Reminiscences of Earliest Canterbury/Chapter 3
CHAPTER III.
French Settlers.
The early French settlers arrived in Akaroa in 1840. Including children they numbered about sixty. Amongst them was a sprinkling of Germans, and on landing there appears to have been a natural segregation, the Germans moving round to what is now known as German Bay, whilst the French remained in Akaroa.
About this time the Maoris were troublesome; and, for the protection, not only of their own countrymen, but of all Europeans, the French Government sent out a warship (the “Aube”), which, besides cruising about the Peninsula waters, established blockhouses to shelter the settlers in case of attack by the Natives. Two of these blockhouses were built in Akaroa, and one in German Bay. They were well constructed, and, had any Maori rising taken place, the settlers would have been safe from assault until re-inforcements reached them.
It is quite impossible to estimate the benefit conferred on the early Canterbury settlers by the presence and vigilance of this French warship. The Maoris had a wholesome dread of her. Before leaving Akaroa on a cruise, long or short, the captain invariably gave a warning to the natives, through the chief at Wainui, that should any white settlers be molested by them during his absence, he would lose no time on his return in blowing their houses to pieces. Whether or not any formal acknowledgment of this protection passed from the British to the French Government, there can be no doubt that our debt of gratitude to that sturdy old sailor is a very heavy one, involving, as it did, the safety and probably the survival of our pioneers.
There is much to be said to the credit of those early French and German settlers, and very little that can be said with any justice or honesty to their discredit. They were industrious, law-abiding, kind, and hospitable, seldom giving any trouble to the English authorities, and adapting themselves cheerfully to our customs, whilst submitting, with an equal grace, to our laws. Although they had every facility to acquire large holdings they were not greedy for land. For the most part they appeared to be satisfied with holdings of about five acres, but such properties as they did secure they cultivated industriously, growing fruit, especially grapes, with which they made a good deal of excellent wine. In course of time, as settlement advanced, some acquired considerable holdings. A few sold out, and returned to France, but those who did so were settlers who had no families. As may be surmised, there are very few of the French pioneers alive at the present date (July, 1912). Those who do survive were very young on arrival at Akaroa. I have been able to secure a considerable number of photographs of those French settlers, which, I trust, will appear in the collection I propose to publish. By reason of intermarriage with British colonists there are now very few pure French in Akaroa.
A typical French pioneer was the late M. Francois Etienne Lelievre, who was universally loved and respected. His son, M. Etienne Lelievre, has succeeded to the property, and fives in Akaroa.
As a type of the Germans who came out with the French in 1840 was the late Mr. Jacob Waeckerle, who took a deep interest in public matters, and, in the days of Provincial Government, represented the Peninsula for three sessions in the Provincial Council. He was a man of ability and enterprise, and drove the first buggy from Akaroa to Pigeon Bay, in November, 1870.
The French settlers did not import any stock until after the settlement had been established for some time. They then brought a few cattle from Melbourne, and an entire pony called Gregory, with some mares. This pony was the sire of the famous “Kaka,” which left such good stock on the Peninsula.