STORY OF THE ASTORS.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 608, 31 May 1876, Page 3

STORY OF THE ASTORS.

A hundred years ago, there dwelt in the village of Waldorf, near Heidelberg, a peasant named Astor. He was married, and along with his wife and grown-np children, he toiled for a livelihood in the neighbouring fields. Weldorf was one of those quiet German villages which never seem to undergo any sort of change, and where, from the absence of stir, you might imagine that the inhabitants are asleep in the : r sunbaked dwellings. They are, however, anything but asleep. At early morn they may be seen trudging forth in family groups, to their daily labour in the fields, where, drudging till nightfall, their only food is of the humblest possible description—a lump of brown bread, or so, with at the best a little milk, or a mouthful of very poor wine. An honest, hard working set of people they were, and still continue to be, many of them being descendants of those unhappy inhabitants of the Palatinate who suffered so greatly during the devastating wars in the seventeenth century. Astor, the father of the family, appears to have been a man with a pious character, with correct notions of the value of thrift and diligent industry. He had four sons, each of whom was trained to early rising, and taught to devote a certain portion of time to reading the Bible and saying prayers before going forth to daily pursuits. So reared, and with encouraging advices from their mother, the boys aspired to rise above the ordinary routine of labour at Waldorf. Two of them left their old home to push their way in the world. Of these, one got employment in London as a maker of musical instruments, for which he had a taste; and the other emigrated to America. The musical instrument maker being successful in his calling, invited John Jacob, one of his younger brother?, to join him, and for the time tnese two carried on business together. John Jacob Astor, who was born 17th July, 1763, was in his sixteenth year when he arrived in London to assist his elder brother. He resided in London for about four years, during which he acquired a facility in speaking the English language, which contributed greatly to his success in life. The temptations of the metropolis were powerless to divert him from his duties. He rose every morning at four o'clock, never forgot his devotional exercises, and wrought hard at his business. Of an enterprising turn, and with a fancy for emigrating to the United States, then newly established, he sailed for Baltimore in 1783, being then no more than twenty years of age. He carried with him a small consignment of musical instruments—not more, we believe, than five pounds worth of flutes - which he was to try to sell on commission. A chance circumstance led him to abandon the musical instrument trade. On the voyage, he became acquainted with a person who strongly recommended him to exchange his consignment of instruments for furs, and take these to England for sale. Young Astor, on consideration, followed the advice. He sold his parcel of instruments in New York, bought furs, and brought them to London, where they met with a speedy and profitable sale. This fortunate incident was the turningpoint in his fortune. He threw himself with eagerness into the fur ttade, in which, as is pretty well known, from Washington Irving's '• Astoria," he had a remarkable career. Beginning on the narrowest scale, but bringing to his task a persevering industry, rigid economy, and strict integrity, along with a sagacity quick to grasp and convert every circumstance to his advantage, he gradually improved his position, which was at first nothing but that of an obscure citizen in New York. For a number of years he dealt in furs derived chieily from Canada, to which they were brought by the Indians ; but at length, about 1809, he succeeded in establishing an American Fur Company, principally by means acquired by his painstaking industry. The object of the company was to establish trading posts along the Missouri and Columbia rivers, connecting them with inferior posts in the interior, to which peltries could be brought by trappers and Indians. From the main posts on the Columbia river the. skins were to be sent by vessels round Cape Horn to New York ; or alternatively, the vessels were to take the furs across the Pacific to Canton, and thence bring Chinese goods to the United States. It was altogether a gigantic undertaking, which involved not only a large sum of money, but prodigious skill and tact as regards management and the employment of a corps of agents of various kinds. While an expedition was fitted out to proceed by sea to the mouth of the Columbia River, anothei expedition was set on foot by land and river to travel across the North American continent. The command of this latter expedition was given to Mr Hunt, one of the partners, who was noted for his great ability, coolness, and courage Mr Hunt set out to this extremely hazardous enterprise in 1810. The first thing he did was to visit Montreal, to pick up recruits, consisting of con rears des bo is, or rangers of the woods, and voyageurs, from the disbanded herd usually to be found loitering about the place. {To be continued.)

PUBLIC MEETING AT KAIAPOI.

On Monday evening a meeting, attended by about 200 persons, waa held at the Institute Hall. The Mayor occupied the chair. The chairman stated the meeting had been called in compliance with a ri quisition sent to him signed by Mr ]J. P. Nettleton, arid thirty-two others, to cousider the question of improving the navigation of the Waimakarri. He hoped that, whatever views might be h -li by those present, thoy would give each speaker a fair hewing. As Mr Nettletoa's name was first on the requisition, he calied on him to address iha meeting.

