Days That Are Past.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 10473, 31 December 1927, Page 10 (Supplement)

Days That Are Past.

AIR, H. J. CLAYTON IN RE.MIN. J SCENT MOOD. . The dust nuisance was so had in Gisborne in the 70\s that it was al- ; most impossible to p anywhere when j a nor’-wester was blowing. On race j days everyone, men and women, wore ; blue gossamer veils, and i have ; known the leaders in the five-horse \ brake turn round and refuse to lace • the blinding dust storm on the road j to AVaerenga-a-hika course. Glad- [ stone Road was like Waikanae Beach \ for cutting sand. Rut, soon alto; j the Borough Council was formed, it j was decided to try and keep down 1 the dust nuisance and punts were , built and were towed op to the *'Js- j land” up the AVaimata river and 1 there loaded with papa which was i brought down and the muddy papa j placed on Gladstone Pioad from the Rost Office to about Grey Street. That was all right in the summer but, when winter came, it was awful, for the cure was as had as the disease or worse. Stone crossings were then made of flat stones from the other “Island”—Sponge Ba? —one crossing from the Albion to AVil.'iams and Kettle’s corner, one from there to the letter boxes at- the Rost Office, one at the Masonic corner, and one at Townley’s corner. If you saw a friend “over the road” whom you wanted to speak to, you whistled to him and walked up to the stone crossings and met on one side or the other of Gladstone Road. It is said that a man was thrown off his horse opposite the N.Z. Clothing Factory’s premises and he was never seen again. I was net there, so 1 cannot vouch for this.

GISBORNE TO ORMOND TX SEVEN HOURS.

The country districts had no roads —only tracks'. My first trip to Ormond in September, 1872, took from 1 o’clock till dark. Leaving the old Argylo Hotel in IV cl go (id's coach, a light three-horse vehicle, we rode as far as Makaraka along the sandy ridges. Then we came to the clay and wo chMdien got out and walked and ran along the roadside, while the three horses plodded through the mini till ah' ut King’s Road, when we got into the coach again but bad

once more to leave it and walk. The Into Arthur Cuff, who lived at Mangala, had a pack of nudes that carried in the tucker to the station. My cousin, the late Alfred Hatton, had a lintchorv bushiess at Patutnlii where die killed and then carried the meat to town for delivery. Jt took from 2 a.m. till G a.m. to get the meat to the Bridge Hotel, where it was transferred to the lighter carts and reached town about 8 o'clock. So you see, we arc not quite so badly off for loads now as then.

BURNING OF MAKATJRI BUSH

The Makauri hush supplied us with white-pine for building. Shingles were used .then, not iron, for roofing and \\ bite pine split easily into fine light shingles. We also had kauri from Auckland, also from as far f's “ITohartown” (Hobart now). J remember well the hot Sunday the hush was cleaned up by fire. It was an awe inspiring sight to me as a child, and I shall never forget it.

OLDEST BUSINESS PLACE IN TOWN.

Tlio kauri timber came from Auckland in schooners and was rafted ashore here on to the mud flat where the old slip used to stand. The schooner, after being lightened, then came into the river. One shop still stands fo-dav that was built of kauri by mv father for the firm of Bobjohns. Teat & Co. It is on the Lowe Street corner and is now occupied by .Mrs. Gunn ns a ladies’ supply store. I think it is the oldest business place in Gisborne to-day.

LOCAL MARINE DISASTERS

The first wreck I remember was the barque “Loc-hnagar,” 444 tons, which vessel took our total shipment of woo!'Home in those days. The next was the “Arcadia,” a schooner which put in here dismasted. The T.S.S. Co.’s s s. Taupo got on the recks on Kniti Bench one misty night, the lights of the Maori pah being taken for the town' lights. I also saw the wreck of the s.s. Sir Donald on the Waiuui Beach. She was blown a wav from Napier in a southerly and all hands were lost. Of course we often iiad the Pretty Jane, the Go Ahead, and other small vessels holed on the bar. I Was on the beach having a dip when the s.s. Wairnrapa landed our little launch the s.s. Snnrk. I was also on the beach when the 'Wairnrapa came in on fire and was gutted. The fire broke out in the linen locker just after leaving Napier. All her cushions and movable fittings were jettisoned and she was filled-with wo ter by our fire brigade and her own pumps. Our okl manual was taken out on the “cattle punt.” The steamer later left for Auckland under her own steam hut all her passengers remained here.

