JOHN GRIGG, PIONEER.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12377, 16 December 1905, Page 10

JOHN GRIGG, PIONEER.

THE MAN AND HIS LIFE'S WORK.

A FARMER OF FARMERS

"PRIME CANTERBURY" AND "LONGBEACH."

To-day the good people of A&bbnrton, and district will unveil a memorial statue erected in honour of the late John Grigg, a farmer of farmers and a commercial giant amongst men co far as this country, at all events, ia concerned. Too often the merits of men like Mr Grigg are left unhonoured and unsung. The work of the man. who toils unremittingly in tho interests of the commercial advancement of hie country is allowed to fall into insignificance compared with that of the colonist who chooses the easier and more popular course and basks in the full glare of public life. But John Grigg was not merely en agriculturist and a commercial man. For Berne time he served hie adopted country in. a legislative capacity. It ie do disparagement, however, to say that his great achievements were in tho field of commerce and agriculture. Canterbury, particularly, and New Zealand, generally, will ever gratefully remember the late owner of Longbeach, . which has come to be known as the finest farm in tho world, as the man to whom belongs the chief credit of having firmly established the frozen meat industry on a businesslike and permanent footing, and incidentally giving to the colony an avenue of trade with tho Home country, which, with the dairy industry, shares the. honour of being* tho greatest factor for progrees and prosperity this country has known. THE EARLY DAYS. Born in Liekeard, Cornwall, England, in 1828, John Grigg spent his earlier years on his father's farm, but the -year 1854 saw him a passenger on the ship Blackwall for Melbourne,. After travelling over different parts of Australia, ho set hie face towards New Zealand, and landed in Auckland after a six months' sojourn on "the other side." Farming at Otahuhu claimed his attention for .a number of years. In theeo days the Maori was at war with tho Pakeha, and Mr Grigg entered into contracts to supply the Army with hay and other fodder. It is related that the Government broke one of these contracts, and Mr Grigg, manifesting that alertness and keen business perception which characterised his actions throughout his life, promptly bought up all the supplies in the district, and had the satisfaction of afterwards selling to the Government, at double the price agreed on' in the original contract. Auckland was too narrow for Mr Grigg's boundless energy, and feeling dissatisfied with his prospects there, he commenced a tour of New Zealand in 1866 in search of a more suitable home. He finally "pitched" on Longbeach, which at that, time was shown on the maps of Canterbury -os an "impenetrable bog." Early in 1867 he accordingly wound up his affaire in Auckland and with his family removed to Canterbury. IN THE WILDERNESS. At this, time there were only two shepherds' hute on Longbeach—one near the present- homestead and the other on the property which is now the farm of Mr W. Stoddart, of "Willowby"— and Mr Grigs And hie family had their permanent borne at Avonbnnk, near Fendalton bridge, Christchurch. The total area of the land, including educational and other, reserves which" Mr Grigg took in hand, was about 35,000 acres, - end of this vast territory he ultimately acquired the freehold of betweejn 31,0Wf and 32,000 acres. In has early battle with the bog, and up till 1882, ihe was assisted by a partner, his brother-in-law, tho Hon. Thos.. Russell, CiM.G.

Although Longbaach was marked on the official, records of the province ac an impenetrable bog, " there were email patches of dry tussock land. These epots were used as grazing, places for stock while draining operations were being carried on." The draining of Ldrngbeach was a long, kborioues end costly undertaking,- which extended over a period of thirty years, but it was carried out with the energy and indomitable perseverance which ever detinguiahed the man who put the work-in hand. , Mr P. Wiaymouth told a reporter of "The Press , yesterday, fhat most of the drains were 14- feet wide and 14 feet deep. When. the peat dried .up and commenced to settle down thtee huge ditches in many instances gradually disappeared. The scheme which Air Grigg conceived, however, turned ont successful to a degree, and in after years he had the satisfaction of seeing the whole of the once wild waste converted into smiling cultivated fields, than which there is no more productive land in the wkole of New Zealand.

