On July 13, 1889, Captain William Hobson, R.N., was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of New Zealand, and arrived in the colony on January 29, 1840. A few days later (February 5, 1840) the Treaty of Waitangi was signed. Thus the formation of the New Zealand Company had an important bearing on the history of New Zealand.
Two years after the incorporation of the New Zealand Company, its agent, Colonel Wakefield, was looking for a site for the future Nelson Settlement. He had heard of a good harbour and extensive plains at Port Cooper, and in July, 1841, he sent Captain Danniell and Mr. George Duppa in a small schooner to inspect and report. Their report was completely favourable, and Colonel Wakefield was greatly disappointed when Lieutenant-Governor Hobson put his veto on the choice, and ultimately insisted on the selection of Blind Bay for the Nelson Settlement, which was, in consequence, known for some years as “Hobson’s Choice.”
Captain Danniell and Mr. Duppa were accompanied on this visit by Mr. William Deans, who then for the first time saw the Canterbury Plains, and was so favourably impressed that le shortly afterwards returned to settle on them.
The following year (November, 1842), Captain Smith, the New Zealand Company’s chief surveyor, visited Port Cooper, and entirely confirmed the favourable report of his predecessors.
But to follow the thread of the story of Christchurch we must pass on to the annual report of the New Zealand Company, dated August 21, 1843, in which reference was made to two proposed settlements. The first was a Scottish project described as “the New Edinburgh Colony,” and resulted in the foundation of the city of Dunedin. The report continued: “It is proposed that the plan of the other colony shall contain a scheme of large endowments for religious and educational pur-
