“WHERE WE LIVE”

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22431, 18 June 1938, Page 4 (Supplement)

“WHERE WE LIVE”

Onpn lay (aged

IN PIONEER DAYS

t-Grandfather in 1843 !

Teddmgtcn is a quiet fanning district -at the head of Lyttelton Barbour, and 13 miles by way of the Kiwi from Christchurch. My great-grandfather, John. Gebbie, was here before the First Four Ships, and there have been Gebbies hoe ever since. He came from Ayrshire, in Scotland. in the ship Aurora, landing at Wellington- In February, 1843, with his wife and three children, and the Deans and the Mansons. he left Wellington in a 30-ton boat and came south, arriving 10 days later. At first they stayed near some old whalers and Maoris’ camping ground at Port Levy, but later the Gebbies and the Mansons moved to the Head of the Bay. Great-grandfather died In 1851.. In those days there was bush all round Xeddington, but there was a fire; and much of it was destroyed.

■Bant Hollow,” called after the ft>»> tint destroyed much of the at Teddington In the early days

Our farm to-day bears the name -Burnt Hollow,” as a reminder of this flue. Vfv great-uncle planted all the old trees now to be seen here. When he was' small he was kidnapped by some Maoris who were forced to give him up. My brother found a piece of greenstone one day when ploughing up the paddock. The first wooden house ever to fee built here is still standing, though not in use now. It was built in 1850.

—MARGARET GEBBIE (aged 12).

THE SEA WAS HIGHER I THEN

: Fran the school door can be- seen the Sugar I oaf. with the Summit road winding down from the Kiwi towards Governor’s Bay. early days the sea used to come much farther up than it does scar, and a boat could tie up at the jetty. There are only the-piles of that jetty standing now.

WOODHEAD (aged 9).