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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Captain William Crush Daldy

Captain William Crush Daldy, who represented Auckland City in the second Parliament, and is referred to in Volume I. of this “Cyclopedia” as a member of Sir W. Fox' Government in 1856, took a most active and prominent part in the upbuilding of all the early institutions of the then capital of New Zealand. For over half a century Captain Daldy has been a staunch friend to Auckland, and it is with no small interest that he now, at the advanced age of eighty odd years, watches the progress of banks, insurance companies, trading corporations, and social and political movements, started or largely assisted by himself. Captain Daldy was born in 1816 at Rainham, Essex, where his father, Mr. Samuel Rootsey Daldy, carried on business as a coal merchant in a large way. At sixteen years of age the Captain, being in delicate health, began a seafaring life in one of his father's colliers, the “May Flower.” A year later his father died, leaving a widow and a family of twelve children. With a knowledge of the sea thus early gained, the sailor lad struck out boldly for himself, and secured the post of third mate on the troopship “Briton,” sailing to Colombo. After a further period of twelve months at sea, the young officer, being greatly improved in health, again tried life ashore, but with indifferent success. On the 10th of December, 1840, he left Liverpool for Van Diemen's Land as captain of the schooner “Shamrock,” in which, in that capacity, he had for a period been trading between British ports and Newfoundland, Copenhagen, and other places. The “Shamrock” was a vessel of eighty-five tons, and therefore the passage to Launceston in 115 days, if not a record trip, was a creditable performance. The first custom house in Auckland was opened on the day on which Captain Daldy brought his schooner into port, the 1st of July, 1841. After trading for some three years between Auckland and Sydney, Captain Daldy went to Tahiti, where he had a novel experience. In those days cattle were scarce, and the Captain was fortunate in securing a fine cargo, which so chagrined some of his French competitors, that in their jealousy they instigated a charge of stealing the cargo of cattle. It was an exciting time; for, though he had no difficulty in establishing his innocence, the
Captain and Mrs. Daldy.

Captain and Mrs. Daldy.

page 102 fact that he was being tried in French territory, by a black judge and vari-coloured jury, was not reassuring. However, after some delay, the judge gave him a letter stating that there was no case against him; he was afterwards arrested for using political language, and placed on board the Admiral's ship, the “Reine Blanche.” Shortly after this the Captain had the distinction of taking Home the first cargo of merchandise exported from Auckland. That was in 1845 in a vessel called the “Bolina,” belonging to Messrs. Brown, Campbell and Co. The voyage occupied 155 days, and about a dozen passengers took the opportunity of returning to the Old Country. In 1847 Captain Daldy bought land in the neighbourhood of Auckland, and for some two years carried on a timber station. Some of the buildings for which his timber was used are still extant, the most notable being St. Andrew's Church; the long, heavy beams for the High Street Wesleyan Chapel (now used as Police Court) were also supplied by him. In 1849 the firm of Messrs. Combes and Daldy was established, and for nearly half a century was one of the best known wholesale and shipping houses in the Colony. Mr. Combes died in 1869, and from that time until his retirement Captain Daldy carried on business alone. To mention even a molety of Captain Daldy's public services would be difficult, but a few will suffice to show his public spirit and his varied abilities. He was elected a member of the second Parliament in 1856, as a representative of Auckland, and in the same year became a minister of the Crown, though his party, like its predecessor, had a very short reign. Captain Daldy was a hearty supporter of provincialism, and, in his position of provincial secretary, in which he succeeded the late Hon. Dr. Pollen, brought in and most successfully carried through a bill for Auckland's first provincial loan. The amount was half a million, to be raised at the rate of £100,000 per year. Captain Daldy also introduced the first Fencing Act. In 1865 he went to England on business connected with his firm, and acted as agent for the Auckland Provincial Government. In that capacity he sent out to the Colony about a thousand emigrants, all of whom paid the greater part of the cost of their passage expenses. The first railway engine and material for the province were purchased by Captain Daldy in the Home markets, and, during the Overend and Gurney panic in London, he received for some months the satisfactory rate of nine per cent. on current account on the provincial funds in his hands. On the inception of the Auckland Harbour Board Captain Daldy was secured as one of its members, and for the first seven years of its existence worthily and ably filled the office of chairman. In Volunteering the Captain took an active part. He was the second volunteer sworn in the Colony, the ceremony taking place on one of the guns in Official Bay. The corps was called the Coastguards, and was under the charge of Captain Hobbs and Lieutenant Daldy. Having business in the Islands, he resigned, but on his return was pressed into the position of captain by the all but unanimous votes of the corps. As far as active service is concerned, the Captain saw but little, being stationed for a few weeksat Miranda and Drury respectively, also with the Guards at blockhouses around Auckland, 200 men being on duty every night. During the few months that Captain Daldy sat in the Auckland City Council, he was instrumental, in conjunction with Mr. Holdship, in negotiating for the Western Springs water supply. Nearly forty years ago several of the most prominent men of Auckland determined to check the frequency and destructiveness of fires, and with that object formed one of the best brigades the Colony has ever seen; of that brigade, the subject of this notice was captain. A justice of the peace of thirty years' standing, Captain Daldy resigned on completing his seventieth year. In this capacity he did a great deal of very useful work, his thorough knowledge of marine law being of especial value. As a trustee of the Auckland Savings Bank, one of the most successful institutions of the Northern Capital, Captain Daldy looked after the interests of the thrifty for upwards of forty years, being, at the time of his resignation in 1896, the oldest trustee on the Board. If any one man can be said to found an insurance company, Captain Daldy claims that honour in the case of the New Zealand Insurance Company, of which he was for some years a director. For many years he was chairman of the South British Insurance Company; he was also one of the first auditors for the Bank of New Zealand. With commercial enterprises in the more ordinary sense, such as steamboat companies, timber, gum, and other corporations, Captain Daldy has had much to do. In fact, hardly any enterprise of importance has been denied his assistance. Nor have his energies been confined to mere business and worldly affairs. He was from 1851 an active worker in connection with the Congregational Church, as deacon, treasurer, Sunday school superintendent, and committeeman of the Congregational Union; he has also ever been ready to give his practical sympathy and assistance to philanthropic and reformatory institutions. Captain Daldy was married in Launceston in 1841, to the eldest daughter of the late Captain Pulham, and of four children three survive. The eldest daughter married Mr. James Wrigley, architect, but both she and her husband have been dead some years. The second daughter is married to the Rev. J. T. Warlow Davies, and the son, Mr. W. C. Daldy, is well known and respected in Auckland commercial circles. In December, 1877, Mrs. Daldy died, and some few years later the Captain was married to a daughter of the late Mr. Hamerton, farmer, of England. Mrs. Daldy takes a great interest in social and political questions and institutions, and as a member of the New Zealand Women's National Council, she has worked hard in the interests of her sex, and with most encouraging results.