Old-time Echoes

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 16, 15 July 1893, Page 7

Old-time Echoes

A VOICE FROM THE PAST. [The following letter has beth lent to us for publication! by;'art old colonist, who - at • the time of its receipt was in Englahd,whither.he had returned' after;»' Visit-to New : Zealand.' ■ His correspondent, who died sdrae five years ago; gives-an interesting account of ■ the state of things-’in-this and of the adjacent aoldnies/nearly r half-a-ceiitury ago;”! Wellington, New Zealand, 15th March, 1844. My dear Sir,— Yqurs; of 17th March, 1843* was| received on Ist, June, 1843. I have delayed writing to you .about - this and; other parts, of the colonyontil I had some experience ; .and- now, ; having determined fo prepare for, leaving, this place for Australia, I must delay no longer. I; hayo visited /Taranaki .and. Auckland, beside’s bushingfit about Wellington and Nelson. The result of my examination, and repeated inquiries. ; .qtypufc..districts;.which-,I have not visited; ia that there are large tracts-of rich level .land in many parts, hi t generally timbered. , In a few places arc. extensive tracts of grassy districts.,- say at Wainiftte in Taranaki; Auridi, Hawke’s Bay; Table- Cape, etc., besides the districts north of Bank’s Peninsula in the South Island. The New - -Zealand Company have ‘made a road hp the valley of the . Hutt, about 10 or 12 miles, and are continuing it to the Wyd crop Valley, where there is - so much feed for stock. I like Wellington much bettor than at first. The land in its vicinity appears of better quality now there are more clearings, Auckland has a fine climate, though moist; about half the land within five miles of the town is clay of a barren nature or scoria; stones. The other half is of good quality and easy of cultivation. Extinct volcanoes aare numerous there. Wo ascended one called Mount Eden, which is, only about three miles from Auckland, and which presents an extensive and beautiful view from its summit. We descended its crater, which is 150 ft. deep. No brimstone was seen—-nothing bnt the volcanic rocks of all sizes, from a pea to some of 10ft. in diameter. On -almost every hill w'ero the remains of old native pahs, and in the stony tracts of land were heaps of stones, collected with infinite labour by the ancient inhabitants to prepare. the rich volcanic soil beneath for cultivation. There are several good districts of land which can easily be approached by water from Auckland. But notwithstanding all these advantages, there is a great want of money. So much was paid for the lands at first, and the money being sent out of the colony to pay for emigrants, that the place is now quite crippled, and many of these poor fellows,-who were induced to leave England under the expectation of having plenty of work at good wages, are now in distress, and would fain leave the place for South Australia or elsewhere had they the means. Of course property there is in consequence almost unsaleable. When I was there some sugar of fair quality was sold by auction for lid per lb., and a well-finished shop in Shortland Crescent, which had been let for £l5O per annum, only fetched by auction £155 !

Taranaki I like much. There is level rich land, and well watered, to a considerable extent. The only disadvantage is the want of a harbour. There are . about 70,000 acres around New Plymouth that have been cleared formerly by the natives. It used to be covered with dense and heavy bush, but now the land is covered with luxuriant fern, or light bush easy to clear. The fern was so high that I measured several : they were 10, 12, 15, 16, and one specimen 20ft. 2in. high. The soil is generally about 9in. deep, and underneath is marl from 3ft. to 30ft. in depth. The marl resembles that of Cheshire. The timber is similar to that of Wellington and Nelson, except the ironwood, which is not found at these latter places. It is called by the natives puriri, and is very hard and durable ; resembles the heart of oak, and grows to a large size. During my second visit the settlers were harvesting their grain crops. In some instances the wheat appeared to bo at the rate of 10 to do bushels per acre (the settlers say 70!), the oats 61 (the grower in once instance feels certain of 110), and the barley perhaps 50. Potatoes, five to ten tons. Cost of breaking up the rich fern laud may be from £2 to £lO per acre, according to the nature of the land, and the degree 'of perfection of clearing the land from fern-root. I ought net to omit that garden produce, as peas, beans, scarlet beans, cabbages, etc., thrive well. Water melons and Cape gooseberries are also cultivated with little trouble. The land under crop this season at New Plymouth is about 300 acres; at Wellington, 550; at Nelson, sto acres. Wages are’the lowest at New Plymouth ; nominally, 2s 6d or 3s per day; but the culpable plan of paying the wages in goods at enormous profits is too prevalent—the goods often of such a nature as not to be required by the labourer* In one instance I heard of the poor fellows being made to take popper, boxes, etc. If there was a sufficient military force to prevent the natives from annoying the settlors, which they at present do by arbitrarily occupying land bought by the emigrants, who, in some cases, had at groat expense fenced and improved their land, and then forced by these savages to leave their property, or any plan devised that the farmer could be assured of legal protection for bis person and property, then New Zealand would offer great inducements to emigrants of moderate capital; but, at present, not to labourers, as they arc too

