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Journal of the Nelson and Marlborough Historical Societies, Volume 1, Issue 2, November 1982

The Nelson Community and its Plight

The Nelson Community and its Plight

At the end of October 1843 when the Nelson School Society was taking shape, the population of the town of Nelson and its rural hinterland was 2942. Among some 900 working males there were 323 farm workers and as many as 272 artisans. 148 men were engaged in business, 82 were farmers and 89 could claim professional status. The community was noted for its elite of well educated gentlemen such as Domett, Monro, Dillon and Cautley. It also included a group of versatile professional men such as Dr Renwick and the surveyors Barnicoat and Stephens. The high proportion of artisans was notable. Ruth Allan has estimated that artisans were the largest occupational group in the main migration to Nelson. In view of the requirements of the various trades in respect of mensuration and the maintenance of records it is reasonable to assume that almost all, if not all, artisans would be literate and would, like the gentlemen and professionals, be anxious to ensure that their children received at least elementary schooling. According to the statistics published in the Nelson Examiner of 16th December 1843, 321 out of a total of 607 children from 6 to 14 years of age were attending day schools. Thus 11 per cent of the population were attending day schools, whereas in Britain in 1833 only about 9 per cent were reckoned to be attending such schools. Even if one is sceptical of the strict accuracy of such statistics they tend to confirm the impression of a young, struggling community eager to promote the education of its children.

Although elements that would favour the early development of education were present in the population, the political and economic conditions obtaining during the period between late 1843 and mid 1845 were far from propitious for such development. The apprehension of Maori hostility after the Wairau affray, the uncertainty concerning land titles and the inability of the New Zealand Company to offer adequate employment opportunities, all conspired to plunge the Nelson community into a state of deep depression and indeed near starvation. During this period there was extensive re-emigration and it was reported that of some 3000 labourers sent out some 930 left the province.