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Early Wellington
Chapter IV
Chapter IV.
Landing at Pito-one—Church Service on the Beach.
“A land whose beauties importune
The Briton to its bowers;
To sow but plenteous seeds and prune
Luxuriant fruits and flowers.
Cheer up! Cheer up! Your course then keep
With dauntless heart and hand;
And when you've ploughed a stormy deep
Then plough a smiling land.
—Thos. Campbell, 1839.
The ship “Adelaide,” 640 tons register, commanded by Capt. William Campbell, left the river (London) on 18th September, 1839, and arrived at Port Nicholson on 7th March, 1840. There were 37 cabin and 144 steerage passengers on board. Five births occurred during the voyage, totalling the number of passengers to 186.
The names of the adult passengers and children over fifteen years of age comprised the following:—
Name Age Wife's Age No. of Children Alzdorf, Charles 24 — — Andrews, George — — — Bradey, Francis 45 38 5 Brady, Emma 20 — — Beaumont, Robert 30 26 1 Beckers, Eliza 19 — — Bell, Charles Frater 27 30 — Bennett, Charlotte 22 — 1 Boyle, Catherine 30 — — Boyle, Rachael 30 — — Bradford, Robert 34 31 2 Brown, J. W. Henry 25 26 1 Buchanan, James M (Schoolteacher) 55 — — Burcham, James 33 33 — Buxton, H. B. 39 33 4 Campbell, Robert 16 — — Cole, G. S. & H. — — — Constable, Edward 24 25 — Constable, John — — — Clarke, George 25 — — Cook, H. and T. W. — — — Cooke, E. — — — Daniell, Cap. Edward — — — de Oliveira, Leocadia — — — Durie, D. Stark (Major) — — — Ellerm, Edward (Senr.) 35 34 3 Ellerm, Edward (Junr.) — — — Evans, Caroline — — — Evans, Dr. G. S. Lady and Child — — — Evans, J. E. 24 20 — Evans, John — — — Fox, John 22 24 — Galpin, William 24 29 1 Galpin, C. and C. M. — — — Guthrie, Thomas 26 24 1 Harris, John 31 31 4 Henderson, D. 28 24 — Hewitt, A. and R. 28 26 1 Hunt, Charles 51 44 1 Hunt, Maria 24 — — Hunt, Emily 20 — — Hunt, Fanny 17 — — Johnson, F. J. & W. — — — Jones, Clara Elizabeth 18 — — Kemble, R. — — — Kimpton, Thomas 29 — — Knight, W. (?) — — — Knight, Thomas 28 — — Laurance, Joseph 21 — — Longmore, Thomas 20 — — Luscombe, J. H. — — — Luxford, William 39 39 6 Luxford, C. E. and G. H. — — — Luxford, W. N. — — — Marshall, Sampson 24 22 — McKenzie, Mrs. 35 — — McKenzie, Thos. 20 — — McKenzie, Thomas W. — — — McKew, Peter 34 36 4page 34 McKew, Mary Ann 15 — — McNally, James 36 35 — Miller, M. — — — Minifie, John 24 23 1 Minifie, Elizabeth W. 44 — 1 Minifie, Matilda 15 — — Minifie, Thomas 22 — — Minifie, Joseph 17 — — Montague, Lydia 19 — — Natrass, J. — — — Oliver, Miss. — — — Partridge, T. N. — — — Pike, Mary Elizabeth 20 — — Reid, James (Brewer) 39 — — Revans, Samuel — — — Riddiford D., Lady and Miss — — – Roe, Charles Ed. & E. — — — Rutler, Samuel 20 — — Shannon, Florence Mr. Shannon arrived by “Cuba.” 32— — — Simpson, Joseph 26 27 — Smith-Mein, Mrs. W. — — 3 St. Hill H. and Lady — — — Stoddard, Mr. and Mrs 25 25 — Swann, James 38 39 5 Taine, J. J. — — — Thomas, Cap. J. — — — Thomas, J. — — — Ticehurst, Edwin 27 27 3 Tilke, Ann, c/o Mrs. Evans — — — Turnbull, William 24 — — Turner, Ann 20 — — Waddell, J. — — — Ward, Edward 18 — — Ward, James 32 27 — Weston, Frayton 19 — — Whiteman, William 15 — — Williams, Eliza 35 — — Wright, James 25 — — Wright, William 29 — — Yates, F. Thomas 22 — — Certified while under weigh for New Zealand about 4 o'clock 18th September, 1839.
