New problems arose at the end of the war. Apart from demobilisation and the closing down of wartime stations, there was the job of reshaping the service, making it smaller and more compact, yet strong enough to carry out its role in the event of another war. First, the regular Air Force was reorganised on a peacetime basis and, later, the territorial Air Force was reconstituted and an Air Force Reserve formed.

Since the end of the war at least three squadrons of the RNZAF have been stationed overseas. No. 14 (Fighter) Squadron was sent to Japan early in 1946 as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force and spent two and a half years there. The squadron's next tour of duty began in 1952 when, equipped with De Havilland Vampire jet fighters, it was sent to Cyprus to operate with the RAF as part of the Middle East Air Force. From Cyprus the squadron moved to Singapore in 1955 when it formed part of the Commonwealth Strategic Reserve and carried out operations against terrorists in the Malayan jungle. It returned to New Zealand in 1958, being replaced in Singapore by No. 75 (Bomber) Squadron with Canberra aircraft. This squadron was withdrawn in 1962 as a result of the Government's White Paper on Defence of the previous year. Another renowned RNZAF squadron, No. 41 Transport Squadron, also has a long association with Singapore. From 1949 to 1951 and again from 1955 to the present time, operating from Changi on Singapore Island, the squadron has flown its Bristol Freighters all over the Far East and carried out a variety of tasks including supply dropping over the Malayan jungle during the emergency in that country. Since 1962 a detachment of the squadron has been based at Korat in Central Thailand. No. 5 (Maritime) Squadron has been permanently based at Lauthala Bay in Fiji since early in the war. In addition to its military (anti-submarine) role, it has distinguished itself in search and rescue missions in the South Pacific and in bringing medical aid to people of outlying islands. It has also been of considerable help to the civil administration in providing communications to outlying groups. At the time of writing (1964) the Government had approved of the purchase of new Lockheed P3 Orion aircraft to replace the Sunderland in the anti-submarine warfare role.

From the end of the war until 1957, the RNZAF was committed mainly to the fighter-ground attack role and was organised so as to provide a small regular nucleus capable of rapid expansion in time of war. The advent overseas of improved nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles brought about a change in policy, the RNZAF appreciating the need to concentrate on an effective “force-in-being”, rather than a regular cadre supported by large reserves. As a result, the five territorial squadrons were disbanded. Today the main operational roles of the RNZAF are those of attack, maritime, and transport. To these ends, the RNZAF consists of two attack squadrons—No. 14 (Canberra) and No. 75 (Vampire), both based at Ohakea. Maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine operations are the responsibilities of No. 5 Squadron whose Sunderland flying boats will be replaced by the Orions, operating in the main from Whenuapai. Engaged in transport operations, there is No. 40 Squadron at Whenuapai whose long-range Hastings and DC6 aircraft make regular flights to Singapore, Fiji, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In 1965 these aircraft will be replaced by Lockheed Hercules C130 transport aircraft.

No. 41 Squadron, equipped with Bristol Freighters, is based at Changi (Singapore), with a detachment at Korat, Thailand. In addition, the Transport Support Unit at Whenuapai, also equipped with Bristol Freighters, serves to provide replacement aircrew for No. 41 Squadron and to carry out a variety of transport tasks within New Zealand. No. 42 (Communications) Squadron at Ohakea is equipped with Dakotas and Harvards and is responsible for communications within New Zealand including the air transport of His Excellency the Governor-General, Cabinet Ministers, and distinguished visitors.

The RNZAF maintains an efficient training organisation in support of the attack, maritime, and transport squadrons. Pilots, navigators, and air signallers are trained at the Flying Training School at Wigram where also is located the Central Flying School, responsible for the training of flying instructors. Aircrew are given advanced training on the aircraft they are to fly at the Jet Operational Conversion Unit at Ohakea, the Maritime Operational Conversion Unit at Hobsonville, and the Transport Support Unit at Whenuapai.

In addition to its normal commitments as a link in the chain of Commonwealth defence, New Zealand has obligations to the South East Asia Treaty Organisation and under the ANZUS Pact. RNZAF units frequently exercise with the air, ground, and sea forces of other SEATO member nations.

by Squadron-Leader Geoffrey Bentley, M.B.E., Public Relations Officer, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Wellington.

