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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: James Edward Fitzgerald Volume

Brief Notes Upon the Late James Edward Fitzgerald. — Brief Notes Upon the Late James Edward Fitzgerald

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Brief Notes Upon the Late James Edward Fitzgerald.

Brief Notes Upon the Late James Edward Fitzgerald.

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James Edward FitzGerald

Born at Bath, England, March 4/l8.

Died at Wellington, New Zealand, Aug. 2/96.

Youngest son by his second marriage of Gerald FitzGerald of Killminchy and Catherine, daughter of Sir L. O'Brien, Bart, of Drumoland, County Clare.

Educated-1839 to 1842

at Christ College, Cambridge University and graduated B.A.

FitzGerald intended at first to adopt the military profession and was preparing to qualify for service in the Royal Engineers, but was prevented by a temporary failure of eyesight from following up this intention.

During the idleness enforced by this misfortune he undertook one or two walking tours in England and Ireland, as a result of which [unclear: water] colour and sepia sketches of considerable merit dating from 1838 to 1843; on the back of one is a note: "Remember to call to-morrow and pay for the bread and cheese; "and upon another is recorded the opinion of an old Irish ferryman who affirmed that the happenings surrounding the terrestrial visit of a well known saint of the locality had taken place "at laste eighty years gone, your Honour"!

British Museum-1844 to 1849

In '44 he entered tie Antiquities Dept, at the British Museum as a clerk, and was promoted to the position of under-secretary about '49, but for two years previously had been giving attention to the problem of British Colonization.

About this time and for some years previously a strong feeling was evinced in favour of extending British Colonization.

The administration of the Colonial Office was much criticised, and an energetic colonial party was formed under the style "Society for the Reform of Colonial Government" for which society FitzGerald acted as secretary.

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As usual the intending promoters of Colonial expansion got neither assistance nor encouragement from the British government, because they were regarded as irresponsible persons who would probably drag the Govt, into financial difficulties, and who might not improbably sooner or later complicate foreign relations. The history of this time is, from a Colonist's point of view, a long struggle to secure the passage of Acts by the British Parliament warranting the operation of their colonising schemes, and to prevent the passage of Acts that seemed likely to make their difficulties greater. Looking backward from the present day it is singular to notice how unmistakably each colonizing project was regarded by successive British ministers as an unmitigated nuisance, and to contrast that view with the changed feeling of later times, and especially with the strong imperialistic feeling of to-day.

The New Zealand Company had then been formed and the settlements of Wellington, Nelson, New Plymouth and Wanganui had been launched, but the Company had got into financial straits and could do no more.

FitzGerald threw himself very warmly into the colonising movement which suited his ardent temperament, writing and speaking effectively whenever an opportunity presented itself, and this brought him into contact with others who were also interested in the movement, such as J. R. Godley, Lord Lyttelton, Mr Selfe, and all the other supporters of the New Zealand Company and the Colonial Reform Party.

Before the Canterbury settlement was considered, several other propositions had been debated. Godley published his "Plan of Colonisation for Ireland" (by emigration to Canada) which appeared as a supplement to the "Spectator" on April 3/47. This was the scheme which E. G. Wakefield's son (E. J. Wakefield) says was his father's conception-a matter that it is difficult to understand since Godley, who would never have made an unacknowledged use of another's work, published it as the work of himself and others, with the approval of a large committee amongst whom Wakefield's name does not appear; whereas it certainly would have so appeared if he had been page 3 prominently interested in the movement.

On May 3/47 FitzGerald issued a circular setting out the advantages of a proposal to form a colony at Vancouver's Island about which much discussion had centred, because the Colonial Office had proposed to hand over the island to the Hudson Bay Company.

On Feb. 1/49 FitzGerald published a book which purported to be "An Examination of Charters and Proceedings of the Hudson Bay Coy."This was apparently the culminating point in a long series of pamphlets and writings upon the subject extending over two or three years, which was at the time said to have killed the Hudson Bay Coy.

The formation of a colony at Vancover Island was, however, found to be impracticable, and the project was abandoned.

Enquiries were also being made elsewhere with a similar object in view, viz.: the formation of a colony, and amongst others the Indian Peninsula was brought under scrutiny.

Robert FitzGerald-a brother, and captain of the 5th Punjaub Cavalry in India, sent very uncompromising answers to questions about colonisation. They were generally to this effect:—"Don't attempt to come here. The Govt, run this country; they won't tolerate any colonies."

