NELSON'S ANNIVERSARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLIII, 30 January 1909, Page 2

NELSON'S ANNIVERSARY.

REMINISCENCES OF TIIE FIRST CELEBRATION. (Written for the "Evening Mail.") Anniversaries come and go, 'and next Monday will be face to face with the 67th anniversary of — what? "Nelson Province," says one. No, of the Nelson settlement." It was many a long day after 1842 before Nelson Province was talked about. (The Act dividing New Zealand into provinces was not passed till June 30th, 1852). "n, was a fine, clear and calm morninf," says an eye-witness, Mr Alfred Saunders, "on the Ist, of February, 1842, when the keen and anxious eys of the Deal boatmen (attached to the preliminary expedition) looking from the Port hills of Nelson, detected a distant sail coming slowly down Blind Bay." Three- months before, on the 2nd of November, 1841, the Anon, Will Watch, and Whitby, with the survivors and men of the preliminary expedition, had entered Nelson haven. During those three months "wonderfully little preparation had been made to receive the expected emigrants." "Joyfully," continues Mr Saunders, "an eager crew manned their fine Deal boat, and rowed with a will to meet what they confidently expected to be the 'Lloyds,' with the wives and children oi the men of the preliminary expedition on board. As they neared the attractive object, their well-trained eyes reluctantly discovered that it was not a ship, but a barque, and soon the glass told them that it was not the Lloyds, but 'only the Fifeshire.' Putting the Pilot on board, the boat took nine of the male cabin passengers, and leaving life ship t« wait for hiah water, returned to the harbour, when one of the passengers, with an axe and spade on his shoulder, waded on shore, whilst the other eight waited to be carried through the water, too shallow for the large boat.' The first emigrant to land in Nelson wa? Mr Alfred Sfiunders himself. Another emigrant ns he approached the shore dramatically nuns his last com in the water and landed "without a fix"- i pence.* 1 Then we are told that Captain Wakefield. "a pleasanf-mannercd. popular man, with a Rood deal of the jolly sailor about him," came down the Port hill to meet, them, and heartily welcomed them as the first Nelson settlers. They marched off to examine tlieir n«w home, meeting some Maoris, who welcomed them 'in a kind and amusing manner, and grotesquely warned them by signs not to eat the tutu berries, which were abundant. Then, after a long stroll through the high fern they met some young improvers, who took them off to the Maitai for a bathe. Meanwhile the Fifeshire entered the harbour and landed her passengers, Mrs Annie Bird being the first white woman to set foot in Nelson. A large tent was erected for them. Some crowded into the hut on the Church Hill, but the more independent dug out a berth m a dry sand hill, and thus for the first timejiterally slept on New Zealand was a busy day, there were no beasts of burden, and wheelbarrows were trundling till long after dark, from near Auckland Point to the Church Hill. Things moved rapidly after the hrsi of February, 1842 ; by September oHt-e same year 77 vessels, representing a tonnage of 12,272 tons, had entered Nelson Ha°ven, and landed a population of over 2000 people ! When February came round again, an energetic Committee had decided to celebrate the first Anniversary by a holiday, "a needed breathing after the toils and roughing of a first settlement." "Women, children, and all, turn out said the "Nelson Examiner," especially you young ones, and set to at the cake and bread and butter, and tea, and laugh and Nance as if it were your one such holiday in the whole year. The hard workers in mind and body were recommended to lock up their tools, dig a hole in which to bury care and anxiety, put on their Sunday clothes, and start out "with a 'who cares?' look, and a heart determined to be as merry as pos'But, alas! On Wednesday morning, the rain pattered dismally on tte shingled roofs. In spite of the wet there was an unceasing procession of giant cabbages and vegetables towards the room of the Literary and Scientific Institute, where the Agricultural Expedition (Exhibition?) was to be held. ' The show,"' says the chronicler, "would ha vo been a good one for a place established for 20 years." Auckland Point was crowded with people watching the boats start from the flagship, the "Royal Mail," when the To°vn Crier made his appearance, ringing his bell, and sent them into roars of laughter by gravely announcing that*, "in consequence of the rain all the sports would be postponed, except the regatta, the ploughing match, and the vegetable expedition." The whale boat rac?, 5 guineas, was won by Mr Gully's Henrietta, with Mr Carkeek's "Revenue" second. The two flne weatherly Deal boats walked off with the sailing race, 7 guineas, the "Pilot" winning from the "New Zealand Company." "We noticed," says the reporter, "shortly after the l)oats started, a bul-lock-cart rounding Green Point towards the Port, apparently cargoed with umbrellas, which, upon near approach, revealed a laughing load of loveliness, faces far fairer and more joyous than are commonly seen even in sunshine, far less when the hills are cloud-capped and rainfed." After the regatta the public, a peripatetic and somewhat moist community, lunching at intervals, and laughing continually," made its way to tHo ploughing match, which "was won by Mr Kerr's plough, held by his son, James Kerr, and the bullocks driven t.y John Kerr. The younger Kerr, a lad of 16, was conspicuous for the dexterity with which ho managed his team and whip." Mr Wallis' team was a very clcse second. Thursday broke a beautiful morning, and the populace, determined on two holidays, woke "all nf?og for the completion of the fun." Th> first event was the Maori canoe race, but where were all the Maoris? "Soine persons," says the reporter, "with an affectation of sanctity, too ridiculous to be railed wicked, had rersuaded the natives that such sports were unchristian, and that if they entered in the race they must not come again to prayers." Two canoes eventually turned up, Luke, of Rangitoto (D'Urville's Island). vvas leading, wjien a sailing boat fouled him, and the five guineas went to A pekoe's crew. A consolation sailing race was won by Mr Schroeder's "Ocean." Then came the hurdle race, 5 guineas, round the Church Hill. The entries were Captain Wakefield's Sly Boots, Mr Duppa's Hairtrigger, Mr Weightman s Lottery and Mr Tinline's Cannonball. Mr Duppa, on Hairtrigger, in both heats, beat his only real opponent. Mr Thompson (the Resident Magistrate) on Sly Boots. It is interesting to not* that: the course, was from the cricket ground, past Mr Mills' house, where the rise begins, up to Mr Tuckett's garden, a good deal of rising gronnd, a bend almost flat leading to a sharpish fall near Mr Elliott's garden, down hill to a bit of flax land "one would sooner pick their way through than gallop over." close round the steep side of the hill on which are "the old emigration houses," past, the Literary Institute, past a bit of flax land with some nasty holes, near the fourth hurdle, and then in, past the Bank. Dr Monro won the rifle match, 100 yards, two guineas, with the Maori, Apekoe, close up. Time fails to tell of the soap-tail pig, greasy pole, foot race, sack race, and the mysterious jingling match, As for the Agricultural Expedition,