Mr Nettleton began by saying the question was whether the river should be opened or not ? and if it were, in what way it was to be accomplished. There had been plans prepared, but it would not be for that meeting to discuss them. They were called upon to first decide that the work should be done, and then it would be easy to procure plans. Regarding the questions of opening the north or south branch, his opinion was that the former was the branch to be opened out first, in justice to those who had stores and wharves on it. [Cheers J In order to carry out the work it would be necessary to apply to the Government for monetary assistance. H.s impression was that for £SOO a channel 7ft in depth, from Lock's to the bridge, could be made, and this would greatly facile :ie the navigation, in opening out or reviving the grain trade. The duty of the meeting would be to ask the Governmest, through its member, the Hon C. C. Bowen—who would do his best for the district—to advocate their claims on the Government for a grf.nt in aid. He pointed out that if the navigation were opened there would be a la-ge number of vessels ready to take up the trade. [Cheers ] Mr E. Smethurst came forward to move the first resolution. He said there had been a great amount of talk and correspondence on this question, but aa yet they were no nearer, and to get nearer their object he laid brought about the preseut meeting. It was to be distinctly understood that the step he had taken was for the benefit of the district and welfare of the people ; nor had he, as hinted, received any valuable consideration for enteriug on this matter. He pointed out the efforts that were being made at Timaru, Lyttelton, and Wellington, to have Harbor Boards made. In the case of Lyttelton, Mr Murray-Aynsley had stated that a Board would have b en a saving of £ ; 0.000 to tbat port In the case of Wellington, a correspondence was proceeding between the Borough Council and the Government in reference to the former taking the powers of a Harbor Board ; but it appeared that .Sir Julius Vogei's opinion is that Councils could not be constituted iato Harbor Boards with advantage. With regard to a Harbor Board at Kaiapoi, he had learnt there were difficulties also in the way ; but still there was no reason why the Government should not be applied to for a grant in aid of opening the navigation of the river, [Cheerj ] He adverted to a large grant handed to Wanganui, and a reserve of land made to the Clutha district, as argumeuts in favor oi : this. A water carriage, he went on to ob

serve, wastLe cheapest/and as the river wan he highway by which goods couhl be carried most economically, it was the duty of the people to see th ;t it was properly utilised as to enable the farmers to send their produce direct to other ports. [O'hecre.J He further adverted to the overcrowding of Lyttelton a. 9 a port of import and export which the opening of the Kaia;oi river would tend to relieve. The improvement of the river would be a benefit to the Government and the whole of the province, for it would save the enormous expense of the attempts to extend the accorumod.;, tion at Lyttelton when it was provided at Kaiapot at the outlay of an insignificant sura. It waß quite able for lighters to receive caigo from English vessels in Lyttsitoo, convey it to Kaiapoi, and return ic to Ghristchnrch with less delay and at less cost than was now paid on the goods in transit from the English vessels through the tunnel. He would join heartily in any scheme which had for ics basis the interests of the northern district and the furtherance of its trado. (Gheeir.) He now moved- " That a petition be drafted and handed round for signature amongst ihc inhabitants of Kaiapoi and surrounding dis tn'cta, and forwarded to the Hon 0. C. Bowen, praying him to use his influence and ui most endeavors at the next session of Parliament to obtain a grant of m iuey or laid for the purpose of improving the navigation of the river Waimakarlri."

Mr G. P. Milsom said he had great plea- f sure in seconding this resolution, and in j seeing that the opening of the river was to j take a tangible shape. He thought it wm a I sihnmfl it hud remained so long in its present | state, and that they had failed to get their » goods cheaper and had not been placed iu a \ position to Bend them away more exp;rdi- I tiou3ly. Iu regard to the sending away of j grain he believed there was a saving of j about 2Jd per bushel by the river compared j with the railway. He considered thut the j thanks of the town were due to Mr Smet- • hurst for his dogged perseverence in the i matter. He trusted the petition would bo | well signed, and Kaiapoi would get the share j of public funds, which it was entitled to. He j trusted the river would soon be opened, and that they would be getting the full benefit of it.