The wreck of the Tasmania, which occurred one night off Mahia, near Table Cape, will not be forgotten by those old residents of the day—September, 1807. My brother Walter was a passenger and he was landed with otliers at the boat harbor, near Cook’s monument, at daylight the net morning. All were saved except one boat load, which tried to Land over near Whareongaonga, tbe boat lxdng upset in the surf, and I. believe all were drowned. As I was not here at the time, I am not too sure of the details. I have ray brother's boat pass, which was handed to him that night when the steamer anchored in the Bay, hut as a s.e. moderate gale was blowing the tender did not go out. Tbe “Tasmania” slowly steamed out of. the Bay on her way to Napier, but was wrecked later in the evening and went down in deep water. Tbe owner of a hand-bag containing some diamonds worth several thousands later engaged n ketch and diver to try and recover the hag. hut it- was'never found. Capt. McGee was - master of the ‘‘.Tasmania” and I have heard that the night of the

wreck bis wife in Sydney was awakened by a crash and, on rising to find out the cause, found that the cord holding an enlarged photo of her husband had broken. The pietive fell and was smashed by the lull; next morning she heard of the wrcc k. The Union Company's A rah. lira was also holed in the roadstead am] beached near the groyne, eventually getting awav all right. An old slips boat that Jay at the wharf bottom up was bought by two men who went fishing in her and never returned. The small barque Rio Grande became a total wreck rear the groyne, also the cutter Spray near the end of Grev Street. 1 remember the loss off Waip’.ro Bav of the Aotea with all hands. Capt. Nicholas was in command. Also the upsetting of the surf boat belonging to the s.s. Australia nutli loss of life of! 'lolaca Bay. I was present at the City Rink when Constable Sfagpole received the R.H.ft. silver medal for .bravery in saving life on that occasion. I must not forget to mention the s.s. Star of Canada, whose bones je-t beneath the waves elf the Ka.t: beach.

BULLOCK RUNS AMOK ON GLADSTONE ROAD.

There was great excitement in Gladstone Iload one very hot day in about 1886, when some' cattle were being shipped at the wharf; in the evening, one heart got away on to the Waikanno. Later, about 630 p.m., it ran amok up Gladstone Road and was about to toss some children playing in the Street opposite whore Air. I.angridge now has bis shop The mothers of the children, who saw the beast tearing up the road rushed e,n, to save their children which they dul. but both were tossed by the ju'urmted animal, one being a cripple to this day, and one horseman who..went to the rescue bad h:s horse d semhowelled. The animal was, later, shot on the site of. the garage next the Wesley Church in Bright St.

