Reminisceues of old New Zealand.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1571, 2 December 1885, Page 4

Reminisceues of old New Zealand.

At tlit foundation stone ceremony of the Wellington "Woollen Company's undertakine-, Mr Travers read the following letter from one of the early settlers, Mr John Howard :?-" I see you are _ going to make a speech to-day at the laying ot the foundation stone of the first woollen manufacturing company. in the North Island. The ground where you will be assembled ia within a few yards ot where the firtt European settlers landed from the Aurora, January 22, 1840. T was . one of those settlers, and, as a matter of fact, myself and the two brothers Deignton were the very first from the ship, and very near the spot where you will be, each of us shot a pigeon at the same instant out of one of the large trees then growing near the Korokoro stream. These first pioneer settlers called the place Britannia The Korokoro, therefore, hag an historical interest, for it must be remembered that the pioneers landed under the New Zealand flag— the flag of the independent chiefs. You , no doubt, will have m your own mind historical information to give to your audience. One interesting fact I will mention. When we (the pioneers) landed on January 22, 1840. we found Mr Smith m charge of Port Nicholson for Colonel Wakefied, who was absent m (he Tory, and the only white man was Joe Robinson, who was building a small schooner at the month of the Waiwetu."