WHEN WELLINGTON WAS YOUNG

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 263, 25 July 1918, Page 8

WHEN WELLINGTON WAS YOUNG

OVER FIFTY YEARS AGO. Reminiscences of early Wellington were related by Air. Ainelius Smith to members of the Early Settlers' Association hist evening. Jfr. Smith said Hint he arrived in ■Wellington in 1806 to join the staff of Sir George Grey. There were no cabs then to get to the hotel in,'but "some old Johnny" with :i wheelbarrow brought the luggage along. His heart sunk when he saw 'Wellington, for he had come from Christchureh, which was a well Unci out town at the time. There was not a soul in the streets of Wellington. However, ho was somewhat compensated when someone took him ;up through the scrub to the signal station and let him enjoy the magnificent view to be obtained from there. Some of the houses were wonderfully queer old places. The hospital in those days was in Jloturoa Street, a continuation of IHpilca Street. It was the provincial hospital for many years, and the hospital doctor was Dr. Johnston. There were only two barbels in the wholo place. The census of ltiti? showed that there were 3927 males and 3333 females here— a total of 7-IGO people. In 1010 the figures wore 31,30-1 males and 38.M1 females. In the very early days Wellington did not .progress much nit account of the Maori difficulties, bill fltler a while people in various parts of Wellington began to see the value of its geographical position. To-day, of course, Wellingion was the commercial centre, possessing excellent business premises. Lambton in those lays was a "funny old plac»." The Supreme Court was a dreadful old building, unci the i Magistrate's Court was a pokey place attached to i;. In this rid courthouse he remenibered seeing a number of Maoris from the West toast fried for treason. They were magnifi-int men i.hysically, and they were sentenced to deiith, but were sent to Ripa Island or some such niace for a while <ind eventually released. The arrival of a >!iip was always an event in those davs. There were no telegraphs or telephones, but it was remarkable how the news that "The Wild Duck" was coming in got round.