December, 1848.

Messrs Mantell and Wills, the Commissioners on the part of the Government and Company, for the purpose of completing the purchase of land from Akaroa to Heyward's Point, arrived at Port Chalmers on the 9th inst., from Waikouaiti, and we are happy to find they have accomplished their task in a manner which cannot fail to prove satisfactory to the Government, the Company, and the settlers. The colonists may now advance carefully and with confidence. Native disputes of any kind never have, and we may assure our readers, never will, affect this settlement. Perfect security exists, and prosperity and concord will henceforth reign paramount. Verily, "There's pippins and cheese to come."—Communicated by Commissioners to the News.

In the News of August 26, 1849. public notice is given that Mr H B. Graham, having been appointed postmaster for Dunedin, in the place of MrA. Anderson, who has resigned, all letters, newspapers, &c., must be posted in future at the General Stationery Store, Princes street. A regular list of unclaimed letters is thereafter printed.

On Mr Graham's retirement, Mr James Brown, draper, Princes street, was appointed to the office.

A Deputy-Registrar of Births, Marriages, etc., was appointed at the end of November, 1849, Messrs Robert Chapman and Edward M'Glashan holding the position at different times.

The people generally did not seem to care for such a record, or the Department has been careless in its preservation, the latter not likely. The great Malestrom at Wellington, to quote Macandrew's phrase, swallows up everything from Otago.

Many other incidents in the early history might be recorded from the Otago Journal, published in Edinburgh, contributed by reliable men, such as the late Andrew Mercer, Dunedin, and James Elder Brown, Milton, and one of our veteran settlers, William Duff, now of Waihola. The testimony each accords in praise of soil, climate, and prospects, and all of them reaped the fruits of their faith.

It might also be expected that a fuller history of the origin of that mighty engine, the Otago Witness, should have been given. The period of its existence within our range is too short to be very critical. Its appearance was page 50 philanthropic, its policy clearly defined, its safeguards plainly announced, and its editorial chair filled by a committee—the responsibility being too great for the shoulders of an individual. The old proverb proved true, "Too many cooks spoil the broth." Discord speedily ensued. Financially it was a failure, and on the motion of Mr Macandrew, the shareholders made a present of the whole affair to Mr W. H. Cutten, who professedly grudgingly accepted it.

From its first issues the following facts are extracted:—"On 21st January, 1851, a soiree, arranged by the following householders in Dunedin—Messrs John Healy (late of Edinburgh), Henry Clark (late of Edinburgh, originally Dunse), John Proudfoot (late of Edinburgh), James Adam (late of Aberdeen), Charles Robertson (late of Airdrie)—was held in the schoolhouse, presided over by the Rev. Mr Burns. Tea and coffee having been served, and thanks rendered in song by Mr Adam and his choir (accompanied by grand pianoforte), the Chairman introduced Captain Cargill, who gave an address on 'The Aspects of the Colony,' in which he stated in the first place it was necessary to refer to the circumstances under which the Otago settlement was undertaken. Referring I to the disputes which had occurred between the Government and the New Zealand Company, he said a truce was announced in 1842, and had in the following years such an appearance of peace and redress that the scheme of the Otago settlement, then called New Edinburgh, was published. It turned out, however, the main battle had 'yet to be fought, and it was not till 1847 the ground was cleared to attempt colonisation. The delay caused many to hang back from I the Otago settlement. Eventually, the first despatch of emigrants took place in December, 1848. Three years had now elapsed since their arrival, and the result of experience was highly satisfactory. Looking forward, the Captain remarked, 'What is the character of our settlers and the progress they have made?' They were religious and industrial, and the progress made by them as founders of the settlement beyond dispute. The climate and soil have exceeded our expectations, and from the testimony of visitors from the other settlements we have for the extent of our scheme the most compact, attractive, and profitable site that could have been selected, regard being paid to the combined advantages for tillage, pasturage, and fisheries, together with inland navigation and a useful harbour. In treating on the aspect of the Colony, the Captain assumed it had special reference to Otago, but he must refer to the hopeful movement in Canterbury—to the partially renewed immigration in the old settlements, and to the fact that whatever contributes to the page 51 restored popularity of New Zealand colonisation must benefit the whole and every part of the Colony. If we refer to the system of representative institutions, the only pledge that had not been made good to us, but now on its way from the Imperial Parliament, the aspect of the Colony is hopeful to our hearts' content.

