding before the war, the office of crown lands appraiser, I should not be altogether strange to the occupation.

The business I am now engaged in having fallen off so much, together with the injuries my health receives from the close and long confinement, induces me to trespass on your kindness, and shall ever esteem it a great favor.

1865/82


J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Wellington, 9 Sep 1865

. . . We have been going on with long and discursive debates on the question of separation . . . The motion was opened by T. Russell on behalf of Auckland, but the men really in earnest about it are the Otago men headed by the swindling ex-superintendent MacAndrew. The movement is really formidable and we cannot carry an absolute negative in the present House and when . . . the hustings have done their work we shall have a majority positively for separation unless the Auckland agitators recover their senses . . .

You may imagine how my heart yearns to you all. You are hardly able to fancy how weak and infantile I feel in my separation. I have never been so depressed on any former occasion. I do not feel equal to my position, and the whirl of business and total absence of quiet except in sleep makes me as stupid as an owl, and I go on as if on a treadmill in.a sort of despair . . . When shall I get you again?

Our news from the East Coast is very unsatisfactory. We have the whole district from near Tauranga almost to Napier in flames . . . Our Opotiki expedition is I hope by this time landed but it has had a terribly rough time for the voyage. Wellington was much excited by its presence. The dark warriors were all let loose on us and a part of the white ones. They are full of energy and I think they will make a

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great coup. We need it for our finance is in a grievous state, and another year of this work will break us . . . 24

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Maria Richmond to Emily E. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 9 Sep 1865

Mrs Warre has gone and Taranaki has sustained a great loss. She has been most kind and friendly in her intercourse with its inhabitants and is a most agreeable, unassuming, sensible and well informed woman - quite a lady in manner and consequently free from all snobbishness, for I hold that snobbishness is vulgarity.

1865/85


J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Wellington, 11 Sep 1865

... I am not very ill, nor was I, but I got tired and disgusted at the necessary muddling and hurrying of business in session time - great questions going by default whilst others are being wrangled over . . . The division in the H. of Representatives will be an unsatisfactory one, merely negativing the separation motion but not affirming the propriety of union. This is unsatisfactory as the ministerial amendment is a distinct affirmation of unity and cannot be carried . . . The credit of the Colony depends in part on the stability of the union . . . the help we may hope from the Home government will be partly dependent perhaps on our political sobriety ... It is not separation under any form but merely the particular proposition at the particular time that is rejected. However, I am not sure that matters have not arisen in debate to shake the union of the extremities of the Colony for this mischievous purpose and if the Home government lend us its aid by suspending the question Auckland will in a little time see its true interests . . .

I was at the office most of the day yesterday and Arthur and I read Shakespere together in the evening. I am very glad for many reasons that dear Henry is superintendent ... It will be a great advantage to us to have as agent for the Genl. Govt, a man whom we can reply on and who is at the same time pointed out by the public vote for such a trust. I had rather for the good that is to be done be supt. of Taranaki than Col. Sec. just now. He will have less tape to wind and be nearer the work. . . .

I long for you, my own darling wife. I cannot afford the sacrifice of much more of your sweet presence. The gift is too precious and too precarious to be poured away like water.

1865/86


Maria Richmond - - - Journal 11 Sep 1865

[Jane] Maria went to Harry's in the morning to have her head phrenologically examined. It was decided that she has a well balanced mind.

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J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Wellington, 14 Sep 1865

Dearest Polly I am grieved to let you be so long without such comfort as I can give in times of trouble. It must be in future a more cardinal point with us to remain together. It seems to me quite wrong to have parted whenever anxiety or danger has come upon us. ... I am very glad to hear from Henry as well as yourself that you are not ill with your labor and loss of rest. Mrs Stafford also is so kind as to send me a message about your appearance. . . .

We have got through the separation debates . . . better than we had expected, 31 to 17 and 3 pairs ... so the majority was a real one . . . The Lords disposed of the question in 6 hours, nearly three of which fell to me. I opened it fairly on its merits and at very reasonable length, but three or four members made the debate occasion for complaints of the Govt, which I had to answer . . . The mover in the H of R, T. Russell made a fierce onslaught on Govt., charging them with lavish expenditure and illegality, when the whole extraordinary expenditure incurred really was in carrying out the scheme launched by his administration and mainly by his own hand . . . Russell got terribly mauled in the debate both by Weld and Fitzherbert who, as he dryly expresses it, 'made a clean breast of it' exposing the financial anarchy in which Reader Wood left the Colony and the wild administration of the war department.

I do not consider my position at all settled yet . . . Do not be surprised at learning any day that we have resigned but do not tell publicly that it is likely . . .

1865/87


J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Wellington, 18 Sep 1865

. . . Major Gorton is at Whanganui. He has gone to enquire into certain dubious proceedings of that great friend of Annie's, Major Rookes. I think he will very likely remain there but it is not settled.

We form rather a lively quartett at the lodging now as we manage to differ vigorously on many subjects. Arthur I fear gets more unruly as he gets older -drinking out of the water bottle and squatting a la Turque on his chair ... I wish we could all be back again in peace and set to work to colonise that fern country.

