A PLACE WHERE QUEEN ELIZABETH STAYED

Press, 7 August 1976, Page 13

A PLACE WHERE QUEEN ELIZABETH STAYED

Supported by capital from Thomas Russell to meet the cost of a considerable work force, John Grigg was ready in the 1870 s to go ahead with draining the swamp on “Longbeach.” He completed the initial stages of draining very quickly. The plan was simple: he had to open up the H nds River, which had lost inself in the swamp, and, having got it running, lead drains to it. The land was left tor many months in this raw state. When it showed signs of drying out the rough vegetation was burned off, and clover and grass seed was broadcast by hand. Cattle and sheep had been turned on to the area before sowing, and their treading made a reasonable seed bed. “The growth of red clover and English grasses was astonishing," said one writer at the time. The task of ploughing and levelling the land more suited to the sowing of grain crops was a mammoth one. Many of the paddocks remained wet for many years, causing problems. It was not until 1885. three years after the Russell-Grigg partnership had ended, that the task of eradicating excess water was completed. In 1885 Grigg hired a brick-maker who after considerable prospecting, found suitable “firing” clay. A trial run was made using a small kiln; when it was found that first-class tiles could be produced a large kiln was built on the site of what is now Eiffelton. The district was so named after a certain resemblance of the tall brick chimney of the kiln to the Eiffel Tower of Paris. During the next year or so over one million field tiles were produced. They were laid, according to the plan, over an area of some 9000 acres. Some of the first returns from “Longbeach” came from sales of cattle and sheep to the miners of the West Coast. Eacn week between 400 and 500 sheep and up to 70

cattle were driven to the Coast through the Methven area ana then to the West Coast road at Lake Lyndon. A tin whare to shelter his drovers was erected on the site of the future township of Methven. Grigg purchased, and surveyed, 200 acres of the township for building sections. Perhaps the most important monuments to Grigg’s energy and business capacity exist today as the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company’s works at Belfast and Fairfield. In November, 1881, Grigg and some other interested run holders met to consider the establishment of a freezing works in Canterbury. Grigg acted as chairman, the company was floated, land was bought at Belfast, and the works were quickly established. Grigg entered 5150 sheep to be included in the first shipment. The company rapidly expanded, and Grigg purchased large numbers of sheep to fatten at “Longbeach.” In one year he bought as many as 80,000 sheep for this purpose. He altered his stock to suit freezing conditions, and used Southdown rams on Leicester cross ev :s. In 1882 the partnership between Grigg and Russel] ended, and a sale was held to dispose of the land and stock. In true country style the 1500 buyers who attended the sale were accommodated at “Longbeach”; the cooks prepared six bullocks and baked 600 large loaves of bread. At this sale Grigg purchased 16,000 acres and two-thirds of the stock. Owing to an oversight the existing dairy herd was sold, and in 1883 Grigg wrote to his son John, then at Cambridge University, instructing him to buy some good dairy stock for shipment to New Zealand. This he did, selecting one bull and six cows of Dutch Friesian stock; and the famed “Longbeach” herd was descended from these animals. Much of the success of New Zealand as a producer and exporter of beef, lamb, mutton and dairy produce can be attributed to the foresight of John Grigg.

Although he was a “big farmer” he never considered himself a “squatter”, the “squatter” looking on the small farmer as a foe who threatened his leasehold. Grigg realised that the production potential of the Colony could never be reached if the “small” man was not given an opportunity to farm on his own account. Grigg, disposing of large areas of his now fertile plains for subdivision into small farms, encouraged the small man. Over the years “Longbeach” stables and ploughing camps were the training ground for a new generation of young farmers. “Longbeach” trained a young teamster, William Massey, who was to become a Prime Minister of New Zealand; he worked for more than two years on the property. John Grigg was a family man. Within a short period of taking over “Longbeach” he had brought his wife and family south to Christchurch. Their dwelling at “Longbeach” was first the old accommodation house at Chertsey which was bought and transported to a site on the farm to be enlarged and modernised. In 1891 tenders were called for the construction of a new home. This was an imposing brick building, constructed of bricks made at the kiln. About this time, too, most farm buildings were replaced by new brick structures. The homestead, was however, destroyed by fire in 1937. In 1939 it was rebuilt into an English-style country home. Bricks from the old home were cleaned and re-used in its construction. In 1876 Grigg presented to the district a school capable of housing 40 pupils, plus the 12 acres on which the school was sited. A small church, built at Prebbleton in 1855, became vacant. John Grigg purchased it and had it taken by bullock waggon to its present site near the homestead. It was the first church to be built on the Canterbury Plains and had been consecrated by Bishop Selwyn. The church, although it appears on the list of Anglican churches as

being in the parochial district of Hinds, was, and still is, a private chapel, owned and controlled by the family. For the “Longbeach” community in those early days there was a store where all employees could purchase goods at a price at a slight increase on cost; in the store was a Post Office. The community had its own baker’s shop — U, tons of flour, ground in the community mill from wheat grown on the farm, was used each week — blacksmith's shop, saddler's shop, carpenter's shop, and ironmongery. There was a boilingdown works to dispose of surplus stock; and a fulltime cooper was employed making barrels in which to store the tallow. Apart from stables for horses, stud sheep and cattle, vast sheds housed three combine threshing mills, binders, and all farm machinery. In the off season binders were taken to pieces, repaired, greased, and stored. The farm had a bacon-curing and smoking house and a huge grain store. The wool-shed doubled as the local hall. The run covering many square miles, making working often long distances from the homestead. it was necessary to set up work camps. Men employed at these camps were housed in huts on wheels; a special kitchendining hut was attached and a full-time cook was employed at each camp. The permanent staff of “Longbeach.” described by one writer as “the greatest number and variety of specialists in various farm jobs on one farm.” remained for vears. One man worked on the property during the reigns of three Grigg owners. His employers, on his death, erected a brass tablet to his memory in the chapel. When John Grigg, at the age of 74, died in 1901, there were 220 farms on land he had once held. Many of the farms were occupied by former employees, some of whom he had helped through difficult times. Grigg’s wife, Martha, had died in 1884. (To be concluded)