BANKS’ PENINSULA

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 229, 22 June 1921, Page 8

BANKS’ PENINSULA

A CHAPTER FROM ITS EARLY HISTORY UNFULFILLED PROMISES AND SMALL PAYMENTS The history of Iho early colonising days of New Zealand teems with incidents and adventures of engrossing interest to tho student of the birth and development of settlement in the land that has so ofen since been described, very aptly, as the “Britain of the South.” In the North Island misunflersfandings with the Maoris made some of tho early chapters read grimly; but in tbe South Island, Marlborough. \ excepted, the new nation builders had no such tragic episodes to hinder their progress, though they sometimes found themselves beset by difficulties requiring tho exercise of much tact, caution, and fortitude to carry them through to success.

One of these passages in the annals of colonisation in New Zealand formed the theme of an interesting paper read by Mr. T. Lindsay Buick, F.R.Hist.S., at tho meeting of the historical section of the Wellington Philosophical Society last night. The paper, entitled "A Chapter in tho History of Banks’Peninsula,” epitomised in clear terms tho negotiations which led up to the genesis and development of the Canterbury province. Mr. Buick has devoted many years to research in his engrossing subject of early New Zealand chronicles, and in his paper displayed a full acquaintance with foots and a keen perception of ideals and ambitions animating tho early colonisers that held his hearers’ attention firmly throughout the course of the lengthy reading. Several maps served to illustrate and add to the lucidity of the story. Mr. Buick prefaced his account with a fleeting glance at the French attempt to found a colony at Akaroa, which failed because Britain had accepted the sovereignty of the territory before Captain Langlois could complete his negotiations with the Natives for the purchase of portions of the Peninsula. "The Nanto-Bordelaise Company,” he said, "which had taken _up Captain Langlois’s project; considering the venture promised no profit, in 1849 disposed. of such interests as had been secured from the Natives to tho New Zealand Company for 414500. This, however, did not smooth the way completely for other settlers to acquire land immediately. Lands had been purchased and granted to tho Scottish Association, which founded the Otago settlement, and for the Nelson settlement. In the latter case, however, owing to tho New Zealand Company’s title to land in the Wairau Valley being declared void, there was not enough space to meet the needs of all would-be settlers. Tho Colonial Government therefore had to acquire the Wairau area and coast lands southward to Kaiapoi at a cost of 413000.

Lands Purchased.

"Between the Wairau area and the Otago settlement was the tract of splendid country, with Banks’ Peninsula central on its coastline, untouched by European settlement except the little French band at Akaroa. To this area, in 1847. the eyes of the Church of England promoters of the Canterbury settlement were directed. Four years earlier the project had been mooted, the idea being to find a home for it in tho North Island, but Native troubles had defeated the proposal. Governor Grey visited Akaroa in 1848 in connection with negotiations with the French Company, and observed the quality of the country behind the Peninsula hills. He wasted no agreed to buy from the Ngai-Tahu tribe all the area between, the Nelson and Otago blocks, allowing reservations for tho Natives’ use. The price was 412000, payable in four years Mr H. Tracey Kemp, an officer of the Native Department, was sent from Wellington to complete’tbe purchase, as the Canterbuiy Association was pushing on its scheme, and settlers were ready to come out Ite representative, Captain Thomas, had already decided that this area would suit its purpose. The purchase ™ comple - ed at Akaroa on June 12. 1848. this was the "Ngai-Tahu purchase, and the document recording the transach ,° 1 "’ known ns "Kemp’s doed.’’ secured the fertile lands now called the proviiwe of .■Canterburv. Kemp’s manner of conducting the negotiation, however, may be criticised, ns he did not follow ’Motions closely, and as a result the lese - vations left io the Natives were much smaller than Governor Grey had contemplated. Kemps policy m snort was carried out fully m the following vear by Mr. Walter Mantel], who was sent to complete the demarcation of Native reserves. In these negotiations, however, there was one remarkable oversi”ht iWnks’ Peninsula was not included in the Ngai-Tahu purchase.. Kemp believing that the Natives had disposed of that area to the French. Canterbury Minus a Harbour. "This left the Canterbury settlement Without a harbour,” . continuer Mr Buick “Mr. Fox, principal agent fol tho New Zealand Company, urged the Governor to issue to the company a Xt of land, including Ports Cooper Ind Levy and if necessary to compensate the French Company therefor. Governor Grey promised all possible assis - ance, and Mr. Mantell again visited the Paninsula as a commissioner chaiged frith the task of adjusting the boundaries of the French settlements, and of acquiring the balance of the Peninsula from the Natives, ‘as eonomically as possible' Mr. Mantell found the Natives kX bargainers, and only after lengthy Sotiation did he succeed m getting 'from tho Native proprietors ot the. lort Cooper district- a document ceding h« district to the Crown for 41200. At Ikaroa. however, Mr. Mantell found the Natives absolutely opposed io„ a sale, and rather than provoke a conflict, he suspended his negotiations and returned to Wellington. Ho considered all land not sold to the French was in Kemp's purchase, but the jNatives contested this view. An offer of reserves amounting to 1880 acres and a cash pajment of 41150 was rejected.. "The Canterbury Association having now an assured harbour at Port Cooper, tho Akaroa dispute was left td. simmer for a vear Thon, the association having, ’under the impression that the whole Peninsula was vested in it, sold allotments, the title to which was blocked by Native claims, urged the Government to make a final settlement of the matte "Though the situation was fraught with much uneasiness among settlors and unrest among Natives, the latter kept themselves well in hand, and time dragged along, till, in 1856. Governor Gore Browne visited Canterbury and interested himself in tho colonists’ and Native troubles. As. a. result, Air. Donald M'Lean, of the Native Department, sent Mr. J. Grant Johnson to the Peninsula. This gentleman was experienced in Maori ways, and imbued with a spirit of justice towards their interests. He was able to compose some little differences that had arisen Tgitli the Natives at Kaiapoi, and then set himself to the more difficult problem at Akaroa. Here ho found that his instructions would, if carried out, result in injustice being dono to tbe Natives, because Mr. M'Leau’s premises wero based on wrong assumptions an to what had been accomplished in the earlier negotiations. Mr. Johnson found that the authorities’ belief that tho Natives were occupying land already ceded to the Crown was not borne out on investigation. The French Company’s claims had never been properly examined. The Natives ncknowlcdged having cold a block on cither side of Akaroa harbour, but the balance was to bo left for the Natives own use. They now offered to give

