FOOTPRINTS ON THIS SANDS OF TIME.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5390, 6 July 1878, Page 2 (Supplement)

FOOTPRINTS ON THIS SANDS OF TIME.

No. 7. ‘ The election of the first Wellington Borough Council was a great event,'and caused violent agitations among -the burgesses, and also with some who had been disfranchised (as they, asserted) illegally. It would appear that doubts were entertained as to whether an election which was conducted on what may be termed a liberal basis, would result in good men being chosen ; but any misgivings which were entertained were not well founded, as may be surmised from a glance at the state of the poll. Some people wanted to run a number of candidates on a “ ticket," but this was violently opposed by others. At a public meeting held shortly before the polling day, there seems Jbo have been a general row, and one section resorted to the practice which of late years has been known in Victoria os “ boobooing,” the modus operandi being to yell and shout so that no speaker could be heard. Mr. William Eyou, who was chairman of the meeting, found it advisable to leave the chair ; but this did not end the night's proceedings, for another chairman was elected, and a meet* ing including persons who were not burgesses was held. In the Gazette's report the row is thus referred to “ Dr. 13 vans then came forward, and was met with the most determined opposition, the stated ground for which being that he was not a . burgess. Dr. Bvans however maintained that he had a right to be considered a burgess, as the law had been wrongly interpreted by Mr. Murphy. The opposition was so long maintained, nud was becoming so exceedingly personal, that Mr. Lyon dissolved the meeting. Nevertheless the riot continued, and was concluded by the improper interference of some person who came down in the Jane Goudie from Sydney. He seized Dr. Evans by the legs, and thereby compelled him to quit the table. Indignation against this fellow became general, and he was

“very properly forced out of or fled from the room.”

At the polling some rough play was indulged In, and the Press warned the people against introducing here the electioneering rowdyism of the old country. Perhaps some of the burgesses of 1842 may remember whether the paper flour bag nuisance was then in vogue. '“The polling resulted as follows : Votes Polled. George Hunter, merchant 273 ■William Lyon, storekeeper .. .. 237 William Pitztaerbert, merchant .. .. 220 John Wade, auctioneer .. .. ~ 212 George Scott, carpenter IDG Francis Alex. Moleswortb, farmer .. 182 John Dorset, surgeon .. .. .. 17G Robert Waitt, merchant .. .. IG4 William Guytoo. merchant ... .. 155 Abraham Hort, merchant 135 Edward Johnson,merchant .. .. 15L Robert Jenkins, publican.. .. .. 149 John Howard Wallace, merchant .. 144 Richard Davis Hanson, solicitor... 12G William Anthony Gooper, carpenter, -.. 123 EdwardDanieil, gentleman .. 121'. Thomas Milne Machattie, merchant .. 122 .

Henry Taylor, storekeeper ... .. 117 The twelve highest on the list were declared to be the aldermen of the Borough of Wellington, and the others were placed on a reserve list, ' from ; which -any extraordinary vacancies la th© council:before the next general election would be supplied. ' -Mr. Hunter, in addressing the electors, expressed himself as being extremely proud of the position he bad been placed in by his brother burgesses.’*- He bad been elected to this honorable station by the unsolicited suffrages of his fellow-settlers. ’ He had never crossed the threshold of his house to ask or influence a single vote. He thought the list announced by Mr, Murphy was a verj? good working one. In reliance; upon their exertions ’ to support him in the carrying out of the arduous and responsible duties imposed upon him, he should accept the responsible position presented to him. The list assured him of the support of the New Zealand Company, of the agricultural, commercial, and working interests. He once more bad to thank them for the honor they had conferred upon him.” (Cheers.) The City Fathers attended to many matters wliich were .of -mde importance. In October it was reported that the colonial brig Victoria bad, returned from Cloudy Bay and the Sound. “While across the Straits she seized 800 gallons of spirits. This seizure will only make parties more careful. It will be found impossible to make the whaling stations pay duty on spirits while the whale ships do not. Either duty most be taken off spirits sold at whaling stations, or duty must generally be very much reduced; or else the stations will, in defiance of the Government, be supplied by the smuggler, ‘to the great detriment of the New Zealand merchant.” The Council took

