SOME RIDING EXPLOITS

Hawera Star, Volume L, 10 April 1930, Page 22 (Supplement)

SOME RIDING EXPLOITS

BY W.H.

Mrs William A'Courfc is a. cheery example <)f the grit, and determination of those women who followed their husbands into the wilderness, and helped in no small wav in the progress of the little settlement among the flax and scrub-covered plains, which was the Hawera of yesterday. Mrs A’Court styles herself a true Maorilander, having, been born at Petone. Most of her girlhood was, however, spent in the AVairarupa, and it was there in 187.3 that she was married to Air William A’Court. Mr A'’Court had been in business as a blacksmith in Hawera for a year previous to this ; and as Airs. A’Court naively put it. “he’d grown tired of the

single life; anti- rode ail the way down to Feaviherston to many me and take me back with him. I had" to say goodbye to, my motlier and father and sisters' and brothers, and all my friends; >• and we set off on horseback for the long journey to my future home. AVe had, mo ' ride over the Rinnitakas and you must remember that we rode the side ‘ saddle always in those days, and that the road across the ranges was only a bridle track. T was very proud of my • nice new habit, which had been made > by a' bailor iiv Wellington, and of my ; splendid 1 horse. The. weather was beautiful, hue, clean bracing June weather..’ ’

FROM FEATHERSTON TO HAWERA. The first stage of the journey was Wellington', where they remained over night, proceeding next day up the coast as far as Gt-aki. The da.y following they rode on to Sanson and the next day took them to AVanganui. Then on to'Patea, where 1 they spent a few days with friends;

All the rivers had to be punted over, not always an enviable experience. But apparently the long exhilarating gallops over stretches of firm, wet sand, and the jov of resting on some breezy headland; and the ever changing, prospect of sea and land, were compensation enough for tlie young adventurers.

In Hawera their house of four poems soon became a- favourite stop-ping-off place for travellers who were welcomed with, the fine old-fashioned courtesy of the day. But it is her prowess as a horsewoman on which Mrs A’Court loves to dwell, when thinking .over the stirring days of the past. It. was certainly the era. of the horse, and one’s animal was treated

FROM WELLINGTON TO HAWERA

(Written for the “Star.”)

'Y* not only as a means ox transport, butt's with all tne respect to winch its intelligence entitled it. Many a gallop lias Mrs A’Court enjoyed over the AV aim at<3 Plains, and many tile ride she has taken through scrub and bush when it was necessary to lie Hat on your horse m order to clear the supplejacks and hanging vines along some ni-uelined track. W ith the fearlessness of ycmtn sbe would pusii on through’ little-settled country, glorying in file unspoiled beauty on every hand.

One of the loveliest pictures she carries in her mind to-day is of sheets of white clover where file Maoris had burnt ;cft‘ the scrub, or wuero some settler had reded t-lie bush and left it to fallow for the next-season. ‘-It was something I can never forget,” said Mrs A’Court, “just as if someone had set down numbers of large white sheets to bleach in the sunshine.”

Like most of the pioneer women who gave courteous’ treatment to the Maoris, Mrs A’Court received nothing but- kindness at their hands; and was never afraid-to ride through tlieir conntry ami to speak to any she met on the way. She remembers a talk she had' with

Miss Bobie who was to meet a end quite close to the same .spot just M three days later. Both girls met while out riding, and there were several Maoris about at the time: Sometimes her riding, took her in the vicinity d’ Te Ngtitu-o-te-Mamu and she lias often amused herself trying to reconstruct tlie battle in her mind, and in endeavouring to nick out the bullets with which the trees were be-spattered. AN AMUSING EXPERIENCE. One special incident of her riding days, Mrs A’Court recalls with a chuckle of amusement. Among their visitors was a certain minister of rather short stature, and' apparently possessed Qf a somewhat important and self-satisfied manner. He expressed a wish to ride over some of the country round about, and turning to his hostess, enquired of her if she could ride. The lady replied demurely that she could at least show him whether she could or not. “Did you enjoy the ride?”. I asked, with a smile, Mrs A’Gourt laughed heartily. “I led him a, dance over such wild country, often putting spur to my horse and leaving him behind. Then I would hide behind a flax bush, and chuckle to myself when I heard him coming up, grumbling behind. At last we came tA the Waingongoro River, which wo foraJP.ed, and rode out to the narrow neck land looking out- over the sea, and from where we had a wonderful view of the country. Tlie minister stretched out his arms and quoted, “Lo on a narrow neck of land betwixt the unbounded sea J stand.”

“Then lia turned to me and said solemnly, ‘Well, now we’re here, howon earth are we to get back?’ “ ‘By following a woman,’ I said, and putting the spur to iny horse I was off away over in the direction of Manaia, and of course he had to follow. When we got back my husband asked me if I enjoyed the ride? ‘Well,’ I said, ‘T think ha knows now whether I can ride, or not.’. ” Many other incidents this interesting pioneer can tell of riding exploits and happy, friendly days when all the settlers kept open house, and the only thing that counted was the will to meet whatever difficulties might come-along; and a hand ever* ready to help a neighbour when trouble or sickness fell upon the home.