RCres O n which they livedOfficial Proposals. “What was officially proposed was that two hapus, one on the south and one on the north of the harbour, should In* on a single small reserve at O muk . u > the north side,” said the speaker. Thia was too small for all, and m was contrary to Maori custom fo to mix in the manner Johnstm, therefore, desired author! y to lay off reserves of sufficient area on either side of the harbour, which would exclude any land over which the Crown or the Provincial Government of Canterbury might have rights. He appreciated the Maori sentiment which ed the desire to retain the lands which their ancestors had ’ lT ® d , d time immemorial, and which, he d < that was dearest in legend and tradition. Finally Mr. J. W. Hamilton, who had been private secretary to Governor Fitaroy. Mid was now Collector of Customs at Port Victoria, as Lyttelton was then called was entrusted with the task of reaching a final settlemezit with the Akaroa Natives. With the aid of the Rev Mr. Aldred. Wesleyan missionary in Canterbury, acting as interpretei, Mt. Hamilton, on December 11, 1856, ed the Natives’ surrender to the Crown of their remaining possessions on Banks Peninsula. The terms of the arrangement provided for the laying off a reserve of 400 acres at Omuka, on the north sd of Akaroa harbour, a similar area on the south side, between . Wainui, and 400 acres at Little River. A sum of 43200 was also paid eventually as compensation to those Native claimants who did not participate in the first SalC ' The French Attitude. "From the nature of the settlement which consummated the efforts of Mi. Hamilton there seemed little doubt that the lapse of time and the extinguishment of the French interests at Akaroa had had a modifying influence on the Native mind, for in their discussion* with Mr. Hamilton they do not appear to have insisted upon the large payment for the area which in Mr. Mantell’s day they had claimed aa thoir own and for which they hoped to be handsomely compensated by the ■ fcl ’ eu « n when M. do Beligncy returned. M. <ie Beligney never returned, and the J. renca interests wero rapidly becoming a. vanishing quantity. They therefore fell back upon the British, and provided they were able to get their reserves allocated as thev wished, they would appear to liave been careless about all else. They neither demanded compensation for tlia premature occupation of their lands by the European settlers, nor did they, as any Europeans would have done, ask an increased capital price on the basis of that much-debated economic principle—and sheet-anchor of the land speculate* —ths unearned increment. Fortunately for the Government, neither Ricardo nor Heury George came within the ken of the Maori, and so, under the arrangement completed by Mr. Hamilton, an area of between 45,000 and .50,000 acre* was secured to the Crown at tho comparatively small cost of 41200 and contingent expenses, amounting in 0.11 to .£'4s’ “Thus closed one of the last of the great Lind deals in which the Natives of the South Island parted with their heritage and the home of their fathers for a number of unfilled promises and a sum of .£20,939." A hearty veto of thanks was accorded the lecturer.