(Signed)William Johnston
,
Surgeon.
About four in the afternoon of the 7th March, 1840, Colonel Wakefield and his nephew Jerningham were sitting outside Mr. Moreing's tent, enjoying a cigar and the genial weather, when they saw three large vessels at once at the entrance of the harbour. One was recognised as the “Tory.” The others were the “Adelaide” and “Glenbervie.” A sudden storm of southerly wind, lightning and rain made them retreat under the tent as the squadron emerged from behind Somes Island under full sail.
They had not been long under shelter when Dr. Evans, one of the earliest members of the Association of 1837, burst into the tent, soaked through, but apparently wild with excitement and pleasure at having at length landed on the shores of the country in which he had been so long interested. He had arrived, with his family and several of the principal Colonists, in the “Adelaide.” The other ship, the “Glenbervie,” carried the Manager, Clerks, and well-lined safe of a branch of the Union Bank of Australia.
In the morning a grand salute was fired by all the ships, which lay at anchor in an extended line between the beach and Somes Island. The weather was delicious, and a large concourse of those on shore assembled to gaze on the imposing sight.
The six large ships, that had arrived previously, decked with colours, above which the New Zealand flag floated supreme, were thundering away. The natives shared in the general excitement, and proposed to take Colonel Wakefield in their canoes round the fleet. They started in three large war-canoes, racing under the stern of each ship in succession, while the salute continued. The place of honour was assigned to Colonel Wakefield, who was in Te Puni's canoe. The other canoes were commanded by Wharepouri and Tuarau. They shouted their war song most vigorously as they passed close to each astonished poop-load of passengers, and completed the circle of vessels at full speed without a single pause. Moe, or “Sleep,” a brother of Te Puni, caused much amusement by his grimaces as he plied his paddle at the bow of Te Puni's canoe, which got back first to the beach.
During the next few days the passengers of the “Adelaide” made themselves page 35 acquainted with the respective merits of the two sites for the town (Pito-one and Thorndon), and gave their decisions almost unanimously in favour of Thorndon. It was, therefore, decided to commence the survey of that district.
Some delay was caused by the change, as the time already spent in cutting lines and laying out the streets in the valley of the Hutt became almost useless!*
The following is an extract from a letter written by a passenger of the “Adelaide” on the 21st December, 1839.
“We left Teneriffe on the 16th of October and crossed the line on the 14th of November. We are all well and in good spirits and have lost only two or three children, and a man who fell overboard. Mrs. Miller gave birth to an infant, and Mrs. Riddiford had a daughter on board on the 28th November. Some quarrels have occurred; one cause of difference was the putting into Table Bay on the 19th December, under the impression that the delay would swell to a month at least.”—“N.Z. Journal,” 1840, p. 42.
A passenger on the “Adelaide” related some of his experiences, which were published in Bishop's Guide to Wellington, 1883, kindly lent to the writer by Mr. Hamilton Bannister, and from which a few extracts are here given:—
“On the 7th March, 1840, I arrived in the harbour of Port Nicholson, in the ship ‘Adelaide,’ after a protracted passage of six months. The voyage was rather an eventful one. In crossing the Bay of Biscay we encountered a severe gale, with a high tumultuous sea, and it was with great difficulty that the Captain saved the masts. After crossing the Bay we put into Santa Cruz, Teneriffe. We lay there three days, and took on board some live stock, and a large supply of fruit… . Previous to crossing the line, a dispute arose amongst the passengers, occasioned, no doubt by the ‘strength’ of the bilge water (?) which could only be settled by an interchange of civilities on shore. This necessitated the calling at Cape Town, very much to the annoyance of our Captain, as it would considerably protract the voyage. On arriving at Cape Town, the belligerents landed, and arrangements were made to settle their differences. After stepping off the usual number of paces, and the seconds placing their men, one of the principals refused to fight. He was willing enough for his opponent to fire at him, but positively refused to return the fire. The seconds, of course, could not allow this to be done, and so the matter ended in the Law Courts. The result was that the Captain and one of his principals were bound over to keep the peace, and thus ended this bloodless affair. After a detention of about a fortnight at the Cape, we again set sail for New Zealand, and arrived here as above, having previously called at Port Hardy for instructions.”
