Chapter II.
1847–1849.
“Waste lay the land, untamed and rude;O′er tussocked plain a reedy brookSeaward its course, slow winding, tookUnmurmuring, in slumbrous mood.Save when the North wind’s fever'd breathRustled the raupo, still as deathThe sad fens brooded, and the landAwaited yet the Pilgrim Band—A bounty-wasted solitude.”O. T. J. Alpers
The Foundation of the Canterbury Settlement.
John Robert Godley: his appointment as leader—the Canterbury Association Formed: its plan of settlement—Funds raised by personal guarantee—Captain Thomas sent out to select site—Port Cooper chosen, and why.
The time had now come for the realisation of the second proposal outlined in the Company’s report of 1843, the establishment of a Church of England Settlement. Although the idea of this settlement had emanated from the brain of Mr. Wakefield, it took definite shape as the result of the labours and energy of John Robert Godley, who is rightly regarded as the founder of Canterbury. Mr. Godley was the eldest son of Mr. John Godley, Killegar, Co. Leitrim, and was