1865/88


Reginald Newton Biggs to Donald McLean - - - Waiapu, 22 Sep 1865

Dr Ormond has asked me to write to you to request you if possible to do something for Ross Watts. 25 We are really very short of officers in the force altogether, if he could be made acting Ensign or something of that sort it would be a great thing for him and of great use to us. Watts seems to be a good soldier and knows his drill thoro'ly.

I went over to Tuparoa last week to try and get the Maoris from that place to occupy a pa just opposite Pukemaire which I thought I had succeeded in doing . . .

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but unfortunately on Monday night . . . some old fellow had a dream and when it came to the start on Tuesday a good many of them would not move. Only 90 men could be got who were willing to go . . .

Yesterday we went up to Pukemaire cut down the flag staff by the church. Our object was to make ourselves aquainted with the country round the pa ... At one place a native and I got within 20 yards of the pa, so of course I got a good look at it. The Hau Haus did not see me, which was lucky. Fraser desires to be kindly remembered to you. . . .

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J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Wellington, 22 Sep 1865

The financial divisions have begun. We carried our point upon a resolution proposed by Stafford for cutting of the items for defence and native govt by a majority of 6. Upon this the Auckland men, most of them, and the opposition generally made speeches washing their hands of the Estimates and very dirty water it was considering that MacAndrew was one of the leaders of the party. We have not lost much by this ... I am inclined to think we have come to the end of obstruction and that business will go on but the financial difficulty is terribly heavy.

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Donald McLean to H. A. Atkinson - - - Napier, 27 Sep 1865

. . . Some Native prisoners have been sent up from Waiapu. Lt Biggs has reconnoitred the Pukemaire Pah. I enclose his note to me which will show how difficult it may be at times to move the friendly Natives, they are all so superstitious.

I am obliged to send the Defence men to Poverty Bay. Hirini the chief is so vacillating that he is not to be trusted, at present he is here on a visit, thirty additional men will be sufficient to hold the landing place there against any attack that the Hauhaus can make. 26 The stockade is nearly finished.

The St Kilda got on shore at the entrance with the stores and men from the Ashley on board, I expect she will be got off to-day, no injury has been sustained. The reinforcements for Pukemairi will be forwarded as soon as possible.

Paora Toki and a few of our most turbulent spirits have left the district since the arrival of the 70th.

The Forest Rangers do not appear to be under much discipline but I have no doubt they will fight well in their own way . . .

28 Sep. I have not got the St Kilda, the Forest Rangers are going down in a sailing vessel.

(Atkinson papers in Turnbull Library)


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J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Wellington, 27 Sep 1865

My impatience of the state of affairs has no bounds ... It seems to me that the Assembly is more anarchical and distracted than ever . . . Every body has some return to demand to gratify his own whim and on every important question two or three little sections try their several amendments . . .

However it is no use to fret. We must bear the uncertainty and separation yet awhile . . .

Arthur bought me Mill on Liberty into which I have stuck your inscription, and I bought myself Lyell's last edition of his Elements of Geology as a present from dear Lely...

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J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Wellington, 29 Sep 1865

Till yesterday our condition was precarious. But the eagerness with which the house rescinded the adverse vote on the subject of the Amnesty shows that if there were many who fear and doubt us, on the whole the opposition doubt one another yet more. A change of Government must have thrown the balance in favor of the Auckland or of the Otago party and neither of these noble divisions of the political world trusts the other.

We therefore may reckon that we hold on for the next nine months and I shall look out at once for a place for you to come to . . . Rhodes' house on the flat will be vacant when he removes to a place he is now building high up on the ranges 27 but his present house is shut in and low and rather far from the office considering the frequency of blustering rain, and of late hours at work.

1865/92


J. D. Ormond to H. A. Atkinson - - - Napier, 6 Oct 1865

. . . We arrived here in the middle of a N. Easter which is the bad wind for laying in the roadstead. The St Kilda went out to the Ashley and took on board the von Tempsky men and the stores for Opotiki. In getting into the inner harbour she went on shore. All the stores and men were landed all right, a few of the stores slightly damaged. The vessel is got off and is not much injured, she leaks a little . . . Before the Ashley goes we shall know if she requires repairs before being used. The accident left us without a vessel to send on the von Tempsky men or the stores for Opotiki. Fortunately the Brisk came in and after some demur Capt Hope agreed to take the men we wanted to send away - a little schooner the Success left here on Wednesday with the stores for Opotiki &c and she was under agreement to bring back the men for Opotiki to Waiapu who you directed should go there to assist in taking Pukemaire. The men who went in the Brisk were Westrop and the men under his command increased here I think to over fifty - they are gone to support Frazer at Waiapu and La Serre and the Defence Corps - 23 I think in number they are gone to Poverty Bay.

[Image of page 188]

We were obliged to support the small party there under Mr Wilson by this reinforcement as his position was said to be a very critical one. He was at Turanga in an unfortified position with 30 men in the midst of a very large number of Natives, most of them either doubtful or open enemies. We hear on good authority that they were nightly discussing in their runangas whether they should not attack Frazer and seize some arms and ammunition which he had in charge. Before this the force, now numbering over fifty men will have entrenched themselves and be all right.