“The settlers from the first five vessels—‘Aurora,’ ‘Oriental,’ ‘Duke of Roxburgh,’ ‘Bengal Merchant,’ and ‘Adelaide’—landed at Pito-one, and the ships lay at anchor under the lee of Somes Island. On my first landing, a mere lad, I was delighted with the novelty of the scenes that met my view, and the bustle and activity going on around me so occupied my thoughts as to leave no room for gloomy anticipations of the future. There was one scene, however, that was more deeply impressed on my mind than any other, and that has never been effaced during the vicissitudes of a Colonial life. I allude to the first page 36 Sabbath service I attended after my arrival in New Zealand.”
Church Service at Pito-One, 1840.
“It was a beautiful calm day, not a cloud to be seen in the sky, and the sun shone forth in its meridian splendour. The magnificent harbour of Port Nicholson lay before us, but not a breath of wind to ruffle the surface of its waters; and the laving of the tide upon the beach was the only sound heard in that direction, to break the stillness of the peaceful scene. To the left might be seen, anchored off Somes Island, the vessels which had been for months the temporary homes of the settlers, and which had brought them in safety across the mighty deep, with the British Ensign hanging at their peak. To the right, and about a quarter of a mile distant, was the bush with its various and beautiful foliage. The Nikau palm and the Tree fern being conspicuous in their beauty; and the woods were musical with the song of birds. The back ground consisting of tall flax and the feathery toi toi (toetoe), which was then in full bloom. Adjoining, and a short distance from Petone Beach there was a small clump of Karaka trees, under the shade of which the settlers assembled to worship God. There was no Sabbath bell to call the congregation together, but the song of the bell bird could be distinctly heard above all the songsters of the grove. There were about thirty or forty persons, among whom I remember Mr. Robert Roger Strang, Mr. George Hunter (afterwards the first Mayor), Mr. Wm. Lyon, Mr. K. Bethune, Mr. J. Telford, Mr. Francis Yates, Mr. Robert Kemble, Mr. Buchanan, and many whose names I have forgotten.
“The greeting was most cordial as friends met and briefly related their several experiences to each other, since leaving the Mother Country.…
“The Rev. John Macfarlane, the only clergyman who accompanied the first expedition, officiated. He was then in the vigour of manhood, was of medium height, and formed a prominent feature in the group. When the Rev. gentleman said ‘Let us worship God,’ every head was reverently uncovered and the small company joined with all earnestness in singing the C. Psalm: ‘All People that on Earth do Dwell.’ He then read a portion of Scripture, after which he offered up a prayer. And there, with the canopy of heaven for a covering, did they pour forth their thanksgiving to God for bringing them in safety across the mighty deep to their desired haven.… Then was sung ‘O God of Bethel, by whose hand,’ etc. After a short sermon the XXIII. Psalm was sung: ‘The Lord's my shepherd; I'll not want,’ etc. And here I may mention that Sabbath services were afterwards regularly held in Bethune and Hunter's store on the banks of the Hutt, and sometimes at Colonel Wake-field's house at Pito-one. What a contrast the previous week had been to this peaceful and holy Sabbath.”
The writer of the above then refers to the murder of Poukawa, a Ngatiawa chief, and continues:—“In order to make reprisals, an expedition of over 300 warriors was raised to secure ‘utu’ (or blood for blood payment), and had departed with threats of direful vengeance.
“It was in the interim that the ‘First Sabbath service,’ as above recorded, was held.”
* Wakefield's Adventure in New Zealand, p. 158.
The “Glenbervie.”
