1958 - Torlesse, C. O. The Torlesse Papers: Journals and Letters... 1848-1851 - 11. From Surveyor to Farmer, p 188-212

Riccarton.
5th January 1851.

My dearest Mother,

My letters by the Cressy were delayed some time at Lyttelton and only came to hand two days ago. I am now on a rough trip and have ridden down 20 miles to write to you, but my time is short and I feel altogether so unsettled and rather dispirited by the appearance of things, so that you must not expect much from me.

It appears that, as usual, these settlers have been deluded by having had their expectations raised to an unreasonable pitch. They appear very well pleased with the country, but evidently had been led to expect comfortable dwelling houses and every other accommodation prepared for them. They seem surprised to find that they will have to rough it till they can choose their land and commence building for themselves. This is the case with many among them. The best, I think, were never so unreasonable as to imagine that ample accommodation could be provided at the public expense for the better class of emigrants, especially when so small an amount of land had been sold. Just consider the expense of building houses, which after all would only be occupied temporarily, for about 200 cabin passengers.

I have not been much in the way of hearing anything since I last wrote (about 26th Decr.) in which I think I told you that I went to Church at Lyttelton on Christmas Day and on the Sunday before, and had my Christmas Dinner with Mr & Mrs Godley, Ward and Tancred. From what I have seen of Mr Godley myself and from E. J. W.'s report of him, I judge that he is the man to carry on the business of Agent here. I am prepared for his making great mistakes from his want of practical knowledge of the country but I trust to his high character

and just and Christian principles to rectify them. Mrs Godley is a first class lady, and a fit person to take the lead among the new arrivals, who positively have not difficulties enough to call forth their full powers of overcoming them. There is no grumbling about country or climate--but loud outcries for the want of a well furnished lodging...

I am on a rough trip now, laying off 60 miles of roadline, and have nothing but an opossum rug with me. I did not tell you before that Bishop Selwyn arrived last night. I look forward to very excellent results from his visit, as I think that he will stir up and encourage the faint-hearted. I could not possibly go to Lyttelton to Church to-day but should very much have liked to be present as I think he would be very likely to make them a very warm address from the pulpit. They will believe what he says, which is probably more than they would anybody else, and deservedly, for his judgement is first-rate on common matters as well as in his own peculiar Office.

I forget whether I acknowledged receiving from you the Memoir of Fox, and a pair of slippers from Emily. I must now to the saddle again & with my most affectionate love to all;

Believe me
Your ever affc. Son,
CHARLES O. TORLESSE

Christchurch.
12th February 1851.

My dear Father,

I write to acknowledge a packet by the favour of Mr Jackson, who arrived here on the 7th, and am very much annoyed to find that you appeared not to have heard from me for 9 months. This I assure you is not owing to neglect--I have written very constantly considering my pursuits and have even incurred some ridicule for being always writing. I have not time now to send a list of the letters I have written, which I can easily do by referring to my daily Journal, and shall probably manage by the next opportunity. I only write hurriedly now to assure you of my welfare.

I have only just returned from the rough trip (which I mentioned in my last as being just about to commence) of setting out 2 roadlines from Christchurch to Harewood Forest--one direct, the other by way of Kiapoi or Mandeville--and am so distracted by the press of work just now that I have no time to write deliberately. I do not get any time to myself now, living in a tent and never long in the same place, without facilities for writing. The hurry just now is caused by giving out the sections, finishing up plans, &c., which ought to have been done during the winter when we were suspended

very much against the interest of the whole thing--and want of money was no excuse as more than £1,500 was spent during the time we were on the shelf. The general selections do not come off till the 17th, but the earliest people have been choosing according] to priority and several sections are already marked out or in course of being so.

E. J. W. has just started off to Otago, being anxious about an affair of importance to him there. I have not seen him for nearly two months. He was to have selected the town sections for me during my absence in the country, as I depended upon his superior judgement; and of course he had thoroughly considered the whole matter. I shall not select them till Monday the 17th when I can see a plan (which I cannot now) on which are noted those sections already selected. I purpose selecting in Christchurch for the following reasons;

1st. The allotments in Port Lyttelton which are valuable as a speculation are already secured.

2nd. It is so disagreeable a place to live in that I consider few or none will be valuable for mere residence.

3rd. You get twice the quantity of land at Christchurch.

4th. Christchurch is an agreeable place of residence, near the College, principal Church, and all that will be attractive in the Settlement.

Of course I may alter my mind when the day comes and I see the plans before me and know exactly what is left for selection: and write to you about the matter now as I most likely shall not have another opportunity for some time.