In 1937 the newly formed RNZAF had only 30 aircraft, many of them old and all of them obsolescent. The Service comprised a small regular nucleus and a slightly larger territorial force of four squadrons. These squadrons, however, had no aircraft, and the squadron personnel attending annual camps and training had to makeshift with what aircraft could be spared at Wigram and Hobsonville.

Under the leadership of the RNZAF's first Chief of Air Staff, Wing Commander the Hon. Ralph Cochrane (later Air Chief Marshal the Hon. Sir Ralph Cochrane, RAF Retired) an officer on loan from the RAF, it was planned to expand the RNZAF into an effective force of two regular bomber squadrons of modern aircraft and four territorial squadrons of older aircraft, supported by modern bases and an extensive training organisation. This programme of expansion was to be completed by 1941 and, on the outbreak of war in 1939, much had been done. Only six of the 30 Vickers Wellington bombers ordered for the two regular bomber squadrons had been delivered. The New Zealand Government offered these aircraft and crews to Britain and, from these, the famous No. 75 (NZ) Squadron was formed. New Zealand was thus without modern aircraft until the first Lockheed Hudsons arrived in 1941.

The war speeded up the expansion of the RNZAF. Private aircraft were requisitioned for training and the RAF supplied many older operational aircraft for this purpose. These were a valuable asset. Early in the war the RNZAF was mainly an organisation providing trained aircrew for service with the RAF and partly-trained aircrew to complete their training in Canada under the Empire Air Training Scheme. Many of these men became famous over Britain, Europe, the Near and Far East, and in the Battle of the Atlantic. When Japan entered the war in December 1941 New Zealand was threatened with invasion. There were few operational aircraft and these, until a steady trickle of lend-lease bombers and fighters began to arrive late in 1942, comprised New Zealand's sole aerial defence. Operational squadrons were formed, first for home defence and, later, for operations with allied forces in the Pacific. Operating first with Hudson bombers and Kittyhawk fighters and later with Venturas, Corsairs, Avengers, and Catalinas, New Zealand squadrons fought with marked success from bases in Fiji, the New Hebrides, the Solomon Islands, and the Admiralty Islands. The two transport squadrons No. 40 and 41, equipped with Dakotas, provided communications between New Zealand and the forward areas.

As early as 1911, some seven years after Richard Pearse had made the first powered flight in New Zealand, the General Staff had considered aviation's place in defence. Little was done and the country had no air force when the First World War began. During the war, two private companies did much good work in training pilots for the Royal Flying Corps, the Royal Naval Air Service, and, later, the Royal Air Force. These were the New Zealand Flying School at Kohimarama, near Auckland, and the Canterbury Aviation Company at Sockburn, near Christchurch. They trained 290 New Zealanders, most of whom were commissioned in the RFC, RNAS, or RAF. Many other New Zealanders also joined these services.

In 1923 the New Zealand Aviation Corps (the basis of an air force) was formed, comprising two officers and two airmen; and 72 ex-service pilots were enrolled in an Air Force Reserve. Later in 1923 the New Zealand Permanent Air Force was formed, and the New Zealand Air Force was established as part of the territorial forces. Both organisations were controlled by the New Zealand military forces. The airfield at Sockburn, belonging to the Canterbury Aviation Co., was bought as the Air Force's first station and renamed Wigram after the Hon. Henry Wigram, an early advocate of air power, who gave £10,000 towards the cost. Later, a seaplane base was developed at the upper reaches of the Waitemata Harbour, the present RNZAF Station, Hobsonville.

For many years air power had only a few enthusiastic supporters and suffered from lack of money, from official apathy, and from too old and too few aircraft. With the passing of the Air Force Act on 1 April 1937, the Royal New Zealand Air Force became a separate branch of the armed forces of New Zealand.

In its report of June 1962 the Royal Commission on State Services recommended that a small Department of Defence be established under a Secretary of Defence to advise the Minister of Defence on defence commitments, on the broad programme of defence expenditure for the present and the immediate future, and on the allocation of defence funds among the three Services. The new department would also advise the Minister on matters of joint-Services activities, integration, and conditions of service in the Armed Forces, and provide staff and facilities for joint-Service activities, especially for serving the Chiefs of Staff Committee and any other committees attached to it. After consideration by Government, the Minister of Defence announced in December 1962 the Government's decision to adopt the recommendations of the Royal Commission. The decision included approval for the appointment of a Secretary of Defence and of an independent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, and for the creation of an inter-departmental Officials' Committee to provide an advisory forum in which the military, strategic, economic, financial, and foreign policy aspects of defence policy could be brought together.

