THE ALBERTLANDERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 144, 19 June 1926, Page 27

THE ALBERTLANDERS.

PAPAROA SETTLERS' STORIES.

BUSH EXPERIENCES OF THE NEW CHUMS.

COURAGE PREVAILS OVER GREAT DIFFICULTIES.

(Edited by HENKY HOOK.)

Mr. Thomas Barton, formerly a leading partner in the well known firm of Barton, McGill and Co., Auckland, furnishes interesting notes of his parents' arrival in the virgin country of the North. Mr. Henry Barton, on coming up to search for his land, was fortunate in securing passage by cutter as far up the Pahi as Tokatapu, near the point where Mr. Cockayne made his optimistic start in December, 1862. From this point he followed the survey lines, and, apparently by good luck, struck his section considerably further up the river. Returning, he lost his way, and got " bushed " for the night. A search party was sent out after him, and fortunately he saw them going up the river in a boat and succeeded in hailing them. In the remoteness of the Upper Pahi Mr. Barton built a shanty on his land, by the river, cleared a portion, and then went back to town, and took a job for a time till the bush was ready to fire. Returning, he burnt off, and sowed his first crop of wheat. It was customary to sow grass, turnips, etc., with the wheat, and when the grain or other temporary crop was gathered, a permanent pasture was left. Blessed with an absence of blight and sparrows, a good crop usually rewarded the labour. The three-roomed dwelling (dignified as a house in these days), which followed the shanty, stood by the isthmus of a long and narrow peninsula projecting into the opposite bank of the river. The projection of land made a convenient reserve for a cultivation. Shortly a beautiful garden appeared, and an early planted orchard smiled with the welcome first fruits of the pioneer's labour.. " Barton's landing," about six miles from Pahi, was the convenient port for settlers more remote from the water, and Mrs. Barton's kindness to passers by is gratefully remembered. Half-way along the half-mile track between a neighbour's (Mr. Copley) and the Barton's was a baud mill, at which the families joined in grinding their wheat for bread. Sometimes before breakfast the boys would-have to make an excursion to the mill to grind the maize for the morning porridge. But'these backblocks children enjoyed the life—its novelty and roughness never seemed to come amiss. Incidentally, it was building up a vigorous type of character. Great labour attended the erection of the more substantial cottage, which was the Barton family's permanent home. This was some years later. Spare timber from a tree cut for bridge building on the Pah Eoad towards Mr. Hames' was secured, hauled to the Pahi River with bullocks, taken down to Symonds' mill at Pahi, cut up, brought back in a raft, and then again hauled from the landing some distance to where the house was to be built. By the time the house was built it was well earned! Remaining in the district through its pioneer struggles, the family are remembered for industry and integrity, and for an intelligent interest in church and settlement welfare.. It is many years since they removed to commence business in Auckland, and Mr. Barton, though never a public man, took a keen interest in the welfare of Paparoa to the end of his life. Mrs. Barton still lives, one of the nonagenarians of the Albertland party. The family are not connected with their namesake, Mr. Henry Barton, who emigrated on the Tybumia. The arrival of Mr. C. Hames and family, in 1864, made a worthy addition to emigrant stock. The parents set an example of high standard. The sons grew to he men of character —practical and useful settlers—whose contribution to community welfare has been invaluable. Delightfully interesting notes written by the late Mr. L. Hames, for many years headmaster of the Takapuna School, contain pen pictures of the old bush and village life hard to excel. When the party reached Barton's landing, on September 27, 1864, Mr. William Copley, who had settled near this point two years before, was able to offer them the use of his barn (built apparently in anticipation" of crops to come), and it proved very useful at this stage of transit. Here they lived for two weeks or so, and stored their goods until they had located their land and built temporary shelter. Mr. Copley was a slater by trade, but, adapting himself to colonial conditions, he became a house shingler and chimney builder. His work was well known in Paparoa and surrounding districts during the first two decades. He. is described as "intelligent, argumentative, radical, and kindly." Energetic search along the surveyors' tracks resulted in the elders of the Hames family finding what they believed to be their section. After two or three days' work clearing the land and erecting a whare, Sunday intervened, and while the party were resting in the barn, Mr. Copley took a constitutional through tlie bush to see what the new chums had done. He soon found that they were preparing to "squat" on the wrong section. Next day they went with him, penetrating still further into tbe bush along tbe narrow tracks, and found the right allotment, proving to them it was the right one by pointing out the surveyors' peg with their number painted on. Abandoning their misplaced whare, they proceeded to search for a suitable place on their own land to make a home, and, crossing the watershed into the Paparoa A r alley, heavier bush was encountered. The network of tree roots appeared to defy the spade, and to the newcomers tbe prospect, of cultivation seemed hopeless. Their hearts began to fail them at tbe enormity of the task facing them. The father counselled abandoning the section and returning to Auckland, but his brave wife encouraged him to persevere, and, continuing along the indistinct track, they finally struck the Paparoa River. A small flat bordered its banks, and the timber was lighter. Between the trees evidence of wild pigs was shown by widespread rootings. Back of tho flat on which these forest denizens had made their playground, the first rough home was made, and a new family chronicle begun. One of the boys describes his first night sleeping in the unfinished whare. with his father. " I was long in dropping off to sleep. The owls called to one another, dogs in the neighbourhood had complaints to make, and there were other noises, indefinable—my timid soul was filled with fears. I told father of these fearsome sounds, as be, beine; sadly deaf, could not hear them. But he could do ■ nothing but advise mc to go to sleep, which I finally did." There was something awe-inspiring about that first night in the dense forest. The Hames had an exceptionally heavy task in moving their belongings to their land. Handling the cases' was a difficult problem. Surveyors don't cut their lines with- a view to traveller's coming along after them. All they consider is a space to "squint" though. Over those miles from the landing it was rough'going. Sometimes it meant climbing over fallen logs four feet hisch, squeezing between trees only inches apart, or creeping under others which blocked the way. Before the bulkier luggage could be got home the track had to be widened* and otherwise, improved. Then the biggest packing case was brought forward and set iii the middle of the camp for a table, all the other luggage and stores were crowded in, and the family were at home in the new land. Other families whose history contains much of interest, settled on the Pahi River. It was here that Messrs. John, William, and Walton Chad wick early tried their fortune on the land. .The