As to the Rural Sections I can only say that I will do my utmost to secure good locations. But you cannot expect a prize for such high numbers and the plans are so perfect that a man with any judgement ought to be able to select without inspecting the actual spot, as indeed some of the very earliest have done. I can confidently say that nobody knows the country so well as I do, and I reckon a good deal upon making good selections if only for the minor object of showing people here that I am a fit person to be trusted with agencies, &c.

I have not yet seen Mr Jackson. Your description of him is confirmed by the right-minded people here whose opinion I have heard. There is a story of a feud between him and Lord M[ontague]--very likely I daresay as the latter seems a childish, wild sort of character. He may turn out right presently, but, though a Lord, is not the stamp of man that some of the people with humbler titles are.

You see Thomas has left; and not under the most creditable

circumstances. 12 I do not mention this maliciously, but merely to show you that my opinion (written to you for a long time back) was given on right grounds. His personal abuse and ridicule of Godley completely confirmed it all, notwithstanding the latter's courteous acknowledgement of Thomas' services which were over-estimated, as people find out more and more every day. Nobody in the place, or in the other settlements, was ignorant of this.

Ward is a very nice fellow; a thorough gentleman, clever, (quite a leader) and I believe religious. He has been twice out into the country to see me, and I believe we have renewed a friendship which was of the warmest kind that schoolboy attachments can be.

I send you the Lyttelton Times regularly, as a sort of return for the Spectator. I purpose putting forth a proposal in it for an alteration in the pasturage regulations, and advocating a new plan viz. (in rough) to grant leases over some fine tracts at present not worth £3 an acre, to the extent of 1,000 acres only, on lease for 10 years at a low yearly rent, and with the right of pre-emption at expiry of term. 13 This with a view of encouraging good farming instead of grazing stock on the Australian system, and making the land worth £3 which would otherwise remain a common. I have written the article in the

bush with my pencil in a note-book, but have not been able to put it in shape for publication yet.

Mr Godley is coming out to live here soon. I have not seen or heard much of him lately, but believe that he continues most indefatigable. There is no doubt that he continues deficiency of practical knowledge of young settlements he is very perfect. He starts on right principles.

I have been sorely tantalized by not having yet participated in any of the advantages of civilization hardly. I have scarcely made the acquaintance of a single lady, and was quite unable to attend Mrs Godley's ball, to which I was invited...

I have no small talk for my sisters, but understand that the belles of the ball the other night, whose fair arms had been seen in the washtub, perhaps on the same morning, have not wept at their fate in coming here. But I can quite sympathize with your feelings on the matter; and am quite sure that without capital to invest here you would do very wrong in coming...

Believe me your ever affectionate Son,
CHARLES O. TORLESSE

Canterbury.
26th February 1851.

My dear Stafford,

I have no time now to write a gossiping letter to tell you all the news of the first Canterbury Settlers--but we are disappointed as to the amount of money both for public expenditure and in private hands. The class of people is fair enough: there were more ladies in the first 4 ships than Nelson can boast of now, and there is an advertisement of a piano-forte tuner.

Mr Godley is an excellent man for the post--certainly liable to make great mistakes from the want of practical knowledge, but most high-minded and just. Thomas has left disgracefully.

Edward has gone to Otago--but I have not heard from him by a vessel lately arrived from thence: I believe you know the object of his visit there 25 --I sincerely hope he may be successful--you may have heard to the contrary: but I firmly believe he is doing quite right. I mention all this mysteriously knowing that you will understand me if you have been previously informed, and not wishing to make a thing of the sort public till I am sure Edward himself has done so.

The Association are driven to all sorts of economical shifts; but at present I am doing well, and have laid out my savings in cattle, and shall take care of them and others (if I can get them on a share) when employment ceases. For my own and father's choices, I have secured the prettiest spot and best run

in the whole district. 26 I wish I had now the means to make a moderate start and see my way perfectly, notwithstanding the present pasturage obstacles, which it is confidently believed Godley will be able to remove.

I do not hear of any of our relations coming out--my own family seem quite decided against doing so.

I have been in constant expectation of seeing you walk into my tent, but now give you up, and am very sorry that you have not come down. I am sure that midsummer is the best time for overlanding; the large rivers being much flooded in spring and autumn.

I have nothing of interest to mention to Emily, and can only send her my very kind love.

Believe me,
My dear Stafford,
yours most sincerely,
CHARLES O. TORLESSE

Canterbury Settlement.
7th March 1851.

My dearest Mother.