NOTABLE CHARACTERS

Du Voinov.—A man who was v.e’l ' connected of. Homo find had boon in the Horse Guards. Ho used to drive : a dray for .John T> dgood. I saw his 1 sword, which L’nele Blair hold for j him and, hoy-like, enjoyed looking at the same very much. Geo. Williamson, who lived whore the Wi Pore monument now stands. I remember him as the man who used to kite off the terrier dog's ta.l.s. “Dusty” Stevenson —Who was always prominent at election times. He named the bullocks in his team after the rival candidates and would give tile one “McDonald” all the whip and “Locke” his own lavor.te candidate no whip at all. “General” Chute—An old chap who lived around the Riverside Road. Charlie Peterson. —Who carried the mail from Muriwai once a week. some of the old hands. Captain Road, Mill, Williamson, John Harvey, “Blind Charlie,” Joe Kennedy, Old Maekav (the ferryman). Geo. Nesbitt, Tun Reardon, Dr. Ncsbit (first Dr. Magistrate, and who took the church services in the old Court-house), John Bradley (of the Albion Hotel), Wi Whnrek'no, Andrew Park (fisherman), Sam Stevenson. Matt Hall. Ja's. MeCaffery (saddler), Skipworth. ,T. H. Stubbs, M. G. Nasmith, John Maynard, John and Peter Breignan, Joe Hnmoii, George Bruce, Geo. Scott, Ewon Cameron, Fred. Hardy. Alex. McKenzie. W. H. Horsfall, John Ferguson, Henry and Edward Harris, W. W. Smith. Wm. King, A. Kempthorne, John Parsons ( Mutaivhern). 'Larry Dunn, Tnrr family, Wm. Walsh, Espies, Jas. Dunlop, Fbmoanes. Peter MeFarlane, Martin Casey. Joe and John Kennedy. Copt. Porter, Edwin Bourko, Brooke Tavlov. B:i”sde!l. Bali Cooper, Bedford Sherriff, John Brodie, Jolinstone, L. Mclntosh, W. Byrne (hoot, repairer), Edward Burch, Parkbou-e. Caulton, Bin : r. Arch. Gray, Mickey and Jinimv Mullcoly. Andrew Reeves, Wm. Milner (Tuparon), Edward Murphy, Andrew Reeves, A V. Ross, W. Dean Lysnar, Cant. Tucker J BPovnter. A. C. Arthur, David Dobbin, John Clark, A. Bruce. Newman. A. M. Newman. Benson, J Bidgood. T. Cahill, the Harrises. Ovlgons. .John Dick, ,To’”i Rob rt Forbes. R. M. Skeet, Wyl'm -rrl »VniV. Fred. APwood, Cluis E’'-.iiis John \ illers. Albert PfentfouL Edwin Webb (G’°horne Standard now-vnapo”) W. H. Turner fPank of N.Z ), Ruslihr -ok, Alf. Tibbies. C. Ferris, C. J>. Pitt, W. E. Gudgeon. Major West-uni, Joiin and Tom IJren, John Mall, O. L? W. Bousfield and family. OLD COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS

Of great interest to me are tb" class eases containing the photos of the old-time cnunneicial trace lie is | who visited this district many y-«-« I ago. Every one of those same photos retails the' da vs that ate gone never to leturn. There is Salmon or the Kaiapoi; Waters, of \\ cH.ugton ; D. . Jones, i.evisalin. etc. Old “Kaltie

Smith of ihe AGsume Hotel, Nap er, , jvj nlso tliore. 'Piece are so many : faces tliere that I knew intimately, ; hut time has ob!.curate-! iunuy of t 't«- ' little incidents and jokes j with each cue.