property afterwards owned by Mr. Masson was first occupied by Mr. John Chadwick. But business made a stronger appeal to him than farming, and he shortly removed to Pahi township, where.he opened a store to supply his fellow settlres' requirements, afterwards adding a branch at Matakohe (managed by his brother Walton), to cater for the rush of gumdiggers to that district during tbe late 'sixties and early 'seventies. "Mr. William Chadwick followed on the section his brother had vacated on the Pahi. He persevered longer in the battle of the immigrants on the land, sharing also with his comrade settlers the road-making and bridge-building work offered by the Government. Mrs. Chadwick proved herself a brave pioneer's wife. Remarkable through early vicissitudes for her cheer and courage, she maintained the same spirit to old age, and announced her determination to be " game to the last." , Before emigrating in the "sixties she had been leading soprano at the Milton Congregational Church, Rochdale, and for years her voice was a valuable asset in church life and social gatherings, her help being always gladly given. With Mr. and Mrs. John Chadwick, who were also musical enthusiasts, a strong trio was secured, who often recalled Home memories as they sang the,songs of England's Zion in a strange land. Still higher up the Pahi than Mr. Barton's, and near the furthest reach of the tide, was Mr. Henry Little (property now Mr. J. Birtles'), who settled shortly before Mr. Haines. On the land afterwards farmed for many years by Mr. Palmer, Mr. C. J. Metcalfe and his family sojourned for six months in a large whare, in 1863-4, but, deeming the section too inaccessible, moved then to Clairmont, Matakohe. Mr. Herbert Metcalfe afterwards married and lived on the old section for a time. Down the river, near Toka Tapu, afterwards Captain Colbeck's residence, Messrs. J. Martin and T. Cockayne made an enthusiastic start, whicli uufortnnatelv did not continue.long. After about two years Mr. Cockayne removed to Auckland, where he took an active part in building "up the well known butchering business of Messrs. Fisher and Co. Mr. Martin also left the district after spending considerable money and work ™.}}} s la ß. d - Down the stream, nearer the Point, were Messrs. Phillips. Hayes, Hubert, Sheaf. De la Brosse, and Xew, settling at different times. Mr. Phillips afterwards removed, and became ordained as a Church of England minister. Pahi was the township and main port for all the settlers on this waterway. (To be continued next Saturday.)