FOOTPRINTS ON THE SANDS OF TIMES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5361, 3 June 1878, Page 3

FOOTPRINTS ON THE SANDS OF TIMES.

u" [ On 'tto/6tb September, 1839, there was published in London the first number o£ the K«w Zealand Gazette, and it contained an amnniif 'emnnt that the’ second number would be pnbiWiedi in,New Zealand “as soon after the arrival of the colony ”, as it might be found possible to print it, which it was hoped would ~ ,: be “within a fortnight of the disembarkation of the colonists." It was therein stated that as ships passed “ through Cook's Straits almost . daily on their return from Australia to Europe, it is expected .•■that, immediate, and frequent opportunity will be afforded for transmitting the second and subsequent numbers to Eugland.”‘ The s price of the first or specimen number was Od., and the annual subscription ’ ■£! payable In advance. It was announced as “ a newspaper for the first and principal 1 settlement of the New Zealand Land Company, which it is supposed will be at Port - ■ Nicholson in Cook Strait." The second number was issued at Port Nicholson on the loth April, 1810- . Both these papers contain much, matter , that gives an insight into the hopes of the colonists, and the reader gleans that they had ■ a* firm belief, in the future greatnessof the ■ colony l and of the town to bo formed in Por Nicholson. ,■. In . the instructions given .to Lieut. W, M. Smith, the company’s surveyor- ’ , general, are the following clauses : “The directors wish that, in forming the town, you should make ample reserves for all :: r public purposes, such as a cemetery, a market ' place, wharfage and probable public buildings, a botanical garden, apark, and extensive boule-’-vards. lt 'is indeed, desirable that the whble .outside of the town inland should be separated from the country sections by a broad belt: of land, which you will declare that the company to. be public property, on the condition ’■ ■that no buildings be ever erected upon it/’ ; > Xhis clauso clearly 'indicates that it was not. intended that the belt should-he. encroached upon by the erection of public buildings or the establishing of any kind of works or factories upon it. _ j : “The form of the vown must necessarily jbe left to your own judgment and taste. Upon . this subject the directors will only remark that you have to provide for the future rathep.than the present, and that they wish the , public convenience to bo consulted, and the beautiful , ; appearance of the city to be secured so far j as these objects can be accomplished bythe original plan, lather than the immediate profit of the company.” : j In the early numbers there .are many pieees of Intelligence that would bo well worth reproducing, but. this would make too great ’ demands on bur space, and: a few clippings must suffice. They will well repay perusal, and will callup to the, minds of. old settlers many a long-forgotten incident. i The committee of the first colony of New’ Zealand were:—George Samuel Evans, D.C.L. (chairman); Hon. Henry Petre ; Captain, Daniel), Esq.; Dudley Sinclair, Esq.; Francis > Mbleswbrtfa, Esq. ;, Edward Beth Hopper, :Est|.; George Duppav-Esq.; Henry St/ 'Hill, '■ .Esq.-; .George Hunter, Esq. ; H. Morciug, ;i Esq.,. F. AS.; D. Eiddiford, Esq.; and Samuel '■ ißevane, Esq., sec. ~ , ,i . : The names, of the committee of the Episcopal Church':in New Zealand are, given. Also, the' lady patronesses the Countess of Durham, Lady Petre, Lady Moles worth,' and the Hon. Mrs.- Baring—of the New Zealand infant school, for the benefit of the children ‘ot‘ the aborigines and of the poorer, class,of settlers. There is also a lift'’of the committeemen of the Literary, Scientific, and Philanthropic Institutions for the benefit of the British,settlers and' native inhabitants, of the Islands of New Zealand. No. 2 of the Gazelle hasa good many advertisements. It is announced that the business , of the Union Bank of Australia was commenced in Port Nicholson' on the 24th March, 1810, : H. Moreing intimates that bo has entered into partnership with H Taylor,- as igents.' Wm. Lyon says he has received, ex Gltobetvie, various goods, including 80 fowling pieces,, 1 .excellent rifle, ‘ ' ‘ several hundred dozen wine and liqueur glasses, tumblers, rummers and decanters,ironmongery, earthenware, and 30 bushels Hue red wheat for: seed. Willis and Co., general merchants, and Hunter and Co., both have on sale goods | ex Glenbervle. Kenneth Bethune and George Huhteri junior;'’state'that they have com; menced business as auctioneers, appraisers, house and land factors', J. Pierce claims! to have the first shop’ opened in Port Nicholson. Robert Tod, commission merchant, baa; a “ card.” J/ Telford hai an auction sale advertised. A'person to cut in metal or wood a plan of the harbor of Port Nicholson is wanted. - Samuel McDonnell, last tent, west end of beach, wants to buy a land order.