I PHOTOGRAPHY IE THE EARLY DAYS. To get or have vour photo taken fifty years ago was no joke ami was not an amateur’s joh. Mv first photo was taken when five years old by Sammy Cariiri! of Napier, and it too,-: all day to do the trick. My motliei le't home with four of us at 10 a.m. and got home again at 1 pm. jhe light,"the long exposure, the arrangii'7g of us fair in the correct positions was net the work of an instant. We had to stand so long in the one position that iron stands ware repaired to prop up cur heads and hold them in a fixed pu-ition. Wo were all very tired, net forgetting poor mother, v.-hon the jeh was o-.cr. 1 lie 010 j>l to—i- griphor had to make h s own ■‘plates'’ in those days ai d many a tone I have watched the Lie C. Ik ! Drown and Ids wife at work in their c.rnd'o, w' ieh stood on the site of .Mr ,T D. H-i ■—ies’ h.oot shell of to-day. Min te.prap'iv was then only for the : professional. i J-Y BOYHOOD DAYS. My hovioot! fv-ni the age of six was spent in Gisborne. Jlv firsi school "master was Mr. 'V. Dean Lys- , iiar. father of Mr. W. D- 'Lvsnar. | M.P. The s-hoo'i wry m the come" i of Lowe sire-t and Childers Road. ! opposite the R.C. ednren. The hotel i,opposite, now the “G'sherne." was . then the “Shamrock” kept by Tom ! Scrivener. Next to tlm school in 1.-nvo Street was John Dick’s shop, i where he was blacksmith and wheeii weight. We loved, to gather round , the forgo to watch “ihe many spruits j that flv like wheat on a threshing I flour.” One day. whilst watching the process of shooing a ho:so. my enrt'i]v career was nearly ended. After the farrier had fitted the slice to the foot, ho threw down the fitting spike 1 and a bov picked it up and threw it •at me. Fortunately, it only hit me a I glancing blow on the head, or mv i “lights” would have been out. As it j was. my head hied a good deal and • tlio hoy who was the cause of the j trouble was expelled from the school. | Mv next master vm« Afr. Fay. who ! also edited the local paper, the school • h»jn<; left in clmr’ r e of Rate and V I- | lie Hav. son and daughter of the ‘ master. Thus did we “learn in those dn'-s. We were caned with a hard walking stick and it did hurt! On Sniid r»erni"gs, ” n went to Sunday school in the “Old Court-house,” v-lih-h stood where the premises of Adair Bros, now stands. My days were happy enough, but some of mv nights were not, as 1 had some terrible nightmares for, whenever the old people foregathered, the one topic was the “.Massacre,” which had only occurred a few years bclore j and we kids used to sit and listen to ‘ the tales of how Major Biggs and Capt. Wi’son and his wife and the Wellies and others were murdered by To Root!. There vras a pah where Lady Carroll now lives and a Maori going home late .with a full skiu of rum would'al ways sing ns loud as he could to ker—. eff tne "kehua' oi gliosts. and this always struck terror in mv little heart, find T thought it might he that tire llnnhnus bad come mm in to murder us all. Wc used to fish, and float our toy heats and get water melons twin oh] “rloeyn” or “Afonkev Mouth,” as we called him. Of course cvc.rv one had a horse and we toth'Tod tleun a aw. hero about on the vacant land, ar.d it was nearly all vacant, except for torn ami f i-f r ‘ ( ‘ scrub. We r’w ys “tin kef Fed” ad liowly-ma-Ti'd people ri d Serge. M l ’l - i-.nec cam-' to a wed-hug n air onhouse and was going to arrest us tor making a oo.se. for that was all we ■did- Wo also placed “nick nock” on the doe- l-polis. Rite living was also fashionable, also marbles, tops and whip tops.

TILE PIONEER CYCLISTS

My fi'-st sight of a bicycle was one owned by tl’.e late James hast. Tue next was one owned and ridocn by BaVr. ami Pat O’Meara. _ These were al the. old ••ordinary’’ kind that had a bin; wheel and a little wheel. A blacksmith named W .13 in ins made one which had a wheel similar to baygy wheels, .til these riders used to ride about on the narrow smooth tracks l-cfore there were any roads at al! and were heavy and cumbersome things, but they were the only kind known and were just as much enjoyed as these of the present day. 1 owned it- bike for a while of. the old-fashioned kind and had a tew “headers” oft the same.' My next hike was a “diamond” frame with ’ 3-iucli solid tyres imported by the late W. Ki. Akrcyd and was made, by ! Harriott and Coopt r, of lOnebuio. ! .\ly next was one with tyres like a : garden hose, hoi ow rubber tubing, out not pneumatic, 'liio old. people used to talk of the ‘ velot-ipeue.- a ’a re-wiae:er that thev had seen in j Pie •Old If a: t. ’ The fate C. i>. Ban-