Karaitiana, a chief of this place went up in the St Kilda last trip and did us good service, for he brought back with him 'Hirini te Kani,' the greatest chief on the East Coast and he Karaitiana assures us that there is no fear of any step being taken in Hirini's absence. We are keeping Mr Hirini still here and shall endeavour to do so until after Pukemaire has fallen - after that he can of course reinforce Turanga - but McLean is sanguine that through Karaitiana and Hirini te Kani he will yet be able to stop the war extending to Turanga . . .

Biggs has been up to Pukemaire Pah with a reconnoitering party, he got within 20 yards - he reports it a strongly built Pah but says it is rather weaker at the back than in front . . . We had information yesterday that came thro Native sources that a very large force was in Pukemaire Pah - 800 men - and that Kereopa and Patara were there. The informant was a man named ----- a German who is connected with the Natives up there - he is the man who brought the iron slugs here that I told you of and who says that gold is found in considerable quantities behind Poverty Bay. I enclose you a paper of a few of the iron pellets that he says are in the rivers behind Poverty Bay in such large quantities - he says they lay in heaps of tons and tons and all sizes from a cannon ball to shot size ... As we are at present advised we hope we begin to see the probable speedy termination of the war on this side the East Cape ... I hope they will not reduce the force here at present, we should immediately relapse to the state we were in a month ago. The Colonel of the 70th is I know trying all he can to get away to England and is very wroth at his Regiment having been sent here as being likely to stop them . . .

Little Whitmore is going about furiously abusing your Govt and you in particular for what he calls the disgraceful way in which you have treated him. You, Sewell and Richmond are his particular aversions and no epithet is too foul for him to use about you three. As for Weld, he is a gentleman he says, who is merely made a tool of by you Taranakis & so on. He is a contemptible little brute. For God's sake if you or any of the Govt are going to give him anything, don't let it be here and the further off the better. He will be at you directly he gets down . . .

(Atkinson papers in Turnbull Library)


Maria Richmond to Emily E. Richmond - - - Beach Cottage, 8 Oct 1865

I have been performing the part of Mrs Jarley's for some days past, exhibiting the memorial of N.Z. for Mrs Warre, which has been unpacked at this house and is to be re-packed here . . . Maria and I wished for something like Mrs Gore Browne's but

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this is much larger and, though a beautiful piece of workmanship, not so appropriate according to my ideas, as a lighter tribute. It is a handsome table the top of which opens to contain ferns, - inside the lid is an inlaid star of N.Z. woods on a ground of various specimens. The outside is most to my taste one piece of wood beautifully veined. I had expressed my satisfaction that the star was inside when a lady remarked 'What a pity the star was not outside!' To my mind it would have looked vulgar.

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H. A. Atkinson to A. S. Atkinson - - - Wellington, 10 Oct 1865

Chute has come. 28 Corny. Gen. Jones has written a most impudent letter Home about things in general which Chute has sent to the Governor. The Governor is in a great [? ] and Jones when he went with the Gen to see the Governor was ordered to withdraw from the room . . .

We had a meeting of our supporters to-day and told them what we meant to have. The meeting was a success.

The tone of the private letters from Cardwell, Gladstone, Lord Lyttelton, &c &c are good.

v6,p 59


Mete Kingi 29 and Haimona to Major Atkinson - - - Opotiki, 12 Oketopa, 1865

Kua hinga te parekura o Te Hauhau, kua horo hoki nga pa e ono. Ko nga tangata i mate e 22 (e rua tekau ma rua) Kua tika tou waka. Haunga ia matou kia haere mai ki te whawhai, e to matou matua aroha, kanui te kaha o ta matou mahi ki tenei iwi. Ka wha nga rau o Te Hauhau kua taemai kia matou ki te oati. Heoi ano ena kupu. He kupu ke tenei. Kaua koe e whaka ruihi i to maua moni mo ta maua mahi waka ki Wanganui, no te mea kei te mahi maua i te mahi o Kuini ki konei. Kei te mahi hoki o maua tangata ki Wanganui.

1865/95


(Translation) - - - Opotiki, 12 Oct 1865

The Hauhau have fallen in defeat; Six pas have fallen. The men killed were 22 (twenty two) Your canoe is on an even keel.

With regard to us, we came to fight, O our father beloved, and we have striven mightily against these people. Four hundred of the Hauhau have come to us to take the oath. Enough as to those. This is another word. You are not to lose our money for canoe work at Wanganui whilst we two are doing the Queen's work here. Our men are still working in Whanganui.


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H. A. Atkinson to A. S. Atkinson - - - Wellington, 19 Oct 1865

As you will see by the papers, we have resigned and Stafford is in. I do not think we shall go back again although there is a strong feeling here in our favour. Weld is, I am afraid, very ill and without him we could do nothing with our team. Stafford is to make his statement to-day. I think Jollie will join him in a few days, and perhaps Pharazyn. ... I am satisfied we did right to resign. . . .