numei;ouß,iri pi-ppoytjon lo ithc; capitalists. ' I have the new Governor, Captain l . a S$ tQ.i .a ' Qonscientipus, maq; ije came. hero fully impressed. with th’e notion's’ l arid feelings of ihe Aborigines Protection Society, which, with the best intended i views v have a mistaken policy respecting ih e New Zealand. His excellency’ will, Vhoweyef,, soon have such striking' proofs, of ; the character of these-'' savages as will doubtless cause hint to apply-*; for more troops of soldiers, however humane; his feelings arid pacific his intentions maybe.

: Parkinson and; I' last ‘ week went with Mr, Spain, the Land Claims Commissioner, to see the noted chiefs, Rangihairta arid ’ Rauparaha, who conducted the affair at Wairau, where Captain Wakefield arid about; 17 others were murdered. The meetirig was about the settlement; of native claims to land ; at Wellington and the Hutt district; Mr; Clark;- the protector, explained to these chiefs: and -their 200 followers who -were present, the particulars, which were thatthough the laud had been bought by Captain Wakefield, yet since he did not include in: the payments, made several parties now claiming, £3OO would be given to their tribe, on condition that they not only relinquished for ever , all claim, but that they would cause their dark friends to leave the Hutt district.. They replied that they, required £IOOO, arid asked what, they could do if they were toleave as required the crops of potatoes, etc. Mr Spain then said that he would undertake that in consideration of their crops they, should have £IOO in addition to the £3OO, which they refused. Mr Spain thinks they will yet agree to his proposal. He lately paid to the Te Aro and other natives atWellington. about £6OO. How these sums accumulate! What . a pity for the New Zealand Company but that these matters had been settled long since. At this meeting Rangihairta’s daughter* was conspicuous in preparing the feast, and carrying to the chiefs the native baskets full of kumeras, potatoes, pumpkins, taro pakea, fish, etc., all well cooked. We tasted the kumeras, which were palatable, and resembled in flavour the chestnut; but the tare pakea was most delicious. In size and shape it resembled a turnip, but thedaste. reminded me, of a nice bread pudding, mixed up with milk and eggs. The natives were all civil, except Rangihairta, who looked reserved, and indeed was not noticed with the _ usual civility by any offus, in consequence of his activity in the Wairau affair. Bauparaha, it is reported, was averse to the cold, bloody massacre, though over-ruled by his son-in-law, and we were all glad to show eu distinction. This town was lately thrown into great excitement in consequerice of a duel fought between two solicitors, Mr Ross and Mr Brewer, and proving fatal to the latter gentleman. He has left a wife in almost a dying state, being previous to the occurrence extremely weak from a consumption. The coroner and magistrates acquitted the principal, Mr Ross, and the seconds, Major Durie and Mr Dorset, surgeon, on a plea of want of evidence. Have the goodness to write to me directed to Adelaide, where I expect not to leave before 1846. Say whether you intend going to Australind ;■ favour me with the on ditsrespecting New Zealand, the Company, and what you consider to be the feeling about South Australia, etc. Sydney has been in an awful state for bankruptcies—few are left solvent. Property has become depreciated to an unprecedented degree, farms which had a fairportion cleared and fenced, house and barn erected, and land of the first quality, only fetching Is 3d per acre ! Sheep also have been knocked down by the sheriff at 4id each! Fifty mares with their foals were lately sold for £1 Is each. But I think they have now seen the worst, for by boiling down the sheep for tallow it has given them a much greater minimum value. lu Adelaide prices have been much reduced. Wheat has been selling there for 2s 6d per bushel; good ewes, 5s per head ; well situated town acres for £lO each I Fresh butter, lOd per lb ; fine flour, 7s 6d per cwt; mutton, lid and beef 2d per lb. They have this last season about 20,000 acres under wheat alone, and about 6000 acres other crops. Before this last season they had a surplus of wheat for exportation to the extent of 100,000 bushels, besides excellent cheese, butter, bark, oil, etc. This colony now bids fair to flourish. Your (esteemed !) friend Mr B is now becoming heartily tired of New Zealand, and talks of returning to England, if he does not arrange to go to South Australia. He says that he is not properly appreciated here. . . . Mr Parkinson joins me in best respects. Should you see Capt More, pray remember us to him. Since you left we have been in excellent health, and I fear are becoming fat.—Believe me, my dear sir, yours very truly, P,S. —Baron Olzdorf desires his kind regards.