EARLY METHVEN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 249, 2 August 1941, Page 2

EARLY METHVEN

OLD-TIMER’S RECOLLECTIONS. CUTTING UP OF BIG ESTATES.

The following recollections of the Methven district of sixty years ago are contributed to the “Guardian” by Mr John Spooner, who at the age of 82, now resides in Christchurch:—

Methven is situated at the junction of three early Mid-Canterbury • runs— Springfield, Higlibank and Mount Harding. Springfield was held by Messrs Hill and Bray up to ISG9 when, they met difficult times, and the original Mr George Gould took it over. He secured fhd services of Mr Duncan Cameron as manager. Cameron had been managing for Mr Hart, of Winchittore, and being a thrifty man he subsequently was admitted to partnership. It then became Gould and Cameron and remained so until Mr Gould’s death in 1888. Mr Joseph Gould and Mr R. J. S. Harman, Gould’s trustees, decided to dispose of Mr Gould’s half share, Mr Joseph Gould being desirous of acquiring his father’s interest, it was arranged s.that sealed written offers be made by him and Cameron respectively. Gould’s offer was £60,000 and Cameron’s £65,000. The property comprised some 15,000 acres. In 1878 Mr Allen, of Higlibank, sold 500 acres to Mr Clunes Cameron (a cousin of Duncan) at £5 per acre, at the junction of Springfield and Highbank, so it can be truly said that Methven owed its origin to the two Camerons. Watering the Plains.

“Springfield” Cameron, being a very progressive man, soon saw the necessity for water for stock on the plains, and having been an early member of the Ashburton County Council he persuaded the .engineer (Mr Baxter) to tap tile Pudding Hill stream and bring a head of water down the plains (where Methven now is) and later to it further down. Mr Reid, of Westerfield, south of the Ashburton, w;as, however, the first to bring water on the plains. Mr Clunes Cameron soon broke up part of his 500 acres, Which he called “Clunes,” to put into turnips ready for wheat, and offered the turnips to Higlibank for feeding off. In 1880 I was sent there with 2000 Merino to feed off, and hoarded at Patten’s Hotel in Methven, just recently erected. Armed with a gun, I was instructed to go out in the middle of the night and shoot any dogs found 'amongst the sheep—but nothing happened. There was- no trouble in wakening at Patten’s, as there was then no early closing. i The RaiSway from Rakaia. The writer and 'his brother arrived in New' Zealand in July, 1880, anu went straight to Higlibank. station as cadets to Mr Allen who was part owner at the time. It may be explained why we went there. My father and Mr Allen’s father were neighbouring fanners in Warwickshire. With our future to consider, my father asked his neighbour to write to his brother Thomas, -at Highbank, about finding us employment. Mr 'Allen replied to send us out. Mr Tom Dowling, who came from Tasmania with sheep for Mr Moore of Glenmark, and who later owned Oakleigh, was manager for Mr Allen. Mr Tom Dowling (of Methven) bought Springfield after Mr Cameron s death. After leaving Highbank I went as farm manager to Mr J. C. Wason at Oorwar, and later managed for 10 years. Mr Cameron and others made a movement to get the railway from Rakaia to Methven;* the line was completed in 1879. The contractor was Mr Passmore, who got a. land grant from the Government for 2000 acres between Rakaia and Methven, known as Sherwood. Mr Passmore put up extensive farm buildings, intending to grow wheat, hut soon found the land unsuitable, being too light. Mr Cameron went in extensively for wheat-growing—some.sooo acres a year. A large employer of labour, he was a good judge of what constituted a fair day’s work. It was said; that before accepting a contract for gorsecutting, he put in day himself at the work. "When the freezing industry started he Was one of the first to supply large drafts fattened on turnips, to the "works. During his lifetime he held some 5000 acres in various sized blocks. Cultivation and manure gave results which in the opinion ot many experienced farmers will not be obtained by irrigation. % ' ' The Original Hilghbank.

Highbank was originally taken up in 1853 by Mr Thomas Hall, a brother of Sir John Hall, and was transferred to Messrs Browne and Allen in 1857. Mr Browne had interests in Tasmania and Victoria, and sent Mr Allen oyer to New Zealand with sheep, telling him if he saw any country worth going for he would provide the finance. After delivering his sheep in Canterbury, Mr Allen heard that Highbank was in the market. After inspection he decided to buy. It was then 20,000 acres, but Messrs Browne and Allen freehoided only 10,000 acres i the balance was soon taken up by early settlers amongst whom were Messrs William McMillan, E. S. Coster, Peter Drummond, Max Friedlander and others. Mr Allen sold out his interest to Mr Browne in 1881 and retired to Christchurch. Mr Browne’s son, Ingle, took over the estate, which he sold to the Government in 1896 for closer settlement. 1 left Highbank in 1895 to go farming at Kirwee. Mount Harding and Early Settlers. Mount Harding was taken up by Captain Harding, who named the run. It became the property of Mr Gordon Holmes in 1880. An early settler was Mr Robert Patton, who built the first hotel in Methven in 1879. Messrs Morgan and Hibbs. were the first butchers and storekeepers in the township. The Methven district has been notorious for. hard north-west gales, hut being within the rain belt, droughts were seldom experienced. It did not, however, escape the severe drought of 1887, when turnips and fattening l«-e'i were a complete failure. “Springfield” Cameron sold two-tooth wethers at 5s and lambs at 2s 6d to Mr Louis Tosswill, the dealer, who had great difficulty in disposing of them at many country saleyards. In 1883 the Anglican • Church * was blown away, it was

replaced by the one at Sherwood, moved from there by two traction ' engines 'Mr J. T. Ford was the, leading stock auctioneer in those early days. At a t clearing sale in the district he was' selling a horse owned by a well-known Methven farmer. “Who’ll start- me with a tenner?” asked the brusque, judge of livestock, “1 guarantee that he’s carried home more beer from Methven than any other horse in thb district.” ;