Last ewe muster on Hossack

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33497, 30 March 1974, Page 11

Last ewe muster on Hossack

(By

PETER NEWTON)

A feature of the Addington stock market this week was a line of 3000 half-bred ewes sold on account of Messrs Stewart and Rae, of the Hossack station in North Canterbury. The sale attracted widespread interest for these were capital stock and they were on the market only because the owners have decided to sell the whole Hossack flock and run cattle only on the station.

This is not the first station in the area that has made such a change, but unlike the others the Hossack tas been stocked almost W IDD JW It bM At the ttne of the depenM mater the station was running about 9000 sheep and this change of policy was a big decision. Although the Hossack has been run as a separate holding for the greater part of its history, it was originally part of the famous old Lyndon Station first taken up by John Tinline in the late 1850 s. Tinline held it for over 20 years then sold out to D. D. and A. Macfarlane in 1884.

' The Macfarlanes, whose descendants still own some of the original property, ran the station for the next 12 years, then as a result of a Government’s policy of subdivision the Hossack was made a separate holding. Then totalling 37,500 acres with an estimated carrying capacity of 9000 sheep, it was offered on a 21-year lease at $5OO a year. It appears that no-one was interested, but later that year — 1897 — the holding was granted to John Kemp, a Cheviot farmer, at a reduced rental. It was then named the Hossack after an old shepherd, Simon Hossack, who had worked on the land for many years. However, although this had been an excellent summer block when run in with

M prorod a difficult propodtkm <* hs own.

Access impossible

It is about 12 miles from Hanmer Springs and the only access was via the Hanmer River. Several crossings were necessary and during flooding this was virtually impossible. The block lies between the St Helen’s country (now part of Molesworth) to the West, and Cloudy Range, Snowdon, Mt Tinline to the east. To the south it bounds the Hanmer State forest block and its northern boundary is the Clarence River. It takes in the Hanmer and Hossack valleys, separated by a low saddle, the Hanmer draining into the south and the Hossack running north into the Clarence, opposite the Dillon River on St Helen’s.

The tops on either side running up to close on 6000 ft, boundary fencing was impractical and Kemp found that sheep could not be held on the country.

The Hossack also gets its share of snow and the land was plagued with rabbits. Kemp found it impossible to carry on and after only two years he sold out. Although he had built a woolshed and done some fencing, he lost money on the deal. For the next eight or nine years there were several changes of ownership but apart from the building of the homestead, little development work was done. Gradual headway In 1908, W. D. Stewart, in partnership with Thomas Johnstone, took over the run. Johnstone, once of Hakatere and Stronschrubie (now known as Erewhon), was an experienced and capable backcountry man and under his management thi station gradually made some headway. It was then carrying 5000 sheep.

The Stewart-Johnstone partnership lasted until 1948, when the whole concern was taken over by W. D. Stewart and Co. and Mr A. G. (Lonnie) Rae was appointed manager. On W. D. Stewart’s death in 1953, the manager’s son, L. I. (Laurie) Rae, who had proved a highly competent man, was admitted as a shareholde- and members of these two families — Stewart and Rae — hold the station today. The turning point in the fortunes of the Hossack Downs came with the owner’s decision to purchase the adjoining Hossack Downs run. This property, which bounds the southern end of the Hossack just above the homestead, has access from Waiau. It was part of the Lyndon block which was acquired by the Crown for rehabilitation purposes after World War 11. Comprising 4000 acres of good tussock country — mainly under 2500 feet — it was safe winter country which gave the Hossack the balance that had be**! lacking. The whole property, no-.v in one lease, totalled 43,000 acres and with 12,000 sheep plus 400-odd head of cattle,

it w oat of te Mb* stattons bi Motet cite? the purchase of the Hossack Downs Lonnie Rae moved into that homestead. He and his son managed the property jointly until his retirement in 1964, when Laurie assumed management of the whol-. concern. A keen and capable hillman, Laurie Rae had been doing a beat on the cou y for over 20 years and feeling that this dispersal muster might be the last time the Hossack tops would ever be mustered, he decided some celebration was called for. The Hossack gang usually comprised six men, but for this occasion he increased it to 10. Four of them were pte i e n t-day musterers, young and fit, but the rest, who were there by invitation, were old hands who had mustered there in earlier yeais. The younger brigade was Ron Miles, of Kaikoura, who led the gang, Laurie O’Carroll, Barry Loughlan and Michael Inwood. The old hands were Jim Ramsay, now nearly 70 but still following the mustering game, Dudley Parsons, Jack O’Carroll, Kelly Stace, Bob Yates, Peter Newton and of course Laurie Rae himself. The “packie" was Bob Armstrong, who is also an old Hossack man, and with that crowd to contend with he had quite a job on his hands. However a bulldozed track now goes right out to from the Hossack homestead — and the “packing” is done by land rover.

Helicopter used To highlight the muster a helicopter was engaged just for the occasion and each musterer, with his dogs, had been flown up and dropped off on his beat. The muster took eight days but to some of the old hands, not as keen on climbing as they used to be, this was a novel and welcome experience. It was a fitting finale to a grand out-

ing. But the real highlight was a gathering at the Hamner Lodge one evening after the muster. Sponsored by the owners — although unfortunately none of the Stewart family were able to attend — it was a grand gathering and, to the older hands, a breath of the old life. Of the old timbers who were present Tom Frazer took pride of place. Old Tom, now 87 years old first mustered on the Hossack in 1918. Bob Smith, only one year behind Tom in age, shod the Hossack horses for years, and of those present the earliest to have actually worked on the station was Melville Turton. Melville, whose father than managed St Helen’s, mustered on the Hossack in 1918 when 17 years old. Reg Turpin, who was first there in 1922, ended his mustering days in 1931 at the Hossack: he slipped and fell when climbing up the staircase on Mt Balfour and is lucky to be alive. Frank McAlister was first there in 1923 and among the gathering were several not far behind him. Their age forgotten, they once again followed a string of dogs onto the Hossack tops and to young and old alike it was a wonderful evening. There were of course, many old Hossack identities who were unable to attend, notably Bill McLeod and Fred Lunn. Bill was at the Hossack for 20 years and Fred has spent his whole life in the district. Milo Prouting was with the Raes for nearly 30 years and was Laurie’s head shepherd and right-hand man for a number of years. In putting on the evening at the lodge, Laurie Rae paid tribute to all who have played a part in the running of the station. It was a fine gesture and all will wish the Hossack well in its new venture.