APPENDICES
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APPENDICES
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APPENDIX 1
LETTERS FROM EDWARD GIBBON WAKEFIELD TO CAPTAIN J. THOMAS AND JOHN ROBERT GODLEY
(As printed in The Founders of Canterbury: Vol. 1, being Letters from the late Edward Gibbon Wakefield to the late John Robert Godley... published in 1868. and edited by Edward Jerningham Wakefield.)
Chateau Mabille, Near Boulogne.
2nd July, 1848.
Captain Thomas,
Canterbury Association,
Charing Cross.
London.
My dear Captain Thomas,
I have just heard that you intend to take my nephew, Charles Torlesse, with you to New Zealand in some working capacity, though I am not told what. Supposing that you intend him to perform duties of some importance, I feel bound to say, that if you had consulted me on this subject, I should not have advised you to confide largely in his fitness for an office of importance under you; and, even as it is, I cannot help putting you on your guard against his defects of character. The chief of these is conceit. He has far too high an opinion of himself. In the next place, and as a necessary consequence of the other feeling, he is not tractable, but, on the contrary, difficult to manage. And lastly, his temper is not amiable. I say nothing about his good qualities which it is your business to find out. His bad ones require, in order to prevent them from neutralizing the good, what is called a tight hand. If you wish to get on with him, you must never give him the rein; never allow him to take his own way in opposition to yours, even about a trifle; and never accept excuses instead of the performance of duty.
This account of my nephew would, I dare say, be thought severe by some who know him, and especially by his partial mother. I know it to be true, and believe that I shall be doing him a service (besides relieving my own conscience) by laying it before you.
Pray show this to Mr Godley and my son. I trust that all is going well with you, and heartily wish you success.
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Boulogne, July 12, 1848.
My dear Godley,
I was glad to see your handwriting. It gave me the only information I have received of your doings since I left London, save that I had a letter from my nephew, Charles Torlesse, informing me that he was going out with Captain Thomas; whereupon I wrote to the latter a letter which I requested that he would show to you. It was an improper appointment, and ought not to have been made without consulting me...
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APPENDIX 2
LETTERS FROM CAPTAIN J. THOMAS TO C. O. TORLESSE
(As recorded in Letter Book C of the Canterbury Association in the Archives of the Lands and Survey Department, Christchurch.)
1. Circular addressed to Messrs Thos. Cass, S. M. Scroggs and C. O. Torlesse.
Agent's Office, Lyttelton
17th Sept. 1849
Sir,
I have to request you to forward me on the 30th inst., being the last day of the Quarter, a list shewing the distribution of the men's labour--stating the total number of days employed in various ways, namely building huts, carrying stores, coming on business to head quarters, & engaged in cooking &c., working on the Survey, or lost by sickness or bad weather.
Such a list will be necessary at the end of each month for the future, & when printed forms can be procured they shall be supplied you.
I have the Honor to be, &c.
(Signed) J. THOMAS
2. Circular addressed to Messrs. T. Cass, S. M. Scroggs, C. O. Torlesse & E. C. Jollie.
Agent's Office,
Canterbury Association.
Lyttelton, Sept. 25/49.
Sir,
In future all your requisitions for Provisions, Stores, Instruments, &c, are to be addressed to:
The Agent, 1
Of the Canterbury Association.
Port Victoria.
I am, &c.
(Signed) J. THOMAS
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3. To C. O. Torlesse Esqr.
Agent's Office,
Canterbury Association,
Lyttelton. Oct. 6/49.
Sir.
Enclosed I forward you a plan with the Specification, showing the quantity of stuff required for the Survey House at Mandeville.
The stuff for the Punt will be sawed at Papanui & built by another party.
I should recommend you to contract with Hay & White to build the House, & advise me of your Agreement.
So soon as you require it (we are in readiness) you can send White to take the nails. &c. required for the House, & also to bring you all necessary stores for six months, for your party & another Survey party. The articles required by your letter of the 27th September that can be obtained, are also sent, viz:--
The letters M & A
Foolscap & envelopes (12)
Parallel Ruler for Mr Cass
No Tin Tacks
Letter & Note Paper & Envelopes.
I am, &c.
(Signed) J. THOMAS
4. To C. O. Torlesse Esq.
Survey Office, Canterbury Assocn.