I hope to be up by the steamer of the 29th. I long to and yet almost fear to come back. God's will be done.

v 6, p 60


J. C. Richmond to Mary Richmond - - - Wellington, 19 Oct 1865

. . . Stafford is in office and there is no probability and very little desire to unseat him ... I turn at once with a sense of relief to our private affairs. Our means will not allow us to dally and I propose that we should break up with the least possible delay for Taranaki. I shall put the Nelson property in Curtis' hands at once and let or sell as seems most prudent. I am very glad that this news comes to you when dear Maria is with you ... I have an intense desire to be with my own people and to have a few days' quiet . . .

I was very much interested in your account of dear Alla and Monnie's sayings. It fills one with wonder and humility and awe to watch the development of these little creatures. The blessing and the trust are too heavy for my heart to bear. Being but a child myself I feel as if I ought never to have had children. A child without a child's simplicity. I trust with God's help and yours, dearest Mary, to use this forced break in our way of life to put on more sobriety and measure and behave myself more like the father of these dear little ones . . . One gets tired of looking to moments of external change for any great change within . . . There has been growing on me a disposition to accept external circumstances and adopt the work next my hand and there is nothing so near my hand and my heart as you and my little ones . . .

You must not allow yourself to be anxious about worldly matters. There will be a great deal of waste no doubt in our moves of late years. I feel now fully the indiscretion of my house-building . . . Poor Mr Robinson's death which brought Saunders into office made my position untenable for me. I have learned my lesson and will not take careless sanguine views in future. . . .

I believe a very little will serve us in a rustic way of life, myself living at home and not much occupied with office work. Arthur is good enough to ask me to join in the paper, and Hal thinks it is capable of being made attractive enough to pay something for my help. We must keep a cow, if possible, and I must try to earn something by painting. Another opening may be in the way of surveys ... In any case I see no reason for us to be despondent about the means of living. You will not mind Alla quitting silks for the flour bag, and you will let me take to blue serge shirts and canvas trousers at £1 the suit in place of tweed and broadcloth at £6 and £8. ...

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One great cause why the Weld Ministry is out, is the illness of Weld ... He has been suffering from a derangement of the digestion which I am afraid threatens to end in consumption. He can keep no food on his stomach and has much oppression in his head. Never was a more marked case of noble moral qualities taking the lead of intellectual acuteness. He certainly is not intellectual king of his party. Sewell, FitzGerald, Fitzherbert and others are his superiors in knowledge and bare intellect and device, but he alone could keep the party together and his forced and frequent absences from the House caused supporters to become languid and work to become disorganised . . . Weld's only chance I believe is thorough rest for some time. Mrs Weld looks delicate very. The little girls are charming little creatures exquisitely unconscious, lively and gentle.

I shall regret as much as anything in the break up of our team the parting from Major Richardson - a dear impetuous old fellow ... he is one of the most simple minded, modest, chivalrous creatures.

1865/96


E. W. Stafford to C. W. Richmond - - - Wellington, 23 Oct 1865


(Private)

You will have heard before this reaches you that I am in harness again. No man ever more reluctantly so! You will also possibly hear statements as to the how and the why unfavorable to me. I have neither time nor inclination to state my own case beyond the one assurance, that I know you will believe, that the position was not only not sought by me but was strenuously avoided, even to a constant forbearing to vote and take part in many large questions with respect to which I felt strongly the late Govt was wrong. I never was in my life - and trust never to be again - in so painful a position as a public man as I felt myself in ... in being compelled to oppose Weld (whom I never loved more than at this moment) - and some of his colleagues. But I felt certain from the first . . . that his propositions were financially impossible. Impossible at the best of times we have yet seen, and with the separation feeling existing in Auckland, Otago and - most dangerous of all - fast rising up in Canterbury, utterly so.

But I do not now write to you on a question of mere personal bearing to myself, but under a most serious and deep sense of responsibility as to what should be done for the Colony if it is to be preserved as one Colony.

Will you come and govern it? Any and every office is at your disposal if you will - Premier, Col Secy, Treasurer, Native M. I have purposely kept all offices open and made only provisional appointments - indeed I have not myself taken or given to anyone any office of state yet, in order that as strong a 'Colonial' Ministry - bound to maintain the unity of the Colony - as can be furnished in New Zd. might be formed. 30

Separation is fast swallowing up some of the best governing men in the country - Whitaker, Gillies, Crosbie Ward, and others - Moorhouse has hoisted the flag, and

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many in the Middle Island heretofore averse to separation are either gone or just going over. If the snake cannot be stamped out within the next 12 months it will have strangled our Colonial life. If you would come back to politics a tower of strength would be gained to the cause of union - with as colleagues - a fair representation of north, middle and southern New Zd. - say Haultain, Jollie, you, myself and others, with Prendergast as Atty Genl. I have been fortunate in getting him (Prendergast) for the present, but have as yet made only a provisional arrangement with him, he - though comparatively a new man - has already won golden opinions from all who have come in contact with him, and his legal opinions are received with a respect and influence which Sewell never could acquire. Indeed, as much as any man could do, Sewell and Fitzherbert aided in breaking down Weld's Ministry.