LONGBEACH—THE MODERN. In 1874 Mr Grigg began to dispose of portions of the land which lied been drained, and this policy was continued until the dissolution of the partnership •with Mr Russell in 1882. /- The land which Mr Grigg : finally retained wae known as the Home* stead Block, and ' consisted of about 12,500 acres. . On Jiis death in 1901 the property reverted to hie two eons. Meesrs J. 0. N. and E. F. J. Grigg. It is now carried on as two separate farms. Mr,Grigg bred nothing bat the very best class of stock. Many people still remember the difeolueale, which took place when Mr Ttuesell retired from the partnership, stock realising a total sum of £35,03/ beinc; disposed of. Regarding the productivity of Longbeach as it now etands, it is on record that the area put under crop annually varies from 4000 to 5000 acres. To give some idea of the suitability of the land for grain growin? it may be stated that in 1901 a total of 1982 acres of wheat yielded 99.186 bushels, being an all-round average of over 50 bushels per acre. One paddock of 247 acres threshed out an overage of 58 bushels per acre. The total average yield of oate was from 50 to 99 bushels per,acre, and a total of 150 acres of barley yielded 7139 boshele, an average of over 47 bushels per acre. Could a more striking agricultural triumph be quoted P

THE MAN. Scrupulously honest hx all his transections, Mr Giigg insisted , on tho same qualities in those with whom hie business relations b ought him in contact. He was a considerate, employer, and once a man gained hie confidence, he tree a firm friend ever afterwards. \ When he first took up. Longbeach, Mr Grigg took on active part in subduing the wilderness and attending to stock. It waa not an nncommon thing for him to set out in the early rooming from, Aronbank, and ride without resting to Longbeach, a dietance of. 70 miles, brer rough country, with only tracks for a guide. About four years prior to his death, Mr Grigg lost his eyesight, and his health afterwards began to gradually break up. Nevertheless he continued to pereottally fcuperyise his affaire. Ho drove about his farm, i» a buggy, and used jocularly id remark that he !. knew which pad-

dock he was in by tie "quality of the bumps." In local public affairs, Mr Grigg took a very active part. He was chairman of the Aehburton County Council, Longbeach Road Board, and the Longbeach School Committee for many years. He also took a very lively interest in the work of the Canterbury A. and P. Association, his extensive practical knowledge always being at the service of the committee. Hβ ■was elected to the committee in lebo, became vice-president in 1892, and president in 1893. Yet, after all, Longbeach farm is the greatest monument to Mr Grigg's remarkable foresight and resourcefulness. At the time of h* death it was truly written of him and his work:— "Longbeach is to-day, without question, one of the most highly cultivated and very best mc«aged farms it can fall to the lot of man to visit, thanks to the . remarkable energy, tho undaunted courage, and great enterprise of one of the truest pioneers and most valuable colonists who ever put foot-in a new country." FROZEN MEAT.

Briefly., the foregom- is a sketch of Mr Griejr's life and work et Longbeach. But lie deserves to fare m history not only ™ \°° lo w who did much for his country, but because of his connection wrth • the frozen meat trade, iie was one of tho few who saw and recognised the possibilities of the great trade now carried on between New Zealand and the Home Country, he toiled to make the industry grow when everything seemed to focus round adversity and disappointment, fought insurance companies (because they refused to take risks on frozen cargoes consigned to London) and unscrupulous meat vendors at SmitMeld, the meat market of the great metropolis; chartered his own ships to carry his own lamb and mutton Home when others held off and looked curiously and doubtfully on the venture, faced financial losses in his initial battles that ran into many thousands, and for all this he. in the end, had the satisfaction of knowing that "Prime Canterbury" was an established commodity in London with an ever-increasing demand, and seeing freezing establishments springing up all over the colony. ' In a conversation with a "Press reporter, Mr J. C N. Griqg stated on Thursday that an Australian named Mort was really tho inventor of the frozen meat process, and that the first chairman of a company to take the business in hand was a Air Fairbairn, of Melbourne. This company had a ship fitted, up with refrigerating appliances and sent a cargo of frozen meat to London, but the venturo was not a finuncial success, and the company came to an end in tho 'recognised way. It was then that Thos. Brydone, Matthew Holmes, and John Grigg formed a company and built freeztae works to exploit the business. The' New Zealand Refrigerating Co. had its works at Dunedin. The first shipment of frozen meat was despatched to London about the year Idßl by the New Zealand and Australian Land Co., in the sailing ship Dunedin. Mr Gngc was connected with the Canterbury Frozen Moat Co., which despatched ita first consignment from Lyttelton to London by the steamer British King, but cargoes had been sent Home by him prior to this. Previously he had shipped 600 carcases by the Mataura before the inauguration of the Canterbury Frozen"Meat Co., and he subsequently twice loaded and despatched on his own. account the sailing ship Wellington. Hβ"was in the habit of railing large numbers of sheep to Dunedin from his farm at Longbeach and having them frozen and consigned to London through different firms for sale on his account. A CONVINCING TEST. j