Lyttelton, 11th Oct. 1849.
Sir.
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your Quarterly Return of work performed. I have to remark with pleasure of the amount & variety of work performed by you during the Winter Quarter. The form of your return (similar to that of Mr Cass) is clear & distinct, showing each man's work. & I will obtain printed forms as soon as possible, to save time & lighten expense.
The Theodolite formerly used by you has no Telescope, & Mr Cridland states it is in your possession. If so be good enough to send it by the first opportunity as the Instrument is required.
Totara, or black pine, will be the wood you require for your stakes, either Trigonometrical, or for the Town of Mandeville, size 3 x 3 if suited to your brands, if not larger.
Black pine also for the weather boards & scantling for the District Survey House & white pine for floors & interior fittings.
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The plan of the Reserve shall be written for, the first opportunity & forwarded to you.
The stuff for the Punt, if built, will be sawn by the man who makes her
I am, &c.
(Signed) J. THOMAS
5. To C. O. Torlesse Esq.
Agent's Office, Canterbury Association,
Lyttelton, 11th Oct. 1849.
Sir,
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th September forwarding specimens of peat which you have discovered on the banks of the Courtenay.
From my arrival in New Zealand you have accompanied me, & most materially assisted me, in my first exploring operations, and subsequently with no other assistance than that of a Boy, & at a cost to the Association of £3. 9. 0 you discovered & explored another block of nearly 2 Millions of Acres on the South side of the Cholomondley river. In this district you also found Coal in several places, specimens of which you sent to me, & which specimens were tested by the Officers of H. M. Steam Vessel Acheron, which has prevented me sending them to England.
It gives me the greatest pleasure to record in the Journal of the Association the zeal & dilligence with which you discharge your duties, the information & assistance you have always afforded me, but more particularly adding so largely to our previous knowledge of the country by exploring it at great personal risk, the District to the Southward of the Cholomondley.
I am. &c.
(Signed) J. THOMAS
6. Circular addressed to Messrs Cass, Torlesse & Boys, Scroggs & Jollie.
Agent's Office, Canterbury Association,
Lyttelton, 1st Nov. 1849.
Sir,
I have to acquaint you, that in case of sickness or accident in your party, a Medical Man is residing in Lyttelton. 2
I am, &c.
(Signed) J. THOMAS
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7. Messrs Torlesse & Boys. No. 9/50.
Survey Office. Canterbury Association,
(Feb. 1850)
Gentlemen,
In answer to yours of the 23rd ult., I have to inform you that a Boat left here this morning with the following articles for the service of Surveys, as desired by you:
(For list of Articles see Requisition)
I am, &c.
(Signed) J. THOMAS
8. C. O. Torlesse Esq. No. 13/50.
Survey Office, Canterbury Association,
Lyttelton, Port Victoria.
22nd February, 1850.
Sir,
I have to acknowledge receipt of your map of the Ashley District.
You will send your Horses here and get them shod as the Blacksmith cannot be spared to go to the Plain.
Your monthly returns of work for January have not been received.
I am, &c.
(Signed) J. THOMAS
9. To C. O. Torlesse Esqre., J. C. Boys Esqre., Thos. Cass Esqre., Nos. 20, 21, 22.
Agent's Office, Canterbury Association,
Lyttelton, Port Victoria.
26th March, 1850.
Sir,
In the absence of instructions from England, and in reference to the approach of Winter, I find it necessary to suspend our surveying operations.
Your services therefore will not be required after the 1st May and you will please to send in your men, and make your arrangements accordingly.
(Mr Torlesse only.) Should you have had any timber sawed at Mandeville, will you be good enough to see it properly stacked.
I hope this suspension of work is but temporary when I shall feel
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happy, should it meet your views, to place you again on the Survey Staff of the Association.
In the mean time, please to accept my best thanks for the manner in which you have performed your work, and carried out to my fullest satisfaction, the Trigonometrical Surveys of the Settlement.
I remain, &c.
(Signed) J. THOMAS
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APPENDIX 3
LETTERS FROM T. CASS, C. O. TORLESSE AND J. C. BOYS TO CAPTAIN J. THOMAS
(From the archives of the Lands & Survey Department, Christchurch.)
1. Cass to Thomas.
Port Cooper.
March 9, 1849.