I would not have ventured to propose to you to take political office again had I not so well known your tried patriotism and been induced to suppose you have not altogether deserted public life from remarks made by Mrs Richmond when I was staying in your house at Dunedin last Feby: twice (at least) Mrs Richmond alluded to the prospect of your reentering public life and on one occasion, if not both times, you were present, and tho' I cannot call to mind that you expressed any concurrence with her views at the time you certainly did not dissent from them by word or look. If you were new to public life I might think it necessary to urge you more strongly, or at least to advance reasons more at length, but you so thoroughly comprehend the position that what I have said is sufficient. No proposition was ever made from one man to another with more urgent sincerity than that I now make to you, nor with a deeper consciousness of what depends on your decision. I shall await it anxiously -I wish I could say without fear and trembling.

For the present Grey acts most cordially to and with me. I really think he likes new ministries partly, perhaps, because by contrast his position appears the more stable. He is said to have acted loyally to his late ministry, who certainly behaved to him like the gentlemen they were. Were you not a family man, with even a larger family than my fast increasing one, I would not allude to the money point of view. I only do so as it is that you may have the case fully before you. In addition to the salary (£1,000 a year) a house is provided for ministers, and should you at any time desire to assume again the judicial ermine, will not the Colony contend for you? Then all agree that the Dunedin climate does not suit you or your health.

Enough - I write hurriedly with many interruptions. Present my best respects to Mrs Richmond, whose kindness to us is fresh in my wife's and my memory. I am happy to say my wife is much stronger than she was, she is at Nelson and today I heard from her first since I took office, wifelike, tho' it traverses all our plans she does not let her own feelings run counter to the act.

1865/97




[Inserted unpaginated illustrations]

TE WHITI
MAJOR-GENERAL TREVOR CHUTE
H. R. RICHMOND
C. W. RICHMOND
GIRLS' COLLEGE, NELSON, 1870'S
BOYS' COLLEGE, NELSON, 1880'S

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C. Stapp to H. A. Atkinson - - - Opotiki, 28 Oct 1865

We have just heard a gun fire outside, a steamer is in sight. We are getting on well. The expedition I sent after Kereopa the other day succeeded in killing five, wounding two including Kereopa shot through back and ball came out at chest or vice versa. He is driven from every place he attempts to take shelter. They understand now that it is only the real murderers we want and they say to him and others: 'You cannot remain at this place, you will get all my people killed. The Pakeah are sure to come here they are a strange race.'

The Chief who betrayed him, Rakuraku, had not taken the Oath of Allegiance and had been fighting against us. The two guides he sent with McDonnell were fighting against us on the fifth. One was in the cavalry charge and wounded a trooper, the other escaped from the pa. They had not been in to take the Oath, the Chief assured McDonnell they would lead him all right, many doubted but nothing venture nothing have. No men could have behaved better, they are the admiration of the Camp. They went right through the bush in the dark and no track for most part of the way. The men started on the 21st at one P.M. and returned on or about 5 P.M. on the 24th, after marching four days and out three nights - a small quantity of food a little rum. They came in as cheerful as they started. I am proud of my little army, I can tell you. I hope whoever succeeds me in the command will handle them as well as I have done.

The steamer has come right in. It is the Sturt . . . Many are the surmises as to who will come here to command. Many are named. Von Tempsky is the last person; they are dead nuts on him even were it possible to send him. My own opinion is you will take command in Taranaki ... I know the feeling here is that I should remain in command. It would not suit me as to the time it might last. The work is nearly all done here . . .

I wish you had remained to have seen all your schemes how well they have all succeeded. The Colonial Army, depend upon it, if they have sensible commanders at the head will do the work. It was a great mistake to have made the chiefs comd. officers, as I said in a former letter. I dare say it was policy.

I am sending the Sturt for the thirty Fulloon murderers. Mr Mair has no vessel. I have heard verbally that the natives won't allow the Mavis to bring them. I have discharged the Huntress, she has to go to Auckland to be repaired ... a more useless tub was never put together. I may be wrong in doing so ... What is the use on the other hand, keeping a steamer here that is not safe to send men to sea in her? After the Auckland papers stating you to be a coward they will state anything ... It is the richest thing I have heard for some time.

The men are getting badly off for clothes. This service is very hard on clothes. Very few days pass by but I send them out for a cruise. We have established a funk and inspired our men with such confidence it is almost impossible to restrain them . . .

31st The Sturt has just returned bringing the 30 men accused of the Fulloon murders. Mair, Smith and Clarke have also arrived.

1865/98


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J. C. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Wellington, 30 Oct 1865

. . . Pitt or somebody said that any man who reckoned in politics on any but the lowest motives was a visionary. I have not found it quite so bad though bad enough and one gets on the side of higher aims a contingent of selfishness that in the long game gives the right a victory.

Stafford has behaved shamefully since he lost your guidance. You know my first impression of him and I have seen little to change it since. He is clever, but after all a bragging Irishman and a mountebank. Dudley Ward's last description is not far wrong, a 'ripping snob'.

