QUIZ: Canterbury’s 19th century settlers by cclstaffAugust 1, 2023 Quiz: Canterbury's 19th century settlers Fun facts and frivolities of the forgotten forty-niners (plus a 50 or two) from books and newspapers in the Library collection. John Marshman was a remarkable figure in the history of colonial Canterbury, not only “an unassuming man who wore a cabbage tree hat and loose clothes”, but also at one point he was General Manager for the Canterbury Railways. During this time a railway guard was charged in the Christchurch Court of having been drunk in charge of a train. John Marshman objected to this charge and had it withdrawn on what grounds? The guard could not possibly have been drunk as he was able to correctly pronounce the name ‘Hillsborough’. The guard could not possibly have been drunk as no issues arose with the train and his duties were completed correctly. The guard was only slightly drunk, and certainly not so drunk that they could have put the train at risk. The man was drunk, but as he was not in sole charge of the train he did not carry the full burden of responsibility that was unjustly placed upon him. Charlotte Godley, while not actually a forty-niner, having arrived in 1850, wrote a great many letters detailing life and society in Lyttelton, occasionally veering into the territory of gossip. Which of these is a description given by Charlotte Godley of a new colonist. The Little Boy Johnnie “who is exactly like the bishop over again, no other difference whatever, except that necessary between seven and forty-two.” Mrs Selwyn “She is tall and rather thin, and has very dark, but small, eyes and a very clear, but sickly, complexion.” Mr Roses, “He… is really unbearably cross and complaining, because he complains about the unavoidable inconveniences, expenses and so on, of a new place and he really is so cross that it is amusing.” Mrs Rose “while she, who was dragged here against her will and judgement, and against all the wishes of her family, makes the best of everything, and far from being cross, is if possible more perfectly amiable than ever. All of the above Captain Thomas was a particularly polarising figure in the history of the Canterbury Settlement, with a long history serving with the British military in India and the West Indies and travelling through North and South America prior to his time in New Zealand. While there were also favourable accounts given of him he certainly did himself no favours socially. Which of these quotes was NOT a description given of him by one of his contemporaries. “Thomas is a man in whom no one can place any dependence, so much is he actuated upon by caprice and impulse of the moment” Charles Torlesse …the present one, Captain Thomas, is not at all adapted for the situation on account of his overbearing manner and hasty temper” John Deans “we resolved to treat him as if he were a madman, and not to (if possible) get offended at anything he did” Charles Torlesse “His Manner towards me was so offensive that it was frequently remarked; and his hostility was so frequently evinced to me in other ways…” John Robert Godley Among those earliest of colonists in Lyttelton was Henry Godfrey Gouland. Gouland had spent a long time in the colonial civil service in India, and it was precisely this record as a sound civil servant that led to him being selected to come over and set up as the magistrate, postmaster and customs officer in Port Cooper. But why was Gouland placed almost immediately at odds with Captain Thomas upon his arrival? Captain Thomas objected to the presence of a New Zealand General Government man and made his opposition known Captain Thomas had not reserved any funds for establishing a customs house or even a home for Gouland, declaring that this was the responsibility of government. Gouland, having served as a government official in an established colony in India, did not appreciate the relative loss of status afforded a civil servant in early New Zealand. Because of Gouland’s time spent as a runholder in Nelson before arriving in Lyttelton he had expected the ability to run stock in Lyttelton but found no such opportunity. Thomas Cass, the surveyor after whom Cass Bay was named, had been in New Zealand since 1841 initially appointed as an assistant to the Commissioner and Assistant Surveyor by Lord John Russell. Cass arrived in Port Cooper in 1848 and was chief surveyor from 1851 to 1867. But what made the surveying across rough ground and country even more difficult for Thomas Cass and eventually led to his resignation? Thomas Cass suffered from asthma. Thomas Cass was a particularly rude man and this led to a number of fallings out with important people. Thomas Cass had a significant limp from an injury sustained while transporting Langlands and Davis, two of Canterbury's first bushrangers from Otago to Wellington. He had a number of other official duties which conflicted with the requirements of surveying, including his responsibilities to the Wasteland Board and as a member of the Canterbury Provincial Council. Dr William Donald, held a large number of roles in early Canterbury. He was the medical officer for Port Cooper (Lyttelton’s earlier name), the Lyttelton Magistrate, a Representative on the Canterbury provincial Council, Chair of the Lyttelton Colonist’s association, member of Canterbury College Council and was the District Grand Master of Canterbury Freemasonry. Dr Donald was seemingly involved in everything, but what was he NOT listed as involved in, in a humorous Press article published on the 28 July 1863, Page 2. Committee member of the Horticultural Society Lieutenant in the Lyttelton volunteer company Member of the Wasteland Committee Gaol Surgeon Returning officer for provincial elections Committee member for the Orphan Asylum The Reverend Thomas Jackson was appointed as Bishop designate of Lyttelton in 1850. He was very highly spoken of before arriving in New Zealand with several papers referring to him as a Dr of Divinity. He was, however, described by Charlotte Godley as “a little fussy upstanding man, whose very bow and style of greeting, tone, manner, words, all of them have the very stamp of humbug”. But what was he doing in 1852? Travelling across New Zealand to seek funding for the requirements of his Lyttelton Diocese. He still had not reached Canterbury as he preferred spending his time in the more established settlements of New Zealand. He had gone home to England. He had decided that he would rather pursue his fortune as a landsale commissioner than continue in the role of Bishop. Augustus James Alport, or ‘Bumblefoot’ Alport on account of his club foot, ran the Canterbury Store in early Lyttelton. There was something of a shortage of venues at the time, and this resulted in a number of committees and organisations at different times holding their meetings in a room above Alport's shop. But of these events, which did Augustus James Alport NOT host? Regular meetings of the first Masonic Lodge in the South Island, the Lodge of Unanimity. The first annual meeting of the Lyttelton Chamber of Commerce. The Christchurch conveyance company shareholders meetings. The headquarters of the Lyttelton Volunteer Company The first official Anglican Church service The Scottish born John and William Deans or the Deans Brothers as they have come to be known, were some of the earliest British settlers to make their home in Canterbury arriving around 1843. While their settlement was separate and distinct from that of the Canterbury association, in what year did their independence end? 1847 1848 1849 1850 The surveyor Charles Torlesse wrote a great number of letters back to his mother from the settlement. Many of these are published in The Torlesse Papers and include a great amount of detail about his time in Canterbury from 1848 to 1851. He wrote of some of the difficulties facing the early settlement, but which of these is NOT description of early Canterbury from his letters? “Our scheme for the Winter is to live at Lyttelton or Christchurch as cheaply as we can. I myself am burning for a little civilization, and as I understand that two or three families came out in Monarch to Akaroa, shall certainly endeavour to go there and make their acquaintance.” “I have spent the last two months in mapping a little, quail and duck shooting and farming with the deans who are really kind people... this life is rough and unpleasant even to me… but with all your affection I care nothing and do not let my dislike appear.” “The means of egress from Lyttelton are still quite rudimentary. The bridle path is still a rough cut track unsuited to even a dog cart and while there has been talk of establishing a sumner road no true progress has been made in this are for want of labour.” “I have also some specimens of dried plants and mosses: but my greatest ambition is the Kakapo or Kiwi, though I am afraid the dogs have been before me on the coast.” PhoneThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Add a comment
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