Settlers who helpedbuildfoundations

Continued from Page 11

Whenthe first excitements of arrivalhad subsidedand thenovelty of unfettered freedomhad lost somethingofits first appeal, Otago’s children settleddown once more to the‘‘three Rs’’ under theclosesupervision of their schoolmaster,James Blackie, Unfortunately for the community,the servicesthat Blackierendered so efficiently on boardthe Philip Laing,and laterDunedin itself,weresoon losttothe settlement. Although hissojourn wasashort one, and thereforecould notreapthe fruitsofmaturity, JamesBlackie will always standasthe true founder of provincial education.

Anascentsettlementlike Otagocould not, however, have subsisted long on religionand educationalone.Consequently it wouldhavepromised ill for futureprogresshad not, earlyin 1849, theValpy family arrived to stimulateagricultureamong a community of town dwellers.

WilliamHenryValpy was Otago’sfirstlandowner on alarge scale. Around hisestate, ‘‘The Forbury,’’ grew up acompact agriculturalcommunity.From theveryoutsetheemployed at least20onthe home estate

Later, as he branched outbeyond thesettlementbounds, hisnew ventures providedstill further traininggrounds for future provincialfarmers lndeed,Otago todayhas every reason to paythisman great honour.For W. H. Valpy, the manwho asearly as 1852 had made thefirst shipmentoffat stockfrom Otago to Canterbury, left behindhim atradition of soundfarming.This tradition wascarried still furtherin lateryears by othernotable agriculturalists, such as Donald Reid,ofthe Taieri.Valpy thereby bequeathed to ourfarmers a heritage as rich in promiseasit had been in achievement

Forthe first years, Otago’s progress wasveryslow. Immigrantscontinued to pour intothe province,but fewof thesehad either thecapital or inclination to promotetrade or foster commerce.

Admittedly therewereafew stores, butthese fewwerenot stampedwiththe bold spirit of enterprise so essential to initialdevelopment and growth.For some time then, Otago struggledon, viewing with some embarrassmentthe rapidprogressofits neighbour Canterbury, which, though establishedtwo yearslater,was steadily outstripping Otago

The arrivalin1851ofJames Macandrewinhis ownvessel, the Titan,withaspeculative cargoof merchandise, wasthe first step in theprovincialcommercial awakening. Macandrewwas a manofmanyparts. Abounding in enthusiasm andnew ideas, he wasanever-ardentcolonist —justthe rightman to pierce through theapathyand the inertia whichhad untilthen enshroudedthe settlement.

Besides hisundoubted business capacity andhis enthusiasms, he wasaman of magnetic personality. He wasrecognised at once as apotentialleader

It is difficulttodojustice to Macandrewand hiscontribution towardsthe founding of Otago.Asamerchanthewas enterprisingand progressive, marchingwellabreast of his times, whileasachurchman he wasdevoutand sincere, readyalwaystoacceptthe responsibilities of honorary office However, Otago will remember him best as superintendent; for nineunbrokenyears the avowed head of theprovince. In colonial politics too, he served long andwell. However, because of hisgreat love for hisown province,itishereinOtago that Macandrew’scontributionhas withstood most successfully the passageoftime.

The beginnings of aprovincial systemofgovernmentearly in the1850s opened up for Otago colonistsagreat avenue of political opportunity.Those ninecouncillors, whowith superintendentCaptain Cargill comprisedOtago’s first provincial government,werein their own sphere just as much founders as were theearly surveyorsand thefirstimmigrantswho had preceded them.

The first provincial representativesweredrawn from widely different backgrounds.

In menlikeJames Macandrew andW.H.Reynoldsthe settlers found an assuranceofgeneral businesscapacity andpromiseof future enterprise andleadership There wasacertain professional qualityabout John Gillies, W. H. Cutten, John Hyde Harris andlater J. L. C. Richardson, whichwould,theyhoped,no doubtact as avaluablecounter to thevisionary enthusiasms of Macandrew. In thehosts of lessernames,likeJames Adam, Rennie,Andersonand Edward

McGlashan(menunskilledin thepractice of governmentsand unpractised in theart of oratory), theOtago colonist found histrue representative. These menfor all their ignoranceofofficialdom, remained always interestedinand alivetothe needsofthe settlement andOtago’s rightful place in the councils of thecolony.

To thesemen were entrusted thelives of thepeopleand the welfare of theprovince. It was they whowereresponsible for themanagementofCrown lands, forthe controlofimmigration andeducation —infact, forall thoseissues whichappeared at thetimetob consequence even thehum Thustoall first administ earlysurveyi thepioneer immig andtheir leader religion, educ agriculture,w menofcomme well as thoseo Otagomuste homage.For thecountlesso co-operatedw thetruefounde province be of so much

Gl h ( kill d i the time to e to thelives of mblestofcolonists thesemen, the stratorsand the ing parties, immigrants adersof ucation and weretothe merceas e of politics, ever pay r theseand s others that with them are ndersofour

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