EDWARD GIBBON WAKEFIELD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 81, 1 May 1909, Page 5

EDWARD GIBBON WAKEFIELD.

I'JSKSOXAL RECOLLECTIONS. SIR FREDERICK. YOUXG'S ASSOCIATIONS. I London, l!)th .March. The neglect in .New Zealand of the i memory of Edward Gibbon Wiikeliebl . was iirst pointed out by the writer in , HIU3. Subsequently, early in BIOS, as a consequence of tin interview with the . late Mr. Albert. .1. Alluin, of Auckland, , the matter was again brought uihl-r notice in the Xv.v Zealand press. Mr. Alloiu was a schoolfellow ot Wakelicid, and after returning to England in 1848 he became his private secretary, a position in which lie assisted in the preparation of "The Art of Colonisation.' The two were habitues of the old building in Adelphi. 9, Adam-street, where the Canterbury Association had its origin, and they were closely associated until 1852, when .Mr. Allom went to Tobago and Mr. Wakefield to Xew Zealand. THE MEMORIAL MOY'FMEXT. Though .Mr. Allom has recently died, there is still a survivor of the progressive! little colonial circle in Adam-street.

Sir Frederick Voting, the nonagenarian president .of the Royal Colonial Institute, lirst came into 'touch with Wakefield in 183!), th,, .Vear the Tory sailed to New Zealand,. and their friendship was merely made less intimate by the departure of Wakefield for Xew Zealand in 1552. With Sir Frederick colonial affairs have been a lifelong hobby. From the Wakelicid school he imbibed principles on colonisation which the last seventy years have simply vindicated as the true lines for success. Though never actually a colonist, he was closely connected at this end with several expeditions, and lie paid an important visit to Canada not many years ago in the interests, of that Imperial Federation which he regards as the goal ot all wellwishers of th c colonies to-day. Sir Frederick and Mr. Allom, always regular correspondents, had lately discussed the Wakefield .Memorial question with earnestness, and .Mr. Allom had endeavored to secure the assistance of the Xew Zealand Government for the project, besides interesting such influential persons as the Chief Justice v (tiir Robert Stout). v THE ORACLE OF COLONISATION.

Narrating to your correspondent his Own recollections of Wakefield, Sir Frederick Young recalled the sailing of the first expedition from Blackwali in> 1839. A banquet was given by some leading people connected with the settlement at Lovegrove's Hotel, Blackwali. Tlie Duke of Sussex (son of George 111.) was in the chair—rather an important fact for the mana of the expedition. Sir Frederick was a shareholder in the company. There was always, even then, an impression that Wakefield would go out to New Zealand, as he eventually did in 1853. In the meantime he became assort of oracle amongst the steadily widening circle 01 public men who were interested in colonisation. Ho lived at Reigate, south of London, in a small cottage behind the White Hart Hotel, where Sir Frederick frequently spent the week-ends with him. He kept a pony, and they used to go for rides early in the morning. Once Wakefield told him that he had had thirty members of Parliament down to see him and discuss colonial matters the previous day. Charles Uuller and Sir William Molesworth (then Colonial Secretary) were frcijucnt visitors. When the Canterbury Settlement was definitely planted,. AVakelield was very anxious to see N'ew Zealand, where "he had a .son (the talented Kdward Jerningham Wakefield). His health, too. had broken down, and it was understood that he wanted to end his days in the colonv. At that time the company and the Government were at daggers drawn; both in England arid in the colony.' "1 have seen Wakefield shake his fist at the Colonial Oilice," remarked Sir Frederick. "He hated them, and .thev, hated him. And yet there is a line 'bust of him theiv to-day." - Correspondent Wellington Post.