"Anthem: 'The Earth is the Lord's.'

Thus, there are in the settlement no fewer than 297 children between the ages of 5 and 15 who ought to be in school, whilst the number attending the school of Dunedin is 40, the girls' school of Dunedin 20 and the other three schools 40—in all, 100 children in actual attendance, when there should have been nearly thrice that number—a very staggering statement, more especially if we consider the high national character of our forefathers in point of education."

So said the venerable first minister. Home teaching must have prevailed, as few of the earliest children are deficient in education.

Does compulsory attendance now produce better results?

The pot was boiling, and an overflow threatened. A public meeting was held in the schoolhouse on January 7, 1852, presided over by Mr Macandrew, in the absence of Mr Harris, who had been suddenly called away on professional page 52 duties to the country, at which the unanimous resolution of the Settlers' Association—to wit:—

"That the expenditure of this settlement being in excess of the revenue, the Treasurer being unable to meet the demands made on him, and the salaries of the public officers being unpaid—a state of things alike discreditable and unsatisfactory—this society resolves that: a public meeting of the settlers be held for the purpose of reviewing the state of affairs of the settlement, and of petitioning the Queen, tit Imperial Parliament, and the Local Government there anent."

The meeting resolved unanimously to adopt the petition to the Queen, Lords, and Commons. That to the Governor proposed by Mr D. J. Napier, seconded by Mr Healy, was opposed, Mr James Adams declaring Governor Grey paid no heed to their requests. He had asked their opinion on Local Government, got it, and paid no heed to it. Mr W Langlands expressed the same views. The petition was on a vote carried, and all in due course sent to their destinations.

That disquiet and disaffection prevailed among the different settlements is a fact beyond dispute. The interest of each, established as they were apparently on different lines was held up as a bogie to frighten the timid, and was used as a powerwful lever to foment discord. There were no grounds for such action. Every true settler arrived with the aim and object of making a permanent home for himself and his family. There were no restrictions whets character was good on ingress or egress from one settlement to another, so Otago received valuable additions from different places to the north, and a regular fusion took place. Far from harmonious on many points, for where there are many men there are many minds.

To dilate on this is not my intention, and retiring to records, put the question after the fashion of Sir George:

"Well, Miss Otago, how are you getting along?"

"Brawly, but wid dae muckle better wad you bodies let me alane!"

The list of jurors liable to serve for 1851 had increased to 381, and the cost of compiling and publishing the list was considered useless, as there were neither criminals on Court to try them, and as in duty bound the official had to serve notices on each juror. The cost of this judical procedure was at the time considered unjust and unnecessary page 53 Better far to spend the money in making and mending their ways than their manners.

To meet and provide for this and other large official expenditure ways and means must be devised. The handiest were the Customs duties, as from the simple and easily understood tariff of first year's, covering only a limited number of items, the now responsible clique in 1851 sprang a schedule from the first letter of the alphabet to the last, so that very little could escape.

The enumerated list of articles liable to fixed Customs amounted to about 240. Among these were boots and shoes, 8/- per dozen pair; coffee, 4/8 per cwt.; bar and rod iron, 20/-, and chain, 40/- per ton; oats and barley, 4d per bushel; sugar, 4/8 per cwt.; spirits, cordials and liquers, 6/- per gallon; wines in casks, 1/6 per gallon; ales, beer, &c., 4d.

Sir Robert Peel's sliding scale had not come in vogue, by which it was provided that the higher the value of cereals rose the lower the duty on their import became; but the ad valorum principle was extended, and on this class of goods, numbering 56, and comprising the least necessary, the duties charged were all round 10 per cent. The free list was a very small one, and might well have been passed over, very few important articles being included.

The whole of the revenue thus derived went to pay officials, who were becoming like locusts eating up the produce of the soil, and also that which necessity compelled importation.