The Department of Defence, as envisaged in the report of the Royal Commission, would be a small “fourth department”, coordinating the activities of three independent Service Departments (like the Ministry of Defence in the British defence machinery as it existed at that time). The Government recognised, however, that the opportunity should be taken, when establishing a new pattern of defence administration for New Zealand, to consider whether a more closely knit organisation should be created. The Minister of Defence investigated the Australian higher defence administrative machinery during a visit to Australia in September 1962, and as a result of this visit and exchanges of views with senior officials from other overseas countries, an outline defence organisation for New Zealand was developed. Consequently on 18 June 1963 the appointment was announced of J. K. Hunn as Secretary of Defence, and on 1 July 1963 Rear Admiral P. Phipps was named as Chief of Defence Staff (the title and role eventually preferred by the Government for the position originally described as independent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee).

A Unitary Department

On 29 October 1963 the Government decided that the Ministry of Defence should be a unitary Department, combining not only all joint-Service functions but also the Departments of Army, Navy, and Air as distinct components, subject to certain conditions, with administrative effect from 1 January 1964. Accordingly, the Ministry is now operating as a unitary Department. The central core of the new Ministry of Defence is the Defence Office, which has a small composite civilian and military staff under the direction of the Secretary of Defence, and the Chief of Defence Staff, in their capacities as the principal civil and military advisers to the Government on defence matters.

Joint Intelligence Bureau

The Joint Intelligence Bureau was transferred on 1 January 1965 from the Prime Minister's Department to the Ministry of Defence, but will continue to service the Prime Minister's Department, the Department of External Affairs, and the Ministry of Defence on all intelligence matters.

Shortly after New Zealand was settled by Europeans, deer were introduced for sport from England and, later, from America. Herds have since grown to several million head and are now regarded as a pest and a menace to the native bush and high-country pasture. Government hunters now shoot them as part of a campaign to control numbers.

The first Deerstalkers' Association was formed at Invercargill on 6 June 1937. The headquarters of the association remained in Invercargill for several years and the executive were also Southland people. The association went into recess during the war and was revived in 1946. By 1948 branches had been set up in Otago, Waikato, and Nelson. Since then it has grown rapidly to 5,600 financial members and about 400 junior, life, and honorary members. The association is not solely concerned with deerstalking. It also has an established code of behaviour and ethics which all members must observe. It also tries for a better understanding of the relationship of wildlife and its surroundings and for a different approach to the economic utilisation of big-game animals.

Red deer are the predominant species in New Zealand. Although there has been a deterioration in the size of antlers, good trophies are taken each year. There are several herds of fallow deer, the Greenstone-Mavora being recognised as the best. Sika antlers approaching record size are taken from a herd in the central North Island. Wapiti, or American elk, are confined to an area in the Fiordland National Park. Here the control of hunting has been deputed to the association by the National Parks Board. A ballot is held for the right to hunt the blocks into which the area has been divided. There are small herds of sambar, rusa, and whitetail deer. In their case, however, heavy hunting would probably mean extermination. The horns of chamois and thar (herds of which are found along the main divide of the South Island) are valuable trophies.

Association members compete for the Orbell trophy which is awarded to the one securing the best deer antlers of any species.

A deed has been described as a formal instrument in writing signed by the party to be bound thereby and attested by a witness who, if the deed is executed in New Zealand, must himself add to his signature his place of abode and occupation. Formal delivery is never necessary, and sealing is unnecessary except where a corporation executes the deed. A document may be a deed although it is not in a usual or recognised form. Subject to the requirements of signature and witnessing, the paramount test is the intention of the parties.

by Bruce James Cameron, B.A., LL.M., Legal Adviser, Department of Justice, Wellington.

• Goodall's Conveyancing in New Zealand, Adams, E. C. (2 ed. 1951).