The store ship “Glenbervie,” 387 tons commanded by Capt. Wm. Black, left page 37 London on October 2nd, 1839, and arrived at the Port on the 7th March, 1840. There were five cabin and two steerage passengers. The names of the former were Messrs. J. Smith, R. Inglis, R. Heaver, Mr. Watt and lady, and Mr. and Mrs. Northwood.*
Lady readers will be interested to learn how the passengers were provided with suitable clothes for the voyage and Colonial life, with which they were supplied at the prices quoted hereunder:—
| Female. | |
| 2 Gowns, 18 yds. print cotton | 9/- |
| 2 Petticoats, 6 yds. Col. calico | 3/- |
| 2 Petticoats, flannel 6 yds | 6/- |
| 12 Shifts, 30 yds., long cloth | 15/- |
| 6 Caps, 3 yds. of muslin | 3/- |
| 6 Aprons, 6 yds. calico | 3/- |
| 6 Handerchiefs | 3/- |
| 6 Neckerchiefs | 4/6 |
| 6 Towels | 3/- |
| 1 Pair Stays | 5/- |
| 6 Pair black worsted stockings | 7/6 |
| 2 Pair shoes | 8/- |
| 1 Bonnet | 3/- |
| Needles, pins, tapes, etc. | 5/- |
| 2 Ibs. soap | 3/- |
| 2 Ibs. starch | — |
| Male. | |
| 2 Fustian jackets | 15/- |
| 2 Pair trousers | 12/- |
| 2 Pair duck trousers | 5/- |
| 2 Round frocks | 5/- |
| 12 Cotton shirts | £1/7/- |
| 6 Pair worsted stockings | 9/- |
| 2 Scotch caps | 3/- |
| 6 Handkerchiefs | 3/- |
| 6 Coarse towels | 3/- |
| 1 Pair boots | 10/- |
| 1 Pair shoes | 6/- |
| 4 Ibs. of soap | 2/- |
| 1 Pair blankets | 10/- |
| 2 Pair sheets | 10/- |
| Sum required for Married Couple £10/-/-. |
The barque “Bolton,” 540 tons, commanded by Capt. J. P. Robinson, with Dr. R. Godfrey Lowe as Surgeon Superintendent, sailed on the 1st November, 1839, and arrived April 21st 1840. There were 66 married couples, 23 single men, 13 single women, 23 children from nine fourteen, 60 children from one to nine, and 8 under one year.
The “Bolton,” described as the “October” ship, had, against the name of each emigrant, the names of the following persons who recommended them, and summarised thus:—Lord Petre, Revds. Butler and J. F. Churton, Messrs. H. Shafto, Harrison, Jas. Gordon, Hulke, T. Woolcombe, Geo. Whiting, Collet, J. Coverdale, J. Minet, B. E. Duppa, E. Cherry, Jos. Somes, J. Phipson, Ashton, W. E. Wallace, Mears, and Gracechurch.
Enquiries respecting Agricultural Labourers were noted on the back of the Register. These apparently emanated from J. Raymond Barker, Esq., Fairfield Park, Glostershire, and Captain Raymond, Gravesend, C/o Lewis Gilson, Esq., Star Office, Fresh Wharf, London Bridge.
