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Contributions to the Early History of New Zealand

Chapter XV

page 84

Chapter XV.

Government again Hostile—Mr. Gladstone—Resignation of the Peel Ministry—Earl Grey, the new Colonial Secretary—His Valuable Concessions—Renewed Hope and Activity—Division of Labour between Company and Lay Association—Terms of Purchase—Fresh Pamphlets Circulated—Meeting at Glasgow—Committees Formed—Mr. John McGlashan—Sketch of his Life—Dr. Aldcorn —Application for Vessels—The First Ballot.

The danger of defeat over, the Government soon resumed its hostile attitude, notwithstanding its previous confession of fault and promised concessions to the Company. True, the Otago surveys had been provided for, and a portion of the loan had been received, but the Company complained that this must be frittered away rather than judiciously expended so long as the main provisions of the compact remained unfulfilled. When Mr. Gladstone, then a young man of thirty-six, took office as Colonial Secretary, replacing Lord Derby, some hope revived. He was earnestly desirous of introducing measures to ameliorate the state of New Zealand, and especially of conferring some form of self-government, which was justly considered to be the best mode of attaining this end. He invited the views of the Directors and especially of Mr. E. G. Wakefield, who discussed the whole question in a lengthy and able letter.

Mr. Wakefield contended that the disasters of the colony were due to the existent form of colonial government, which virtually centred in the Governor. He insisted that colonization and government should not be, as they were, antagonists, but handmaidens working in unison for the good of a youthful colony. He explained that the extensive experience of the Company had abundantly shown how all efforts of theirs must be futile whilst the settlers had no voice in the management of their own affairs. Here matters virtually ended. Affairs in New Zealand were in a disorganised and even perilous state, and there appeared to be every prospect that Heke's war would be followed by further native outbreaks throughout the settlements. Under these circumstances Mr. Glad-page 85stone professed himself unable to bring down any suitable and comprehensive measures until order was restored and until he could fully communicate with Captain Grey, the newly appointed Governor.

Thus wearied out with the protracted struggle, the Directors called a meeting of the shareholders at the end of May, 1846, and expressed their willingness—nay, desire —to yield the unequal fight and to hand over to the Government the further management of their affairs. But to this proposal the shareholders would not listen. Whilst sympathising with the Directors and expressing their entire confidence, they requested that they would a little longer carry on the warfare. A special circumstance no doubt determined this attitude; the great debate on the Corn Laws was impending, and those versed in political affairs considered that Sir Robert Peel's Government, which had existed for five years, would suffer defeat upon the question and be succeeded in office by those more favourably disposed to New Zealand. And so it proved; for on the 29th of June Sir Robert Peel resigned, having won the repeal of the Corn Laws and the gratitude of a nation, but having lost the support of his Conservative friends, and consequently of office.

Lord John Russell now formed his new Ministry, in which Earl Grey accepted the post of Colonial Secretary, and it was soon evident how well justified had been the action of the shareholders. In place of determined opponents they found warm friends. With little delay the Directors addressed Lord Grey, plainly stating that without countenance and substantial assistance they must abruptly close their colonising career. The reply was entirely satisfactory, and marked Lord Grey as a statesman of far-sighted and patriotic views, qualities which the estimate of history has confirmed. He considered it of great importance to Imperial interests that the colonization of New Zealand should go on steadily and rapidly, and that the ancient disposition to plant settlements of Englishmen in Her Majesty's distant possessions should be revived and established, and he was not disposed to allow such great objects to be frustrated by difficulties which it was in the power of Government to surmount. He deplored the possibility of the Company's dissolution, and viewed its continuance as an instrument of great public good. Going further, he admitted that a claim had been established against the Government.

The final result was that an arrangement was proposed, page 86to be dated from the 6th of April, 1847, whereby considerable powers should be granted the Company as to further disposal of lands, and an additional sum of £136,000 advanced for the purpose of discharging liabilities and of resuming colonization. It was stipulated that if at the end of three years from this date the Company proved unable to continue operations the Government should step in, take all assets, and perform certain specified duties. It is needless to say that the Company accepted an offer so generous. Accordingly on the 23rd of July an Act was passed embodying these proposals, and setting the machinery once more in motion.

The arrangements which had been drawn up in September, 1845, between the Company and the Lay Association upon the formation of the latter body had remained so far inoperative. Now, with slight alterations, they were revived and widely published. These Arrangements between the two bodies were afterwards known as the Terms of Purchase. Of these no fewer than six were consecutively issued with amendments, the last being dated the 1st of August, 1849 (vide Appendix No. 5). The division of labour under this agreement was as follows: From its business knowledge and conversance with the details of colonization the Company assumed the duty of purchasing and surveying the land, chartering vessels for the conveyance of emigrants, who were further maintained during the voyage, carrying out to the settlement the stores necessary for their use, erecting buildings, and making roads, bridges, and any other public requirements. To the Association the duty was allotted of carrying out the scheme on Free Church principles, of promoting the settlement by selecting the free and assisted emigrants, deciding as to the eligibility of persons desirous of purchasing land, and of effecting the sale of the Properties.