When Mr Grigg made hie first shipments his son, Mr J. C. N. Grigg, was a student at Cambridge University, and he was the recipient of three lambs and two sheep, sent by his father, "on apfiroval." I received them on Monday rom the docks," he told-our representative, "and had them placed in a fishmonger's ice store and gradually thawed out. in blankets till Thursday. The cook was the only man who had knowledgo that the meat, was frozen. Some of the lamb was oooked and served to myself and several other undergraduates ■who were in training for the best race. One disposed of three helpings, quite ignorant of the fact that the lauVb was .frozen, and expressed the hope. that .they would -■" always • get the same quality." . "You are not aware that you have been'eating frozen lamb nil the way from New ■ Zealand," chimed in .Mr Grigg.. "Well, itfe thundering good," declared the student who" had previously spoken. Not the least delighted member of the circle was .another student named Fairbairn, a son of Mr Fairbairn, of Melbourne, previously referred to. "Dad always said that frozen mutton would be a, success on the London market,? , he remarked, "although he did not meet with encouragement." Mr Grigg also sent a joint to has tutor and the dean of the College, and they said it was exceptionally good. These encouraging reports,' which were duly conveyed to Mr Grigg in New Zealand, by his son,more than ever convinced him that the industry -would one day meet with the success it deserved. The meat, it may be added, was eaten cold. The students tried it hot as cutlets but it was not quite so good. When cut hot, Mr Grigg says, the gravy simply poured out of the meat. Mr Grigg caw frozen caroases hanging in. Smithfield before he returned to New Zealand in 1883. DISCOURAGING LOSSES. Notwithstanding his great faith in the industry, Mr Grigg had to put up with discouraging losses at first. Mr J. C. N. Grigg informed our reporter that although the first shipment was a great success, tli© second -was as big a failure. His father chartered the boat himself, and filled ft with 14,000 carcases, which he had bought up from various farmers in the colony, only to see the cargo condemned by tho authorities on-arrival. This resulted in a net less of £7000. The truth about tho failure leaked out long afterwards. The engineer on tho ship allowed tho temperaturo to get too high at one stage of the journey, with the inevitable effects. » A c pessimistic publio looked on incredulously while these experiments were in hand. The insurance companie*« treated the venture 'with suspicion. Not an . insurance} company in the colony would take a penny risk on a cargo of frozen meat.

While it ia true that Thos. Brydone and others were first in the field, there is no denying the fact that Mr Grigg stands ns the father of the industry, when his. position and actions as chairman of the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company are taken into account. - When tho whole business was going through a very doubtful stage, he personally- guaranteed largo quantities of stock,' while others stood aloof in a state of indecision end doubt, and chartered his own ships to send the stuff to London. One year lie bought thousands of tat lambs ot from os to 7s 6d. The following year he was giving 10s 6d to 11s each, and to-day good freezing lambs fetch up to 15s per head. One of the worst drawbacks in the early days of the trade was the inexplicable loss of weight that took place between New Zealand and London. The bona fides of the Home salesmen was not suspected for a time, but the reason for the discrepancy in the account sales was eventually brought to light, and to-day trouble in this direction has almost disappeared. During the scare about the prospects of the frozen meat .trade priciS? for lambs fell very low, and by buying at 7s 6d per hea*d, Mr Grigg Was, in 1882, able to recoup a portion of his original losses, and from that time onwards prices went steadily up. • GROWTH OF THE TRADE. The steady growth of the frozen, meat trade since its inception has been one of the remarkable features of New Zealand's exports. From a value of £19,339 in 1882 it rose to £2,718,7(33 in 1902. The figures are well worth quoting as an illustration of the vast benefit Mr Grigg conferred on New Zealand . by

