1839 - Walton, John. Twelve Months Residence in New Zealand - CHAPTER XII. Rise and Progress of New Zealand Colonization, p 44-51

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CHAPTER XII.

Rise and Progress of New Zealand Colonization.

CAPTAIN COOK was the first who landed on the shores of New Zealand, which he did on the evening of Sunday, the 8th October 1769, accompanied by Dr Solander and Sir Joseph Banks. He circumnavigated and surveyed both islands, and, with the customary solemnities, took possession of them, on behalf of the King of Great Britain. Captain Cook saw that New Zealand was well adapted to become a British colony, and recommended it for that purpose; but his suggestions led to no practical result. The design was afterwards taken up by the benevolent Benjamin Franklin and Mr Dalrymple, who issued proposals for raising a sum of £15,000, but without

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success, for the purpose of supplying the New Zealanders with useful animals, vegetables, arts, &c. In the parliamentary debates which led to the selection of Botany Bay as a penal settlement, New Zealand was alluded to, as a country that might be found suitable for the purpose; but the dread in which it was then held for its cannibalism overpowered every argument that could be adduced in its favour. In the year 1814, the Rev. Samuel Marsden went from New South Wales to New Zealand, and laid the foundation of the Church of England Mission in the Bay of Islands. Missionaries, therefore, were the first European settlers in New Zealand. The object of the mission was, in the first instance, not so much to preach to the natives the sublime truths of Christianity, as to introduce among them the useful arts; and accordingly the missionaries consisted chiefly of carpenters, boat-builders, black-smiths, ploughmen, rope-spinners, &c.

When it was found that the natives not only permitted these settlers to live in perfect security, but even treated them kindly, the terror of a residence in New Zealand began to disappear, and the number of emigrants was gradually increased. From the excellence of its harbours, it became the general resort of vessels engaged in the South Sea whale fishery, and the value of its timber and flax, the mildness of its climate, the richness of its soil, and other important resources which it was found to possess, led to the conclusion that, for the establishment of a British colony, it was admirably adapted. Through the exertions of Colonel Torrens, a company was formed in 1825, having for its object the colonization of New Zealand. That company, whose chairman was Mr Lambton, now Earl of Durham, did not accomplish their purpose, but from no want of exertion on their part. Their principal agent purchased a quantity of valuable land in New Zealand, of which those from whom it was bought have never attempted to resume the possession, and it is now incorporated with the territory of the New Zealand Land Company. But it unfortunately happened that this agent, mistaking a war-dance which was got up in compliment to him, for one intended as the prelude to his destruction, was so affrighted that he made the best of his way from the country. The abandonment of the enterprise by their agent, and the unusually depressed state of the money market in the year 1826, discouraged the company from prosecuting their design, upon which they had expended £20,000. They, however, received from Mr Huskisson the

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promise of a charter of incorporation, which subsequent governments having recognized, is considered as still in force.

Europeans now increased rapidly at New Zealand; these consisted, in a great measure, of sailors who had deserted from the whalers, and of convicts who had made their escape from the penal settlement, and it may easily be supposed that such society would carry along with it no small degree of contamination. All kinds of licentiousness prevailed among this lawless community, and crimes which would have been followed with capital punishment in England were committed with impunity. On a representation of the state of affairs being made to the governor of Sydney, he, in concurrence with the home government, appointed what he termed a consul "accredited to the missionaries at the Bay of Islands." The missionary society appears to have conceived that by this appointment it was invested with the sovereignty of the country over which, in matters secular as well as ecclesiastical, its wish was, like the Jesuits in Paraguay, to exercise an uncontrollable authority. How far it might fear that the colonization of New Zealand would be attended with a diminution of its influence and authority I will not pretend to determine; but certain it is, that every proposition to convert that country into a regular dependency of the British crown has met with its strenuous opposition; and such has been its influence at head-quarters, that this opposition has hitherto proved too successful.

The appointment of a resident was not attended with the beneficial results expected from it. Fresh importations of ruffians, from the chain-gangs of New South Wales continued to take place; the immoral pestilence was increased; and when the interposition of the resident was applied for, to protect the community against this demoralizing inundation, he found that his powers were not sufficiently extensive for the repression and punishment of the disorders and crimes which were every day taking place. The home government was applied to by the London merchants, the heads of the houses engaged in the South Sea trade, the respectable part of the New Zealand settlers, and even by a number of the members of the mission, to exert its authority to put a stop to these evils, but to all these applications, through some counteracting influence at the Colonial Office, the government turned a deaf ear, betraying in this, as in too many other instances, a most culpable insensibility to the wrongs and sufferings of the people upon whose shoulders it had mounted into power.