Mr A. Balch said ho wished to first of all correct a statement that h:id gone forth that he had stated that the river could be opened for £6O, while what he did say was that by £SO expended on a steam tug, and the use of harrows, a channel could be made in the upper part of the river to allow vessels like the Annie, XXX, and Agues to sail up with ease. His opinion had long 1 :-een that the hole in the hill the tunnel was not wide enough for the produce of the province to reach iis outlet quickly, nor to facilitate the bringing iu of imports. In this river question the public must walk before it ran, and the first portion of the work to be undertaken must bo that of clearing the north channel. [Cheers ] Iu reference to the progress made by drtdg ing and improving rivers, be instanced the condition of the Clyde compared with the silt in it in 1775. The vessels to get up th < south branch would require a tug, whin if the channel was deepened they could sai' up to the uppermost wharf in the north branch with aase. [Cheers ] Mr J. W. Ellen considered that up to the present the talk about the improvement of the river had been of a claptrap character, and he had to an extant kepi a'tuf till the matter was taken up in a morecoustitaiional manner. Now they had something tc do ; they had made a beginning, and n [roper one. If the resolution was carried —there was no prospect of opposition to it

the town wouid . be able to prefer in a proper way a sound claim for a grant. He heartily concurred in the motiou, and would now give the subject his warmest support. [Cheers.J in reply to aquestion, the chairman rrled, as it was a ra .eting of burgess-s, that no oNe else could be permitted to address the meeting at present. Mr J. 0. Porter expressed himself as glad to find that the burgesses ha/! at last awoke to their interests. [Hear, hear.] Willi Mr Funston, when they first ejjU-red the Borough Council, it was their effort to try io have the river improved. At the time the Mr Newnham was Mayor, he also strongly urged that the matter should be pushed ou. However, then he was sorry to find that the many did not see the advantage of it, but only a few merchants were consi- • dered to be interested. Now, as the bill waa opened, he hoped the public would keep in its present humour, and cairy the motiou to a successful is*ue. | Cheers ] Mr J. Beswick, in response to calls, said he had not intended to speak, but since they wished him he might have been looked on aa a coward if he had not expressed his vnws. He went on to say Mr Smethurst had taken up this subject in a similar way to that which he had done at the period referred to by Mr Porter. This he stated to disarm those who might consider Ihem.-elvf s his ens mies, and might probably assert that he had taken no interest in the matter. About seventeen years ago, when he was responding to a toast of the trade of the town at a dinner given at the old Northern Hotel to Mr W. White on the completion of the bridge over the north branch of the river, he then stated that although then there was only one vessel —that commanded by Day—coming up the river, in time it would be one of the main highways of the North, and the principal outlet of this district for its produce. | Hear, hear.") This was at the time laughed at, but it only remained to be seen, and they might mark his words, it would come to pa?s. [Cheers] Not only ought the traffic by vessels to re opened to Lyttelton and the other provinces, but it was proved that it could be carried on direct to Australia. [Cheers.] At, the time Mr Newnharn waa Mayor, he applied to Dunedin for the costs of dredge and working the same. Now this was quite a legitimate thing for the Mayor to do, for the Co moil had the management of the river as well as the roads. lb was only Mr Newnham'.-* dsath that put a stop to the carrying out of a scheme which laid next his heart. At thia period a grant from the Provincial Council might readily have been obtained. When the Kennaway Government, of which he (Mr Beswick) had the honor to be a member, decided to rend for a hopper, the proposal first originated with a gentleman in Kaiapoi, and in the Government there waa more than one member who had an interest in that hopper being used in the river. Passing the bridge, it often occurred to him what a shame it was the river was allowed to remain idle, when by meana of a little dredging it could be opened to navigation. This was a question which not only affected the town, but extended to Hangiora and farther into the district, while those persons residing between the northern railway and the seaboard were likely to be the greatest gainers by the river traffic being established. A long strip of this country was not reached by the railway, end the improvements to the river would imply an additional profit or saving, whichever way they took it, in the carriage of their grain to a market of at least 2d per bushel. When he was canvassing the district as a candidate for the Assembly a question was put asking if he would support a graut in aid of dredging the river, to which he replied in the affirmative, which answer hed been the oause of some remark that he was using it for clap trap. Yet now they were actually found moving in that directioi. He saw no reason why a grant could not be obtained. At Wanganui a considerable sum had been voted for harbor improvements, and in their own case they must not think, as some people wonld have them believe, that the Government was so narrow in its views that it would not give a grant to the river, because of its carrying on an opposition as it were to the railway. The Governmentjjno doubt was "anxious to do its utmost to farther the progress of the country, and would be glad to see a further improvement in the district effected by opening up the river. Besides, it was well known that as the water carriage was cheaper, and as in s;,«ie respects that the Government waa anxious to relieve their lines of certain descriptions of goods, the matter waa one of mutual advantage. When a member of th-. j . Provincial Executive, he found out that ia the carriage of limber, for instance, on the railway, the Government was a loser. Both in respect to coals and timber the Government would be desirous to relievet.bat I'atiii from the railways. The question of getting timber from Pelorus and Auckland wis an important one, there being no reason why the Northern district couid not be provided with a regular supply at a less cost than when it had to be filtered through Lyttelton. The district wou'd reap a benefit on the profi's on timber, and also ou the exports in butter, cheese, potatoes, and grain, li this were really pushed on with, there was every reason for them to expect additional pounds and pounds coming to their pockets, [Cheers.] They must, go to work cheerfully and earnestly, and hammer, hammer, hammer away at the thing till they got it. [Cheers.] They need not mind the mayor and corporation, or a few disinterested persons standing a l oo f—[cheers]— but cousider what Kaiapoi would be without a trade and pursue the matter because of their own profits, [Cheers] Neither should they mind a bit of a rata if they obtained something good in return. Noticing the springing up of industries and the possible progress of "the Weaving Company, it was the duty of the people to encourage them; go into the matter with energy, enterprise, and unanimity was his advice to them—[cheers] —and although there might have been more persons more deeply interested present than there was, the meeting might, mark his words, that if they did not let any personal pique thwart the enterprise, iu a few years a new state of things would be brought about to the advantage of that district, and he would do hia best to further whatever scheme w&a adopted. [Cheers. J The chairman put the motion, which was declared carried unanimously. Mr Ellen thought the meeting had had cream, and he had now to propose—- '• That a committee be formed to give effect to the foregoing resolution, consisting of his Worship the Major and members of the P-orough Council, Messrs J. Birch, J. Beharrell, J. Wilson, C. Oram, C. Hansen, T.