Could anything be more eloquent than these statistics, which are culled from the official records of the colony? Tho frozen meat trade exercised a beneficial influence in other respects. To it we largely owe the excellent maritime connection New Zsaland now enjoys with the outside world. Away back in 1882 sailing ships were modern, and the steamer trade of New Zealand was in its infancy. The number of boats entered outwards was far greater then than it is to-day, but it was a mesquito fleet compared to the magnificent steamers'of the New Zealand Shipping Co., the Shaw, Savill and Albion Co., the Star and Tyscr and other lines of the Home trading steamers which now visit New Zealand waters almost daily. The official records are again well worth quoting to show tho demand which has been created for larger steamers. While tho number of vessels annually cleared has appreciably diminished, the _gro?s tonnage has increased to an astonishing extent. Tho following are details:—

"PRDIE CANTERBURY." The frozen meat trade in the early days—as, indeed, it ever will be—was largely confined to lambs averagine from 281bs to 381bs. This quality universally pleased (ho Home consumer, and soon created the demand for " primo Canterbury," now known the world over. The trade has now changed materially. From being largely tho venture of private individuals, the trade has developed into a business between producer and salesman. "All the large London meat salesmen and firms," said Mr J. "C. N. Grigg to our reporter, " ore represented out here now, and buy first hat>d from tho farmer." Shippers have also had tlhe satisfaction of eeeing freights gradually reduced from 2Jd per lb. to jd and. Id. This desirable sfato of things for the producer was brought about by threatening competition. For many years Mr Grigg took an active part in managing the affairs of the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company. It was he who advocated the starting of the company, and with his personal influence and .reputation as a shrewd man of business, as iveil as a thoroughly capable farmer, conduced considerably to the determination to establish works at Belfast. When the company was started he was one of the provisional directors, and afterwards became chairman of the Board. This position" he held until shortly before his death, wh<»n failing sight and ill-health competed him to relinquish the work in which he was so keenly interested. Hβ was always an .advocate for progress in connection with the company, and he lived to see it grow from the day of very small things indeed, into one of the largest concerns of tho kind in the colony, fully equipped with the latest and most modern appliances. Mr Grigg was strongly of opinion that at the works everything should be made use of in connection jrith the slaughter of stock, so as to return to the fanner all possible profit. ~ Discussing this aspect of Hie business carried on by the company, Mr J. C. N. Grigg informed our reporter that it sought to freeze for anybody and everybody. The small farmer was thus given tho same opportunities as his big brother. In this way they hoped always to maintain good competition fpr Canterbury . stock. The original directors of the company were Messrs J. Grigg (chairman), F. Banks, John Cook, Wm. Chrystall, and J. T. Ford, who is the only member of the original Board still holding office. Mr Cook is in Australia, nnd the other three have gone over to the great majority.

its exploitation of Tim frozen m«at luatrf. They as follows:— Valu* Year. £ 1682 _. 19.399 1883 .- 118.828 1631 ... 845,090 1835 ~ 373,837 1886 — 427,193 > 1888 ... 628,800 1883 .- 783,374 1830 .- 1,087,617 1SJ1 ». 1,194,721 1832 •... 1,033 377 1890 _. 1.035.167 18M - 1,1M,5*S 1SE| ... 1.262,711 1896 ... 1,251.933 1397 — 1,566286 1896 ■- 1.698.750 1899 ~ 2,068.856 1900 ... 2.123 881 1901 ... 2,253 262 1902 ... 2,718.763 b in-

Year. 1682 1883 1884 1885 18S6 1687 1883 1889 1800 1891 1832 1803 3894 1S93 189G 1897. 1808 1899 1900 1901 1902 Vessels cl 7G0 851 872 780 707 675 701 763 744 G=9 635 614 597 692 587 622 ' ... 604 613 691 611 le&red i. Tone. 438,551 607,565 63-1,242 513,000 488.331 493 583 531.478 E93.252 649,705 625.807 656100 642,466 631250 648.946 627.659 676 833 765 793 807866 875.275 1,075 906 1,048,770