New Zealand servicemen have been eligible for British orders and decorations since they participated in the Boer War of 1899–1902. During the Maori War of 1860–72, British decorations were not awarded to the locally raised forces, and the New Zealand Cross was instituted as a New Zealand equivalent to the Victoria Cross. In 1898 the New Zealand Government had ten Distinguished Conduct Medals struck with the words “New Zealand” on the reverse, but there is no record of any of these medals being awarded, and only specimens are known to exist today.

The New Zealand Mounted Rifle Contingents to the Boer War received the following awards:

Victoria Cross (V.C.)	1
Companion of the Bath (C.B.)	4
Companion of St. Michael and St. George (C.M.G.)	2
Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.)	8
Member of the Royal Red Cross (R.R.C.)	1
Distinguished Conduct Medal (D.C.M.)	21
Mentions in Despatches (M.I.D.)	63
Total	100

During the Great War of 1914–18 New Zealand Naval and Air Force personnel served as part of the Royal Navy, Royal Flying Corps, or Royal Air Force, but no separate record was kept of awards to New Zealanders in these services. Awards to the First New Zealand Expeditionary Force (Army) were as follows:

Victoria Cross (V.C.)	11
Knight Commander of the Bath (K.C.B.)	2
Knight Companion of St. Michael and St. George (K.C.M.G.)	2
Companion of the Bath (C.B.)	12
Companion of St. Michael and St. George (C.M.G.)	47
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (C.B.E.)	23
Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.)	141
Bar to the Distinguished Service Order	8
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.)	60
Member of the Order of the British Empire (M.B.E.)	44
Member of the Royal Red Cross (R.R.C.)	14
Bar to the Royal Red Cross	1
Military Cross (M.C.)	530
Bar to the Military Cross	25
Associate of the Royal Red Cross (A.R.R.C.)	72
Albert Medal (A.M.)	1
Distinguished Conduct Medal (D.C.M.)	393
Bar to the Distinguished Conduct Medal	4
Military Medal (M.M.)	2,066
Bar to the Military Medal	62
Meritorious Service Medal (M.S.M.)	318
Mentions in Despatches (M.I.D.)	1,434
Total British Awards	5,270
Foreign Awards	252
Total British and Foreign Awards	5,522

During the World War of 1939–45 New Zealand servicemen were awarded the following:

	RNZN	ARMY	RNZAF	Total
Victoria Cross (V.C.)	..	5	3	8
Bar to the Victoria Cross	..	1	..	1
George Cross (G.C.)	..	1	..	1
Knight Commander of the Bath (K.C.B.)	..	1	..	1
Knight Commander of the British Empire (K.B.E.)	..	1	1	2
Companion of the Bath (C.B.)	3	6	2	11
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (C.B.E.)	1	26	9	36
Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.)	15	111	71	197
First Bar to the D.S.O.	7	17	4	28
Second Bar to the D.S.O.	..	1	..	1
Third Bar to the D.S.O.	..	1	..	1
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.)	15	84	34	133
Member of the Order of the British Empire (M.B.E.)	28	148	66	242
Royal Red Cross (R.R.C.)	..	8	..	8
Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.)	95	..	..	95
First Bar to the D.S.C.	8	..	..	8
Second Bar to the D.S.C.	1	..	..	1
Military Cross (M.C.)	..	254	2	256
Bar to the Military Cross	..	13	..	13
Distinguished Flying Cross (D.F.C.)	1	..	1,014	1,015
First Bar to the D.F.C.	..	..	80	80
Second Bar to the D.F.C.	..	..	4	4
Air Force Cross (A.F.C.)	..	..	102	102
Bar to the Air Force Cross	..	..	2	2
Associate of the Royal Red Cross (A.R.R.C.)	..	19	..	19
Albert Medal (A.M.)	1	..	..	1
Distinguished Conduct Medal (D.C.M.)	..	108	..	108
Bar to the D.C.M.	..	1	..	1
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (C.G.M.)	1	..	5	6
George Medal (G.M.)	..	1	6	7
Distinguished Service Medal (D.S.M.)	35	..	..	35
Military Medal (M.M.)	..	589	3	592
Bar to the Military Medal	..	1	..	1
Distinguished Flying Medal (D.F.M.)	..	..	179	179
Bar to the D.F.M.	..	..	1	1
Air Force Medal (A.F.M.)	..	..	5	5
British Empire Medal (B.E.M.)	30	74	..	104
Mentions in Despatches (M.I.D.)	197	2,802	572	3,571
Special Commendations	1	..	42	43
Total British Awards	439	4,273	2,207	6,919
Foreign Awards	41	117	68	226
Total British and Foreign Awards	480	4,390	2,275	7,145