Pashby, J. Clark, R. Coup, M. Dixon, J. E. Brown, B. J. Pateman, J.Conway, J. Bowie, W H. Burton, W. Buss, A. Ivory, J. L. Wilson, Dr Fletcher, J. Jeffery, G. Edwards, B. Monk, G. Bailey, J. Walls, J. Birme, J. Guild, and M. R. Thompkins, with power to add to their number, seven to form a quorum." Mr E. Revell seconded the motion, advocating that there should ba no split allowed between the interests of the north and south branches of the river. Mr Smethurst said he was not interested in the opening of the south branch—his object was to get a benefit to the town aad district at large. The chairman put the motion, which was declared unanimously carried. Mr E. J. Pateman (Woodend) stated outaiders were now allowed to have a say. He wished to express his pleasure at seeing this question gone into, for, as a practical farmer, he was aware that he might expect to get 2d a bushel more for his grain if shipped on the river than if sent away by rail, and 10a a ton more on potatoes. Recently, he sent some grain to the railway, and had net been to hear of it since—["laughter]—and the receipts given at the railway was that the weights were not guaranteed. Now, what, was the ÜBe of weighing the stuff if the railway people could not give an accurate and reliable return of the weights. [Laughter and hear, hear.] It was vastly more convenient for farmers to deliver their corn to the holds of the vessels or to the merchants' stores, and be relieved of any further responsibility. He hoped the public would not let the question before the meeting rest, but agitate it to a successful issue. LCheers.J Mr M. R. Thompkins (Woodend) fully endorsed the remarks of the previous speakers, and said thar, as Moorhouse said the tunnel was the door to the province, the people of the north would look on the Kaiapoi river as their door, and proceed to unlock it at once. [Cheers.] If any person north of the Waimafcariri would say that the river did not benefit him it would be a false' hood. A vote of thanks to the Mayor and Mr Smethurst concluded the proceedings. A meeting of the committee was subsequently held, nine members present. The Mayor was elected chairman, and Mr J. Lowthian Wilson secretary. The name of Mr H. E. Allpresß was added. A committee of the chairman, Messrs Ellen, Porter, Allpress, and Smethurst, was appointed to draft the petition, to report to a general meeting, to be held at the Borough Council Chamber on Monday. Mr Wearing stated that a friend was erecting a model dredging maehine, which, if it had been completed, he would have exhibited at the meeting. With a steam dredge he estimated the river could be cleared for £2OOO. The chairman added that if the dredge sent out to the Provincial Government could be obtained, that would do a considerable amount of work. He understood it had a draught of only 7ft, and the barges held 250 tons. On its trial the hopper filled one of these barges in an hour. The committee then adjourned.