lu-tt for years rede a tricycle, which was capable of for.r miles per hour us ;i maximum. KAITi PICKX'.CKIX'J DAYS. Pieni s in tiie old days were nearly always hoe.ting parties up the Waimata river, it was the ambition of must people to either ‘•catch’' the title or to i*e first at some favored spot or to avoid the gloat lieat on tee river. '1 he favored spots were ‘.typ e Tree" Coiner, tile "island,” or the "Holc-in-tlie-Wall.’’ The i oa ll ir men of the town uset] to like a r.d ;■ to the "Oil Springs'’ at Wliatatntu. Ihe site of the hist attempt at ior oij in this district was up i hat wav and the company was known as the “South Pacific.” The ■•Prnmnd Ouarry’ and Te Arai Valley pencil grove wi re also favored by ilio-e v, ith vehicles. Kveiyone made a jiicii.e of the rare days. One picnic alleud-l w.sii Id i Kaiii Death. Hirre was no laid *e then, so we were ferried ecr'iss at the mouth of the river and ;vn”: d round t*: idle favored spot. It v.y> very hot aid, as wo walked, tlr> heat and the' shaking caused the Pnionode bottles to “pop off” ; the ■ were on'v tied down •/Ith string. T-wards in d-day, dark •lauds —uliei-'-d end. at. three <.’clock, a lerrifi • t ; o;nd ■ sto in broke out and we a l ] huddled l**to one tent we possessed c '• ■: I a good view of the yof rale and' Jerked lightning r' e• X: -k’s v :d. 'ni i’ier sl"-ra o' great s'vritv oc-r-tsfij- i 'ui a P<.sing Xi-dit. V’e had bee" ( i;e- the r*ve:* for Xloas Dot I ini 1 lo lUend a • ’'•■ri'i t, that night :m“ I pet homo oariv. iust as the r~*n to f, iU 1 ut in: tv, in a largo ‘bin's boat. «?< t st"ck oil tlie '-Dbl-wl” ~; 1d ,»ot l’’e Dill force of tin ran !’'i!”do.- and light nine. The mi (•h'blren wore terrified a"d Ifd to v; to the nearest house f'’r shop-'-. Tec- d ived there the ui'fht. Fi *•:>.« D..hied and limn and women dr : ed their clothes lief; TO t'V> fi-..< a.t Ui" hm’se of the late .Josiah Sedov. At the concert that night. Miss I.r"o, of Napier, was singing “Clie-rv Pine.” hut could not he heard as the noise of the rain and thunder made it ' in'-vicsib'e to hear a sound, so v*" iust had to wait t'll the Darin reused and then so home. The. holiday was generally •‘wound no" with a dance in Whinrav’s '’r P*-*-«» ’•*• H 11. Oh, those were happy days!

VOLUXTXK'MXG IX THE PAST!

We had originally the ‘‘Defence Force" of mounted men, who wore swords and also carded a carbine. Then came the militia who, still in existence, were never called out ill

Gisborne in my day. The volunteers were Ormond Pities, Makarnkn Rifles and Gisbony? Rifles, also the J. Battery, who were a very smart, well drilled enthusiastic body of men, but they had onlv two obsolete twolvepound breech-loaders, which we, in lhese days, now look hack oil and laugh. We also had a Cadet Corps, under Sergt. Daley, an old soldier. The boys were a merry lot and had just as* much fun as their elder brother soldiers. They played “Kelly Gang” in the scrub ab pvit Cobdcn St., and many boys had narrow escapes, with hoys firing "blank” at each other in the nai row patlis through the .scrub, the names of the late John Warren, Col. V inter, Capt. Daly. Vaultts (2). 13:11 Miller. Joe Cresswell, F.olit. Thelwe.il. Harry Stark. George Y.i’lbims, Wai. J.iinn, Jack Berry, Gould, Cecil Ward, Col. Deere, Joe Tyson and many others ware prominent in the mi! mrv life : f the town from "72 to 'SB, when 1 left Gisborne me a wain?, l tie EX'. Hussars were a.so p.om.nei'.t here >ram ’B6 on.