In addition members of the New Zealand Merchant Navy won the following Service awards during the 1939–45 war:

Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.)	1
Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.)	3
Distinguished Service Medal (D.S.M.)	2
Mentions in Despatches (M.I.D.)	8
Total	14

During the Korean War of 1950–54 members of the Royal New Zealand Navy and the New Zealand Army won the following awards:

	RNZN	ARMY	Total
Companion of the Bath (C.B.)	..	1	1
Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.)	..	4	4
Member of the Order of the British Empire (M.B.E.)	1	14	15
Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.)	5	..	5
First Bar to the D.S.C.	1	..	1
Second Bar to the D.S.C.	1	..	1
Military Cross (M.C.)	..	11	11
Distinguished Conduct Medal (D.C.M.)	..	1	1
Distinguished Service Medal (D.S.M.)	2	..	2
Military Medal (M.M.)	..	7	7
British Empire Medal (B.E.M.)	..	4	4
Mentions in Despatches (M.I.D.)	18	48	66
Totals	28	90	118

During the campaign against communist terrorists in Malaya between 1948–60, members of the New Zealand Army and the Royal New Zealand Air Force won the following awards:

	ARMY	RNZAF	Total
Companion of the Bath (C.B.)	..	1	1
Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.)	1	..	1
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.)	2	1	3
Member of the Order of the British Empire (M.B.E.)	5	..	5
Military Cross (M.C.)	2	..	2
Distinguished Flying Cross (D.F.C.)	..	3	3
Military Medal (M.M.)	2	..	2
British Empire Medal (B.E.M.)	4	..	4
Mentions in Despatches (M.I.D.)	21	3	24
Totals	37	8	45

The total British awards won by New Zealand servicemen from 1899 to the present day whilst engaged in operations outside New Zealand are as follows:

	RNZN	ARMY	RNZAF	Totals
Boer War, 1899–1902	..	100	..	100
World War, 1914–18	..	5,270	..	5,270
World War, 1939–45	439	4,273	2,207	6,919
Korean War, 1950–54	28	90	..	118
Malayan Campaign, 1948–60	..	37	8	45
Total awards	467	9,770	2,215	12,452

by Capt. Geoffrey Troughear Stagg, F.R.N.S.N.Z., R.N.Z.A. (retired), formerly President of the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand, Wellington.

• “Colonials in South Africa, 1899–1902”. Stirling, J. (1907)
• Appendices to Journal of the House of Representatives: H—19 E, 1919, and H—19 B, 1948
• Some Records of the NZEF, Studholme J. (1928).

(1817–51) and (1820–54).

Canterbury pioneers

A new biography of Deans, William appears in the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography on this site.

The Deans brothers were sons of John Deans, of Ayrshire, and were born in the parish of Kirkstyle, Riccarton. Both were intended for the law, but they became interested in the plans for settlement in New Zealand and were accordingly placed on good Scottish farms to prepare them for colonial life. William bought his land orders from the New Zealand Company in 1839 and, sailing by the Aurora, reached Port Nicholson on 21 January 1840. With him was John Gebbie, an experienced Ayrshire farmer, with his wife and child. Gebbie had entered into a five-year engagement with Deans. He found on his arrival that much of the land was under heavy bush, that the Maoris were often unwilling to sell, and that the New Zealand Company had not completed its purchases and was much behind with its surveys. Being a vigorous and energetic man, he set out on various expeditions in both islands and at the end of a year could say that he knew more of the country than any other colonist. After he had seen the South Island twice, he made up his mind to settle on the Canterbury Plains. He decided to wait for his brother John's arrival, and to save encroaching on his limited capital, took contracts for setting survey lines through the bush. He found this paid him well. William Deans got on very well with the Maoris and soon had a knowledge of their language. He made such an impression that they offered him a chieftainship if he would stay with them.

