A Study of Early Colonial Communications in the Hawkes Bay during the Period 1858-1876

Abstract

Based in the main on the Hawkes Bay Herald this work deals with those forms of communication lying solely within the sphere of activity of the Provincial Government. Thus though certain road lines developed by both the General Government and the Provincial Government have been included, it being impossible to do otherwise, references to the development of the Railway, the Telegraph, and Shipping are only incidental to the main theme. While it may be argued that a newspaper basis would produce a biased account it is felt that sufficient attention has been paid to other sources to produce a picture not in any great detail at variance with what may later be revealed. The subject covers a period of eighteen years and in this work division is made partly on the basis of the periods of the various Superintendents, partly on economic grounds, and, finally, partly on a basis of General Government activity and attitude. Strangely, none of these various bases clash sufficiently to cause more than a minor need for adjustment. Hawkes Bay was one of the youngest of the provinces, and survived the exigencies of the system better than did, say Auckland or Wellington, but for all the wealth of experience available outside her boundaries some glaringly obvious errors were committed. Land was disposed of at ridiculous prices, the early flush of freedom was not held in check by calm counsels, wasteful expenditure was only too frequently the rule, and an even distribution of monetary resources seldom achieved. In spite of all that did go on during the period of her existence the province did achieve much that could be looked at with satisfaction. Improvements of a lasting nature had been launched. Town and country, employer and employee, native and pakeha had built a communication system which, if not perfect, served the purpose for which it was designed - the free and easy movement of the produce and peoples of the province both within its boundaries and across its borders.