WELLINGTON'S 77th BIRTHDAY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2983, 22 January 1917, Page 4

WELLINGTON'S 77th BIRTHDAY

JANUARY 22, 1840-1917

LOOKING BACKWARD

To-day is tho 77th anniversary of the foundation of Wellington—or, to bo strictly accurato, of the landing on thoso shores of the people from the first passenger-ship that arrived at Port Nicholson under tho auspices of tho Now Zealand Company. Wellington was founded by an association of private individuals known as tho Now Zealand Company. Tho principal promoter was Sir. Edward Gibbon Wakefield, who, on tho formation and registration of tho company on May 2, 1839, was elected managing director. The capital was £400,000 in 4000 shares of £100 each, the deposit being ten pounds per share. Tho Earl of Durham, was the governor of tho company, and Mr. Joseph Somes (whose name is perpetuated as that of tho only island m tho Wellington Harbour) was tho deputy-governor. This was not tho first company formed for tho colonisation of New Zealand. A similar attempt had boon made in 1825, but the Maoris savagely objected, and tho project was abandoned. Mr. Wakefield's company mot with a good deal of opposition from the British Government, for New Zealand was at that time a foreign country; but the promoters were bent on success and could brook no delay. Within a fortnight the Tory had left the Old Land for the New, the expedition being in ehargo of Colonel William Wakefield, a brother of tho managing direotor and uncle of Mr. Edward Wakefield, well known in tho old days as a proprietor, in conjunction with Mr. W. F. Roydhouso, of the (now defunct) "Evening Press." Colonel Wakefield had instructions to buy land in wholesale quantities, and ho accomplished that object most fully.

The Tory, Tbo 'lory was a ship of 400 tons, and carried eight guns, besides large quantities of small arms. Tbo passengers, officers and sailors made up the num.her to thirty-five, the passengers consisting of Colonel William Wakefield, Mr. Edward Jorningham AYakefiold (sou of the managing director), Dr. Diffcuback (tho company's naturalist), Mr. Charles Heaphy (the draughtsman), Dr. Dorset (father of Mr. Dorset, of tho Education Board), and a few assistants in the steerage. By August 10, tho Tory was off Capo Farowcll, after a passage of ninety-six days from Plymouth. In those days landing had to bo effected with great caution, and for tho next five weeks tho timo was spent in visiting whaling stations, exploring tho straits and acquiring the services of an additional interpreter. On September 20 the Tory reached the Wellington Harbour, or Port Nicholson, as it was thon known, having been so named in honour of an early Sydney harbour-master. Having entored the port (sayß a writer of those events), Colonel Wakefield lost no time in opening up negotiations with tho natives, for by the 26th of tho same month ho had purchased the harbour and surrounding lands, tho "consideration".being some gowgaws and firearms. The wisdom of providing the munitions of war for savages who were almost certain to become enemies may well he doubted; but if it was madness at all there appears to have been a good deal of method in it. Whether the gallant colonel foresaw that tho natives, who sold him the harbour and sito of Wellington would have to defend that action on the battlefield, history sayeth not; but certain it is that when a few days later ho got the Tory and her company as far as Kapiti, on the West Coast, he found that a tribal fight haU, for this reason, already taken place, and that his firearms had been dexterously used. He sent his three sergeants ashore to patch ap the wounded, and while they wero performing that very charitable work, the colonel was "receiving" Te Rauparaha, and some other chiefs on hoard the Tory. Doubtless the many excellencies of tho Port Nicholson muskets were-fully set forth, for these West Coast warriors were induced to try a few of the same kind, giving in exchange "all the possessions, rights and claims of tho Nga : titoa on both sides of the Straits." In this quiet way Colonel Wakefield purchased lands to the extent of about I twenty millions of acres, at a cost of about nine thousand pounds' worth of arms and ammunition, nightcaps, jew'sharps, sealing-wax, and similar useless or ■harmful articles.

While Colonel Wakefield and his companions were thus engaged other vessels chartered by this enterprising company were on their way. Their passengers could of course hoar nothing whatever of the fate of the pioneer ship, which might havo gone to the bottom, or, having woathered the "perils of the deep," might have fallen into the hands of the natives, as many a ship had done before. On they came, howevor, ono vessel after another, tlje venturesome strangers not knowing that their advance agent had been able to purchase enough land for them to pitoh their tents on arrival. The Tory had become disabled at Kaipara, on the west coast, and Colonel Wakefield managed to .travel overland to the Bay of Islands and induce the missionaries there to give him a passage back to his newly-acquired port.

The First Passenger Ship. On his return ho found that the Cuba—tho survey vessel of the company —had arrived on January 3, about a fortnight before; but ho was in good time to board tho first real passenger ship—tho Aurora—at the Wellington Heads on the 20th. The delight of thoso pioneers to learn of tho unqualified success of the colonel's mission— that the natives had sold their land, and though possessed of war implements, were in reality most friendly in their attitude towards tho now coiners—may be very easily imagined. It was not all joy, however. Though most undoubted successes, from thoir standpoint, had been achieved, thoir position was not exactly enviable. They wero on tho coast of a very wild country—beautiful, perhaps, to look upon as a sceno to_ be passed on tho way to some civilised homo, but by no moans inviting as a. placo whereat to make a home. On January 22, 1840, tho Aurora was brought into Port Nicholson Harbour, thus instituting a red letter day on which tho birthday of Wellington has sinoo been celebrated annually. It is observed as a. closo public holiday, and is called "Anniversary Day." Tho Aurora was a vossol of 550 tons, commanded by Captain Heale, and she brought about 150 passengers, hntcring Ihe harbour on Wednesday the remainder of tho week was occupied by the founders in getting themselves and their belongings on shore, and in running up temporary huts and houses. The Rov. James Bullcr, father of Sir Walter Bullor, was visiting Port Nicholson at the timo as a missionary, and advantage was taken of his presence by holding a service on tho deck of tho Aurora, on the Sunday morning. On tho following Wednesday the Oriental arrived. This vessel loft London three days before tho Aurora, but fortunately for Wollinglon. the Aurora was for thoso days a smart ship. Auckland dates its anniversary from January 29, or two days before tho Oriental arrived. To tho" Aurora, therefore, Wellington Provinco owos tho credit of being just a week oldor than that of Auckland. It was not a flying passage by any means, for it occupied 124 days. 'Tho Oriental, howevor, took 136 clays. She was a vossol of 500 tons, til command of Captain Wilson,