the matter up, and this resolution was carried— October 31.—Proposed by Mr. Fitzherbert, and seconded by Mr. Wade,— “ That the local Government be petitioned to take off the duty on spirits, tobacco, and other articles consumed at the whaling stations on the of New Zealand, and the following committee be appointed to draw up the memorial: —Messrs. Fitzherbert, Wade, Hort, Guyton, and Waitt.” It will be noticed that the motion says the local Government, which no doubt refers to the Colonial Government. If so, the mode of applying these terms has been ohanged completely, for the City Council is now the local Government. In November there was'a CALAMITOUS FIBB, ,

which the Gazette describes in these words “ Towards one o’clock on Thursday morning a fire broke out on the premises of Mr. Lloyd, a baker, on Lambtbn-quay. This house*is situated about 400 yards on the Te Aro flat-side of Colonel Wakefield’s residence. To those who have a plan or print of: the town land harbor this will be a guide, and further, we may add. that the fire commenced on acre 488, and ended at the public reserve adjoining acre 483. Prom that it extended up to Te Are Flat, destroying a large number of the houses on the beach. The last .house towards . the ■ Flat that was destroyed was the premises .of .Messrs. Willis and Co. The wind was blowing hard from the. north-west all the time, which is the cause of so many houses being destroyed. (Here a long list of houses burnt is given). Besides the above destroyed by fibre, three Maori houses were pulled down to arrest the fire. The total destruction of property is estimated'at £15,970.” The burgesses took prompt measures to give relief, and a subscription list containing liberal sums was soon published. Such a fire was a sad calamity to a young-settlement, and the best means for. preventing the recurrence of so great a disaster were considered. At the, meeting of the Municipal Council on the 10th November it was agreed—“ That the Council do resolve itself into a committee of the whole, to consider the best means of meet'ting the exigencies of individuals who may hav3 suffered by the latefire.” A long discussion ensued, in which all. the aldermen took part, concerning the means of preventing the erection of -Maori houses, when Mr. Fitzherbert proposed,—“ That fires, candles, and all lights should be extinguished iutaupo houses immediately after sunset, on pain of a heavy fine for neglecting to do so.” It was explained to Mr. Fitzherbert that this -1 could not be done, and _ that it would be introducing into New Zealand the curfew bell of the Normans. The motion was lost. H Tf the resolution had been carried it would have been rather a high-handed action for a Borough Council to take, and the town .inspect tor. if they had such ah officer, would have had a Hvely 'time of it after sunset. Chasing numberless Jack O’Lanterns and Will-o’-Wisps would have been a gentle pastime compared with" his attempts to cause those living in

whares to (louse the glim./'Xt was announced on the, 19fch October—- “ That the Worshipful the Aldermen and Major of the Borough of Wellington attended Divine * service on Sabbath last, when a sermon was preached by the Eev. John Macfatlane, who accompanied the first Scotch Presbyterians when'they had determined to emigrate to a far distant land, and who has been spared to deliver a sermon to a respectable congregation and the Town Council, which we hesitate not to say would be a credit to any town in any country in- Europe, Great Britain herself not excepted.” It was, :to -use ;an Americanism, rather rough on the members of the Council to drag them thus prominently before the public simply because they attended church on a special occasion. No doubt they had not the Binfe&Odea* of patronising the Kev. John; Macfa'rlahe ; and it, is not likely that it ever entered the bead of this worthy pioneer pilgrim that, Providence had been especially good to him in sparing him to deliver a sermon to a .Town Council that would have been a credit to any town anywhere. The chronicler cl :tbs event seems' to have bad an idea that

it was an important . one, and the Council 4, being then a new body, had in bis eyes a sense - of vastness. There was something touching and devout in the official attendance of the . public body at Divine worship. It would not be an easy matter to get all tHe members of the present City Council into one church. The early settlers were fond of horse-racing, .and" they ofteu got up an amateur meeting, at which • horses went'Straight 1 for the money when there was a sweep, and many a match was run for love. The Gazette seems to have reported, these meetings without going much into details; for Instance,—

PETONI RACES. Thursday, October 20.