My dear Sir,
I take the opportunity of Mantle 3 returning to Wellington by the Bishop's schooner to write you a few lines--reporting progress. I returned here from Akaroa last Saturday in the Acheron. We left Akaroa at 9 a.m. and anchored here about 5 p.m. having stopped every hour to take bearings and soundings all the way round. Capn. Stokes was not aware that Port Cooper was enclosed with hills on both sides but open on the North side to the plain, consequently he did not readily recognise it from the outside. I soon explained it to him, he commenced surveying on Sunday morning and probably he has nearly finished the harbour. The master is surveying Port Levy and Pigeon Bay. An expedition is to start early next week to the Snowy Range, headed by the Capn. himself to survey and draw in the Hills, &c. The Hills appear to form a principal object in his surveys. He told me my Chart and the Charts of the French were not complete until the hills were correctly shewn. He tested my Chart and soundings and told me he found them very correct, and it reflected considerable credit on me. I dined with him last Sunday. He is a very odd, mysterious man. At his request I have lent him the draft sketch of the country and a 5" Theodolite. I don't know yet whether he will require my attendance to the hills.
The Bishop arrived last Monday from the Chathams. He went up Mount Herbert with Mr Hamilton an assistant Surveyor of the Acheron on Tuesday. They were benighted coming down and had to spend the night in Charteris Bay. The Bishop called on me on Wednesday and went to the top of the hill above the tents 4 and
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sketched the plains. We afterwards went to Gibbie's with all of which his lordship appeared much pleased. Yesterday he went to Deans. We formed a large party with Mantle, myself and 2 'Acherons'. His Lordship was most agreeably surprised at the beauty of the plains--and much pleased with the Deans's and their reports, &c. He thinks very favourably of this place I think. I hope you will see him, he has much to confer with you about. He has two or three other places in view but I think he leans to those 'lovely plains'. Mantle can give you a more detailed account of our proceedings as he has been with me all the time.
I am anxiously looking out for a letter from you but I think the winds at present are against the cutter Fly coming up here.
I must now conclude by remaining yours very truly,
T. CASS
PS. Torlesse left Akaroa last Tuesday taking the horse and donkey. 5 Captain Stokes intends to put the native names on all his charts and the Bishop coincides with him.
2. Torlesse to Thomas.
Mandeville.
27th Sept. 1849.
My dear Sir,
I have just received your note of the 25th and have sent back word to Riccarton to have your messages delivered.
I have made an official requisition for the brands of the letters M & A, which can be forwarded here by Kiapoi maories on their return from getting the payment at Port Levi.
I arrived here on Tuesday and am getting on well, considering the great trouble of the passage of stores &c. across from Riccarton. However, notwithstanding, I hope to make a show here soon: and shall be ready for your visit to select the site of Mandeville. Fortunately for my being on good terms with and knowing the maories here, I hope to get good totara posts convenient for sawing and carting.
I shall be glad of the plan of the reserve--I think you will agree with me in thinking that there was great carelessness shown in the grant of it.
There will be a good opportunity of sending the gun and ammunition by the natives if you will let me have it. When you
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come here yourself there will be a bed prepared, so that you need not be at the trouble of sending your blankets.
Believe me, my dear Sir,
yours obediently,
CHARLES O. TORLESSE
3. Torlesse to Thomas.
Mandeville.
7th January 1850.
Sir,
Some maories from the West Coast have just arrived here in expectation of receiving the payment for their land; but finding that their money (about £120) has been paid by the Commissioner in trust to various natives who have spent it, have requested me to communicate the circumstance to you for representation to His Excellency the Governor in Chief.
There appears such general dissatisfaction among the natives as to the manner in which the purchase and payment of their lands have been effected that I have thought it my duty to bring the circumstances, as far as I can ascertain them, to your notice, in case any misunderstanding on the question may lead to disastrous consequences in future. It is only just to mention that these natives in stating their grievances do not seem to be actuated by any grasping motives but merely demand that they should receive fair treatment.
I have the honor to be, Sir,
your obedient Servant,
CHARLES O. TORLESSE
4. Torlesse and Boys to Thomas.
River Ashley.
20th Feb. 1850.
Sir,
We beg to inform you that we have completed the trigonometrical survey of the Ashley District, and to forward you a sketch map of the same.
