Next Stop Auckland

Prior to 1840 most Europeans settling in New Zealand lived in the Wellington area (approx. 1600) and in Northland at Russell (about 600) and around the Bay of Islands. Few would have predicted that Auckland would become the pre-emienant city in New Zealand with only 2 european settlers in the Waitemata at this time.

Hobson's Choice.

All that was to change when in 1840, on the recommendation of the Rev Henry Williams, Governor Lt. William Hobson chose the isthmus as the site of his future capital. With fertile volcanic soils, twin habours, rivers to the North and South and a good climate it was an inspired choice. William Wakefield, on behalf of the New Zealand Company, formally challenged the decision but to no avail, it was Hobson's choice.

The First Land Sale nothing has changed!!

In early Sept, 3000 acres were brought from the local Maori chiefs - the Ngati Whatua, the Crown paying £341 for the original land handed over for the settlement (3000 acres, ie £8 3/4 per acre). Six months later, just 44 acres of that land was resold by the Government to settlers for £24,275 (£550 per acre).

The Crown was now in the land business, and it was going to be a land grab. One of the clauses of the Treaty of Waitangai was that the Crown was the only entity that could purchase land from the Maori. The rationale being that they wanted to ensure the Maori were not "disadvantaged" by the European settlers!! Who was ripping off who!! Another clause was that all land deals made prior to the Treaty would need to be sanctioned by the crown. This clause obviously upset the New Zealand Company. their investors and the Wellington settlers putting considerable strain on the relationship with the Auckland based Government. 

Many buyers at the first land sale in Apr 1841 were speculators, who bought on deposit, some of only 10%. When the economy fell into recession in 1842, many were unable to keep up payments. The flow-on effect led to almost all of Auckland’s merchants going under.

The 13 government officials who bought property in the 1841 Auckland land sales were dubbed ‘the Auckland official land-jobbing association’. Jobbery meant using public position for private gain. The jobbers knew the best sites, and probably the reserve prices, but were meant to be banned from speculation. Some were eventually forced to give up the land they had bought.

Shortly the first ship the "Platina" arrived carrying 130 settlers from Wellington and Hobsons pre-fab. house.  Three days later the "Anna Watson" from the Bay of Islands sailed into the Waitemata with the second group of re-settlers. At 1:00pm on Friday 18th of Sep 1840 Captain Symonds, also a chief Magistrate raised the Union Jack, both ships fired their guns and Auckland was founded. It became the capital of New Zealand on the 12th of Mar 1841.

The image above is taken from Britomart point showing Mt Victoria and North Head. Ten years later William and Elizabeth would own a farm on the slopes of Mt Victoria. 

From the outset a steady flow of new arrivals from within New Zealand and from overseas came to the new capital. At first living in raupo huts and tents these 'mechanics' (tradesmen) and officials (government bureaucrats) began to build the beginnings of a town.

As we have already seen, William, Elizabeth and their three children arrived from Wellington on the "Chelydra" at the end of Feb 1841.

Mary, my Gr Gr Grandmother, in her later years, had the following recollections of those early days .......   I was little more than a baby when we arrived in Wellington and shortly afterwards came on to Auckland (she was 5 years old). It was before Governor Hobson removed the capital of New Zealand from Russell. We landed at Official Bay and initially camped in a Maori whare on the present site of Government house. A ridge pole in the whare fell down and they had to cut a hole through the thatch to get me out.

The first Government house that was destroyed by fire was sent out from England ready to put up, and we were camped there. I heard my mother say that the timber for building it was lying around when we arrived. We  lived in a tent, as there were no wooden buildings in Auckland at the time.

My father pitched a tent in Parnell, somewhere near where the railway bridge now crosses. He bought a section in Official Bay at the Government auction of the first lots in Auckland (April 1841). He was offered the corner where the South British Insurance Co building in Queen Street is situated, but refused as that was only a swamp in those days. There was a bit of a barracks around the Britomart point, but it was some time before the Albert barracks were built.

Although the above plan is of Auckland 30 years "down the road", it gives a good indication of the central area, particularly the the extensive reclamation that has gone on. Parnell is just off the plan on the right and where the family camped was probably on, or close to the "Offical Bay" beach, now all reclaimed. Britomart Point (hill), also shown in the image of Hobson's Govt house, was the location of a barracks, and later flattened and used in the reclamation.

Auckland in Recession 

In 1842 the property bubble bursts, and the economy became depressed because of a shortage of exports, and remained that way for a couple of years. In 1844, the first finance company is established, lending money against the security of property.

Governor William Hobson died in 1842 and was replaced by Robert FitzRoy who issues junk bonds (worthless debentures) to alleviate the Government's financial crisis. John Logan Campbell, later to become known as the "father of Auckland" makes Auckland's first direct shipment of goods to England.

