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Early Wellington

Governor Hobson's Arrival

Governor Hobson's Arrival

Wakefield gives the following description of the Governor's visit:—

“The loiterers assembled on the beach one day (19th August, 1841) ventured many amusing conjectures as the “lubberly craft” (the Government brig) with the Red Ensign at the peak, and the Union Jack at the mainmast, drifted astern near the mouth of Evan's Bay and at last anchored off the hotel. Union Jacks were hoisted at Colonel Wakefield's house, and at the straw hut in the Pipitea Pa which served as police-office and Government House. Boats put off from all parts of the bay, including the police boat with the whole resident staff, namely, the Police Magistrate, the Health Officer, and the Postmaster. The natives laughed at the size of the Kawana's (Governor's) ship as they compared the diminutive and slovenly appearance of the craft to the two large emigrant barques, an American whaler and two or three fine brigs and schooners, lying near her.

“The next day at noon, having engaged apartments at Barrett's Hotel, His Excellency (Captain Hobson), landed on the beach, close to the door, and walked from the boat to the hotel, where he was met by Lieut. Smart as his aide-de-camp, by his private secretary, Edward Shortland, and by a “mounted policeman on foot,” as an orderly.

“A levee was held next day, being attended by the officers of the Government, the New Zealand Company, headed by Colonel Wakefield, and others. Among the passengers in the Government brig were Mr. Halswell, as one of the three Senior Magistrates; a collector of customs for Port Nicholson; and an assistant Police Magistrate; the Surveyor-General, Mr. Felton Mathew; and Mr. George Clarke, as Chief Protector of the aborigines.

“The Governor, attended by Colonel Wakefield and Mr. Clarke paid a formal visit to Te Aro Pa with a view to some satisfactory arrangement of their grievances, the chief one being the fact that about four acres on which their pa stood had been laid out as a public wharf and reserve for the site of a Custom House and two private sections, by the surveyors.

“After long discussions, and before Capt. Hobson left, Colonel Wakefield succeeded in prevailing upon the natives of Te Aro to leave the pa, and to establish themselves upon some native reserves, in consideration of £50 which he was to give them.

“A day or two afterwards the natives concerned repudiated the agreement. Efforts were made at various times by the Colonel, Mr. Halswell and others to get their assent to the transaction, but without avail, and the pa stood for some years an eye-sore to the town of Wellington.”

Several deputations waited upon Capt. Hobson to present memorials on various page 94 subjects, such as the proposed Corporation measure, duties on spirits, reception of foreign oil in exchange for refreshments furnished to whalers in the Port, and other matters.

His Excellency subscribed £10 towards the erection of cattle pounds, one at Te Aro, and the other towards Kaiwharawhara.