Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Tales of Banks Peninsula

Hoisting the Flag at Akaroa

Hoisting the Flag at Akaroa.

For many years the story of the race down the coast from Auckland to Akaroa between the French and English has been declared to be a myth. It was well known locally that such was not the case, as there were people alive who remembered the whole occurrence, and the disappointment of the French, as described in the foregoing pages, when they found the British frigate in possession. However, absolute proof has been obtained since the last edition of the" Stories of Banks Peninsula" of the authenticity of the story. The tale encircles Akaroa with much historic interest, and it should be a matter of great pleasure to inhabitants that the monument at Green Point, Akaroa, is not a white elephant. Since the previous edition of this work Mr. Anson has bad the monument inscribed with the names of those who were instrumental in marking the spot in that manner, and Mr. E. E. Lelievre has offered to give £40 towards the purchase of the land on which the monument stands.

Some weeks ago, writes the London correspondent of the "Press," of October, 1909, I stated that certain documents which I had perused definitely settled most of the questions at issue between Mr. Johannes Andersen and Mr. C. Coleridge Farr with reference to the incident of the French occupation of Akaroa. There were two main questions unsettled. In the first place; Was Mr. Robinson's journal really a diary written at the time of the events? Secondly: Was the little drama at Akaroa in August, 1840, pre arranged between Lieutenant Governor Hobson and Commodore Lavaud? One is the contention of Mr. Farr, the other of Mr. Andersen. The answer to both now seems to be a distinct "No." What has been required throughout the argument to complete the narra-page 101live has been the letter which Captain Hobson wrote to Captain Stanley, of the Britormart, instructing him to proceed on the historic cruise. That letter is still extant, and is deposited amongst the archives of the colonies in the Public Record Office Being of a date posterior to 1840, it has not been free of access to enquirers, and hence it has been practically lost for historic purposes. The text of it is presumptive evidence of the reason that prompted the Colonial Office to withhold it from publication at a time when England and France were rivals running neck and neck, and wasting no love on each other. At the present day, fortunately, such considerations do not weigh, and I have been enabled, by permission of the Secretary of State for the Colonies (Lord Crewe) to make a copy of the document. Here it is;—

"Government House, Russell, Bay of Islandsa, 22nd July, 1840.

Sir,—It being of the utmost importance that the authority of Her Majesty should be most unequivocally exercised throughout the remote parts of this colony, and more particularly in the Southern and Middle Islands, where, I understand, foreign influence and even interference is to be apprehended, I have the honour to request you to proceed immediately in H.M sloop under your command to those islands. On the subject of this commission I have to respect to request the most inviolable secrecy from all except your immediate superior officer, to whom it may be your duty to report your proceedings. The ostensible purpose of your cruise may appear to be the conveying of two magistrates to Port Nicholson, to whom I will elsewhere more particularly refer. The real object to which I wish particularly to call your attention is to defeat the movements of any foreign ship of war that may be engaged in establishing a settlement in any part of the coast of New Zealand. There are various rumours current that Captain Lavaud. of the French corvette L'Aube, now at anchor in this port, is page 102employed in the furtherance of designs such as I have before mentioned From some observations that fell from him, I discovered that his intention was to proceed to the southern islands, being under the impression that the land about Akaroa and Banks Peninsula, in the Middle Island of New Zealand, is the property of a French subject. These circumstances, combined with the tone in which Captain Lavaud alluded to Akaroa and Banks Peninsula, excited, in ray mind, a. strong presumption that he is charged with some mission in that quarter incompatible with the Sovereign rights of Her Britannic Majesty, and which, as I have before observed, it will be your study by every means to frustrate. If ray suspicions prove correct, L'Aube will no doubt proceed direct to Akaroa and Banks Peninsula, for which place I have earnestly to request that you will at once depart with the utmost expedition, as it would be a point of the utmost consideration that, on his arrival at that port, he may find you in occupation, so that it will be out of his power to dislodge you without committing some direct act of hostility. Captain Lavaud may, however, anticipate you at Akaroa or (should he be defeated in his movements) may endeavour to establish himself at some other point. In the event of either contingency occurring, I have to request you to remonstrate and protest in the most decided manner against such proceeding, and impress upon him that such interference must be considered as an act of decided hostile invasion. You will perceive by the enclosed copy of Major Bunbury's declaration that dependent of the assumption of the sovereignty of the Middle and Southern Islands, as announced by my proclamation of the 21st May last (a copy of which is also enclosed) the principal chiefs have ceded their rights to Her Majesty through that officer, who was fully authorised to treat with them for that purpose; it will not, therefore, be necessary for you to adopt any further proceedings. It will, however, be advisable that some act of civil authority should be exercised on the islands, and for that purpose the magistrates who accompany you will be instructed to hold a court on their arrival page 103at each port, and to have a record of their proceedings registered and transmitted to me. You will by every opportunity which may offer forward intelligence of the French squadion's movements, and should you deem it necessary, to the Secretary of State for the Colonies through the Admiralty and to His Excellency Sir George Gipps, Governor of New South Wales. Mr. Murphy and Mr. Robinson, the magistrates who accompany you, will receive a memorandum of instructions for their future guidance, which you will be pleased to hand to them when you arrive at your des ination. As your presence in these islands will be of the utmost importance to keep in check any aggression on the part ot the foreign powers, I have earnestly to request that should you require any further supply of provisions the same may be procured, if possible at Port Nicholson,, or at any ports on the coast without returning to Sydney.—I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient servant,

W. Hobson."

To most minds this letter will quite dispose of the suggestion that Captain Hobson and Commodore Lavaud had arranged the little drama at Akaroa as a means of saving the latter's face. When we are aware, moreover, of the differences which occurred between the two during the time that the French frigate lay in the Bay of Islands, we cannot entertain the suggestion for a moment, Hobson was positively anxious about the French claims, and left not a stone unturned until they were definitely disposed of. Now for the second point, The magistrates referred to, Messrs Murphy and Robinson, were destined for Port Nicholson, with the reservation that the Akaroa question had to be dealt with on the way. Mr Murphy was the senior of the two, and to him Hobson addressed his instrucions, which were sealed, and remained in possession of [unclear: Captain] Stanley until Akaroa was reached. Here is the original letter:—

"Memo, of instructions to be attended to by Mr Murphy, P.M.—You will at every port that H.M. sloop page 104[unclear: Britemart] touches at act in your magisterial capacity and, as it is requisite that the civil authority should be strictly exercised, should no case be brought under your notice you will adjourn from day to day, and a careful record of your proceedings must be made, a copy of which you will transmit to me. Under any circumstances that Captain Stanley may call upon you for assistance you will, of course, render it, and co operate generally with him in the advance ment of any measures he may think it expedient to adopt.

"Dated at Russell 21st July, 1840."