The Hays of Pigeon Bay

Press, 24 April 1980, Page 13

The Hays of Pigeon Bay

The transformation of land in Pigeon Bay by the Hay family, since the early days was described at the annual field day of Banks Peninsula Federated Farmers this month.

The field day was held this year on the property of Mr D. C. Hay, who is

shown with Mrs Hay in the accompanying photograph.

Mr J. B. Hay, elder brother of the host farmer, said the Hay family left Scotland for New Zealand in 1824.

After arriving in New Zealand the Hays, in part-

nership with the Deans and Sinclair families, built and sailed a ship from the North Island to Lyttelton. The Deans family liked the look of the Canterbury Plains and stayed there and after investigations further south as far as Otago the Hays settled in Pigeon Bay and the .Sinclairs next door in Holmes Bay. The Hay property was gradually expanded as

bush was cleared, cattle were introduced, and larger houses were built. Sheep arrived on the farm in 1863.

But the property was badly affected by bush fires in the early 1860 s and a massive land-slide in 1866, Mr Hay said. A large section of hillside was washed down and it gradually covered all the buildings and the family was left with just the clothes they, stood in, he said.

The Hays marketed butter, potatoes, oats, and other produce, which was sold in Australia as well as New Zealand. Cocksfoot was also introduced to the area by the family.

Mr D. C. Hay said that he took over Ihveralloch in 1943 when it consisted of blocks of 120 ha, 40 ha, six hectares around ’ the house and a 115 ha block on the other side of the bay, which altogether carried 1000 ewes and 500 hoggets. Since increased in size the farm was now carrying 1700 ewes, 610 ewe lambs, 64 wether lambs, 30 rams, 40 twoyear heifers, 85 two-year steers, 100 heifer calves, and 330 steers.

Mr Hay said although the management techniques on the property had changed considerably it had been a viable proposition because of the remarkable contribution of labour.