There are several buyers for town section*. ' Wallace,- White, and Wallace promise to open ■ their store next' week. : Frederick Tluusf ord has on sale a quantity of goods suitable for , : barter.' . Two youths are wanted for the printing business, also a compositor and pressman. T*M. Partridge and Co. require several sawyers. A meeting te consider the establishment - of a local bank was to take place at Mr. Crawford’s house. Henry Meech and Oxenham und6teke to build My description of yacht, boat, or barge, and give their address as “ Left side of the Biver Hutt.” The price of the paper was stated to bd Is., and the charge for advertisiag 3s. 6d, for six lines for the first insertioaj and la aftewards.' The appointment of William Hobson, Esq., a captain in her Majesty’s navy,' is notified as Lieutenant- : ‘ Governor Of NawE4»laud, the proclamation being <givea - under the hand and seal of William Hobson, Lieutenant-Governor at Ko--rorareka, 30th January, 1810. -- No; “ contains an address from , the committee to the colonists.. ’ ■ The Provisional Constitution declares—i ‘ “ Ist. That all the persons parties to this ' agreement shall submit themselves to be mus- ' tersd and drilled under the direction r of perReea te beappointed as hereinafter mentioned. “ 2nd. That in case a person shall commit any offence • against the law of England, be shall be liable to be pnnishedin the same manner as if the offence had been committed in England, , !•,. , ' dtb. That 'the committee shall have . the ’i power to .appoint a person to’he called au umpire, and that George Samuel Evans,'bar-rister-at-law, shall: be the first umpire. That -tbe umpire shall prcaide in all criminal pro- * ceedings, and,- assisted by seven' assessors, ■ shall'decide bn the. guilt or Innocence i, of the • party accused. , . • - This seems a simple and effective way’of • : providing for the safety of the State, andsecuringthe administration of .justice.. As a'chaok on the Umpiie's Court, it was provided’that it ~ could not imprison tor. more than three mouth’s ~. : or . fine more .than, £lO, without the special - approval of the Committee; and a Court, of Appeal to consist of five members of the com--Tsj was ..provided for,. Colonel Wakefield was president of the committee, and he, t&'tit principal agent of the company, was to have . .. the highest authority in directing the armed inhabitants when they were called out. .-. i i At a meeting of the committee, on the lltb ~ '"April, Colonel Wakefield reported that he had formed, a constabulary force, .to consist, of a magistrate, two : district: constables, and four petty constables. It appears that tbc Court - sad the .policc soon'had, their powers set at defi»nce, for on the 14th April, Captain Pear; son,’of the Integrity, who was arrested under a-warrant, for Illegal conduct towards his ' pharterer, was . brought ibefare the district Magistrate, Major Baker The prisoner set tJro Court at defiance], aqd for refusing to re- . CQghUe’ lts authority was' conmjittpd, ,but escaped the next day. ~ Itt No, a it is stated that au exploring party was about to be formed to endeavor to visit the source-of- the Biver Hutt; the party to consist of twenty-four persona to travel In four punts, boats, or canoes, ' No idlers could be taken; iThVestabUshment of a savings', bank - is quaintly referred to, thus “ It -would be auxiliary to the police force by competing with druidcent>es», au<l i for -the spare means of the working ( ntnn,' and generally . beneficial ■ to' the colony, by - adding to our boarded- - labor, as the'economists call capital.” A ,- paragraph, states-.that “Mr. Barrett proposes running the cutter Harriet between this beach and- J/ambten Bay, with freight, so long as jjo ' reeej ves sufficient encouragement.’ Mr, Wright .. also intends establishing a ferry boat. Captain • LselelTs boat TUUS daily across the bay with passengers and cargo. The headsman t is Mr. Laurence.” This beach meant Fetoni, where the Oaj.Hte was them published,’ at Britannia, the first’settlement, and. regular traffic seems to have been carried:bn between |t and: the [present Wellington, then known - Bp L’amljfou Harbor, The trip, though 'short, ,was not,without risk, tot bn Thursday/the* • ; “3rd April,: a whaleboat, going:to Lambton Harbor, was upset in a south-easter, and the . .crew had a narrow escape from drowning. Reference is made to land sales, and the editor writes :—“We are-sorry to find that; ■ some persons are inclined to state the sales of ' *bove ce actually paid. This is , unwise.- ;Tnq|ai|jr/»f puffing - our lands, let us show that, wjt 'gTe entitled to a reputation for .honsriy,’ .mgjAky, and persev*. . , .Good sound advice this, and it might

