100 Years of Otago, 1948 | Stamp Collecting
- Country: New Zealand
- Date of Issue: 1948
- Colors: Multicolor
- Emission: Commemorative
- Face Value: 1d and 2d
- Themes: Anniversaries
Otago, New Zealand, in 1848
In the mid-19th century, a significant chapter in Otago’s history unfolded with the arrival of Scottish settlers. In 1848, the ship Philip Laing brought the first group of Free Church of Scotland settlers to the area, led by Reverend Thomas Burns. They established the settlement that would later become the city of Dunedin, which means “Edinburgh” in Scottish Gaelic. The Otago settlement was unique for its organized planning and strong Scottish influences.
The Two Ships
In 1848, two significant ships associated with New Zealand history were the John Wickliffe and the Philip Laing.
John Wickliffe
The John Wickliffe was a ship that arrived in New Zealand in 1848 as part of the New Zealand Company’s immigration scheme. The ship was named after John Wycliffe, the English theologian and translator mentioned earlier. It carried a group of Scottish settlers to New Zealand and arrived in Port Nicholson (now Wellington) on January 3, 1848. The arrival of the John Wickliffe was significant as it contributed to the early European settlement and colonization of New Zealand.
Philip Laing
The Philip Laing was another ship that arrived in New Zealand in 1848 and is closely associated with the early history of Otago. The ship, named after its owner Philip Laing, carried a group of Scottish settlers who were part of the Free Church of Scotland’s settlement scheme. They intended to establish a settlement in the Otago region of the South Island. The Philip Laing arrived at Port Chalmers, Otago Harbour, on March 15, 1848, becoming one of the first ships to bring settlers to the area.
The arrival of the Philip Laing and the subsequent establishment of the Otago settlement were important events in New Zealand’s history. The settlement eventually grew into the city of Dunedin, which became one of the country’s major cities.
These ships played a role in the early European settlement of New Zealand, contributing to the cultural, economic, and social development of the regions they arrived in.