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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Mr. Thomas Stevenson

Mr. Thomas Stevenson, one of the first settlers in Wellington, was born in Wigan, Lancashire, in 1815. When twenty-four years of age he came to Sydney, and, after returning from a voyage to China, decided to go over to New Zealand. The opportunity offered in 1841, when Mr. Crawford shipped a lot of page 772 Mr. Thomas Stevenson stock to Wellington. Mr. Stevenson was engaged to attend to a mob of twenty bullocks on board. Besides the bullocks, the barque also carried several hundred sheep, and a riding-horse, for Mr. Crawford's estate in New Zealand. The voyage across only occupied seven days, but the vessel had to remain another seven days at Wellington Heads, owing to exceptionally rough weather preventing her getting in. Despite the unfavourable termination of the voyage, only some half-dozen sheep were lost. There were no conveniences for landing stock in those days, and the bullocks had to be swung overboard and made to swim ashore. The sheep were landed in barges. On Mr. Stevenson's arrival, Colonel Wakefield was in charge of the settlement, and Governor Hobson was in Auckland. Mr. Murphy was Magistrate, and the surveys were being commenced. For a number of years, Mr. Stevenson worked for the Government of the day—on the survey, and road-making. In 1850 he opened a general store in Manners Street, which, with Willis Street and, later on, Cuba Street, formed the business part of the settlement. There was one house in Cuba Street, and tussocks, toi-toi, grass, and flax bushes abounded everywhere, with clumps of bush here and there. The principal business was Bethune and Hunter's, though, when Mr. Stevenson landed stores were quite unknown. After ten years in business in Manners Street, Mr. Stevenson sold out, and went to Auckland. He returned to Wellington in 1862, and opened a business in Taranaki Place, which he conducted for about eighteen years. In this business, Mr. Stevenson earned sufficient to enable him to purchase a number of properties in Newtown and elsewhere. In 1885, he finally retired from business, and went to live in Riddiford Street, Newtown. Mr. Stevenson has been married several times, but has only one daughter, who lives with him. Despite his great age, and the rough experience he had as an early settler, Mr. Stevenson is still an active man. Locally, he is known as a retiring, benevolent old gentleman.