Pioneer Woman’s Memories

Hawera Star, Volume L, 10 April 1930, Page 19 (Supplement)

Pioneer Woman’s Memories

(By M. E. Wilson.)

The Town Hall Ball

Recollections of 1878 Onward

The following interesting survey of Hawera people and events of the period following 1878 is contributed by Mrs M. E. Wilson, who, as a member of the Hobbs family, spent her early youth in Hawera. Her reminiscences will carry the minds of old settlers back to the joys, as well as the hardships in the early days of colonisation.

Leaving our family in 'Wanganui, while in search of land in Taranaki, my father finally settled on taking a native lease, the last of the cleared land close to the j\Foremen' pa, now called Ohangai. His nearest neighhours were the late Mr D. Buchanan, Mr Iv. Law (now of Kaponga), and WFr ,j. H. Lysaght (the latter having a large extent of native lease on the western side of the Mokoin. road from the na). All behind was forest, and around flu l clearing there were a, great many beautiful peach trees which bore abundantly excellent, fruit, evidently the result of the orchards planted bv the early missionaries, whose labours the .Maori War had sadly interfered with. The Hobbs family travelled from Wanganui in the tri-weekly coach and four, driven by one John During, horses being changed, I think, at

Waitotara, and (perhaps) at Patea. The scenery then along the road was in places very fine, so much of the natural bush'being still there; Mamitahi was particularly prettily situated. the hush being close nn to- the settlement. Patea. was by way of being quite an old civilised township, boats of small size coining up the river to the little wharf.

THE BEGINNING OF THE “STAR.”

Wlkmi the “Hawera Star” began its a'five and .popular life, we- were all full of iov and pride. T and myrelations who aye in the district have always been subscribers and we offer our sincere congratulations on its jubilee and best wishes for its future career.

Hawera. in 1878, had no footpaths except side walks trodden by pedestrians, and of course no street lights. The post office was where the present post-master’s bouse is; a small office

at the end of the verandah was Hie official room. Mr ,Shu filers was tiie postmaster then. The Bank of New South Wales was a tiny building on the side of the present handsome oi.e, Mr C. A. Tabeanteau being manager and Air F. A. Baddelev as junior. The Bank of New Zealand, under Mr W. G. White, was in the same spot as the j ire-sent bank. The junior assistant was the late A 1 r W. H. F. AVanklyn. The late Mr J. B. Boy, after-

wards of New Plymouth, was the only lawyer. lie sold his practice soon afterwards to Air Barloymaii, who was followed shortly by Mr 11. Caplen from Greymoutii. The town hail had- iust been built, a severe gale Jin-ving blown down the first structure after it was begun and well on the way. It was opened by a

dance (a “hall” it was termed in those days). I believe cut fern was placed along the front so as to enable the ladies to reach the ballroom without going through the mini, which used to he very bad in Tlawera then. There was a legend that tlie year before we came, a resident went about on stilts and a dray was bogged in High Street. The court sat once a fortnight. Captain Wray, of Patea, way; the R.M., and our old friend Major Baddeley the clerk of the court. They both had to ride or drive from Paten. Mr John Winks was the only butcher, and

they lived over the shop, which was situated higher up the street than where the Bank of Australasia is now. Mr Geo. 'fait was the halter, hut so many of the most capable of the settlers’ wives and daughters made their own yeast bread 1 cannot think there was nearly so good a living at baking then as now.. Messrs Duffill Bros, had an upholstery and building business. Tiiere was a saddler, one Mr Byrne, and afterwards Mr Henderson. The storekeepers were Mr J. Davidson, a. very old resident, and another, iMr Bari eng, soon afterwards bought out by rv Mr Bulford, who in turn sold to Mr IT. W. Sutton, who, with iris family, was- always highly respected by the settlers in and, around the little township. The Misses McCutohan lied a girls’ school for some years, and Miss McCutelian and a Miss Guerin (afterwards Mrs Whittaker) were the only music teachers in Ha worn. There was