There are 70,000 acres within the stations; but, taking the Grey ridge as the Westerly Boundary of the District, its total contents are about 120,000 acres.
We have the honor to remain, Sir, your obedient servants,
JOHN C. BOYS
CHARLES O. TORLESSE
Asst Surveyors
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5. Torlesse and Boys to Thomas.
Oxford.
27th April, 1850.
Sir,
In acknowledging the receipt of your letters of the 26th ulto. acquainting us with the temporary suspension of survey operations, we have to tender our best thanks for the gratifying way in which you have expressed your satisfaction with the result of our work, which is mainly attributable to the prompt and liberal manner in which we have been supplied with all necessaries for its furtherance.
As a fortnight's more work will probably complete the Oxford District, about 200,000 acres, we have to request that you will allow us to proceed till the 11th of May, when we purpose, if agreeable to your wishes, to take the horses and instruments to Lyttelton, and leave the remainder of the Association's property (of which a list will be forwarded to you) in the houses at Oxford.
We take this opportunity of requesting your sanction to our men being returned in the paylists for three shillings per week extra each, as they have worked extra hours during this quarter.
We have the honor to be, Sir,
your obedient servants,
JOHN C. BOYS
CHARLES O. TORLESSE
Assistant Surveyors to the Canterbury Association
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APPENDIX 4
LIST OF EQUIPMENT ISSUED TO THOMAS CASS FOR THE INITIAL SURVEY OF THE CHRISTCHURCH DISTRICT
(As recorded in two letters from Captain Thomas to Cass, dated September 17th and 24th, 1849, in Letter Book C of the Canterbury Association.)
1 Six inch Theodolite complete
2 Sextants
1 Artificial Horizon
1 Pentagraph
1 Standard Scale
1 Straight Edge
1 Arm Protractor
2 Chains, 3 Sets of Arrows
1 Set of Scales in box
2 Log Lines
2 Paper Weights
1 Box Plotting Instruments
2 Cakes of each colour
2 Pieces Indian Ink
1 Box of Drawing Pins
1 Dozen H. H. H. Pencils
2 Pieces Indian Rubber
5 Field Books
1 quire Foolscap
1 quire Writing Paper
Envelopes, Red Tape, Camel hair Brushes
1 Brass & 1 Ebony Ruling Parallels
1 Box of Pens, 2 paper Quills, 1/2 dozen Pen Holders
6 Card Protractors, 1 Package Black Lead
1 Brass Long Parallel Ruler
1 Pair Beam Compasses
1 Pen Knife in Case
1 Scarifier in Case
6 Sets of Ainsell Letters and Brush
36 Sheets double Elephant Cartridge Paper
1 Log Glass.
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NOTES ON SOURCES
THE reader is referred to A History of Canterbury, Vol I: to 1854, for a comprehensive bibliography of manuscript and printed sources. Only those records and publications will be noted here which have been found of most use in the editing of these papers.
MANUSCRIPT
The Torlesse journals and letters cover the period 1848 to 1863, for which they form a most important primary source of Canterbury history. They are held by the Canterbury Museum. There is a treasure trove of Canterbury Association records--letter and account books, reports, original letters, &c. --in the archives of the Lands & Survey Department, Christchurch. Other Association records are to be found in the Diocesan Office, Christchurch, and the Public Records Office, London. The latter holds the log-books of the Acheron, but no diaries or journals kept by her officers. The Hocken Library, University of Otago, has an incomplete diary of Captain Stokes. The Canterbury Museum has important W. J. W. Hamilton papers, and others are in the hands of his descendants. Typescript copies of the letters of Edward Ward, and many other early settlement records, are to be found in the Canterbury Museum archives. The Turnbull Library has typescript extracts from Edward Jollie's Reminiscences, and the diary of an early Nelson settler, quoted in the introduction, who must at present remain anonymous.
