gave offence to the Committee of Management of the intending colonists, who protested against “the general uncertainty of your going on with your undertaking.”
Lord Lyttelton and others again came to the assistance of the Association by giving their personal guarantee to make good any deficiency in the event of the land sales failing to reach the agreed minimum. This arrangement was accepted by the New Zealand Company, and on April 16 the objectionable clause (No. 28) was withdrawn, and the time for receipt of applications extended to June 30.
But when the tenders were opened on July 1 it was found that only 8650 acres had been applied for. To add to the troubles of the Association, four days later, on July 5, the New Zealand Company closed its career, and surrendered its charter to the Government, invalidating thereby the agreement had made with the Association. The emergency was met mainly by the exertions of Mr. Henry Sewell, M.P., the Deputy-Chairman of the Association, who, in spite of the late period of the session, succeded in August in passing through Parliament an Act (Victoria 13 and 14 C. 70) granting the Association from the Crown similar privileges to those it had enjoyed under the New Zealand Company’s agreement.
In spite of the discouragement caused by the small quantity of land applied for, the officers of the Association decided to persevere. On August 30, additional land, to the amount of 4,500 acres was applied for and sold, and the arrangements for the embarkation of the “pilgrims” continued. The Committee of Management of intending colonists has been referred to, and as this body, under a different name, continued its existence in the colony, and took an active part in public affairs during the early years of the settlement, it should be noticed here. The policy of the Association was to do all in its power to promote sympathy and good-fellowship amongst its little band of pioneer settlers. With