I have just received your very charming letters up to the 22nd October by the Isabella Hercus. A wet day affords me a rare opportunity of perfect liberty to devote myself to attempting a real letter...

I must now proceed to the painful task of picturing Canterbury as it is: and in doing so I cannot but feel grateful to Providence that you did not come out here. I never doubted my father's wisdom in refusing to come here unless the full scheme of the Association was carried out, or unless he had independent capital of his own to settle upon, and am thoroughly confirmed now when I feel confident that the Association's schemes as to making this a model settlement, &c., &c.. are a failure. As I have stated before, the country is so good compared with the other settlements that it must eventually

become a prosperous and thriving settlement. But at present it has the prospect before it for two or three years that the other places had--a depression and stagnation until some effort is made and stimulant applied.

A very good class of people has come out, but there appears to be but little money among them--and what is worse-- they have come out as the early N. Z. settlers did, not knowing what to turn their attention to, but looking to the whole thing as an experiment. They certainly intend 'to farm', and have not learnt what is a truism in this country, that it won't pay a gentleman to farm. 30

Several vessels have lately arrived with stock from N. S. Wales, but there have been hardly any purchasers among the new settlers. The pasturage regulations are very bad and disencouraging to the stockholder; but I think Mr Godley has grasped the subject and has influence enough at home to have them altered. I don't so much complain of the new people not buying stock immediately as it would be unreasonable to expect them to do so until they have seen more about them and are settled down, but they do not evince any intention of doing so when they are.

The great evil is that the Association have not funds enough to start the settlement with roads and other public works. I wonder that the Barings and other rich people who are professedly so much interested in the whole scheme have not advanced some handsome sum for the purpose. £50,000 would do it handsomely, as less expenditure is required in this settlement than was in the others, even though it is so much more extensive. I wish they could do business on the scale that the much abused New Zealand Company did.

There is a near prospect of a suspension of public works. All the Assistant Surveyors have notice to quit at the end of this month and Mr Godley seems to be driven to strange shifts to raise the wind, selling off the property of the Association, charging heavy jetty and wharfage dues and 1/6 and 1/- per head for the landing of horses and cattle respectively at Lyttelton.

Everybody sees now the absurdity of Thomas' having spent so much money for mere show as he did, though they were deluded at first. He made an open boast that he did it to give them a pleasing first impression though it was to the sacrifice of their after prosperity without delay.

With the exception of Mr & Mrs Kingdon, who are nice people I should say, the clergy do not stand in very high repute. They certainly strike me as quite inferior. Mr Jackson is decidedly unpopular here, and all that you say of him is most fully confirmed by our experience of him. Nobody respects him by reason of his unnatural and affected manner, but I doubt not his being an amiable man. Of course I offer an opinion on very small acquaintance. Neither he nor Mrs Jackson appear to have paid any attention to the emigrants on the voyage out, which is a bad sign. He certainly can be eloquent, and ought to be on such a subject as he has had to deal with, but I do not know whether he would command sufficient respect to carry conviction to the minds of his hearers in preaching a sermon unstimulated by any extraordinary point of interest. He slept one night in our tent, and I rode out with him the next day to show him the country. He was very civil, but the most agreeable part of my acquaintance with him was in the news he gave me about you, and in the pleasing idea that he would tell you all about me on his return: but he seems very forgetful and will only talk in a general way...

My friend Ward is about the best of the settlers here. He is a good man, thoroughly high principled and religious, and quite a leading settler in the general estimation.

Wortley seems to have become quite steady, is now acting as Godley's private secretary, and will prove one of our best settlers if he has the money to start with.

I do not understand your condemnation of Mr Russell, who seems to be perfectly respectable, and by far the most influential settler here. I know very little of him and Mrs Russell, but they are generally liked. He has just bought Deans' sheep at from 20/- to 25/- per head...

Lord Montagu seems to be a harum-scarum fellow, and rather a fool to boot, but he may turn out all right which depends very much upon his being properly directed.

Mr Bowen and his family seem to be very nice people: a reduced, good. Irish family I should imagine like Godley and Fitzgerald. I have not made the acquaintance of a single young lady yet and rather shrink from doing so though I long to be able to find a proper help-meet...

I find that 4 months employment during the year does not answer, and am going to commence doing something that will keep me independently of employment under the Association.

If I remain near head-quarters and trust to the chance of getting employment when it offers I spend all my earnings during the intervals, and cannot even make a garden or find other occupation.