The passenger list is as follows:—
| Name | No. of Children |
| *Annear, James and Ann | — |
| Atkinson, Mary Ann | — |
| Avery, Thos. and Eliza | 6 |
| Bannister, William and Mary | 2 |
| Bannister, John, *Wm. (Junr.) | — |
| * Barnes, Charles | — |
| Bowdler, John and Hannah | 3 |
| *Broggraf, Jas. and Eliza | — |
| Butler, Rev. J. Gare and >Hannah | — |
| Butler, Thos. Chas. and Louisa | 1 |
| Carter, Thos. and Mary Ann | 2 |
| Castle, John and Maria | 4 |
| Catley, Zachariah and Sarah | 4 |
| * Chapman, Sarah | — |
| Cherry, Edward and Ann | 3 |
| Churton, Rev. J. F. and Mary | 5 |
| * Clark, Stephen | 5 |
| Clarke, Wm. (widower) | 2 |
| Clarkson, Wm. and Sarah | 4 |
| Clover, Harriet and Thos | — |
| Cockram, Thos. and Maria | — |
| Collett, Jas. Ed. | — |
| Collett, Rachael Teresa | — |
| Cowdry, Susan | — |
| Cox, John | — |
| Craven, Thomas | — |
| Creamer, James | — |
| Cross, John and George | — |
| Curry, | — |
| Davis, W. F. and Sarah Ann | — |
| Duffield, Geo. and Martha | — |
| Dykes, Wm. and Betsy | — |
| Dykes, George | —page 38 |
| Eastwood, Wm. and Mary | 3 |
| Edwards, James | — |
| Falivasser, Sarah | — |
| Farmer, John and Mary | 4 |
| Florance, John and Jane | — |
| Goldsworthy, John and Eliz. | 3 |
| Goodhew, Wm. and Matilda | 1 |
| Goward, John (Pilcher's Nephew) | — |
| Green, Elizabeth | — |
| Griffiths, Louis and Ann | 5 |
| Hales, George and Ann | 4 |
| Hargreaves, Eliza | — |
| Harris, Abraham and Sarah | 5 |
| Harris, Diana | — |
| *Harrison, — | 3 |
| Harrison, Henry Shafto | 3 |
| Harrison, Henrietta | 3 |
| Harrison, Rob. J. 20, Isabella | 2 |
| * Harryman, James | 4 |
| Harvey, James and Mary | 1 |
| *Heywood, Wm. Jas. and Eliza | — |
| *Honey, Thos. | — |
| Hook, Bennett (widow) | — |
| Houghton, Nat. George | — |
| Hughes, Geo. and Eliza | 4 |
| Hunt, Wm. and Hannah | 6 |
| Hurst, Wm. and Mary Ann | 6 |
| Ingram, George | — |
| Jones, John and Ellen | 5 |
| Jones, Mary | — |
| Judd, William | — |
| Kelly, Chas. | — |
| Knight, William | — |
| King, James and Susan | — |
| King, John and Frances | — |
| Lancaster, John | — |
| Lane, Edward | — |
| *Lane, Mary | — |
| Larken, John | 1 |
| Lewis, Elizabeth | — |
| Lockwood, John and Daniel | — |
| Lockyer, George | — |
| Long, John and Elizabeth | 2 |
| Lovelock, Isaac and Elizabeth | 4 |
| Lowe, R. Godfrey, M.D. | — |
| Madden, — | — |
| Maddox, Sam and Sarah | — |
| Mason, Jas. and Rachael | — |
| Midgley, Henry | — |
| Millgate, — | — |
| Minet, Joseph and Amie A. | 4 |
| Moore, J. O'Malley | 2 |
| Morgan, — | — |
| Nash, Jas. H. and Ann | 3 |
| Nankivell, Robert | 5 |
| Nankivell, William | — |
| Packman, William | 4 |
| Packman, Mary and Wm. (Junr.) | — |
| Payne, Wm. and Eliza | — |
| Penfold, Jos. and Mary | 3 |
| Peters, — | — |
| Pilcher, Stephen (Widower) | 2 |
| Pilcher, George and Susan | — |
| *Pratt, Thomas and Maria | 5 |
| Price, Elizabeth | 3 |
| Rawson, John and M. Ann | 5 |
| Relf, Robt. and Anne | 6 |
| Rumball, Jas. and Mary | 2 |
| Rumble, Jas. and Sarah | 2 |
| Russell, Elizabeth | — |
| Scott, Elizabéth | — |
| Scott, George and Mary | 4 |
| Shuter, Sam and Maria | 5 |
| Spackman, Geo. and Mary | — |
| Spinner, Robert | — |
| St. Hill, Ashton (15 yrs.) | — |
| Sutton, Henry | — |
| Swallow, Ed. and Ann | — |
| Sykes, — | — |
| * Terrey, James | — |
| Trevarton, Wm. and Eliza | 3 |
| Trist, Jane | — |
| Tyler, James | — |
| Wadeson, Sam | — |
| Waggon, Ed. (widower) | — |
| Walsh, Ed. and Mary Ann | 6 |
| Walter, Wm. and Sarah | 2 |
| Whitley, Wm. and Mary | 3 |
| Wibley, Wm. and Anne Lane | 3 |
| Williams, Wm. Dorothy | 3 |
| Winnell, Mary | — |
| Wood, Geo. and Eliza | 3 |
| Woodman, Thos. and Mary | 4 |
| Zilwood, Jos. and Eliza | 2 |
When the New Zealand Company sent out their exploring expedition, they explained to Colonel Wakefield that there was probably some one part of New Zealand better suited than any other to become the centre of its trade. The shores of safe and commodious harbours, the sheltered emboucheres of an extensive river communicating with a fertile country, were the situations to which his attention was directed, and he was especially instructed to make purchases of land on the shores of that harbour which should appear to offer the greatest facilities as a general trading depot, and port of export and import for all parts of the Islands. But closely followed, unfortunately, by several hundred intending settlers, Colonel Wakefield had no time to spare in selecting a site for their location. Many harbours were already occupied by claimants still earlier in the field, and in the selection of a site for their first and principal settlement, the page 39 New Zealand Company was confined to unoccupied localities.