~|sbndSred the-presenf an 'interesting -sketch of -Port Nicholson, and, strangely 'enough,-one portion refers- 1 to our defences,” which, then as now, seem to have * * had some attention paid ■to them ■by the colonists. “Somes Island'is of i considerable-size, and commanding as it: does the -entrance to the inner harbor; and thVwhole extent of thehuis to the east and west winch ! encircle Jrprk Nicholson, has been considered well adapted for a fort. < There are how fourlarge guns and a powder magazine upon it.”- ■ ! On the 2nd May it was suggested that a post route up the Hutt Valley and across the; country to the Bay of Islands was much to* be desired, and it was'believed it could be dis- ; covered at'a small'-outlay;.- The seat jof Government was then at the Bay of Islands, but Port Nicholson was strongly recommended by the Gazelle as thebest place for hcad-qnar-terS.:-There was i thethan* idea'of having the capital town on the banks of the Thames. j A meeting to establish abankwas held; at the Bay of Islands on the 18 th February, and it {resulted iu the formation of the*New Zealand Banking Company, the ’provisional committee being Messrs.-John Scott/ Henry Thompson, Alexander, .McGregor, Francis ' Hbdgkiusbn, J. A. Deivanchelle, George Kussell, William Wilson, Thomas Spicer, Charles B. Brewer, William' Macdonald, 1 John Johnston, William Butler, Daniel Pollen,*ahd*C. T. Clayton. The surveying of the present town of Wellington took longer than had been expected,, and the lots, were not ready for selection, until tho 28th July. The Gazelle of the 25th •July says: nr“ On (Monday the work 'of' appropriation wilt commence, and we hope with tho close of the week will be completed. In another week’ the work of -erecting permanent dwellings willbegin,: and* before next winter we are sure not only; will all ’who are here now be well housed, but ample shelter will be provided for those wh’omwemay expect from the sister colonies and from England.” The selection commenced; on ; the (Tuesday; a certain number of lota being chd’sbii each day. Those who had the privilege of making an early pick had. a good market, for if is said “choice number four was sold to a gentleman frbrn , Sydney for £I3OO, and; number 31 is said to jiave bean sold at £BOO/’ - -’i J [ The editor one day thus (apologised for irregular delivery: “ The papers for Thorndon subscribers were sent * to; the post' office >as usual, but owing to the boisterous state of the weather no mail, was sent out on: Saturday. This is the cause :of the delay complained of concerning ijthe; delivery of our last number hot taking place until Tuesday last. We expect to remove ,our office to Thorndon iu less than a month.” The same number contains ■an account of the ascent of Mount Egmont by Dr. Dieffenbach.

. > The last , /paper for i 1810, i says' The schooner Jewess has arrived from Wanganui, in the Middle; Island, with a cargo of coals. All. who'have seen them agreed that they are of the finest quality, and we are happy to be able to state that . they can 1 be had in abundance, which cannot fail -to be satisfactory to the colonists, as, at no distant date: large quantities of, coals will be required for the purposes of steam navigation/ on "the coast, and between this and Australia and 1 other Islands.” The notice in the shipping-intelligence is:—,, “ Arrived, December: 20th, schooner, Jewess, .Moore,,from, Wanganui, Middle Island; cargo: ! coals dud pigs.: .Passenger-A-Mr. Buchanan.” The-.other day, there was published in the Times , a '.notice of the arrival’of the schooner Shepherdess, . from; West-Wanganui, with a cargo,.of coals. .This is andnstauce.of history repeating itself. Captain .Moore, who was in command of,r the Jewess is now alarge shareholder and mine manager .of; the West .Wanganui Coal.Prospecting.Oompany. Thus, after many years, the discoverer of the coal at the Inlet has the superentendence of the first works to deyelope this, coal /that have been carried out’in a systematic manner; 01!, V/ i In thei issue of ,thoil9th -September there is, some European news,iu which appears the following reference to the Eaatem.Question: — “ The Licpsic Gazttte. asserts that the Austrian Government has proposed the convocation of a congress of Ministers cu the alfairs qfr the. East,, to 'iineei, at. Toplitz,next .summer, • at which also the Kmperors of Austria and Russia and the King of Prussia will be present. . This , project has been. favorably received by the great powers.” There is still, an. Eastern QuestUn, and is going. to be: another congress.

(To ht \ Continued)