Cass, Boys and I have bought 43 head of cattle and I am going out to Rangiora Wood to manage and take [charge] of them. I hope to have plenty of leisure to make a house and garden. I have rented 1,750 acres of pasturage for about £14 per year which I hope will be reduced presently; and I expect to have plenty of cattle placed in my charge. I have good interest here from being on general good terms with everybody, and some few influential people ready to put anything in my way. At first I shall be rather out of the way of society, but that is better than starving in the midst of it. Besides there is to be a clergyman appointed at Kiapoi over the natives and I shall be able to ride to Christchurch once or twice a month for the Sunday. It is by the nearest road 20 miles, by the more indirect 28 and more speedy for riding than the former. Eventually, or as soon as there is the residence of a good family to grace it, it will be a sweet spot, but it is at present much out of the way, though quite as useful as a mere investment as any spots that remained open to my selection. It is a singular fact that almost everybody thinks he has made the best choice, and that his is the most desirable location for his own particular views. But such could hardly fail to be the case, there being such an extent (considering the quantity of purchasers) of fine land in the neighbourhood of Christchurch...

I shall pay the £9 into the Bank here to my father's order at the same time as I post this...

After much trouble I got Mr Godley to pay up part of my back salary, with which I purchased my share of the cattle. They seem so pinched for money that it is absurd my attempting to get any more. Altogether I am much mortified at their manners, particularly after my offer to work last winter without holding the Association responsible for payment...

Sir G. Grey, when he was down here, said that in 2 or 3 years this place would be in his hands, and I am beginning to think that he was right--or some strong help must be given to the Association to enable them to carry on their operations. Land sales are not to be depended upon--make the place first and trust to people's coming here and purchasing land afterwards.

I am exhausted now of news until I am my own master and can command more leisure both of time and mind to write more fully.

With most affectionate love to all,

ever your affectionate and devoted Son,
CHARLES O. TORLESSE

I asked Mr Jackson to be the bearer of the £9, but have since thought it safer to transmit the money through the Bank.

Rangiora Wood. Canterbury.
6th April 1851.

My dear Mother,

This is my first letter to you from what I call 'Home' in New Zealand; and I only commence a note just for the sake of writing to you--not in the certainty of being able to fill a sheet.

I have just received your letters by the Travancore... I have not yet seen the box of books which you sent, but they are now on their way with the rest of my goods and chattels from Lyttelton to the River Courtenay whence I cart them to this place. I am delighted with the prospect of some new books--a settler in the bush cannot have a more acceptable present...

Though I have only so lately commenced operations here I am pretty well inundated with visitors, few nights have

passed without a traveller calling in for shelter, and shortly after I commenced writing this letter Mr Clifford arrived. He has just formed a sheep station at the Hurunui River as his flocks are becoming too numerous for his runs at Cape Campbell and the Wairarapa. His brother too is now on his way--the first over-lander with fat sheep for the Canterbury market. This is the first attempt at communication between this and Nelson, and it appears not to be a very easy matter as Clifford got lost among the mountains near the Kaikoras, was out of provisions, and obliged to leave the sheep. However, Mr Caverhill, one of our settlers and an experienced bushman, has started out to try and bring them the rest of the way. 39

I think I mentioned to you before that a Captain Mitchell of the Indian Army had bought a quantity of cattle and formed a station here. He returned to India and left his affairs in the hands of a very improper person. Mr Clifford has a power of attorney to arrange them, and I expect will give me the charge of the cattle, at any rate until Mitchell returns.

I shall get £1 per an. per head for them and I suppose shall have from 150 to 180. A few more such chances as this will set me up, and I confidently expect by due care and industry combined with knowing the country and knowing the rivers, &c. and having the strong recommendation of some influential people, to succeed in my undertaking.

The schooner which I have chartered to the Courtenay has had a week's delay, and I have been living for some days on potatoes and boiled Indian corn as I cannot spare time for pig-hunting or shooting: and am very much pressed to complete a stockyard and house.

When you consider the difficulties, expenses, delay, and anxiety that one actually experiences in making the first plunge in a new country, I can quite understand a new comer who only forsees some difficulties, without knowing the extent of them, shrinking from undertaking what a person who knows the worst fearlessly dashes into. The Canterbury settlers are very unenterprising at present...

Mr Godley has been absent at Wellington for a fortnight whither he went to see the Governor upon some important matters. I may write again if I hear anything from him of

consequence. Mr Godley is very unpopular here, though at the same time much respected: people know that he is most conscientious and forget that his hands are completely tied by want of funds and instructions from home...

Ever with dearest love to all,

Your devoted Son,
CHARLES O. TORLESSE