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Chapter IV.

The town and province of Nelson was the second of those founded by the New Zealand Company. It is a very large district, about a quarter the size of England; it does not contain such an extent of agricultural ground as either Auckland, Canterbury, or Taranaki; but to make up for this, it possesses great mineral wealth; Gold, Copper, Tin, Lime, and Coal, having been discovered in different parts.

The climate, too, is one of the most equable in New Zealand; and the town itself, from being surrounded on three sides, by lofty mountains, is perfectly sheltered from the cold winds.

There are very few natives left in the middle island; and only about one thousand in the whole province of Nelson; while there are about twelve thousand Europeans, a great number, when one remembers, that little more than twenty years have passed since the colony was founded.

When the ship, in which the leader or pioneer of the Company, Colonel Wakefield, went out, reached New Zealand the coasts upon each side of Cook's Straits, that is to say, the south coast of the north island, since then called Wellington, and the north coast of the south island, at present, Nelson and Marlborough, were dotted here and there, by whaling stations, formed by men who had belonged page 24 to vessels engaged in the whale fisheries in the Pacific; and, as some of the best grounds lay near New Zealand, the captains of the vessels found it convenient to have a friend as agent, settled at some safe harbour, where they could run in for shelter in rough weather, or, for provisions when they ran short.

Gradually, very few the settlers became owners of whaling ships; and, as at one time of the year, great numbers of whales came close in shore, they carried on a brisk trade, and made a great deal of money.

There is a very interesting account of these men, in a book, written by one of the gentlemen who went out with Colonel Wakefield, a Mr. Edward J. Wakefield, in which he tells you all about catching whales, and the dangers, and excitement of the chase.

These men lived upon the most friendly terms with the natives. Many of them married chief's daughters; and, although you may suppose they were by no means polished or educated men, they were like all sailors, very clean, orderly, and exact in their habits, and soon made their wives capital housekeepers. Besides, they taught many other useful things without intending it; for the natives are very observing, and copy a European carefully.

Unfortunately, they copy bad as well as good; and, as many of these first settlers were bad characters—escaped convicts, and men who had run away from their ships to avoid punishment—they did not fear or obey God themselves, so did not teach the poor savages to do so; and, when the Missionaries came among them, they often insulted and mocked them; doing all they could, to prevent them carrying forward their work.

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You know the old fable of the goose that laid golden eggs, and, how her master, wishing to get all the gold at once, killed her; well, the whalers did much the same; they were not content with taking the full-grown whales, but killed the young calves too; so, at the time I am writing of, the fishery had nearly died out, and the whalers had to betake themselves to the North Pacific.

The western portion of Nelson, stretching far along the sea-shore, is very wild and barren. Rugged mountains, covered with gloomy forests; a rock-bound coast, against which the waves dash with terrific force, and, dreaded by European and native seamen, is only inhabited by a few wretched and half starved natives, who live upon the roots of the fern.

It is in this part of the country, that the strange bird called the Kisv^wi, is found: it is about the size of a large Guinea fowl, and something like one, too, in the shape of its body, which, instead of feathers, is covered with what more properly would be called coarse hair, about four inches long; its head is armed with a long bill, much longer than a woodcock's, very narrow, and male curved, which it uses for digging up worms, and burrowing a hole to live in; its legs are seven or eight inches long, but so much bent, that its body almost touches the ground. It belongs to a peculiar class of wingless birds, but runs very fast.

In England, you will scarcely believe, that there are two hundred and seventy-three different kinds of birds. Now in New Zealand, there are only eighty-three; and not many of them, either very musical or beautiful in their plumage. Parrots are very common, and roost principally in rocks, and about the edges of the forests.

Early in the morning the air is filled with the songs of birds, and Captain Cook, as elsewhere mentioned, describes page 26 it as resembling the distant chimes of an English Church. As soon as the sun is fairly risen, the birds cease singing; and, during the whole day, you scarcely hear a single chirrup.

While I am writing of birds, I may as well tell you of a very extraordinary one, that once existed; but of which, we can only judge, by the bones discovered in some of the old Pahs or burial-grounds. This bird or monster, had something the appearance of an ostrich; it grew to the height of thirteen feet, its feet and legs resembling those of an elephant. One egg was discovered perfect which measured twenty-seven inches round. I really think I could not have believed in the existence of such a bird, had I not seen the skeleton and egg. The colonists of Nelson say, that Moas still live in the wild districts of the province; but, unfortunately, no one can be found who ever saw one himself.

There were, in 1859, six provinces in New Zealand: three, namely, Auckland, Taranaki, and Wellington, in the north; Nelson, Canterbury, and Otago, in the south island. In 1860, Wellington was divided, and a portion called Hawke's Bay taken off; while Marlboro’ has been separated from Nelson; so now there are eight divisions, each boasting a little parliament of its own—though the head houses are at the capital, Auckland—and answer just the same as the Houses of Lords and Commons do in England. The Governor, who is appointed by the Queen to look after the colony, and rule in her place, lives at Auckland.

The first Governor, Captain Hobson, was sent out in 1840, and hoisted the British flag at the place where Auckland Russell now stands, and which he chose on account of its having a first-rate harbour. He made a treaty with the natives, who in the north were nearly all Christians, page 27 or at least pretended to be (for they were cunning enough to see they could please the missionaries by being baptised and going to church). The rules laid down in this Treaty of Waitangi, sometimes called the Magna Charta of New Zealand, have guided the Government in its dealings with the natives ever since.

Poor Governor Hobson was in ill-health when appointed, and the hard work he had to do, besides the anxiety caused by the great charge laid upon him, brought on an attack, which ended in his death.

The next Governor, Colonel Fitzroy, although a worthy man, did not understand the colony, so was recalled, and Sir George Grey sent out in his place; and it is to him we owe the prosperity of the country and the kindly feeling of the natives.

The war which broke out in the Taranaki province, in the beginning of 1860 but opening period of this tale is 1855, originated in the misapplication of certain old native laws with regard to the sale of land; and, although they are still in arms, I do not believe they really bear any ill will, only requiring judicious government to keep them quiet, Colonel Gore Brown, who succeeded Sir George Grey, has not been friendly enough with the natives, who loved Sir George, and were very much disappointed when he did not return to them. While I am writing this, he has been re-appointed, and it is to be hoped peace and happiness are about to dawn upon our beautiful colony.

At the risk of tiring my reader's patience, I have given this explanation of what has been and is in New Zealand, so that they will better understand my story, and, I hope, be induced to find out more about it for themselves.