While matters were in this disorganized state, the attention

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of the public was drawn to New Zealand by Mr Wakefield, through whose instrumentality the New Zealand Association was founded, and held its first meeting on the 22nd of May 1837. It was composed of two classes of members; of emigrants, who were to defray all the expenses, and public men, who, without any view to pecuniary advantage, were to devote their time and influence to the furtherance of what was justly viewed as a national undertaking. To the latter class the execution of the plan in England was exclusively confided. In the month of July of this year two New Zealanders, Rangatira Te Naiti and Te Hiakai, visited France. On hearing this, Mr Wakefield brought them to London at his own expense. One of them, Haikai, lived in the house of Dr Evans about eight months, when he died of consumption. The family among whom he resided represent him as having evinced a most amiable disposition and a very superior capacity. It was the opinion of those who became acquainted with him, that his understanding was equal to the task of mastering any of the abstract sciences. He was a brother of the chief of Banks's Peninsula, and it is creditable to the sensibility of his companion, that, three weeks after his interment, he was found weeping over his grave. The other New Zealander resided two years in the house of Mr Wakefield, who had thus ample opportunity of forming a correct estimate of his character, of which he speaks in the highest terms, as comprising every quality found in the gentleman and man of honour. He is nearly related to Rangatira Te Rapora, the most powerful chieftain in New Zealand. The deportment of these young men, marked by the strictest, propriety, and the facility with which they acquired the usages of civilized life, diffused through the large and genteel circle to which they were introduced a very favourable opinion of the New Zealand character. Te Naiti has gone out with the first expedition, as interpreter, for which he is well qualified by his knowledge of the English language. He is confident that the proposal to colonize New Zealand, from which he anticipates the greatest advantage to his countrymen, will be embraced by them with joy and gratitude. On parting with his English friends at Gravesend, his sensibility was much excited; he burst into tears, and on reaching the ship, he remained alone in his cabin for the remainder of the day.

In the summer of 1837, a pamphlet was published, explanatory of the principles and objects of the association, and on an application being made to Lord Melbourne, who was appa-

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rently inclined to favour the undertaking, an audience to the Committee was immediately granted. Lord Hawick was present at this interview, and to this minister the plan was referred by the premier. He examined the draught of the bill; expressed a warm interest in the undertaking, and returned the papers, after having suggested various alterations. In conversation with various members of the association, he expressed the same friendly opinion of the measure, and held out the hope that it would obtain the sanction of government. Upon this several members gave up professional engagements, sold their property, and made preparations for emigrating on the faith of the pledge given that their intentions would receive the countenance of government: but alas! how little reliance is to be placed on the professions of some ministers. When the bill was introduced into the House of Commons by Mr Baring, who should be found among its most strenuous opponents but Lord Hawick. And what rendered his Lordship's conduct more surprising was, that in the very bill which he now opposed, all the alterations which he had suggested when the original draught of it was laid before him were embodied. To some of these the association objected, but the members were willing to sacrifice their own opinions to those of his Lordship, in consideration of receiving his powerful influence and support. The reproach of taking to pieces his own building, of fighting against his own principles, is not applicable to Lord Hawick alone, but to all the other ministers whose imbecility and inconsistency would have long since driven them from a position which they would not have so long retained, had they not been held in it by a fortunate and most extraordinary concurrence of circumstances.

After various discouragements and difficulties, which had well nigh extinguished every hope for the regeneration of New Zealand, the cause again lifted up its head, and on the 2d of May, 1839, the New Zealand Land Company, comprehending all the preceding societies, was introduced to the public through the unwearying exertions of Mr Wakefield. The names of the directors of this company, at the head of which stands that of Earl Durham, are a sufficient guarantee for the honour and rectitude of their proceedings. Shares to the amount of £100,000 have been subscribed for, and the sum of £100,000 was paid within five weeks for as many acres of land within a township, the locality of which is not yet fixed upon. Two vessels have been sent to New Zealand; one with the company's principal agent, Col. Wakefield; the other with