His brother John (born 4 May 1820) had bought land orders in the Nelson settlement and arrived there in the Thomas Harrison on 25 October 1842. He was much dissatisfied with the quality of the land and the arrangements for settlers, and readily agreed to join his brother in the new venture. Francis Sinclair, another dissatisfied North Island settler, had built on the Hutt River a schooner which he named the Richmond. The Richmond sailed on 11 February 1843 with, as passengers, William Deans, John Gebbie with his wife and family, and Samuel Manson, a carpenter who had come out with John Deans, also with a wife and family. They left the women and children at Port Levy in the care of John Gebbie, and transferring into a whaleboat and picking up the well known Robinson Clough, they proceeded as far as the spot later known as “The Bricks”. Here they had to change to a canoe, which carried them close to their destination. They brought with them tools, provisions, poultry, and joinery for the house. Unfortunately the nails had been left behind and the timber had to be joined with pegs. In the meantime John had crossed to Australia to buy seeds and stock. He chartered the Princess Royal and, after a passage of 21 days and with a loss of only six cattle and one mare, he landed 61 cattle, three mares, and 43 sheep.

William had shown great judgment in selecting the spot where they were to settle. The small bush afforded them shelter and plenty of timber for their needs, and the ground was rich and intersected by deep streams of never-failing pure, cold water. These streams served them to keep the stock in different lots and off their cropping land. They changed the Maori name Putaringamotu to Riccarton and they called the principal stream the Avon after a stream at their Scottish home. They, of course, had to build the necessary bridges. They made their own bricks, sawed their own timber, and built a long shed, divided into three rooms with curtains of blankets. This was finished by May: within the year they had built two more houses, a stock yard, a milking shed with 10 double stalls, a stable and calf house, and two bridges.

For the next seven years the Deans lived the simple rewarding life that philosophers have dreamed of, seeing their flocks and herds flourish and multiply, often for months not seeing another white man. They grew all the normal farm crops, potatoes, and other vegetables and planted fruit trees, as well as tree seeds and quicks. They shipped their fat bullocks to Wellington and their butter and cheese to Wellington and Sydney. Their cheese earned the highest commendation. In 1844, 20 cows were being milked. The Gebbie and the Manson families left them in 1845 to settle at the head of the harbour. They hired Riccarton cows at 50s. a year and had to rear all calves for the Deans. Both families prospered. In 1846 the Deans leased from the Maoris the surrounding country for grazing, paying £8 a year, with the consent and approval of the highest authority. John made two more trips to Australia to buy stock and both trips were completely successful. In 1847 the Comet lost only 16 out of 600 sheep, and five out of 170 cattle. In 1850 the Woodbridge, after a long trip, lost only one out of 600 sheep.

After some trouble the brothers were able to exchange their previous land orders or selections for 400 acres freehold at Riccarton; but there was much more trouble over exchanging their run. Godley took up a stiff attitude over the Pre-Association settlers' claims for consideration. But he soon realised that without reasonable terms for pastoralists, Canterbury could not continue to exist, and the brothers were finally allowed to take up the run of 33,000 acres which became known as Homebush. In response to Captain Thomas's request, they furnished a report on the seasons, the yield of crops, what implements and tools were necessary—in fact everything a prospective settler could wish to know. This report was a model of its kind and bears witness to the high ability and general knowledge of the brothers. The arrival of the surveyors and later the settlers solved their marketing troubles.

William Deans met with a tragic death. With the intention of buying more stock in Australia, he just managed to catch the Marie, sailing for Wellington. On 23 July 1851 she was wrecked on the rocks of Terawhiti and all of the 29 on board were lost, except a Lascar and a boy. William was the leader of the brothers and was universally looked up to for his ability and integrity. His death was considered a national loss.

During these years John Deans had been corresponding with Jane Macilraith, of Auchenflower, who, however, was reluctant to make the trip out. He therefore decided to return to Scotland and marry her there. In the course of the journey, while crossing the Panama Isthmus in a deluge, John received a chill which impaired his health. They returned by the Minerva in 1853, and in August of that year his son John was born. John Deans died on 23 June 1854. He was second only to his brother William in all the qualities that make a pioneer. The Deans of Canterbury are a living testimony to his fine character.

by George Ranald Macdonald, Retired Farmer, Kaiapoi R.D.