We shall see the issue of the elections. Meantime the great unchequered success of the Colonial forces since we have assumed to direct operations is becoming a demonstation of the truth of our views and may yet save us from political and financial wreck. I send you a speech I made in Staffordum which my lords thought worthy to be preserved, so I have reported it in the Independent.

1865/99


Donald McLean to H. A. Atkinson - - - Napier, 1 Nov 1865

You will be glad to hear that Pukemaire has been taken. Fraser attacked before the reinforcements came from Opotiki. The enemy were followed up in gallant style to the Kawakawa and surrendered to the number of 500 - 200 fighting men, the rest all sorts.

This is the most complete victory we have yet had over the Natives. . . . The strength of the rebellion on the East Coast is now broken . . . There may be some fighting at Poverty Bay. If there is a large party of Natives can be concentrated there, I mean of the allies, so that it would not take long to settle that part. It would now be an easy matter to settle and colonise the east side of the Island, but the log rolling of last session puts an end to much being done in that direction for the present.

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J. C. Richmond to Maria - - - Richmond Wrey's Hill, Nelson, 2 Nov 1865

My own dear Mother,

I meant to write to you to tell you that on your birthday I remembered you and blessed you for all the good things of which you have been the minister to me, and so I do and ever shall do, my own beloved mother but my birthday letter must be terribly different from what I have thought of. You will hear it from some other source, it will be broken tenderly to you that I have lost my darling, the light of my life. 31

Harry, who was with me when the blow fell will tell you the particulars of all this grief. For myself I am not so stupefied but that I see the daylight far off perhaps through many years. My faith is not like that of men who have lived lives of toil and suffering and selfdenial, but I see plainly there is no other life but such as that can

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entitle me and enable me to be reunited where my heart must always cling. The hope is such a motive as I have never before been conscious of and it will enable me to purify myself to be a fit companion perhaps for my lost one. And I am deeply deeply grateful for the true warm love you all have squandered on me and should not dare to sorrow as one without hope. Still my pain at times would quite unman me if I lingered about here and we have settled to come over with all possible speed to join you all for the warmth and health of your presence . . .

My dear dear mother, the debt I owe to you for your sweet life's example is never so great in my eyes or so delightful to remember as when trouble is on me and it never has been on me outwardly before as it has come now. God bless you, my dear mother, and spare you many years to shed your radiance upon us. It may be you are not the next to go, but I will behave to you as to the nearest link between myself and my dead treasure, for your soul is pure as hers and as loving and you are sure of the union for which I must pray and strive . . .

(Original in Alfred and Isabel Reed collection, Dunedin Public Library)


C. W. Richmond to E. W. Stafford - - - Dunedin, 4 Nov 1865

I certainly wanted no convincing that you have been most unwillingly compelled to take office. The facts of the case show it, and I suppose every one admits it, however much they may regret that you did not see your way to support Weld.

Whether you wish it or not, the retirement of the Weld ministry means (I fear) separation. But I must not attempt to put on paper my views about the state of affairs, which are, I confess, quite crude and unformed. You must have studied the question of separation much more closely and practically than I, and your part has been taken with the full conciousness of what hangs upon your own public action.

You ask me, 'Will I come and govern the Colony?' I reply that the government is on your shoulders and on yours it must remain till a vote of the House relieves you of it. But, granting that you could offer me the premiership, I say unhesitatingly that I would not take it. Nor would I accept office in any Government.

I feel no call of duty to return to politics. I do not feel myself to have ideas likely to influence the course of events, nor powers to give effect to my ideas, the times seem to me too strong for the men - at least too strong for me. I do not want to be carried passively down the stream, and I feel no energy for those strong and dexterous sweeps of the steering oar by which modern statesmen can expect to modify the tendencies of the current of opinion.

In the absence of any strong call of duty, I am acted upon by some of the considerations to which you have alluded - especially by the consideration of the interests of my wife and young family. Besides this, the step of leaving the judicial bench to reenter politics is in itself one of questionable propriety, and I could not allow myself to think of again retreating to a judgeship. You know that I always disliked the plan of making politics a stepping stone to the bench and that I only accepted a judgeship

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when I had firmly established myself in private business and it was known that I was surrendering great emoluments.

I should not like to set the example of making the bench a refuge for defeated statesmen.

v 42


Maria Richmond to C. W. and Emily E. Richmond - - - Beach Cottage, 8 Nov 1865

My heart aches to think of the blank dreariness and desolation for darling James and dear Annie. It is heart rending to think of that poor husband coming home anticipating a joyful meeting with his sweet wife and finding her in her coffin - and she such a truly precious creature, a pearl above all price! Well, I thank God that I have known her if but for a few brief years and felt her holy influence.

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Mrs Alice O. Willcocks to Major H. A. Atkinson - - - (Nelson), 11 Nov 1865

Mr Willcocks mentioned in his letter that you purposed sending Tudor to me by next steamer. . . . His board and washing will be £10 per qr. I should like him to bring 2 prs sheets, 4 towels and 4 pillow slips. . . .