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the surveyor-general, Lieut. Smith, and a surveying force of thirty individuals. A large body of emigrants from England and Scotland are preparing to sail in the course of the present month, October, and along with them every thing is to be embarked that can in any way contribute to the advancement of the great design, the preparations for which include a church, an infant school, accessible to the children of the natives, as well as to those of the colonists, a public library, a dispensary, a bank, together with a large amount of capital, invested in machinery, mills, steam-engines, agricultural implements, the frame work of houses, and property of various kinds. With the first colony there will go out more than 160 cabin passengers, and 3,500 persons of the working classes, all conveyed free of expense, by means of the purchase money of the land. Five large vessels, upwards of 500 tons each, are nearly ready to sail; others will follow in regular succession, and the whole will rendezvous at Port Hardy, in D'Urville island, Cook's Straits, it is expected by about the end of January.

That so numerous a body of her Majesty's subjects, who are to enlarge her dominions at their own cost, should be treated by the government with cold indifference and neglect, is one of the most surprising things in a period fruitful in astonishing occurrences. It is, however, of a piece with the general policy of our ministers, in which they have made it clearly manifest, that the prosperity and improvement of the people whom they govern, is a question in which they feel little or no interest. To the applications for a local administration, which have been made at the colonial office, no attention has been paid, and the country is to be surrendered to the scramble in which the grog-shop keepers, and the land sharks from Sydney, will vie with each other in trying who will be most successful in swindling the natives out of their territory. The pernicious consequences of so disordered a state of things would be effectually prevented, if the whole lands in New Zealand were assumed by the Crown; provided that those who now possess land were allowed a reasonable time for pre-emption, and an indemnification for the expense which they have laid out in the purchase and improvement of those lands. To some such plan as this, the colonial department must sooner or later consent, unless it think proper to abandon the country to the reckless adventurers, whose object is to obtain, by the most unjustifiable means, the possession of the soil. Come what will, however, the Saxon and the Gael will "screw their courage to the sticking point." They pos-

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sess an intrepidity which all the difficulties they are likely to encounter will not be able to overcome; their right to take the management of their own concerns is indisputable, and should government act the part of a stepmother to these its children, by withholding from them its paternal protection, they have hearts and hands that will protect themselves.

I shall conclude this section with the following extract, which terminates Dr Lang's letters to Earl Durham on the colonization of New Zealand.

The following table will be found useful to persons intending to emigrate under the auspices of the New Zealand Land Company.

OUTFIT OF EMIGRANT LABOURERS.

FEMALE.

	L.	s.	d.
2 gowns, 18 yards of printed cotton, at 6d	0	9	0
2 petticoats, 6 yards of coloured calico, at 6d	0	3	0
2 ditto, flannel, 6 yards, at 1s	0	6	0
12 shifts, 30 yards, long cloth, at 6d	0	15	0
6 caps, 3 yards of muslin, at 1s	0	3	0
6 aprons, 6 yards of calico, at 6d	0	3	0
6 handkerchiefs, at 6d	0	3	0
6 neckerchiefs, at 9d	0	4	6
6 towels, at 6d	0	3	0
1 pair of stays, at 5s	0	5	0
6 pairs of black worsted stockings, at 1s 3d	0	7	6
2 pairs of shoes, at 4s	0	8	0
1 bonnet, at 3s	0	3	0
Needles, pins, tapes, etc. etc.	0	5	0
2 lbs. of soap, at 6d, 2 lbs. of starch, at 6d	0	2	0
	L.4	0	0
MALE.	L	s.	d.
2 fustian jackets, at 7s 6d	0	15	0
2 pairs of ditto trousers, at 6s	0	12	0
2 pairs of duck ditto, at 2s 6d	0	5	0
2 round frocks, at 2s 6d	0	5	0
12 cotton shirts, at 2s 3d -	1	7	0
6 pairs of worsted stockings, at 1s 6d	0	9	0
2 Scotch caps, at 1s 6d	0	3	0
6 handkerchiefs, at 6d	0	3	0
6 coarse towels, at 6d	0	3	0
1 pair of boots, at 10s	0	10	0
1 pair of shoes, at 6s	0	6	0
4 lbs. of soap, at 6d	0	2	0
	L.5	0	0

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Female,		4 0 0
1 pair of blankets, at 10s	10 0
2 pair of sheets, at 5s	10 0
Sum required to fit out a couple,		L.10 0 0