• Pioneers of Canterbury—Deans Letters, 1840–1854 (ed.) Deans, J. (1937)
• A History of Canterbury, Vol. 1, Hight, J., and Straubel, C. R. (1957). Pioneers on Port Cooper Plains, The Deans Family of Riccarton and Homebush, Deans, J. (1965).

(1847–95).

The Winton baby farmer.

A new biography of Dean, Williamina appears in the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography on this site.

Very little is known of Minnie Dean's origin and antecedents and she herself gives little or no clue in the manuscript she wrote in the condemned cell in Invercargill Gaol. “Who my parents were or what they were concerns no one,” she wrote, “although I have no doubt that problem has already been solved by the public to their own satisfaction.” In spite of this, however, there is sufficient material available for a brief sketch of her early life.

Minnie Dean was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1847. She was one of the two daughters of a clergyman of the First Church of Scotland and her maiden name was probably McKellar. Her mother, “a devout christian woman”, died of cancer when Minnie was 11 years of age. Minnie received a very good formal education and married at an early age. Her married name was McCulloch and she had two daughters by this marriage, one of whom survived her. About 1868 she and her daughters came out to Invercargill to join her aunt, “Granny” Kelly, who had been the first white woman to settle in the district. She lived in South Invercargill with her aunt for several years. On 19 June 1872, at Etal Creek, near Riverton, she married Charles Dean, an accommodation-house keeper and well known settler in the district. There were no children by this marriage. About 1881 the Deans adopted Margaret Cameron and this action evidently suggested to Minnie the idea of the baby farm. In 1886 or 1887 they left Etal Creek and bought “The Larches” at East Winton. This comprised 22 acres with an orchard, a good garden, and a large two-storey house, which was burnt down shortly after they moved in. From the wreckage Dean built a small three-roomed house, and it was here that the baby-farm project began. Although, as a result of the trial, many legends have grown up about conditions at the baby farm, it must be remembered that this was a bona fide business venture, and that, from the beginning, the people living in the district were aware of Minnie's activities.

The number of children at “The Larches” varied, but there were normally about six or eight and, during the years, a hundred or so must have passed through Minnie's hands. There was never any question of the children being undernourished or badly cared for. Her business consisted in taking in illegitimate children, always with otherwise respectable backgrounds, boarding them for a while, and then finding them permanent foster homes. Her husband disapproved of the venture and took no part in the business side. Minnie never kept written records of her transactions, a fact which weighed heavily against her at her trial.

The baby that Minnie Dean was tried for murdering was not the only child to die at “The Larches”. As early as 29 October 1889 May Irene Dean, a six-months-old baby, which the Deans had legally adopted, died of “convulsions after three days' illness”. This was duly certified by the doctor who attended. Eighteen months later a second baby, Bertha Currie, died of “inflammation of the lungs”. In this case the Coroner's jury returned a verdict of death through natural causes, but “The Larches” received much unwelcome publicity in colonial and English newspapers. As a result Minnie enveloped her activities with even greater secrecy. Early in May 1895 the bodies of two babies and the skeleton of a third were discovered in Minnie's flower garden. She was arrested, tried on a charge of murdering one of these, found guilty, and executed on 12 August 1895.

At the time the Minnie Dean case was a cause célbre. The Coroner's jury, which sat to determine the cause of the babies' deaths, returned the almost unprecedented verdict of “wilful murder by Mrs Dean”. She was tried for murdering one of the children, Dorothy Edith Carter. The evidence was full but circumstantial and, as the defence counsel, A. C. Hanlon, pointed out, was open to two vastly different interpretations. The Crown was unable to establish that the deaths were premeditated. Minnie Dean did not appear in the witness box.

During her weeks in the condemned cell in Invercargill Gaol, Minnie wrote down her version of the evidence of the trial. This runs to 49 closely written foolscap pages and is a remarkable document. She went to the gallows calmly, protesting her innocence to the end. She was buried in Winton Cemetery.

Minnie Dean was the first and only woman to be hanged in New Zealand, though she was the third woman to receive a death sentence. Her two predecessors, Caroline Whitting (1872) and Phoebe Veitch (1883), both had their sentences commuted to penal servitude for life.

by Bernard John Foster, M.A., Research Officer, Department of Internal Affairs, Wellington.

• Random Recollections, Hanlon A. C. (1939)
• Southland Times, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 29 May, 8, 11, 21 Jun 1895.