The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 77
IX. — Statistical
IX.
Statistical.
Mr Kettle and his staff deserve the sincere acknowledgments of the Province for retaining the Maori names of the different districts of the settlement in the prosecution of their survey. The large proportion of suburban and rural divisions have the old native name attached to them, and only in the subsequent details do we stumble on an imported title having no local significance whatever, bestowed at the time, pandering to the vanity of some already forgotten aspirer to notoriety. One exception must, however, be made.
The name Molyneux was given to the river by the celebrated discoverer Captain Cook, and on that account it is well it should be perpetuated. The more generally accepted name Clutha was bestowed by the surveyors, and is said to be the Gaelic for Clyde, as is the name recognised and used in all official documents. The exact meaning of Clutha has not been satisfactorily explained; it occurs frequently in old Jacobite songs and history. The Inch (island), a very common one in Scotland, was given at the same time. There is a little difference in opinion regarding the original Maori names, to which reference will be made.
Name. | Block. | Section. | Date. |
---|---|---|---|
George Ross and Andrew Mercer | 1 | 1 | 1847 |
James Williamson | 4 | 17 | 1847 |
[Both these choices were made in Edinburgh.] | |||
William Chalmers | 14 | 5 | 1848 |
John Law Baker | 54 | 2 & 4 | 1848 |
William Chalmers | 51 | 8 | 1848 |
Robert Craig | 19 | 2 | 1849 |
James Houston Stirling | 19 | 3 | 1849 |
William Perkins | 23 | 11 | 1849 |
Chalmers Brotherton and Mav Taylor | 19 | 2 | 1849 |
Charles Metcalf Taylor and William Graham Taylor | 51 | 6 | 1849 |
T. B. Archibald | 15 | 4 | 1850 |
Alexander Swan | 23 | 5 | 1850 |
Samuel Blyth | 50 | 6 | 1850 |
Name. | Block. | Section. | Date. |
---|---|---|---|
Howard Lakeman and Herbert Lakeman | 4 | 8 | 1848 |
Thomas Ferguson | 8 | 4 | 1848 |
Thomas Tavlor | 8 | 6 | 1848 |
W. H. Valpy | 8 | 7 | 1848 |
Peter Murdoch Napier and David John Napier | 13 | 1 | 1848 |
James McHardy | 14 | 3 & 4 | 1848 |
Thomas Redpath | 13 | 9 & 11 | 1848 |
John Ramage | 13 | 12 | 1848 |
D. and W. Laing | 13 | 2 | 1849 |
Robert Duncan Smith | 12 | 9 | 1849 |
Francis Scott Pillans | 10 | 12 | 1849 |
William and Peter Smith | 10 | 11 | 1849 |
David and William Laing | 4 | 7 | 1849 |
James and Archibald Barr | 8 | 8 | 1849 |
James Stevenson | 10 | 10 | 1849 |
Name. | Block. | Section. | Date. |
---|---|---|---|
John Brown and others | 1 | 3 | 1847 |
Rev. John McDermid | 1 | 4 | 1847 |
William H. Cutten | 1 | 5 | 1847 |
David Garrick | 2 | 1 | 1847 |
William A. Mosley | 2 | 2 | 1847 |
Charles Smith | 2 | 3 | 1847 |
[Choices made in Britain.] | |||
W. F. Fulton | 5 | 4 | 1848 |
James Smith | 4 | 4 | 1849 |
Shipping.
List of ships entered inwards from beyond seas were from opening of Custom House in April, 1848:—
A total of 6187 tons, representing the shipping arrivals from foreign during the first year of the settlement. The departures aggregated 2035 tons, all in ballast except two for the United Suites with oil and bone.
page 45Coastwise 31 vessels are entered as having arrived from Wellington, Nelson, Akaroa, Campbell Island. Chathams, the Bluff and Wanganui, ranging from 10 to 60 tons.
Records are not available from which to obtain the names of passengers who went by sea from the Tort to Clutha. Custom House documents, as well as those of the shipping agents, have long ago disappeared, and the newspapers are scant in information. The only entries found are:—
1849.—February 18: Cutter. Catherine Johnston, 10 tons, Armstrong, for the Molyneux. Passengers: Mr Ramage, Mrs Hastie, and Mrs shepherd.
Same day: Cutter, Mercury, for the Molyneux. Passengers: Mr Chalmers, Mrs Hay and Family.
In the advertisement announcing her sailing, her agents. Tyser and Martin, Port Chalmers, state
The fine fast sailing cutter, Katherine Johnston, 20 tons burden, has room for a few passengers and goods.
On March 3 the following entry appears:
Cutters Katherine Johnston and Mercury, for the Molyneux. Passenders: Messrs Fuller, Redpath, &c.
The Mercury was registered 15 tons, Carey, master.
There were other craft also trading to the Clutha.
Trading between Dunedin and Port Chalmers appears the Schooner, Scotch Lassie. A. Mercer, agent.
1849.
- April 11—Mary, 533 tons, from London, with sundries
- June 5—Mariner, 687 tons, from London, with sundries
- September 11—Larkins, 770 tons, from London, with sundries
- September 23—Cornwall. 580 tons, from London, with sundries
- November 20—Kelso, 568 tons, from London, with sundries
- December 5—Pekin, 580 tons, from London, with sundries
- December 20—Mooltan, 580 tons, from Greenock, with sundries.
1850.
- March 26—Lady Nugent, 580 tons, from London, with sundries.
- August 6—Mariner, 687 tons, from London, with sundries
- September 4—Poictiers. 600 tons, from London, with sundries
- October 24—Phoebe Dunbar, 704 tons, from London, with sundries.
1851.
- January 17—Titan, schooner. 161 tons, from London, with sundries.
- January 24—Pioneer, brig, 148 tons, from Glasgow, with sundries
- May 6-Cresswell, 547 tons, from London, with sundries
- August 7—Stately, 566 tons, from London, with sundries
- September 28—Dominion, 580 tons, from London, with sundries
- November 16—Clara, 600 tons, from London, with sundries.
In addition to these there were arrivals from Tasmania and Sydney, bringing live stock, together with bran, hay, oats, etc., on which we were depending. Now, to these places we send back out of our abundance.
Strict accuracy or full details of shipping news must not be counted on in the foregoing enumeration, nor is it to be expected in the following.
No regular announcements were made in vital statistics at the times of their occurrence. A statement was, however, made that during the first 12 months of the existence of the settlement the births were 25, marriages 8, deaths 9, thus showing a natural increase of 16 souls, equal perhaps to 40 per cent, of the adult population. A very cheering prosperous state of affairs quite in contrast with the dolorous tale now told that the birth rate in the colony is decreasing.
Following that general summary a collation—cold and dull it may appear now, then warm and affecting—of events which more than once happen in the experience of our existence; and although a smile should arise at the particularity of the record, or in the use "in" instead of "at," a street, some excuse may be allowed for paternal jubilation.