The settlers could hardly say a word by way of remonstrance, as there was no representation. An attempt was made to absorb the land sales, shirking all responsibilities, and placing the liabilities on the purchasers. The merest fraction was given for road-making and other improvements. No wonder Miss Otago and her fair sisters became imperative—willing enough to bear an equal share of burden, but refusing to be crushed or borne down.

The condition of affairs was becoming deplorable. Taxed to the uttermost without recompense would not be endured. The nominated local authority had power to enforce the law; expend in improvement, powerless.

One might leave home in the morning for work, well shod, returning in the evening carrying boots in hand, or had left them stuck in the mud in Princes street. The oppression was becoming intolerable. Our newspaper, the page 54 Witness, backed by the people, and supported by sister settlements, voiced the complaints very strongly and with effect, as the Imperial Government conferred on New Zealand the first experience of colonial self-government, with its glorious results.

The Land Question was, even in the early days of the settlement, a prominent one, and Mr Edward Gibbon Wakefield visited Otago, rousing the settlers by his eloquence to immediate action, as he had been doing at other centres. A definite solution has not even yet been arrived at. Ministers of all shades have tried their prentice hand at it without avail; nor will it be settled until the principles and polity of the ancient Jews be adopted, by which all lands shall periodically revert to the natural and legitimate owner—the State, meaning the people—and so all claims of entail or primogeniture would be abolished, and the proceeds of the inheritance would lighten or do away with the burden of taxation. But a truce to politics.

The native Maori was gradually disappearing, dying out or mingling with the blood of the Pakeha. They were a noble race. Contact with civilisation mollified or subdued the barbarous instinct, and proved them to be leal-hearted and true. Many legends and stories might be given, tragic and affectionate, but space says forbear. Alas! now they exist as if they had never been.

The news of the granting of the New Constitution was received with great demonstration of rejoicing, and none was more jubilant than one of the first arivals—William Jaffray, of Saddle Hill, Maori name, Pikiwarra—still hale and hearty, who, anticipating the event had gathered a huge mass of useless timber and clearing on the highest peak of his eyrie for a bonfire; set it ablaze, and by this beacon announced to the few solitary settlers around and beyond him the glad tidings of local self-government. Others were equally enthusiastic, if not so demonstrative. Among them may be named William Duff (Waihola), William Martin (Fairfield), James Adam (Tokomairiro),—the four being shipmates and octogenarians,—and a short notice is given with their portraits: settlers of the right stamp, serving their country faithfully and well. Few survive now to bear witness to the enthusiasm of the now over four-score-year-old veterans, and this testimony of their worth, along with their portraits, is gladfully accorded in these pages.

The Constitution Act received the Royal assent on June 20, 1852, and the news thereof reached the Colony in November page 55 following. In the meanwhile preparations were going on to set up a locally tinkered Constitution which was very unacceptable, and under it a Roll of Electors was prepared and published containing the names of 85 for the town district and 230 for the county. All these proceedings were brought to nought on receipt of the Imperial Act, and great satisfaction was expressed thereat. Long and exasperating delay occurred in bringing it into operation, and it was not until September, 1853, it had its full effect. Under the Act six provinces were established—three in each island—and the Governor was empowered to subdivide these into districts, fixing the number of representatives for each. Otago was made into two—Town of Dunedin and Country, with three members.

Petty jealousies and dissension would surely now disappear, and peace and goodwill prevail. The main causes of discord and disaffection had been the absence of all real responsible local authority and the want of control financially. No correct statement of revenue and expenditure is available. Quarterly returns were irregularly published, from which it is found that the outlay for judicial and official salaries amounted for each period to over £500; road-making would receive an occasional £50; harbour, £10; Hospital, £100. The balance was locked up.

For the year 1851 and the first quarter of 1852 the number of large vessels arriving at the Port was 29. The Rev. Mr Burns, who was very methodical in all things, furnished a record of the weather, showing daily the condition as to rain, temperature, and wind. He also gives the population of the whole settlement, compiled during his annual visit in November and December, 1851, naming each district, with the religious denomination to which they professed to belong. The results were:—Presbyterians, 1128; Episcopalian, 221; Independents and Baptists, 43; Roman Catholic, 28; Wesleyan, 23; others, 164; total, 1538. Adding oversea arrivals during his absence (107) made the number up to 1675.