Early Days.

Although the citizens of Dunedin, and residents in Otago generally, are now-a-days pretty well occupied with the present, in endeavoring either to make both ends meet or lay past a little for a rainy day, a large number of the readers of the Evening Star will no doubt he glad to learn something of early days in the "settlement," as the Otago Block was called at the time the first batch of immigrants arrived. The word or term "settlement" was applied to each of the districts, both in the North and South Islands, which the New Zealand Company proposed to settle or colonise, and which were afterwards known by the more familiar name of provinces.

As an introduction to remarks on subject, and probably carrying far more weight than anything that could be said as inference at the present time, extracts from a speech of the late Captain Cargill, generally and properly recognised as the founder of this settlement, will be received with confidence as regards veracity and faith-fulness. At a soiree held in Dunedin on the 21st January, 1851, and arranged by the following householders—Messrs John Healy, Henry Clark, Peter Proudfoot, James Adam, and Charles Robertson, three of whom are still alive and who will remember the circumstances, Captain Cargill, In an Address on "The Aspects of the Colony," stated in substance as follows:—"It is necessary on this interesting subject in the first place shortly to refer to the circumstances in which the Otago settlement was undertaken. New Zealand colonisation having been grievously obstructed for a series of years, chiefly by misrule and inconsistency on the part of the Government, and partly, also, by inveterate quarrelling: between the New Zealand Company and the Government authorities, an apparent truce to these evils was announced in 1842, and followed in 1843 with such an appearance of peace and general redress that the scheme of the settlement then called New Edinburgh was published and about to be proceeded with. But it turned out that even then the main battle for redress had yet to be fought. Things got worse and worse; the old settlers were to great extent ruined and scattered, and New Zealand presented the singular aspect of being physically the most attractive to British colonists, and at the same time the most repulsive by means of injustice and misrule. The precise share of blame is not attributed to either party in this statement. Well, then, the battle was waged in earnest, and most nobly did the New Zealand Company take its part, showing at that time a tact, an energy, and a power, both in and out of Parliament, that could hardly be surpassed, and which secured the Parliamentary Committee of 1844 laying bare the whole ulcer of New Zealand's wrongs, and was followed in 1845 by the debate on the report of that Committee, led by Mr. Charles Buller, and which decidedly carried the House. So far, the victory was complete. The sagacious Premier (Sir Robert Peel) admitted the whole of the evils complained of, and pledged his Cabinet that every one of them should be speedily and satisfactorily redressed. The pledge was honestly made, page break and everything that could be done was set about at once: but besides the complications of the whole matter there was the necessity, on many points, of corresponding with New Zealand, and it was not till 1847 that matters were sufficiently adjusted by Acts of Parliament and Orders-in-Council to warrant the resumption of colonisation. Had this adjustment occurred in 1843 there would probably have been sufficient faith in it; but the long series of wrongs, and the exposure of them from year to year, had so possessed the public mind that few would believe in the reality of the change, or that the Otago settlement now advertised was ready to be proceeded with. Almost everyone hung back till the fact should be established by others, and it was in these circumstances that the Company and the Otago Association resolved on the immediate despatch of a preliminary party. The party sailed accordingly in December, 1847, in the full knowledge of having to attack the wilderness in the beginning of winter, with provision indeed, but with no other appliances for present shelter and future progress than what they could create for themselves. Since that time a little over three years have elapsed, and now comes the question as to the result of that achievement, or in other words, the present aspect of the Colony. Be it observed that the sailing of the first little party could not have restored confidence in a general sense; that must depend on the reports of the party, and which, to be satisfactory, would require another three years or so; but it had the effect in the meanwhile of bringing forward a few and of thereby increasing our population by driblets from the 260 souls first landed to about 1,450, our present population as nearly as can be ascertained. Such, then, being our numbers, the questions to be answered are: What is the character of our people as settlers, and the progress they have made? What their experience of the climate and the capabilities of the site? And what the impression at Home as notified by recent arrivals? As to the character of the people, religious and industrial, and the proper mode by them as founders of the settlement, I will leave it to an experienced onlooker to state the impressions made by his present visit, and I crave this liberty on account of his having been urged, on leaving our fatherland, to look narrowly into our homesteads as well as to our public assemblies, and to report faithfully to those who take a deep interest in all that concerns us. I will only state in regard to the harvest now being reaped, and which is a good index to our progress, that it will amount to about 100 acres of excellent wheat, besides oats and barley: and, with the potatoes and other vegetables, should be equal to our consumption: that to the 273 houses erected on the 31st March last, at a cost of about L15,000, there has since been added about fifty more of a greatly improved and improving character: that the number of horses, sheep, and cattle have been about doubled within the year; and, what is still more to the purpose of reviewing our position, the settlers recorded their conviction of now being strong enough to stand alone, and to progress without further addition from home, if the will of God were so, but of which last I believe there is no indication whatever. As to our experience of the climate and the suitability of the soil, it is only necessary to mention the subject to receive a response from nearly all who hear me that these have generally exceeded our best expectations; ami we have the further testimony of victors from the other settlements that for the extent of our scheme we have the most compact, attractive, and profitable site that could have been found, regard being had to its combined advantages for tillage, pasturage, and fisheries, together with inland navigation and a useful harbor. In regard to the impressions at Home, they are to be found in the documents lately published, especially the petition of the Association and Earl Grey's reply to it, and which impressions are further confirmed by the passengers of the Titan, so as to indicate additional arrivals of the same stamp as those who have lately joined us, and then not only to swell our numbers, but to maintain our character as a harmonious and welldoing community. I have assumed that the 'aspect of the Colony,' as stated in the programme, had special reference to the Otago settlement; but if we refer to the hopeful movement in Canterbury, to the partially renewed immigration to the older settlements, and to the fact that whatever contributes to the restored popularity of New Zealand colonisation must benefit the whole and every part of the Colony; if we refer, moreover, to the system of representative institutions—the only pledge that has not been made good to us, but now on its way from the Imperial Parliament—we cannot but admit that the aspect of the Colony is hopeful to our hearts' content."

