EARLY RAKAIA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 47, 5 December 1939, Page 3

EARLY RAKAIA

FIRST WATER IN RACES. FARM HORSES FRIGHTENED. TROUBLE WITH STORMWATER. Specially written for the “Guardian” by John Brown, “Lowcliffe,” Ashburton. (Copyright.) William Oakley in his young days seems to have been as methodical as he is to-day. Ho kept a diary then—• and still keeps one. Indeed, he is so satisfied a diary is essential that he, with a half-snnle, told me the other evening that the giving of a diary each year to each son is his regular Christmas present. I must admit that, though fairly accurate in keeping all records, I could never manage a diary. Time after time I have bought one, filled it religiously for a week or two—then stuck. But many a time during this historical wilting I * have blessed an old diary for givmg, in few words, an accurate record. It is true that to some a diary, especially an old one, is “gey dry readin’ ” but never to the historian. This habit of keeping a regular daily record by the farmer of long ago seems to have been, common. One of my earliest recollections is of an uncle each night drawing from the old up-standing grandfather clock his diary to record the doings of the day on his farm. To me, a small boy enjoying the kindness of my uncle and aunt and the pranks of my many cousins, the writing of the diary was a solemn ceremony. Those were the happy days! Long Foot! Journey with a Horse. I have already recorded that William Oakley came from Brooliside, in 1878, as a lad of 16, with his brother Robert, when the latter took up land at Rakaia. When Robert married two years later William returned to Brookside and took a teamster’s job for a year, after which he returned to Rakaia with the determination to rent land and become a “cropper,” That required a certain outlay of capital in purchasing a team and plant. It was difficult to buy good horses, but, having secured all but one, he noticed a sale of a consignment of horses from Australia to be held at Tatter sail’s, Christchurch. He took the train to Christchurch, inspected the lot and picked upon a pedigree mare. When she was put up for sale he hid for and got her. 'Mr David Thomas was the auctioneer. The problem had then to be faced as to how he was going to get the mare to Rakaia. The sale was held on Saturday at that time, it was late in the afternoon, too late to order a railway truck. Difficulties came but to be overcome. William bought a feed for the mare and a cup of tea for himself and then started out on foot to lead her to Brookside —22 miles away. He reached Brookside late that night, rested on Sunday and started again early on Monday morning and arrived at Rakaia by 5 o’clock—a distance of 25 miles. The mare was introduced to the plough on Tuesday morning, was well broken-in before long, and from then on did her share in the work well. Evidently walking loud distances did not frighten the pioneers.

Another Long Barefoot Journey. That exploit in walking brings to mind the story told to me about An-: drew McFarlane, the'pioneer of Alford Forest, when he one day landed in Ashburton with his tools on his back. He had no means of getting to Alford Forest other than on foot. But that was no hardship to him. He carried his load somewhere about 25 miles, the only precaution taken being to take off a line pair of boots and his socks, tie the laces of the boots together, sling the boots round his neck, and march on with bare feet. Good boots were too valuable then to have them damaged on the rough country to be travelled over. The comparison between then and now is striking—transport particularly so. The land rented by William Oakley for cropping was part of Leonard White’s property. (W. J. Doak owns this land at the present time). Messrs H. and W. Harrison were cropping on an adjoining block. The year was 1881. That season proved to be a good one, the crop was' good and the price per bushel 4s on trucks at Rakaia. Concrete Tanks at Crossings. It was during this year that the first water-races from the Pudding Hill dam were made. Mr Oakley remembers seeing the first wfiter come down the race. It had been notified that the water would he turned on at a certain date and it was expected to take a certain. time to find its way down. But it arrived unexpectedly a day earlier than anticipated, to the surprise of everyone, especially to those who were pessimistic regarding the functioning of tho races. The water-race had been made through the block they were cropping. They were feeding their horses at lunch time, the nose-bags were on, when suddenly they heard a swirl and looking round the men saw the water rushing •past, carrying a body of foam. The horses saw it, too, and took fright. All galloped away for about a mile to the' end of the block. William Oakley did not mind walking that mile to bring his runaway team back. The water had come, no niore carting ivom the river some miles away, provision m plenty for stock. The pessimism of the most pessimistic was confounded. When tho first water-races were made the County Council put a concrete tank holding 400 gallons of water at the road crossings. These tanks were to provide a supply for water-tanks to be filled conveniently for thresliing-nnlls and others who still had to cart water until more branch races were made. These concrete tanks were found to ho unnecessary in a year or two and no moro were put in. Some of them may still bo found close to the road fence—probably in most eases covered over, with soil and gorse. A source of trouble in the early days was storm-water. After heavy rains the surface winter collected higher up and came right down in a flood in the natural depressions where it had run

when the land was in its native state. Mr Oakley many a time has seen streams of water crossing the 'Main South Road between Chertsey and Rakaia m several places from two to three feet deep—stopping all traffic for the time being. Trains were held up occasionally and once during harvest a flood came down and washed the stooks away. When the roads higher up-country were formed and gravel pits opened, and when water-races and fences were made, these were the means of diverting the water into other channels and there was no moro trouble below, the Main South Road. Higher up it was still, bothersomo and deep depressions such as may still be seen at Lyndhurst were scoured in the roads.

As Mr Oakley mentioned, horses were in 1881 in great demand and hard to get. Some consignments were brought from Australia, mostly of the Suffolk Punch breed—rather small for heavy work, light in tho bone, mostly dark chestnut in colour. There were also a few heavier horses of good stamp. Strangely, in 188-1 horses were in over-supply and several shipments were sent back to Sydney, where they wore in demand. Mr Oakley remembers Mr X). McKendry (of Cairnbrae) buying a large number for this market. (To be continued.)