New Zealand Memories Issue 149

More documents

Recommendations

Info

ARTICLE A sketch of Lord Auckland’s Groupe, discovered by Abrm. Bristow, 1806 [cartographic material]. Ref: 100aj 1774-1823. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/20437592 On arrival the colonists were unexpectedly met by a group of Te Atiawa Māori. Led by a chief called Matioro, seven years earlier they had established several pa around the Port Ross harbour. Matioro was part of the Ngati Mutunga and Ngati Tama hapū who conquered and enslaved the Moriori inhabitants on the Chatham Islands in 1835. In 1842 he was part of an expedition of about 40 Ngati Mutunga and 25 Moriori slaves who left the Chathams on a chartered ship to settle the islands they called Maungahuka. Marooned, with no way of returning to New Zealand, they lived a very marginal existence, enduring deprivation and hardship in the sub- Antarctic climate. The arrival of a hundred European colonists, with their materials and goods, meant that their lives would be somewhat easier. Although the unexpected presence of Māori initially caused some nervousness amongst the settlers, relations were generally very positive. Many Māori were employed in road making, as well as crew on the company’s ships. Matioro, and another chief, Ngatere, were appointed as company constables, and were instrumental in promoting friendly relations between the two races. The first few weeks after the arrival were taken up clearing land along the foreshore of Erebus Cove, for gardens and building sites. Within a few days of arrival, Mackworth identified a major issue that would contribute to 6
ARTICLE the eventual failure of the settlement when he wrote, “Our greatest enemy in this difficult undertaking is the weather.” 2 Despite it being mid-summer, gales and perpetual rain slowed down the unloading of building materials and supplies. Mackworth’s diary is peppered with references to the appalling weather. He constantly refers to the incessant rain, interspersed with hail and snow, accompanied by ferocious winds that would plague the islands day after day. One settler, George Crane, said that it rained for six days and blew a hurricane on the seventh. 3 The colonists lived in damp conditions on board their ships while the prefabricated buildings were being assembled. Many got sick and complained bitterly during these first weeks before the bachelors’ quarters and married couples’ cottages were ready to occupy. As Lieutenant-Governor, Enderby moved into Government House once it was ready. Meanwhile, a cooperage and other workshops were built, and a warehouse erected to store supplies. A flagpole was erected and a battery of four guns set up to defend the settlement. Right from the beginning, food supplies were a problem for the settlers. During the first few weeks, the limited initial supplies of food brought out were strictly rationed. This issue held up the unloading of ships and building work during the first weeks when a group of colonists went on strike, demanding an increase in their rations. A few acres of land were surrounded by a shelter fence of stakes and cleared for gardens. The short growing season and inclement weather weren’t the only hinderance for a continuing food supply. The island’s swampy, acidic peat soil couldn’t be improved and produced pitiful vegetables. The settlers had to rely on the limited amount of potatoes and cabbages provided by the Māori community, complemented by irregular supplies of items such as flour, fresh fruit jam and pickles from the Australasian settlements. Meat was also in short supply. A shipload of sheep, beef cattle, two cows and three horses (which were never used), had been landed in early 1850, and were released on Enderby and Rose Islands, the only places with grazable land. Stockyards and a farm cottage were built on Enderby Island, but the stock became wild and mustering them proved challenging. Mackworth recorded one attempt to try and kill stock, during a period when settlers had run out of meat. One party on Enderby Island “passed the whole day endeavouring to get within gun shot of the sheep but without success”. 4 Another group returned empty handed after spending five days trying to kill a cattle beast. On one occasion 2 Mackworth, William & Munce, William Enderby Settlement Diaries. Records of a British Colony at the Auckland Islands 1849 - 1852. p 22, 10 January. 3 Fraser, Conon The Enderby Settlement. Britain’s Whaling Venture on the Sub-Antarctic Islands 1849 - 52. p66 4 Mackworth Diaries 3 October 1851 p.90 The Astrolabe and Zelee anchored off Shoe Island, a small island of basalt, during Dumont d’Urville’s visit to the Auckland Islands in March 1840. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand ref: B-052-014 7
Page 1 and 2: APPETISER Pride in the Job “Paint
Page 3 and 4: Editor Wendy Rhodes Graphic Design
Page 5: ARTICLE It was December 27, 1849, a
Page 9 and 10: EDUCATION “Broken biscuits were p
Page 11 and 12: No Shortage of Accommodation The to
Page 13 and 14: DANCE competitions. In June 1952, M

New Zealand Memories Issue 149

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?