Pray write me your wishes respecting Tudor and mention what school you would like him to attend. The Bishop's school I think is very expensive for such a little boy. Mr Richards who teaches my boys is an excellent master. His charge is £1-1-0 per quarter and no entrance fee . . .


1865/102


T. M. Haultain to H. A. Atkinson - - - Wellington, 13 Nov 1865

Many thanks for the map of Taranaki that you have sent me ... I am truly sorry to hear that you are suffering under so many heavy afflictions, but hope they are working the good for which they were sent.

I want to get plan and specification of your best blockhouse, as there must be one put up at Harapipi. I wish you would kindly tell the proper person to send them to me . . .

We are sending for the Native Contingent from Opotiki, as they have done their work there, and are desperately anxious to return home, but we expect further operations will be necessary at Poverty Bay, and will endeavour to do what has to be done as summarily as possible.

1865/103


Emily E. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Dunedin, 19 Nov 1865

Mrs Borton has written to offer to buy Mr Gully's picture. I have not given up the picture nor got the money at present. I think we might get another or two sold for him if they were here for people to see.

1865/104


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-- Hornby to C. W. Richmond - - - Board of Trade, Whitehall, 28 Nov 1865

I trust you are all well, and I believe doing well in a Colony where if there were sufficient inducements I should like to make one. Edmund you know is Chief Justice (now Sir E.H.) in China. Fanny still lives in Cadogan Place, and your humble servant with his wife (nee Danvers) blooms near the sister. . . .

I believe both you and James hold or have held high places in New Zealand. What is Henry doing? . . .

The object, or rather one object, in writing to you is to ask you, if you have an opportunity, now or soon, to do what you can to assist my brothers in law Boswell, Herbert, Alfred and Roland Danvers, who went out some time ago to New Zealand - for the purpose of making their fortune etc. - unfortunately they have been very unlucky, altho' they did not go out unprovided with funds, but I suppose like all other places the Colonies do not always prove fortunate to those who go out to them. I believe you know a little of Boswell. ... If you could do anything to give them a lift in the Colonial world, my wife and self would be very grateful.

They haven't made me President yet, or I might be able to be of use to them here.

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Emily E. Richmond to H. A. Atkinson - - - Dunedin, 10 Dec 1865

I wish you would really try to come and stay a little time with us either before or after this coming session. William ... is gone for a day or two with Mr Weld. I trust the inland air may do him good; he seems to have been very ill indeed almost all the time he has been away. . . . There has been a grand cricket match between the High School boys and the 'Tierei [Taieri] fellows', as Harry Bell calls them. The match was played at Mr James Fulton's and the cricketers were entertained at his house, and slept in his barn, those which his house would not hold. . . .

Major Richardson says he is not going to stand again for the Assembly. I told him it was wicked, and that he must stand. Do you like the Major? Some people here don't believe in him but William and I like him.

1865/106


C. Brown to H. A. Atkinson - - - York Terrace, 11 Dec 1865

If Col Haultain is inclined to grant it, I would rather a great deal have cash, as Silcock's affair cripples me much, but if it can be got no other way, I would be glad to take it in land. I have not asked to have my rank dated back, as the allowance to Mil[itia] irrespective of rank, renders it unnecessary.

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Maria Richmond to Emily E. Richmond - - - New Plymouth, 26 Dec 1865

The Bishop and Mrs Selwyn have been here some time. They were disappointed in getting away on Sunday. The steamer came in during service, and the sea so rough that Mrs Selwyn declined venturing to be slung up to the vessel with a rope round her

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waist. We had a long call from the Bishop in return for the Superintendent's call upon him. He was very pleasant and amusing as he always is but surprised some of us by saying he never meddles in politics! Aunt Helen uttered an involuntary 'O Dr Selwyn', but thinks he did not hear her. I obtained some information from him about an Institution conducted by his sister near Birmingham of which I heard not long ago . . .

I don't think I have told you that James's home at Hurworth was burnt to the ground last week. Harry and Mr Pitcairn asked for the loan of it for workers employed by them, James granted it, cautioning them about fire as the chimneys were not in a safe state. The fire occurred ... in the middle of the day . . .

29 Dec . . . The Bishop and Mrs Selwyn left yesterday. The Bishop and Colonel Warre were guests one day at the officer's mess and the Bishop, it is said, made the Col sulky by telling him he would have made a good sheep farmer. The Col hates the 43rd and does not like being joked in their presence.

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J. C. Richmond to C. W. Richmond - - - Taranaki, 29 Dec 1865

The great change that has come upon me shadows over every thought and steeps everything. It seems to grow upon me. It is indeed an unmeasurable grief and loss. I fancied that because I was constantly aware of the frailty of my tenure of the blessing that therefore I was nerved to bear its loss. But it is not so ... If I had been deprived of half my senses and let to live beside her the consciousness of her sweet presence would have been enough and richly worth living for. . . .