It may be noted here that the passengers of the Titan referred to embraced Mr Macandrew, Mr Reynolds, and the Rev. Mr Nicolson, now of Hobart, who was referred to as the experienced onlooker.

Mr Nicolson, in response to Captain Cargill, and in speaking on "The Duty of Colonists," remarked that he had not yet sufficient time for examination to report particularly, but would say generally from what he had seen since his arrival a few days previously that the place and the people were entitled to a favorable certificate. In proof of his good opinion he mentioned two facts—viz., that since his arrival he had made himself an Otago laird, and that had it been consistent with his duty, and had he not been page break charged with a commission to proceed to another colony, he would have been very happy to have remained. He referred with great pleasure to the industry and enterprise he had witnessed amongst the agricultural community, having inspected several localities where farming operations were going on, and was delighted to see the judicious and persevering operations of such men as Mr Valpy (at the Forbury), Mr Todd (Anderson Bay), and Mr Blackie (of Caversham), and others. Every bag of flour purchased out of a ship took so much money out of the Colony, but every bag purchased from those who had raised it in the Colony was a transaction not only advantageous to both parties, but retained the money among themselves as a means for further operations. It was by such means the Colony Would become self-supporting. Another class of persons useful in such a place as Otago was hardy laborers. Nor did he forget that in such a state of things as existed there would be found among the laboring classes many who had not been previously accustomed to manual labor; but it was plain the man, to be useful in an infant settlement, must either be possessed of money to pay for labor or be willing to labor himself. The useful colonist was he who, though at Home accustomed to walk erect and never soil his hands' work, was here ready to wage war with the manuka tree and the fern root, and every true-hearted man knew that in doing so he was laying the foundation for the future comfort and independence of his family, which he could not accomplish at Home. He cautioned them, however, against being in too great haste to become rich. The shortest way of doing a thing was not always the best, and gave in illustration the Anecdote of the Rev. Rowland Hill, who once advertised that in a sermon he would teach his hearers how to make a pair of shoes in five minutes, and which announcement attracted a very large audience. True to his promise, at the end of his sermon he told his audience that if they cut the legs off a pair of boots they would have a pair of shoes immediately.

Mr Justice Stephen spoke on "Social Harmony," illustrating his subject with great feeling and good taste, and with an impression on the audience which would not soon be forgotten.

Dr Purdie followed on "Intemperance," calling on everyone to do what he could to eradicate, and, above all, in a young colony, where the temptation was great, to guard against its entrance by every means in his power.

Rev. Mr Burns, in speaking on "Education," took the opportunity of stating how the statistics as to education stood at the moment, as made up by himself in the course of his ministerial visitations of the settlement. In the districts of Dunedin, North-east Valley, Halfway Bush, Green Island Bush, and Forbury and Anderson Bay there was a total population of 1,068, and the number of children from seven to fifteen years of age was 238. In the Harbor district, including Port Chalmers and the Heads, the Taieri, Waihola, Tokomairiro, and Clutha, there was a population of 387, and the children between the same years of age were fifty-nine, making a total of 1,445 souls, including the 297 children. That number of children should be in attendance at school, but the numbers attending were in school of Dunedin 40, the girls' school of Dunedin 20, and the other three schools in the North-east Valley, Anderson Bay, and Port Chalmers 40; in all 100 children in actual attendance at school, whilst there ought to be three times as any. This was a very staggering fact, more especially in view of the high national character in point of education which was inherited from their forefathers. Most earnestly he hoped that next year's statistics would present the state of education among them in a much more creditable position.

Considering the extreme range of age, the state of the roads—or, more properly, the total want of roads or tracks—at the time, the attendance need not be counted as very small; and perhaps the difficulty in reaching home may have also influenced the grownup folks who attended the soiree; for although the time at which it was held was midsummer, the meeting broke up at nine o'clock, all being highly pleased with the entertainment. The price of admission was 1s 11d a ticket, and the number sold about 150.

M'I.