On visiting Thorndon, the level piece of land at the south west extremity of the harbour, on which he had intended to place the town, Colonel Wakefield was well received by the natives of that part. More than one competitor for land had paid a visit since the Colonel's departure for the North, and had attempted to buy patches of land over the agent's head. One of these was a Mr. R. Tod, who had been fortunate enough to discover an inferior chief named Moturoa, who was absent during the Port Nicholson purchase in September, and who had agreed to sell him three or four acres on the most promising part of the beach, near Pipitea Point and Pa (corner of Mulgrave and Pipitea Street). Mr. Tod appeared resolved to maintain this transaction by every possible means, but Moturoa very soon showed a disposition to assent to the large sale of Port Nicholson, and receive some utu from Colonel Wakefield for his rights and claims, which Wharepouri and Te Puni both described as very insignificant.
Two acres of land, adjoining section 600 and Pipitea Pa, with a frontage to the beach, were granted to the Church Missionary Society in the names of the Rev. Henry Williams and Richard Davis, in lieu of their claim.
The sand hummocks at the back of the long beach at Pito-one were dotted with tents of all sizes and shapes, and native built huts in various stages of construction, while heaps of goods lay about anywhere between high-water mark and the houses. Ploughs, bricks, millstones, tent poles, saucepans, crockery, iron, pothooks, triangles, casks of all sizes, bales of all sorts were distributed about. The greatest good humour prevailed among the owners of these multifarious articles. The novelty and excitement of their employment appeared to give them high spirits and courage. They pitched their tents and piled up their goods in rude order, while the natives, equally pleased and excited, sung Maori songs to them from the tops of the whares or huts where they sat tying the rafters and thatch together with flaxen bands. At the back of the tavern, whither a flagstaff and a New Zealand flag invited the sailors, a rough and newly made track struck off to the settlement on the riverbank, across a miry swamp. About a quarter of a mile beyond this swamp, at the junction of a small creek with the Hutt, was the beginning of a little village of tents and huts, among the low scrubby coppice wood which covered this part of the valley. A rough path had been cleared by the surveyors along the bank, and on either side of this the Colonists had been allowed to squat on allotted portions until the survey of the Town should be completed.
Captain Smith had preferred the lower part of the valley of the Hutt to Thorndon and its neighbourhood for the site of the town, as the whole eleven hundred acres, with sufficient reserves, for promenades and other public purposes, could be laid out on level ground in the alluvial valley. He had neglected the instructions given by Colonel Wakefield to the man (another Mr. Smith), left behind by the “Tory” in September, 1839, to have the town laid out at Thorndon, and had proceeded with the survey of the Hutt banks. The dense forest and swampy ground impeded the rapid progress of the survey.
The squatters on the Hutt were no less busy and merry than their fellows on the beach. Mr. Edward Betts Hopper, of Dover, Mr. Henry William Petre, page 40 and Mr. Francis Alexander Molesworth had formed themselves into a commercial firm, and had brought with them the complete machinery of a steam-engine of twenty horse power, adapted for sawing or flour mills.
