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Chapter XI.

As was to be expected the fame of these proceedings was bruited abroad throughout the other settlements. Some determined to repair without delay to a field which had been selected with so much care in readiness to reap its first fruits. The foremost of these deserve special mention, inasmuch as they must be credited with being the bonâ fide pioneers of the new settlement. Here they courageously remained for more than three years, until indeed reinforced by the arrival of the emigrants in 1848.

From one of the two survivors, now nearly eighty years of age, the author has received an interesting account of the hardships they underwent and the Crusoe-like life they led in the solitudes around them. They consisted of two families, connected by marriage—the Andersons and the McKays—who arrived at Koputai from Nelson after a three weeks' passage on the 30th of December, 1844. There were Mr. James Anderson, his son John, and John's wife Isabella; also Alexander McKay and his wife Janet. Their descendants now number a yearly increasing throng, spread chiefly on the broad Taieri Plains — the Andersons, McKays, Allans, Thomsons, McCaws, and others.

Finding on their arrival that the tide was not in flood and that there was little prospect of employment, yet having youth and strength and faith in the future, they determined to remain and encounter the certain hardships of the new condition. McKay decided to stay at Koputai in readiness to do business whenever the first vessels arrived, or any accrued from the survey staff, or from chance whalers. He opened the first public house at Koputai, to which he gave the name of the Surveyors' page 63Arms. It was on the same site as the later and present Port Chalmers Hotel.

The Andersons circumnavigated the harbour, or the river, as the whalers then called it, and finally decided to pitch their tent in that pretty little inlet known after them as Anderson's Bay. Here was a strip of clear land running from bay to ocean with plenty of good bush in the vicinity. Upon this they hoped to run a few sheep, and perhaps cattle. They built a hut of rushes and rough timber on that rising piece of foreshore near the junction of the two roads, and forming now the Cintra property. For food they had plenty of wild pork, potatoes and other vegetables of their own raising; they also carefully eked out half a ton of flour which they had brought from Nelson. There was abundance of quail which young Mrs. Anderson, who soon learnt to shoulder a gun, quickly brought to earth in sportsmanlike fashion. Her sister down the river, not quite so accomplished, was content to carry the gamebag for her husband and Mr. Davison when they went a-pigeon-shooting. Time hung heavily on their hands, almost their sole occupation being gardening, fishing, and boating.

On their boating trips they frequently visited the future Dunedin, then covered with scrub and of uninviting appearance, but teeming with wild pigs and quail. Here dwelt two runaway sailors in a little hut by the side of Kaituna creek close to the old Maori landing place. They made a living by the sale or exchange of wild pork to the whalers at the Heads. These runaways were their only friends, and with them they exchanged many a visit. But one day one of these poor fellows died, presumably from a long course of wild pork, and then the spirits of the remaining three, never high, became deplorably wretched, and the bright future so intently hoped for seemed immeasurably removed.

Thus passed a weary time, when one bright summer in February of 1846, to their amazement and delight they saw a fully-manned whaleboat pulling swiftly up the silent harbour. It contained Mr. Kettle and a party of his surveying staff so long looked for, and at last speeding to the scene of their future labours. To complete this short story, John Anderson got immediate employment amongst the surveyors, and built a small house, which was long afterwards occupied by Mr. Pelichet. Here was born on the 10th of December 1846 his son, the first child born in Dunedin. Old Mr. Anderson, the father, closed his eyes page 64in his son's house in August, 1848, six months after the arrival of the first settlers. He sleeps in the old cemetery in York Place, which always will overlook Anderson's Bay. A Mr. and Mrs. Lewthwaite came from Taranaki early in 1844. To them was born a son, and the first at Koputai. With them came one David Scott who had a sad story to tell of faith broken by the New Zealand Company. Three or four more complete the list who so early came down to linger and to wait.

To those on the other side of the world the year 1845 was fraught with many important occurrences. To Messrs. Cargill and Burns it was one of incessant and often fruitless labour, and it would serve no good purpose to give more than a brief outline of this. Captain Cargill remained in London carrying on his business of banking, but in constant communication with his friend and with the Directors. Mr. Burns worked in Scotland with unflagging energy, aided by Dr. Aldcorn, who had developed a remarkable fancy for the scheme and its difficulties. It became more and more evident to Mr. Burns that its success must depend on personal exertions.

With this view the pair visited far and near the ministers of various congregations, explaining to them its merits, securing their support, and through them opening communication with elders, deacons, and other likely persons. In this way they travelled through the length and breadth of Scotland, from Kirkcudbright to Sutherland, from Aberdeen to Inverness. Many well-known clergymen gave the scheme their warm support, and invited its exponents to expound it from their pulpits. Amongst them were the well-known names of Candlish, McFarlan, Buchanan of Glasgow, Henderson, Sym, Paterson, Begg, and others but little less known. They were captivated with the project, which was represented to them as a great Lay Mission which might extend itself from New Zealand to the countless isles of the Pacific, and thence to India and China. Mr., afterwards Dr., Begg, little given to romancing, as those who knew him know, enthusiastically suggested that the wealthy members of the Free Church should purchase the whole 150,000 acres of the Otago Block at the Company's valuation of £2 an acre, or at least secure 20,000 acres forthwith with future privileges. Such a well-known business man as Mr. Wm. Johnston, of the firm of W. and A. K Johnston, warmly seconded this proposal. The suggestions offered were various, but upon one point all were agreed—that the page 65scheme should be a strictly Free Church one. Here was the victory for which Mr. Burns had steadily fought. Many semi-private meetings were held in both Edinburgh and Glasgow, attended by an increasing number of clergy and laity.