These years would have been tough for the Trevathens. William worked to help establish the town and provide for his family. We are not aware of what specific activities he was involved in, but he had purchased some land and presumably need to pay it off.

The Copper Mines at Kawau and the Barrier

In 1844 copper was discovered on Kawau Island by accident. Mining operations to extract manganese began in that year and at it's peak in 1852, the mines were inundated with up to 300 people living on the island. Mining villages were located at Mansion House Bay, Two House Bay, Sunny Bay, Schoolhouse Bay, Dispute Cove and Miners Bay. The Trevarthans moved to Kawau where William worked as a miner and then later spent a period of time mining on Great Barrier Island.

Back to the Farm

In 1850 the family moved back to the township of Auckland and were able to purchase a farm in Devonport. Their fourth child, William, was also born that year.  The five or so years of hard labour in the copper mines had obviously enabled William to build up enough equity to purchase his own farm, maybe also with the help of the land purchased in 1841.

At least a part of the land stretched from the lower slopes of Mt Victoria to the waterfront. The site was described as "the finest in Devonport". When the first rough roads were formed Elizabeth named them after roads in her native Cornwall, St Aubyn St, Kerr St and Tudor St, names that they still bear.

William and Elizabeth had 10 years farming the on the slopes of Mt Victoria and raising their family. She used to row her boat from Devonport to St Mary's bay to purchase supplies.

On the 7th Dec 1860 William was kicked in the stomach by his horse and died the following day.

The will of William Trevarthen 8th Dec 1860

To all whom it may concern.  Be it known that I William Trevarthan, Settler, on the North Shore of Auckland (Flagstaff district) New Zealand, being wounded by a horse yesterday and otherwise considering the frailty of life, do hereby make my last will and testament.

I wish that all my estate, real and personal, be vested in and belong to my dear wife, Elizabeth to do and devise as to her what may seem right, being well aware that she will do what will be right and proper therewith towards our children. Although in bodily pain, I am, thank God, in sound mind and I subscribe this paper in the presence of the witnesses hereby described - this eighth day of December in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and sixty.

William Trevarthan  x (his mark)

Signed in presence of us and each together this 8th day of December 1860

Arthur Robert Roberts, Schoolmaster, North shore

Thomas Duder, Signal man, North shore

George Burnett, Shipsmith, North shore

An Incredible Life

Elizabeth continued to farm, presumably with the help of her children, until 1864 when it was sold.

From some of the proceeds of the sale she gave the Wesleyans a plot of land upon which they built a church and also provided land for the Devonport school. Although the school has been relocated it still occupies part of what was then the Trevathen farm. 

On the 30th Mar 1871, Elizabeth had a heart attack and passed away. There was a coroners inquest into her death. Here is the notice in the local press.
  

Another one of those melancholy deaths which are becoming so frequent in this city took place yesterday in Karangahape Road. Elizabeth Trevarthen, who had just come in from a vist to Mr Walters at Papakura, entered the shop of Mr Waddel yesterday afternoon. She had been conversing with Mrs Waddel and speaking of the long journey she had just made, when she suddenly fell back against the counter of the shop and expired. Constable Clark had Dr Philson immediately in attendance but life was quite extinct.

(nb: Mr William Walters was a farmer in Papakura and one of the "pillars" in the NZ turf industry. Why Elizabeth made the trip is unknown. A trip of that distance in 1871 would have been a long one. Papakura in the mid 1860's was a location at the heart of the NZ Wars and this trip was not long after that.)

Death Notice - Trevarthen

On 30th Mar, Mrs Elizabeth Trevarthen, aged 65 years. The funeral will leave the residence of her son-in-law Mr Francis Rowe of Newton, this day at quarter to 3 p.m. at the Queen St wharf for the North Shore at half past 3 p.m. Friends are respectfully invited to attend.

William and Elizabeth Trevarthen are at rest at the Presbyterian churchyard in Devonport. 

What an end to two amazing and adventurous lives. Could they ever, in their wildest dreams, have believed that the risks they took in leaving Cornwall and venturing to the other side of the world could have, in a relatively short period of twenty years, reaped such huge rewards. From agricultural worker in Cornwall with no prospects, to farmer and land owner in Auckland, who at the end of their incredible lives could bequeath land to their local church and school and leave their children and their childrens children with huge opportunities in an amazing country. Thank you Mr Wakefield, thankyou William and Elizabeth.

The image above is of Auckland in 1869, two years before Elizabeth died. It is a view from Mt Hobson looking towards North Head and Mt Victoria, on the far left. A very similar scene to those used by EGW and his Company to entice them to New Zealand 20 years before. The dream had become a reality.

Source material and additional reading: 

Auckland City History