They were as busy as the rest, landing and arranging their goods. At high water, the ship's long-boats and private cargo-boats brought quantities of goods up to the owners' locations. The labourers and masters worked altogether at the casks, bales, and other heavy things; the natives lent their willing aid, being very handy in the water and then returned, either to a job at hut-building, or to hawk about their pigs and potatoes, which they brought in canoes to this quick market.
Each capitalist appeared to have a following of labourers from his own part of the country. Cornish miners and agricultural labourers had pitched their tents near Mr. Molesworth; Kentish men dwelt near Mr. George Duppa, a little higher up; and many of the Scotch-people were collected near a point between two reaches of the river, where Mr. Dudley Sinclair and Mr. Barton were erecting their dwellings. At the latter place Mr. Sinclair's English cow was browsing on the shrubs of her newly-adopted country.
Small patches for gardens were already being cleared in various spots; ruddy flaxen-haired children were playing about near the doors; and the whole thing made an impression of cheerfulness and contentment.
Then the mildness of the climate, the good preparations made before leaving England, and the hearty good-feeling existing among the Colonists themselves as well as between them and the natives, all tended to give the extensive bivouac the air of a picnic on a large scale, rather than a specimen of the hardships of a Colony.
For, although all were often wet in the numerous boat excursions and fording of streams and creeks, or occasional showers of rain, no one felt any injury to his health; master and man toiled with equal energy and good-will; and both enjoyed a good meal, often served up with all the comforts of civilised life. Thus, in a little, cramped, but weather-tight tent, you found a capitalist in shirt-sleeves, taking a hasty meal of preserved meat and good vegetables (the latter grown from the seeds that were left with Smith), and drinking good beer or wine. Each English family had got a native or two particularly attached to them. They supplied their guests with potatoes and firewood, and with an occasional pig; shared in the toils and meals of the family; delighted at the novelty of every article unpacked, and were very quick at learning the use of the new tools and inventions; chattered incessantly in Maori and broken English; and devoted themselves, each to his own Pakeha, with the greatest good-breeding, patience and kind attention.*
Te Puni had attached himself especially to Colonel Wakefield. The stores were placed entirely under his care, of which he was not a little proud. He and his people were engaged in a good sized house near the store-house for the Colonel. Another Pito-one man built a house for Jerningham Wakefield, which the latter made over to Dr. Dorset, who had taken shelter at first under the roof of an old friend of his, a passenger in the “Aurora.”
* “Wakefield's Adventure,” p. 148.
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Fig. 18—Pito-one Beach, where the first settlers landed. Copied by Mr. Basil R. Ward, A.R.I.B.A. (Rangoon), from a pencilled sketch drawn by Betts-Hopper, Esq., from on board the Oriental (seen in the forefront) in 1840. “The village lay, as it's Maori name (‘Pito-one,’ or ‘End of the Sand’) implied, at the Western end of the sandy beach, which is two miles long… The valley seems to preserve an average width of two miles to a considerable distance, bounded on either side by wooded hills from 300 to 400 ft. in height. It was covered with high forest to within a mile and a half of the beach, when swamps full of flax and a belt of sand hummocks intervened.” (Wakefield's Adventure in N.Z., p. 54). This picture depicts the few tents and huts on the beach. The original of this sketch is in a book of sketches in the possession of Mr. E. G. Pilcher. The book (over a hundred years old) contains sketches of old English scenery, and the hills near Port Nicholson, drawn by Mr. Hopper as the Oriental sailed slowly into the Harbour.
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Fig. 19—Hon. Francis Molesworth's Residence at the Hutt, 1841.
Colonel Wakefield's warning to the tavern keeper against a continuance of these disturbances, was treated with contempt. Upon this he explained his views to Te Puni and Wharepouri, and they, with several other chiefs of authority, accompanied him, with their arms and mats of state, to the den in question, and confirmed the Colonel's statement that he had acted by their authority. This demonstration had the desired effect.