Thus were matters prepared for presentation to the Colonial Committee who were greatly impressed, and who in turn favourably reported to the General Assembly which was to sit at Edinburgh on the 29th of May. Nevertheless, whilst thus according their countenance and warm support, the ministers invariably refused to take part in any commercial details of the enterprise. They viewed it solely from its religious and social aspect, as an opportunity of planting at the other end of the earth a vigorous offshoot of their beloved Tree Church, and considered that all business matters should be transacted by business men. In the same strain the General Assembly delivered itself: "Without expressing any opinion regarding the secular advantages or prospects of the proposed undertaking, the General Assembly highly approve of the principles on which the settlement is proposed to be conducted, in so far as the religious and educational interests of the colonists are concerned, and the Assembly desire to countenance and encourage the Association in these respects."

In this lay the germ of that valuable body known as the Lay Association which was so peculiar a feature of this effort of colonisation, and was so mainly instrumental in promoting the early settlement of Otago in conjunction with the New Zealand Company. An effort was accordingly made to place the business in the hands of some broker skilled in the flotation of companies and similar matters. But this proved unsuccessful, and the next best course was to endeavour to form a body or committee from amongst those laymen who had shown special interest in the movement. This task chiefly devolved on Mr. Burns, who, despite its uncongenial character, devoted himself to it in such an incessant, unwearied way, as to lay himself open to no small degree of obloquy amongst his friends, who censured him for overstepping clerical duty, and accused him of a selfish interest in the cause he so persistently championed. These unjust aspersions he was compelled to bear, bitterly feeling that if he withheld his hand all interest would cease.

Gradually this labour brought forth fruit, for on Friday, page 66the 16th of May, 1845, the first public meeting of laymen was held at the Eagle Tavern in Glasgow "for the purpose," as the advertisement stated, "of considering the scheme of a Scotch settlement at Otago, New Zealand, in connection with the Free Church." The attendance was not overflowing, eleven persons only being present. These were Henry Dunlop, Esq., of Craigton; John Bain, Esq., of Morriston; William Campbell, Esq., of Tillichewan; John Blackie, Esq., J. G. Blackie, Esq., William Buchanan and Allan Buchanan, Esqs., merchants, of Glasgow; Matthew Whytlaw, Esq., Rothesay; Rev. Thomas Burns, of Monkton; Dr. Andrew Aldcorn, of Oban; and Captain Cargill, who had purposely come up from London. Mr. Dunlop was called to the chair, and after briefly stating the object of the meeting, called upon the Rev. Thos. Burns to speak. Mr. Burns narrated the history and present aspect of the enterprise. He was followed by Captain Cargill and Dr. Aldcorn, who gave further information and offered various suggestions. Mr. Whytlaw, who had recently returned from a residence at the Bay of Islands, gave a very glowing account of the country and of its unrivalled excellence. A general conversation ensued, in which it was suggested by Mr. Campbell, that as a means of at once and easily starting the enterprise, 20,000 acres should be disposed of in various portions in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and other principal towns of Scotland.

It was then resolved: 1st. That this meeting do form itself into an Association with such other members of the Free Church of Scotland as shall unite with it, for promoting the necessary sales of land and of otherwise carrying into execution the Scotch settlement of Otago (New Edinburgh) upon the principles stated in Mr. Cargill's letter to the Rev. Thos. Burns, of date March 29, 1845. 2nd. That this meeting consider the facilities offered by the New Zealand Company for the formation of class settlements to be a great public boon, and calculated to give a new and elevated tone to British colonisation; and if duly responded to by the churches at home, that it must have the effect of carrying the best specimens of religion and civilisation into the dark places of the earth, and of combining the benefits sought for by emigration with the diffusion of light and beneficence to universal many. 3rd. That the Association will therefore use every effort amongst those of their own denomination who are desirous to emigrate, for conveying the best of their people to the Free page 67Church settlement of Otago. 4th. That Dr. Aldcorn of Oban be requested to act as Secretary to the Association. 5th. That these resolutions be communicated to the Colonial Committee of the Free Church in order to the scheme being brought under the notice of the General Assembly. 6th. That the Secretary be requested to take all proper measures for circulating information through the members of Assembly when returning to their several presbyteries and congregations throughout the country, and that thereafter an early meeting of the Association be called, either in Edinburgh or Glasgow, with a view to further measures. 7th. That the thanks of the Association be expressed to Mr. Cargill for his persevering labours in this interesting cause, and his support of the excellent minister, the Rev. Thomas Burns of Monkton, who has been appointed by the Company; and that an early opportunity be taken to convey to the Company their confidence and satisfaction as regards the position of Mr. Cargill, and which he is so well calculated to occupy.

The author does not hesitate to give thus minutely the particulars of this important meeting, which have been gathered from old papers in his possession, and which are presented for the first time. They record the first official appearance and deeds of that body whose labours will ever be associated with the early history of this part of New Zealand, and whose recommendations were justly valued and adopted by the British Government when framing for the colonies that Constitution Act which was granted in 1852.

About the end of 1853, and after an existence of eight years this valuable Association brought its functions to a close. Its purpose was accomplished with the successful floating of this settlement, and with a watchful solicitude exercised over the first few years of its existence. Gradually the number of members swelled from the first modest eleven to fifty, and included men of the highest social rank in Scotland. The minute books, which must have contained much interesting historical detail, have never been found. During a visit to the home country sixteen years ago, the author searched unsuccessfully for them and concluded that they had been destroyed many years before as useless rubbish! The letter referred to in Resolution No. 1 above, relates to an anterior communication from the New Zealand Company, whose position of antagonism with the Government made it impossible that it could actively page 68assist. It encouraged the formation of a Lay Association, which should move in the direction of securing the land title and of encouraging land sales. This done, the Company hoped to resume those former duties and obligations which had been so summarily suspended, and then to act as the Association's agent. It was now about to make a great trial of its strength.