EARLY HISTORY

Hokitika Guardian, 31 January 1929, Page 7

EARLY HISTORY

TDK FRENCH AT AKAROA

WORK OF COLONISATION

A most interesting paper on “The French at Akaroa,” written by Air T. Lindsay Buiek, F.B.IIist.S., was read at tbo Science Congress at Auckland. Dr Seholefii'ld prefaced the paper by a warm eulogy of the work in historical research done by l)r Ibiiek, whose recent book on the Akaroa incident onglu to lay for ever certain legends that bad grown up around ’that picturesque spot.

.Mr Buiek said that in 1898, Jean Langlois, captain of the French whale Cachalot, negotiated with the natives of Port Cooper (now Lyttelton) and pun hast'd, lie believed, the whole ol Banks Peninsula. It was dear that the natives did not believe they had sold it all, and Langlois himself estimated his purchase at only 30,000 acres, whereas the peninsula amounted to 320,000. On returning to France be tried to create interest in a proposed French colony in Now Zealand, and eventually obtained the attention ol the Government, of which Marshal Soil It was then Premier. The Ministry firmly declined a scheme of State colonisation and military occupation of the South Island, and Langlois left wftli merely a promise that French nationals in New Zealand would ho protected. As a result the actual work of colonisn tion had to be done privately and consequently the Nanto-Bordelais Company was formed to found a colony and to engage in whale fishing. The F rench Government agreed to lend a ship, to give provisions to the crew and colonists for 17 months, and to afford naval protection, receiving in return one-fourth of the land that the company might be able to acquire in Nev Zealand. It was clear that the Government was not disposed to territorial aggrandisement in New Zealand. There was never any question of annexation.

Mr Buiek quoted the two letters of instructions given to Captain Lavaud. of the French corvette L’Auho, when lie was sent to visit the French settlement in Akaroa in 1810. “ You will sec to it,” wrote Marshal Soult, “ that possession is taken in the name (V!* France of all establishments formed in tbo Southern Island of New Zealand, and that the national Hag is flown upon them.” Admiral Duperre, Minister ol Marine, objected to this wording, because lie thought it would be unwise to attempt to fly the French flag at all of the settlements, since there would be such a small force in New Zealand to protect it if required. As a result ol bis protest the flag was to fly only on the establishments of the company, and “ all taking possession of land was to be the result of purchase by the company.” It was clear that the establishment of a- penal settlement at Akaroa was also discussed at one time. Tt was a general misconception that Captain Lavaud was sent to New Zealand to seir-o upon the South Island. The French Government was rather assisting and subsidising the extension ol trade in the help it gave to the company. In referring to tlie maintenance of the status quo at Akaroa for several years after the French arrived there. Air Buiek expressed the opinion that it was fortunate for both England and France that such a sane, rational, frank and honest-hearted man as Lavaud was sent to represent Franco in those delicate days.