■onr> chemist, whose liiinio escapes me, Imt 111 doctor nearer tlian Patea for some time. OLD FAMILIES. Of all the oldest settlers then there are now not many surviving as far as I know, ilrat some of them who are represented 'by their descendants are the Moore Hunters, the Livingston family, the Flynn family, Hughes, McL’JDowies, W. G-. Whites, Mrs j. C. Hobbs (nee Partridge), Mrs W. Wilson. and her brother. Mr H. Hobbs, of Douglas, the Nicholas family, J. A. DuffiU. Douglas family. Lyssagilts. Ekdalds Buchanans. Winks, and Mrs R. F. Page (neo Miss' Parkinson); also the Byrnes, Goodsons, McLeans, Goods, of Oco, and Mrs J. A. Duffill,

who is a grand-da,lighter of the late Mr A. S. Hobbs and a daughter of the late Mr Walter Wilson. The late Mr J. S. Caverhill was the first president of the newly-formed A.

and P. Society, and his eldest son. Air \V. Caverhill (whose lamented end was in the great fire of 1895) was the first secretary. Of those who formed liie large membership of the Hawera. A. and P. Society, both as promoters aril later on as life members, there are, I fear, but few remaining. Among mem conspicuous for their active support and interest were Messrs J. C. Yorke, Riddiford, Lysaglit (senr.), D. Buchanan, and the Wilson Bros., who

had not long come int-o the district, having taken a native lease from AH F. Riddiford, just across the Tawiiiti stream and opposite the flourmill, which had been built iust previously. EARLY EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES.

The Hawera Public School in 1878 was under the mastership of a Mr Thompson, a man of line education from one of the Scotch universities and quite a character in his manner of teaching. He was later on succeeded by a young mail of very sterling worth and an excellent headmaster, Mr A. Mail*, who remained with ris a very long time, and was ably seconded hv his headmistress in the school, at first by Miss Corn foot, whom Mr Mair subsequently married, and afterwards by Mrs Horneman from G roy mouth, who remained in the posi-

tiori for a number of years and was highly respected. The Sisters of the Convent of St. Joseph had a tiny school from the very early days, and it was there that the children of the O’Sheas, Flynns ami Malones, all fine settlers, whose children have done them credit, received their education. The mails from New Plymouth were for .years -brought down 'by coach to Opunake, the driver being a fine Maori named “Napoleon.” JTe drove the coach to Opunake, where it was met by MV J. Flynn, a. splendid whip, who brought it on next day. The road from New Plymouth to Opunake was via the beach at low tide, and the remainder, from Onunalte to Ffawera, lav through the celebrated. Waimate Plains, peopled almost entirely by wild-looking natives and herds of wild cattle, horses and pigs, Ivnt I do not remember ever hearing that the coach or any travellers were molested

DAYS OF ANXIETY,

The sensation which existed for at least a year or more after the surveying and throwing open for sale the Plains can never .be forgotten by those who remain of the people old enough to realise the great terror of another Maori War, especially to the imagination of those who had just come to New Zealand. The most terrible anxiety was on the Sunday on which the Maoris, in a vain attempt to show the nakeha that if they trespassed so would the natives, and to prove it crossed the bridge over the Waingongoro. and bpgan to plough up Mr Livingston's lawn. They were ousted bv the members of the Ha.wera Light Horse, who styled themselves for that day the “Ha.wera Hustlers,” and acted' in the spirit of Government

orders, “not to interfere with the Maoris, hut to use persuasion.” No had temper was shown on either side. I believe the honour of driving the first bullock dray ever the bridge was

given to Air •• Attic” Newell, now of Fraser Road, a courageous act, as no one knew hut that an ambush might he awaiting. It- was very evident that the Maoris never intended to do the people of Hawera any pers'onal harm, as the little township on that particular Sunday lay entirely at their mercy, with pas all along the back country and no one to protect the women and children in the village or on the scattered farms.

After the Plains were declared open for selection Hawera- was thronged with people from all over New Zealand, all eager to buy land and build homes, and in the meantime had to put their families and belongings into any shelter they could find. Hawera, began to go ahead in every Way then, and many fine families made friends

> among the Haw era folk. The railway ' between New Plymouth and Wanganui ■ was being pushed on, and was soon ; an established fact. The large number of young men employed on the Public Works were quartered a good 1 deal of their time at Hawera, and added greatly to the town’s gaiety as to- dances, concerts, etc. As far as I know, Mr Foden, senr.. is the only one of the popular P.W.D.’s, as we called them, who can realise the fruits of his labours with the railway workers, as be alone slil.l lives in Ilawera.