A Property consisted of sixty acres and a quarter, divided into three allotments: a town allotment of a quarter of an acre, a suburban allotment of ten acres, and a rural allotment of fifty acres, the price of which was £120 10s., being equal to 40s. an acre. In the block of 144,600 acres there were 2400 of these Properties, which were to be appropriated as follows:—

  • 2000 properties, or 120,500 acres, for sale to private individuals;
  • 100 properties, or 6025 acres, for the estate to be purchased by the Local Municipal Government;
  • 100 properties, or 6025 acres, for the estate to be page 87purchased by the Trustees for Religious and Educational Uses;
  • 200 properties, or 12,050 acres, for the estate to be purchased by the New Zealand Company;
At £2 per acre this would amount to £289,200, which was to be appropriated as follows:—
Emigration and supply of labour (three-eighths)£108,450
Civil uses, to be administered by the Company, viz., surveys and other expenses of founding the settlement, roads, bridges, and other improvements, including steam, if hereafter deemed expedient, and if the requisite funds be found available (two-eighths)£72,300
Religious and educational uses, to be administered by trustees (one-eighth)£36,150
The New Zealand Company on account of its capital and risk (two-eighths)£72,300

The fifty-acre farms lay in the Taieri, Tokomairiro, and Molyneux districts, the ten-acre allotments in the vicinity of the town, e.g., the North-East Valley, East and West Harbour, Anderson's Bay, Roslin, St. Kilda, &c.

It was agreed that the Company should allow the Association a period of five years wherein to dispose of the 2000 properties, and that if at the end of this period any portion remained unsold, the Company should have the option of entering into possession and disposing of it in any way it deemed fit. On the other hand, if the Association succeeded in selling the lands it was entitled to apply for and deal with any portion of the remainder of the 400,000 acres in order to develop the settlement still further. It was hoped and confidently expected that the properties would certainly be sold within the time fixed. But these lofty expectations were not to be realised, though both allies put forth their best efforts. The old Scheme pamphlet was again disseminated, and a new one prepared, In a Letter from Captain Cargill to Dr. Aldcorn of Oban, dated May, 1847, which forms another of the rare publications of the occasion. Inspired by the promoters, many of the Scotch newspapers drew attention to the movement in special articles.

On the 10th of August a public meeting was held in the Trades Hall, Glasgow, presided over by the Right Hon. Fox Maule, afterwards Lord Panmure. The advertisement of this meeting is of interest as showing pretty exactly page 88the views of those who called it, and of the position to which the movement had attained: "Important information will be communicated and measures adopted for giving immediate effect to the enterprise. Members of the Free Church and all others who are interested for themselves or friends, are invited to attend, the object being to introduce the system of colonization indicated by the recent measures of Her Majesty's Government; and whereby in place of the random emigration that has prevailed the people are to be accompanied with their valued institutions, and to present in each case a complete section of the Home Society with its social comforts and economic combinations of capital and labour. Those who can subscribe to, or participate in, the religious and educational institutions of Otago will be received into its community with welcome, and those who may prefer to have a colony of their own will have an opportunity of informing themselves how that object may be attained, the means for doing so being equally open to all." The proceedings were fully reported in the Scottish Guardian, a paper having the largest circulation in Scotland. An Address to the People of Scotland was submitted to the meeting, and it was resolved that this should be printed and circulated far and wide. This address gave a short account of the project and of the advantages and resources of New Zealand, and earnestly appealed to all to come forward and avail themselves of the singular benefits laid before them. It was also resolved that with the view of a summer voyage in the southern hemisphere, the month of October be named for the sailing of the first party. Another resolution appointed two committees of the Association, each containing seven members, one at Edinburgh, the other at Glasgow, three forming a quorum. They had full power to carry out the objects of the Association, to call meetings of the Association and of depositors, and to appoint members to act in their several districts. The Edinburgh Committee consisted of Sir James Forrest, Bart., afterwards elected chairman; Mr. Sheriff Spiers, Mr. Sheriff Monteith, Lieut.-Col. George Cadell, Robert Cargill, Esq., W.S., William Johnston, Esq., and John McGlashan. Esq., Secretary. The Glasgow Committee consisted of Henry Dunlop, Esq., Chairman, William Campbell, John Bain, William Brown, P. B. Mure Macredie, William McFie, Esqs., and Dr. Aldcorn, Secretary.