In connection with the foregoing, it is interesting to note that the Canterbury settlement was, after all, the outcome of a movement which began with another object in view, or at all events without Canterbury as its objective at the time of its inception.

FitzGerald became a member of the Managing Committee of the Canterbury Association some time in '49 and upon Mr Godley's departure for New Zealand in Dec. '49 was appointed to succeed him as Emigration Agent in London, but he retired from the office to accompany the first four ships to the Canterbury settlement, sailing in the "Charlotte Jane" on September 7/50.

In the same year he had married Fanny Erskine, daughter of George Draper, a London merchant, and his young wife accompanied him to New Zealand.

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Canterbury-1850 to 1857

The ships arrived on Dec. 16/50 bringing all the material for the "Lyttelton Times" newspaper, which was published for the first time on January 11/51 pursuant to an announcement by circular issued three days earlier. The paper was owned by Shrimpton and was for two years edited by FitzGerald, who also occupied the offices of Immigration Agent and Inspector of Police.

As bearing upon the prudence of his administration of the last mentioned office it is said that, while walking with his half brother, Gerald George FitzGerald, they overtook an escaped prisoner who waved above his head a hand saw with which he threatened to resist capture. The Inspector of Police called upon his brother "in the Queen's name" to arrest the absconder which the civilian expressed himself as entirely willing to do if the military arm would first remove the hand saw. As the result of an excusable disagreement upon this aspect of the case, the prisoner is said to have made good his escape.

Mr Godley returned to England in December '52 and in '53 FitzGerald was elected as the first Superintendent of the Province of Canterbury, opening the first Legislative Council on September 27th of the same year. About the same time or prior to leaving the Colony in '58 he took up the "Springs" Station to which reference is made elsewhere.

The First Parliament of New Zealand was summoned by Col. Wynyard-the officer administering the government of the Colony-at Auckland in '54.

FitzGerald, then member for Lyttelton, was invited to form a Cabinet, which he did with Mr Weld and Mr Sewell as his colleagues, and with sundry permanent officers of the Govt, as part of his executive. This convenient method of administration broke down almost immediately, because Col. Wynyard declined to accept the advice of the so-called responsible ministers upon the degree of responsibility to be accorded to the executive. As soon as it became known that the se-called "responsible government" was to be merely an extended form of administration by page 5 the representative of the Crown, the ministry resigned and were succeeded by others who for the time were less insistent upon the policy defined by their predecessors.

FitzGerald had striven for a truly responsible government instead of the sham government put forward by the administrating officer as "responsible", and the present constitution, which was granted some two years later, was very largely due to the exertions of the first executive. It is very remarkable to note that in these early days the pioneers of the Colony had a complete grasp of the principles of the kind of government they advocated, and a conviction that no other kind of government would satisfy the requirements of the Colony-a judgment which subsequent experience has shown to be sound and accurate.

In connection with this matter, which at the time was one of paramount concern to the colonists, it is astonishing to find that Mr Wakefield, who with Mr Swainson was advising the administrator, should have lent the weight of his valued judgment and mature experience to aid his principal in resisting the strenuous demands of the responsible government party, when it is remembered that his magnificent work in Canada had been consummated by the acceptance of his broadminded and liberal policy of an exactly opposite character. This alleged change in Wakefield's principles, and his apparent forsaking of the responsible government party, led to a regrettable breach with FitzGerald which was never healed.

Illness caused FitzGerald's retirement from politics in '57 when William Sefton Moorhouse succeeded him as Superintendent, and he left for England via Australia late in '58 taking his wife and four children (the youngest-the writer hereof-then only a few weeks old) in a small schooner called the "Speedy" which took over six weeks to reach Australia.

England-1858 to 1860

In England FitzGerald held the offfic of Emigration Agent for the province of Canterbury, and in that capacity he devoted himself to the service of the Colony both writing and speaking upon all favourable occasions.

Early in '59 he was approached by Lord Carnarvon with reference to the governorship of Moreton Bay, but in the meantime page 6 Sir George Bowen had "been appointed to the vacancy; and in any case his health at this tine would have prevented his acceptance of the position.