Dearest Mary was a creature who by the doctrine of all who profess to explore the mysteries of the soul, should have had a clear vision of God and a firm trust in his ways. It was not easy for a spirit to be purer than hers was, and she was visibly blooming out into all noble qualities growing wiser and more catholic. But the darling never reached beyond trembling hope. She was a well-spring of love, and retained and would always have retained the exquisite freshness of mind of youth. My dear brother, I felt all along that she was most unequally mated and that I had no right to her, and now my term is at an end ... I am forlorn beyond what I can describe. . . .

I am going to put sheep on the Merton land and get it in order.

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1   Kupapas, friendlies
2   C. W. Richmond, writing on 20 Nov 1865, says of her: 'Mary, most lovable and excellent of women. It is not possible to imagine any human being more free from selfishness and bent upon promoting the happiness of all around her . . . Her influence was so spiritual that it survives and will be increased, not diminished - a phantom of delight.'
3   W. B. D. Mantell (1820-95) was appointed Minister for Native Affairs on 16 Dec 1864.
4   C. Brown was elected M.H.R. for Town of New Plymouth on 18 Nov 1864 in place of H. H. Turton (resigned).
5   Gustavus Ferdinand von Tempsky (1828-68) a distinguished guerilla leader, came to the Colony in 1859 after considerable experience of jungle fighting in Central America. He was killed in the second attack at Te Ngutu o te Manu
6   I. N. Watt (1821-86), formerly speaker of the New Plymouth provincial council and since 1862 resident magistrate at the Bluff.
7   Possibly Capt. Jas McPherson (93rd Highlanders and 70th regt) who served in the Crimea and Indian Mutiny: afterwards clerk to the Waikato county council.
8   John Perry Robinson (1809 -65) superintendent of Nelson since 1856.
9   C. R. A. L. Maclean (1833-96) read for holy orders at Dublin and after ordination came to Nelson diocese. He was headmaster of Nelson College (1864-68), engaged in journalism, was in the Nelson provincial council and eventually practised law in the North Island.
10   Saunders was elected Superintendent on 21 Mar 1865.
11   Wiremu Tamihana te Waharoa.
12   Henry Joseph Coote (1819-67) served in India under Sir Charles Napier (who called him 'the intrepid Coote') and in the Ionian Islands. He came to New Zealand as brigade-major in 1852 and on retiring in 1859 settled in the Colony (M.L.C. 1865-7).
13   Richmond was a member of the Nelson provincial executive for two years till the death of the Superintendent (J. P. Robinson) on 28 Jan 1865.
14   H. A. Atkinson, J. C. Richmond and H. Sewell.
15   Atkinson's wife (nee Amelia Jane Skinner) died on 22 Jun 1865.
16   J. C. Richmond explained in the Legislative Council on 21 Aug 1884 that the Government considered it essential that one of its members should be in the Council and that he was chosen as the most recently appointed.
17   Richmond joined the Weld ministry as colonial secretary on 26 Jun 1865. At the same time he was called to the Legislative Council.
18   A leading article on 27 May 1865 traced the origin of Pai Marire to a document written on 26 Oct 1862 by Te Ua Haumene. In it he appealed to his people not to plunder the wreck of the Lord Worsley.
19   The garrison surrendered on 21 Jul 1865.
20   F. U. Gledhill elected M.H.R. for Omata 18 Jul 1865.
21   H. R. Richmond was deputy superintendent of Taranaki till his election as superintendent in September
22   Frederick Nelson George (1842-1914), educated at Nelson College, commanded a detachment of Forest Rangers at the relief of Pipiriki (Jul 1865) and was promoted brevet-major. He was later a prominent racing owner.
23   FitzGerald joined the Weld Ministry as Minister for Native Affairs on 12 Aug 1865.
24   The expedition, which was commanded by Major Brassey, consisted of 2 companies of Taranaki military settlers, 2 of Wanganui and Patea Rangers, a troop of Wanganui Yeomanry Cavalry, the Wanganui native contingent and a company of Europeans from Waikato; total strength 500. The transports Stormbird, Ladybird, Ahuriri and Huntress, convoyed by H.M.S. Brisk, arrived off Opotiki bar on 8 Sep 1865.
25   John Ross Watts was gazetted ensign Auckland militia on 17 Feb 1866.
26   McLean's ms copy in the McLean collection in the Turnbull Library says '50 men will hold the place against any attack that is likely to be made at present.'
27   The Hon. W. B. Rhodes in 1865 erected The Grange, a fine residence on the Wadestown road.
28   Major-general Trevor Chute (1817-86) saw much service with the 70th regiment in the Indian Mutiny. In New Zealand, he was mainly responsible for the swift campaign on the West coast, culminating in the march behind the mountain to New Plymouth and back by the west coast (Jan 1866). He was afterwards colonel of the 22nd Foot.
29   Mete Kingi Paetahi (1813-83), a leading chief of the lower Whanganui river, rendered distinguished service for the Government in the Hauhau rising, especially at Weraroa and Moutoa. After the expedition to Opotiki he led the native contingent in the Western campaign. He was the first Maori member elected to Parliament (1868-71).
30   E. W. Stafford was sworn in with three others on 16 Oct 1865.
31   Mary Richmond (nee Smith) died on 29 Oct 1865, aged 31.

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