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Preface

The Directors of The Cyclopedia of New Zealand have pleasure in placing the fifth volume of their work in the hands of subscribers.

The volume, which covers the provincial districts of Nelson, Marlborough, and Westland is, so far, the smallest of the set, and is likely to remain so, for the last and sixth volume will deal not only with the districts of Taranaki and Hawke's Bay, but with some of the large agricultural areas of Wellington. It is, therefore, practically certain that there will be much more matter to deal with in the sixth than there has been in the fifth volume.

But though the present volume is comparatively small, it is far from being insignificant in itself, and in no sense is it less interesting than any of its companions. In the nature of things it could not well be so, for Nelson, Marlborough, and Westland have been the scenes of some of the most memorable incidents and developments in connection with the colonisation and progress of New Zealand. It was at Nelson that the first known contact of white men with the Maoris took place. That was as long ago as the year 1642, and, unfortunately, not under happy circumstances, as the Maoris killed some of the crew of the famous navigator Abel Tasman, who fittingly named the scene of the tragedy Massacre Bay. The earliest history of Marlborough is associated with a somewhat similar incident, which was, however, on a larger scale in itself, and much more far-reaching in its effects on the colonisation of the country. This was the massacre of Captain Wakefield and his party by Maoris, at Wairau, on the 17th of June, 1843. In this instance, there is little if any doubt that the white men were the aggressors, or that, at least, it was grave want of judgment on the part of those in authority that led to the massacre. Mistakes or misunderstandings about land were at the root of the trouble, and these, with the ill-judged action of the officials, and the part taken by the Maoris in the Wairau tragedy, had an incalculable influence on the relationship of the races in the North Island, and, in fact, on colonisation throughout the whole country, for more than a quarter of a century. In contradistinction to all this, there were the rich gold discoveries in Westland, which poured more wealth into the lap of New Zealand in that way than any of the other provincial districts, brought thousands of first-rate colonists to the country, and gave a very great and by no means merely local impetus to colonisation.

With such facts as these in the histories of Nelson, Marlborough, and Westland, a volume dealing with the earlier and later developments of these provinces—interesting also page iv in many other ways—could not well be a mere collection of commonplaces; and assuredly it will not be found so by those who bring a sufficiently sympathetic intelligence to its perusal.

As in the case of its predecessors, the contents generally of the present volume will be found to be representative in many ways; in respect to early colonisation, with its drawbacks and achievements; the ancestry of the men and women who took part in it; the heroic hardihood and strenuous characters of the pioneers; the later developments of settlement, industry, and commerce; and in respect to many of those who have captained enterprise, or otherwise cordially or sturdily co-operated in producing large and beneficial results. These and other things of interest will be found plainly set out at large, or definitely suggested in each of the three sections—Nelson, Marlborough, and Westland—of the present volume; which, were it in the line of the conductors to deal in prophecy, might also contain a forecast of the memorable future in store for Southern Westland—a region rich, not only in scenic marvels, but in the factors of a far-reaching industrial progress. But though the theme is a tempting one, its treatment is not for this place or this occasion.

In addition to the biographical, professional, and industrial contents common to the body of each number of the set, the present volume has a special shipping section, which— though it does not profess to be fully representative of the mercantile marine of New Zealand—suggestively shows how the coastal and oversea trade of the colony has grown; what great improvements have been made in the class of the ships in use; and how much better traders and travellers are served in these days than they were even only a few years ago, not to mention the earlier periods of the colony's history.

The Wellington volume contains articles about the Governor of its date, the Earl of Glasgow, and about his family and the official staff; the Auckland volume, about the Earl and Countess of Ranfurly, and staff; and the present volume has articles about his Excellency Lord Plunket, Lady Plunket, and the staff at Government House, together with portraits, as in the case of the earlier vice-regal sections.

Articles which have come to hand too late to appear in their right sequence, and amplifications and corrections which have been received after the original articles had been printed off, are given in supplementary pages. This is in continuance of the plan which the conductors, out of consideration for subscribers, have followed throughout the work; and a similar course has been taken, at intervals, in connection with photographs that have been late in coming to hand

To the success of a work like the Cyclopedia of New Zealand much is contributed by many who have nothing to do with the management; and, of the services thus rendered, not the least prized or valuable consist in the assistance given to canvassers and compilers page v by members of public bodies, Government officers, old colonists, and intelligent public men generally; and to all who have thus helped with the present volume, the proprietors tender their deep and cordial gratitude. Mr. John Sharp, one of the pioneer colonists and public men of Nelson, is particularly entitled in this connection to the unqualified thanks of the conductors.

In conclusion, subscribers and shareholders will be pleased to know that the sixth and last volume of the Cyclopedia of New Zealand is already in hand, and that it will be conducted to completion with the utmost despatch that is possible with such an undertaking.

The Cyclopedia Company, Limited.