Travellers may again see a light burning

Press, 9 June 1982, Page 15

Travellers may again see a light burning

Timaru reporter A rushlight may burn again outside Patterson's accommodation house on Mr P. F. Mcllraith's holding, Glenmac station, near the Penticotico Creek bridge on the Waimate-Kurow highway.

During 19.35-36 the Mcllraith family replaced the shingle roof with corrugated iron and so helped to preserve the original cob. Maintenance of .the building. which has been declared a private historic reserve, was started a few years ago. Bird-proofing of the house will be done with the help of the Historic Places Trust. Restoration of the clay wall could also be achieved with the use of volunteer labour, and it was hoped to provide a lay-by in front of the house. This would serve as a stopping place for motorists when a new bridge was built across the creek.

said a member of the trust's South Canterbury regional committee. Mr M. D. Studholme. The old accommodation house is believed to be more than 100 years old. Such dwellings, established in 1858 at recognised river crossings, were convenient overnight stopping places for travellers. When a coach service was begun from Waimate to the Hakataramea Valley along the north bank of the Waitaki River, a group of cob buildings near the junction of the Penticotico Stream with the river served as accommodation house and staging post. Patterson's accommodation house is remarkably well preserved. H. J. Le Cren, who bought many small properties along the first road lines, held this particular section in 1872 and transferred it to James Patterson a- few years later.

The section and three others adjoining it were known as Patterson's paddocks. Clay for the house and stables came from a cliff at the mouth of the Penticotico Stream.

Waggoners bound from Kurow or Hakataramea used the building, and similar accommodation houses were dotted along the highways and by-ways at Makikihi. Otaio, and along the Waitaki River. A chain of accommodation houses stretched from the Rangitata River to the Waitaki River. As well as providing beds, the proprietors were, ferry men. tneir houses served as post offices for the surrounding district, staging depots for coaches, and the licensees had to help in maintaining law and order if called upon to dp so by the police. One of their functions was to provide holding yards for stock and horses.

Travellers slept in lofts. Feed for the animals could be obtained and. in the case of Patterson’s, the waggoners. who had left their animals and waggons on the Kurow side of the creek for the night while they crossed for a meal (mutton boiled with lumps of dough called damper) in front of a fire in the main part of the house, could bring their waggons across the creek and proceed on their journey. One of the most interesting regulations which concerned the licensees of these first accommodation houses and hotels was that a light must be kept burning, and visible from any part of the country around the building, from sunset to sunrise.’

The wheel has turned full circle, and it is not inconceivable that such a light will be provided, or that the front porch of the old building will be illuminated to guide today's travellers.