SWEEPSTAKES For ton guineas each. Gentlemen riders. Heats of one mile and a half. / The following horsea started : Mr. Watts’s ch h Figaro (Owner).. ~ ■■ll Mr. Moleaworth’a bk h Calinus Tartar (Osner) 22 Mr. Virtue’s gr g Marksman (Owner) .. ”30 Mr. G. Hunter’s b m Temperance (Dorset) .. 4.4 Mr. Bannister's ch g Sulky (Wade) .. ... 5 E Captain Buckley’s b h Daylight (Owner) .. 0 rtr Mr. Kevan’s gr g Maaoppa ( t'yser) ~ .. (list.

Fh'aro’a superior blood enabled him to win both'heats with the greatest ease. He was the favorite throughout, and freely baolced at sto 1 after’the first heat. Several other matches were afterwards made upon the spot, of which we believe the following to be a correct account :

, ' SWEEPSTAKES For one pound each. One mile. - Mr. Revan’sbig Da*idy (Dr. Dorset) .. .. 1 Colonel Wakefield’s ch g Beau (Mr. Watt).. .. 2 Mr. G. Hunter’s brg Wal-ake-ake(Owner).. .. 3 Mr. Alien’s gr g, f Mr. Virtue’s •>

MATCHES For one pound a aide. Distance one mile. ‘ Mr. 0. Van Aldorfs bk g Black Billy beat Mr. Machattie’s bay pony, .. , 1 . . Mr, Lypn’s cart-horse beat Mr. Virtue s cart-horse. SfATCH For five pounds a side. Distance one mile. ’Colonel Wakefield’s ch g Beau beat Mr. Virtue’s bay mare. During the race Hr. Wade rode up ia a most unsportsmanlike manner between the two horsea, and we see our contemporary has imagined that a match took place between Beau and Sulky. *

In the early days of Wellington high hopes were-entertained that the Hutt Valley would become a grain-producing district, but that has not yet come to pass. On the 19th October the editor of the Gazette writes :—“ We have lately been informed that wheat will be grown at the Hutt this season sufficient to yield 200 tons of flour. The truth of this statement will probably be disputed ; but be this as it may, there isno doubt that the Hutt will this season yield more than the quantity which will be required for seed next year.” An adventurous journey by'the head of the Church ia noticed :—“ His Lordship the Bishop of New Zealand, accompanied by Mr. St. Hill, started on foot for the coast on Monday last. We believe his Lordship’s intention ia to proceed all the way by land to Taranaki, where it is understood the Government brig Victoria will call for him, after visiting Nelson with the Chief Justice, and proceed to Auckland.” In the latter part of 1842, Captain Smith, surveyor, returned te Wellington after a very eventful surveying expedition which ho had made in The Brothers, a small cutter. They entered Akaroa on the 18th November, with only stormsail set, as there had been very heavy weather outside. In the harbor the wind was baffling, and suddenly a terrific squall unset the cutter, before the crew, who were at their stations could let go anything. Fortunately a boat was placed on an even keel on deck and was not tied/ All hands stepped into her as the cutter sank, and were saved, but a Maori woman . and - two children who were below could not be rescued. Captain Smith lost the plans and sketches he made during the trip, aud The Brothers could not be raised.

“Captain Smith (says the Gazette) had visited Otago, the Bluff, and New River in the Middle Island, and Port William, Patterson’s River, and Port Adventure ia Stewart Island, and Ruapuki, an island in Foveaux Strait, distant about twelve iniles from the Bluff. Of all the harbors ho had made accurate surveys. latitudes and longitudes were obtained. Sketches ’of all points likely to guide the stranger were made. A sketch of nearly all the coast between Otago and Foveaux Strait had also been obtained, and the map of the Middle Island to the southward of Akaroa was found to be very inaccurate, aud had been corrected for a distance exceeding 120 miles.” From Akaroa he proceeded by land to Pigeon Bay, and by boat to Port Levy and Port Cooper, of all of which he took sketches, but he could not make surveys as he had lost his instruments. From Port Cooper he came on to Port Nicholson in Captain Bruce’s sailing- boat, and they arrived safely after a perilous voyage in the little craft.