SAMUEL BUTLER CENTENNIAL

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29178, 12 April 1960, Page 2

SAMUEL BUTLER CENTENNIAL

Pilgrimage Made To Forest Creek

In late March or early April, 1860, Samuel Butler ascended the Rangitata river in search of new sheep country. He rode up Forest creek, one of the streams giving rise to the name Mesopotamia (between the rivers) which he later gave to his run. His first hut was built by June, 1860, at the junction of Forest Creek and Butlers creek. At the week-end, the Historical Association (Canterbury) made a centennial pilgrimage to Forest creek. They were led to the site of Butler's hut by Mr A. A. Taylor, of Ben McLeod station, on whose land it is situated. Dr. P. B. Maling,' who is editing a booklet on Butler and Mesopotamia for the National Historic places Trust, has fixed what he believes to be the exact spot, says a supplied report. Butler described the lower reaches of Forest creek as “an ugly, barren-looking place," but his hut-site is pleasantly placed further up on a tussock fiat surrounded by patches of bush. He abandoned the hut after the winter of 1860, and sold the site to J. B. Acland, of Mt Peel. The Historical Association party went to the Mesopotamia homestead, where Mr M. V. Prouting, owner ot the station, has been cleaning up Butler’s second hutsite in preparation for this year's centenary. Mr Prouting described the hut as it was in Butler’s time and later, with the aid of photographs. The party heard how the little hut, measuring about twenty feet by ten feet, held four or five men, who would gather round a roaring fire in the evening to hear Butler play the piano which he had brought from Christchurch by dray. On display was a fine panoramic model of Butler’s run, made by pupils of the Mesopotamia school.