In this list appears for the first time the name of Mr. page break
[To face p. 89.

[To face p. 89.

page 89John McGlashan, which will always be specially identified with the first settlement and earliest growth of Otago. This gentleman was born at Edinburgh in 1802, and was educated at the High School and University of that city. In 1824 he was admitted to practise as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Scotland. He wrote several works on Scottish law, one of which was highly valued by his brethren, and passed through three editions. Due to a severe infirmity of deafness, his practice became limited. In August, 1847, he was appointed Secretary of the Otago Association, a position which he held for five years and until the dissolution of that body. He rendered signal service during this time, whilst the Bill granting a Constitution to New Zealand was under the consideration of the British Government. He was then in daily communication with the Colonial Office and with such Members of Parliament as took special interest in the passing of the Bill. His suggestions and proposed alterations were considered so valuable as to ensure their almost entire adoption, and he received from the Colonial Office official acknowledgment of the services thus rendered. His secretarial duties were discharged with incessant devotion and zeal. Whilst studying the earlier history of Otago few things have struck the writer more forcibly than the evidence of Mr. McGlashan's untiring and valuable work; from these labours he never seemed to cease. Whilst others initiated and launched the scheme, it was to him greatly that its skilful after-guidance was due; to the Association his judgment and advice were invaluable. Yet his name is barely known beyond the rapidly narrowing circle of old settlers. In 1853, when the functions of the Association had ceased, he emigrated with his family in the Rajah to the settlement which for so many years had received the advantages of his affection and energy. He was welcomed with ovation at a public banquet given at the old Royal Hotel. For many years Mr. McGlashan continued to hold in his new home positions of honour and trust as a member of the Provincial Government, Provincial Treasurer and Solicitor, and in other capacities. His latter years were sadly embittered by an attempt to connect him with the disappearance of a large sum of public money. Strict inquiry showed that no stain rested on his high character. He died on the 2nd of November, 1864, from concussion of the brain caused by a fall from his horse. In 1827 he married Isabella, daughter of William Macewen, Esq., of Stirling, Lieutenant and Adju-page 90tant of the 1st Royal Scots. She died in 1888, leaving a family of two sons and seven daughters, who still live at the parental home of Balmacewen, near Dunedin.

Dr. Aldcorn, whose duties had been honorary and performed as a labour of love, soon withdrew from the secretaryship, glad no doubt to yield its bare honours to his newly appointed co-secretary. For some time his health and eyesight had been failing, and he was conscious that the new condition of things would demand more than he could meet with credit. An old apostle of emigration, he became so imbued with his own doctrines as finally to emigrate to Victoria, where as an absentee proprietor he had for some years held land. Here he commenced farming. In 1853 he was appointed to the Legislative Council, an honour which he soon resigned owing to his increasing blindness. He died in New South Wales in 1877 in his eighty-fifth year.

Mr. McGlashan entered upon his duties with great vigour. Within little more than a year of accepting office he managed to diffuse an incredible amount of information regarding the settlement. Fifteen thousand copies of the address were distributed, and ten thousand of the Otago Journal, besides innumerable circulars, printed slips, and advertisements; handbills were scattered and various notices sent to the newspapers. Of the Otago Journal it may here be remarked that though then so numerous, a complete copy is now so rare as to be almost unique. This interesting publication was edited by Mr. McGlashan and sold at 2d. a number, of which there were eight, issued at intervals. The first appeared in January, 1848, soon after the departure of the first settlers; the last in August, 1852. It contained, of course, full information for the intending settler, copious extracts from emigrants' letters, and every variety of intelligence.

Matters being thus adjusted and in train, Captain Cargill applied to the Directors forthwith to advertise for vessels to carry out the first party. He felt that a demonstration of the sort would arouse attention and give a reality to the movement. Mr. Burns' anxieties and long suffering were now at an end. Convinced that nothing save a cataclysm could now destroy his long cherished desires, he applied in the beginning of October to the Edinburgh Presbytery for release from his Portobello charge. This was granted in very graceful and flattering terms. Both in London and Scotland applications for passages were numerous. The ballot for the purchase of page 91the properties was fixed for the 10th of November; it determined the order in which purchasers were to select their properties on arrival in the colony. By that day one hundred and four properties had been purchased; sixty-nine by private individuals, nine by the Church Trust, nine to the Local Municipality, and seventeen by the New Zealand Company. Mr. Julius Jeffreys drew the first choice, and he afterwards selected that section at Port Chalmers whereon Mr. Tuckett had built his little house close by the water's edge.