PRINTED
The primary sources are relatively few. Of first importance are the Canterbury Papers (1-11), and Charlotte Godley's Letters from Early New Zealand which give delightful descriptions of people and places. W. T. Pratt's Colonial Experiences has some interesting observations on the settlement from December 1849 on. C. W. Adams's Spring in the Canterbury Settlement covers a slightly later period, but is valuable and has a number of clear and accurate sketches. The Journal of Edward Ward is of particular interest in view of Ward's close friendship with Torlesse. Other primary sources of note are the Deans letters, Pioneers of Canterbury; FitzGerald's Selection from the Writings and Speeches of John Robert Godley; Wakefield's Founders of Canterbury, and Mackay's important Compendium of Official Documents relative to Native
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Affairs in the South Island. Miss F. H. Torlesse's Bygone Days contains much of interest about the Torlesse family, including a short autobiographical sketch by Charles Torlesse.
Of secondary source publications there are many dealing with Wakefield, Godley, the Canterbury Association and the settlement of Canterbury following the arrival of the 'first four ships'. Of the two years preceding this event there are very few which give an accurate picture. Johannes Andersen's Place Names of Banks Peninsula is as valuable as any for these years, and his Old Christchurch gives some details of the early surveys. Other publications which contain useful references are Hocken's Early History of New Zealand, Macmillan's Byways of History and Medicine, Hay's Reminiscences of Earliest Canterbury, McClymont's Exploration of New Zealand and Taylor's Lore and History of the South Island Maori. In Andersen's Jubilee History of South Canterbury is printed a photograph of Torlesse and the report of his journey through South Canterbury in 1849. Gillespie's Oxford, The First Hundred Years has a short biographical note on Torlesse. Scholefield's monumental Dictionary of New Zealand Biography has been of great use in preparing the footnotes. Many other publications, including early files of the Lyttelton Times and the Christchurch Press, have been referred to and most of these are mentioned in the footnotes.
ILLUSTRATIONS
The photograph of Charles Torlesse is from an original in the possession of Admiral Torlesse. Sir William Fox's water-colour sketches, painted during the first excursions on the Canterbury plains in December 1848, are preserved in the Hocken Library. Mantell's sketches together with his journals are in the Alexander Turnbull Library. FitzGerald's sketch is from the volume of sketches presented to the Canterbury Museum by Miss Frances Godley at the time of the Canterbury centenary. The masterly water-colours by Commander (later Admiral) R. A. Oliver, R.N., were painted when H. M. S. Fly lay in Lyttelton Harbour in December 1850. These and others are on loan to New Zealand House, London, from Mr G. C. S. Oliver, the artist's grandson. W. J. W. Hamilton's pencil sketch of Torlesse's home at Rangiora is from a sketch book in the Canterbury Museum archives. The rough sketches of Mount Torlesse by J. C. Boys are from an original Oxford survey field-book (No. 169) in the Lands & Survey Department, Christchurch.
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MAPS
After the reconnaissance expeditions in December 1848 and January 1849 Torlesse drafted a 'Sketch Map of the Country intended for the Settlement of Canterbury', and Cass a chart of Victoria (Lyttelton) Harbour. Unfortunately no copy of Cass's chart has survived, but a fine draft of Torlesse's map was discovered recently in the Lands & Survey Department, Wellington, and is now held by the Canterbury Museum. A lithograph prepared from this map was printed in the first number of the Canterbury Papers and in other early Canterbury Association pamphlets. C. R. Straubel has a note on these in his Canterbury Association Pamphlets, 1848-1852. Torlesse's sketch map of South Canterbury drawn in April 1849 has been sought in New Zealand and London, but remains unlocated. A copy of this map was reproduced by Johannes Andersen in his Jubilee History of South Canterbury, 1925, p. 54. In a personal communication (letter dated 26th February 1957) Andersen says the original which he copied was in the old Government Buildings, Christchurch, and was itself only a copy of Torlesse's map. I remember thinking at the time,' he writes, 'that the original paper tracing couldn't hang out much longer. It was probably thrown out later as useless...'
The Hydrographic Department, Admiralty, London, has the manuscript charts and maps prepared during the Acheron's surveys of the Canterbury coast in 1849. One of the most important of these is a map (D. 1218) showing Christchurch at the head of Lyttelton Harbour and much other interesting detail. Another valuable one (L. 9232), drawn presumably by W. J. W. Hamilton, shows the country to the north of the Canterbury Plains.
There do not appear to be any surviving copies of the original maps by Torlesse and Boys of the Mandeville, Ashley and Oxford survey districts. Early maps which incorporate their work are to be found in the Lands & Survey Department and the Canterbury Museum, Christchurch.
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