New Zealand-1861

Late in '60 he returned to the Colony in the ship "Matoaka" and for a time devoted his attention to the pastoral industry at his station "The Springs"in Canterbury in partnership with the late Mr Hunter Browne, Mr Percy Cox and his own brother-in-law-G. D. Draper, of whom both the last mentioned survive at the present time.

Christchurch Press-1863

Member for Akaroa

In January '63 FitzGerald bought the "Chch. Press" newspaper, which he owned until he left Canterbury in '67, and about the same time or in '62 he was elected member for Akaroa.

Native Minister-1865

In Aug. '65 he became Native Minister in Mr Weld's government which resigned because their majority in parliament on an important policy measure appeared to them inadequate-a course which colonial governments now-adays do not consider it imperative to adopt, but in which Mr Weld was supported at the time by British precedents.

Controller General-1867

In January 31/67 FitzGerald was appointed to the office of Controller General, which in '72 was enlarged into "Commissioner of Audit' and in '78 into "Controller and Auditor General" and he held this office until his death, making one short visit to England in '82.

Capt. Adams of the "Matoaka" was at Lyttelton with his ship when FitzGerald left for Wellington to take up his new appointment. He left with his ship a few days afterwards for England and was never heard of again.

In the administration of the office of auditor he defined the duty of the guardian of the Public Purse as a charge to prevent fraud, and to encourage an offender to restore what he had fraudulently taken before compelling the dept, to resort to a prosecution. In his view reparation and repentance were of more concern to the country and of more permanent value to the individual than the scandal of exposure and the degradation of a criminal, and the office is administered upon the same principles to-day.

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During his term in the Public service of the Colony he was commissioned "by several successive governments to draw important Policy Bills; amongst others he drafted the Public Works Act of '76 which was brought into operation by the late Sir Julius Vogel, and he was appointed a special Commissioner to report upon the audit systems of the neighbouring colonies of Australia, the result of which is embodied in a bulky departmental return.

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James Edward FitzGerald

Writings, Speeches &c.

1843-1849

Sundry essays and Debating Society speeches on a variety of subjects.

1847-1849

Proposal to from a colony at Vancouver Island.

Letter to the "Noblemen of England" upon the condition of Ireland.

Letter to Mr Monsell, Esqre., M.P. on Irish migration. Pamphlets, letters &c. on Vancouver Island.

Examination of Charters and proceedings Hudson Bay Coy.

Three manuscript volumes upon the exchequer.

Poetry, songs &c. (one by Crosbie Ward).

1853

Address to Canterbury Provincial Council upon financial arrangements between General and Provincial governments.

Paper on Dreams and sequel there to.

Essay on Federation.

Essay on Modern Psychology.

1863 or 1865

Lecture delivered to working men at Christchurch, N.Z.

"Home Rule from the Colonial Point of View".

Sundry Essays.

1862 or 1863

Lecture delivered at a Conversazione at Christchurch. (The same ideas afterward repeated at the Wellington Museum, 1867).

Article on Ship-money case and John Hampden.

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Address delivered at the Union Debating Society, Wellington (opening).

Stories and Plays.

"Eye-sores"-manuscript book of charades written during a period of failing eyesight.

1842-1844

Plays &c.

1842-1890

Manuscript book-Random Verses.

1870

Pamphlet "On Government"-Wellington, Independent.

1882

Speech-Union Debating Society, Wellington-"Possible

future developments of govt, in free state."

"Darwinian Thology".

"Fourth Dimension".

"Public Debts & Sinking Funds."

1886

"Gymnastic Training."

1869

"Self Reliant Policy in New Zealand."

Sundry Tales (manuscript).

Sundry political and private letters &c.

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Schedule of References

"New Zealand Rulers and Statesmen" Wm. Gisborne (1840-1897) 2nd Edition, London, 1897.
"The Press" Christchurch, N.Z., Aug. 3/96, Obituary notice by the Hon. Rolleston.
"The Long White Cloud" W. P. Reeves, London, 1898.
"History of New Zealand" G. W. Rusden, Melbourne, 1896.
"Dictionary of Australasian Biography" Philip Mennell, London, 1892.
"Dictiorary of National Biography" Supplement, Vol. II, London, 1901. Note by W. P. Reeves.
"New Zealand Times" Wellington, N.Z., August, 3/96.
"Wellington Post" Wellington, N. Z., August, 3/96.
"Hansard" First Volume.
Also several private documents &c.