SHEARING IN THE EARLY DAYS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 533, 14 June 1909, Page 5

SHEARING IN THE EARLY DAYS.

V; (biVtbwqeAph—spsoial cobbbspohdint.) :': - : '•'.-■ '■•: -/ :: ; '■]: : - ■■;' .',',';', Chrlstchurch,' Jiine XI Mr. iPhUip Larainan; has claimed to be the oldest living shearer. Mr. George Wilson, of Cheviot, expresses opinion in- a' letter, to the papers that Mr.V liaramim cannot givo ;him much/of-astart. ..'-I and my brother," 'he writes, -."came' from',- Melbourne :with 'cattle- and /sheep- in the' Sir -iHarry. Smith, with v Captain Raymond, ■ through Foveaux Strait Cin: 1850. , .Thofirst- four:immigrant ships were in the harbour at the'timeVof our arrival.: We landed our stock jn Paurahi. Mr/ -R.; Rhodes had a few sheep there then, but the 'hills .were covered with' wild goata ■in -, thoso days.': AVg drove tho~shcep,to Canip Bay, and shore them under canvas. I could not' shear then; but I, was fleece packing. In October. 1858,-I- joined.the gang on the Rakaia .and shore for Mr. Chapinari.on what is now- Acton Station in a wool shed built oE cabbage troes, just outside.the site of the present township.. There'-, were ■•' only two gangs 'of. shearers between Timaru and Christchurch.'in - those: days.. .' I /may say- that/I ■went for. fo'rty years: without a mass...' My brother Charlie, who-'still shears, has continued a few years longer than I have."