Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

Port Chalmers

Port Chalmers is situated nine miles north of Dunedin by railway, and about eight miles fom the ocean or head of the harbour; 229 miles from Lyttelton on the north, and 164 miles from the Bluff on the south. The first birth recorded in the town was that of a son born to Mr. and Mrs Lewthwaite, who came from Taranaki in 1844. Early in 1845 Mr. Alexander McKay opened the first public house, to which he gave the name of the Surveyor's Arms. It was on the same site as the later and present Port Chalmers Hotel.

The survey of Port Chalmers, difficult enough wing to its irregular surface, was completed by the middle of May, 1846. Mr. Charles Henry Kettle, who arrived in Otago in February, 1846, was one of the first surveyors of the town, and commenced his work shortly after his arrival. He had eleven surveyors under his direction, and he also took soundings of the harbour, with a view to buoying it for navigation.

At first it was intended to christen the town New Leith or New Musselburgh, as the early settlers disliked the Maori name Koputai, by which it was then known; but the Lay Association, when finally applying itself to the settlement of Otago, desired that the port might be named after Dr. Chalmers, the leader of the Free Church movement in Scotland, and this suggestion was adopted. The streets of the town carry the names of the first immigrant vessels; hence Wickliffe, Laing, Victory, Bernicia, Mary and Ajax Streets. Scotia Street was named after Mr. John Jones' favourite little schooner, which was always trading up and down the coast. Harrington Street was named in compliment to the Secretary of the New Zealand Company; this gentleman is also commemorated in Harrington Point, near the Heads. Currie Street perpetuates the name of one of the New Zealand Company's directors who took a special interest in the scheme. Burns Street was named after the Rev. Thomas Burns, the minister of the settlement; George and Grey Streets, after the Governor of New Zealand, Sir George Grey.

Port Chalmers.

Port Chalmers.

The first of the immigrant ships, the “John Wickliffe,” arrived at Port Chalmers on the 23rd of March, 1848, and was followed on the 15th of April, of the same year, by the “Philip Laing.” Work in abundance was waiting for the colonists, as at that time the place was nearly all bush; and the labour of clearing was commenced in earnest. The “Nelson” of 220 tons, was the first steamer to visit the Port, in 1854, and was subsequently engaged in the coastal trade.

On the 1st of January, 1854, the population numbered eighty souls. On the outbreak of Gabriel's Gully, a rush from Victoria and other Australian towns took place, and a quantity of bush in the vicinity of Grey Street was felled to make room for the erection of tents. Late in the fifties the Customhouse was robbed, and the safe, containing about £900, was carried down the bay, but was afterwards recovered in deep water, where the thieves had thrown it on finding that they were pursued. Mr. Colin Allan was the first master of the district school, and on his retirement he was apoipnted Immigration Agent. The attendance in September, 1857, was thirty-one; in September, 1861, thirty-five. Mr. Allan was succeeded, in 1861 by Mr. William Reid, who subsequently gave place to Mr. Chilton. During the latter gentleman's tenure of office there were 700 scholars on the roll. The induction of the Rev. William Johnstone, as minister of Port Chalmers and the north, took place in 1858, and was the first formal induction in Otago. In the page 426 early days all the land on the peninsula, mostly bush, was owned by the Provincial Government, which from time to time put it up for sale in large and small lots, thus encouraging settlers to take up their residence in the district.

The Bowen pier was the first wharf built; it was followed by the Export pier, and, later, the George Street wharf. At the present time (1904) ships of any tonnage can lie alongside the wharves, perfectly sheltered from the strongest winds, and uninfluenced by the tides. Before the dock was built, and in the old days, there was a depth of water sufficient to enable coasters to heave down at high water mark to repair, paint, etc.; a conveniences which few harbours could then boast of. In those days the Port was a noted whaling station, and a pilot crew had quarters at the Heads, where there was also a Maori settlement. Before a wharf or jetty was erected the ships used to anchor in the stream, and the cargo was transhipped to lighters, and taken up to Dunedin. The means of transit between the Port and Dunedin, before the railway was built, consisted in two paddle boats, the “Golden Age,” and “Peninsula.” On the 1st of January, 1873, the railway connecting the two towns was opened for traffic by the Governor, Sir George Bowen. This line was purchased by the General Government in March of the same year, for £177,500. The railway between Christchurch and Dunedin was finished in August, 1878.

The Port Chalmers of the present day is a thriving little town, with a population of over 2,000, and an annual municipal revenue of £4,000. There are two railway stations, an upper and lower, conspicuous for their cleanliness, and along the wharves there are laid lines of rails to facilitate the loading and unloading of large ocean cargo steamers. Two large Home steamers and two Union boats can be accommodated at the George Street pier; four light vessels at the Bowen pier; and a light Home steamer and several hulks at the Export pier. The Port Chalmers Graving Dock, controlled by the Otago Dock Trust, was built by the Provincial Government in 1872. Its dimensions are: Depth of water at dock sill, ordinary tides, 19 feet 6 inches: spring tides, 21 feet; neap tides, 17 feet 6 inches; length, 328 feet; width above, 68 feet; width below, 41 feet; width where the ship's bilge would be, 43 feet; width at dock gates, 50 feet. The dock cost £50,000. The Dock Trust controls a workshop with forge, and a seven-ton hammer; also sheer-legs capable of lifting eighty tons. The forge and worts hops have been leased to Messrs Stevenson and Cook. The Trust also controls the freezing works, which were established in 1899, with the object of freezing butter for export. Latterly, however, the operations have increased, and rabbits, poultry, eggs and fish are treated, as they are in demand, for the foreign trade. About 50,000 cases of rabbits were put through in 1903. Port Chalmers is the starting point for all intercolonial steamers on their return voyage, whilst the large Home liners make it a port of call for cargoes of frozen produce, and the facilities the Port possesses enable them to have rapid despatch.

About half a mile from the town, on the road leading to the Heads, is Mansford town, a small fishing village; while further on is the torpedo station, situated in a sheltered nook, known as Deborah Bay. There is a fairly level road round the north side of the harbour, suitable for cyclists in summer, but a little sandy near the Heads, though still suitable for horse and trap traffic. Two roads connect Port Chalmers with Dunedin, an upper and lower; but the former is too hilly and the latter too broken for cyclists. No-license was carried in 1902, and most of the hotels have been converted into boarding houses. The chief industry in the town is connected with the Union Steamship Company's workshops, where Hundreds of skilled artisans are employed in repairing and renewing the numerous steamers sailing under that company's flag. Fish-curing provides employment for a number of deep-sea fishermen. There is a good Presbyterian church on the hill, and there are Anglican, Congregational, Wesleyan, and Roman Catholic churches, and a Salvation Army hall. The town has a District High School, a Roman Catholic school, a new Technical School, and several private kindergartens. It has a company of the Permanent Artillery, and the Garrison Artillery Volunteers. There are two banks, a dairy factory, gas works, two cemeteries, a recreation reserve, two fire stations, a brass band, salt water bath, and a Mechanics' Institute; the latter is supported by subscriptions, and receives a small subsidy from the Government.

Port Chalmers is bounded on the north by the Beach road; on the west, by the county of Waikouaiti; and on the south and east, by the harbour.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo. Councillor G. Barker.

Wrigglesworth and Binns, photo.
Councillor G. Barker.