56 YEARS IN SOUTH TARANAKI

Hawera Star, Volume L, 10 April 1930, Page 11 (Supplement)

56 YEARS IN SOUTH TARANAKI

MR. THOMAS LLOYD, NORMANBY

AN OLD “STAR” CORRESPONDENT

•‘Looking back over the. 06 years since. I arrived in this district,” said Mr Thomas Lloyd, of Normanby, in reply to a “Hawera Star” representative, “it is interesting to compare the district now with what, it was in those early times and one is bound to acknowledge the wonderful pluck and determination of the pioneer settlers, especially those who could recall the days of the war raging up to 1863. Even in 1874 things were anything but settled, when one recalls the disturbances still going on. the big meetings at Parihaka and the ploughing of the settlers’ land by the Maoris, when it was hard to say what, might- happen as a result of the disaffection existing among the Maoris.’’. Mr Lloyd’s connection with tlie dairying industry commenced early, for he. was. several years manager of the late Mr T. L. Job’s factory and later managing for Messrs Robbins and Pierard at Normanby and later with Mr Hurley on the Mannia Road near Kaponga. i EARLY NEWSPAPERS Mr Lloyd could recall, the time when there was practically no Eltliam and no Stratford and when the main street in Hawera was so rough that a; dray might easily bo bogged. He lias lived to see the wonderful development as seen to-day. He remembered when the newspapers coming to Hawera were the Wanganui “Teaman'’, and the “Paten. Mail” and later the pride with which the. people regarded the founding of the “Hawera Star.” Normanby had for some years, been the headquarters ol’ a large military force and later during Mr Lloyd’s early years there, the Maori scare brought about the enrolment of militia, Colonel Lysaght coming up to swear them in. Mr F. H. Brett- was the first- captain and Mr Lloyd was bugler, treasuring now the bugle inscribed with his .name and recording his service with the Taranaki Rifles in 1878. A redoubt was built near the present park with a tower from which to signal in case of need to Wailii Redoubt. A guard was kept- there night and day in regular shifts, but, said Mr Lloyd. “I believe the Maoris could have cleared us out if they had wished.” When he came through from tiie South, ho travelled to Wanganui by the old s.s. Stormbiid, Cant. Fraser, a; skipper, who served for many years, and was. well known and popular on the New Zealand coasts. The. rest of Ihe journey was by coach, over rough roads and crossing rivers mostly by lords. I'.'M' bridges were few in those days. Hawera was then the stopping place for coaches between Wanganui and New Plymouth. There were large pas on the Ivefcmaiae Flat, just to the north of Xormanbv and the Maoris were in the main, friendly. Surveyors., however, were not popular with them and for several yeans had to go out- on their work with a patrol of Armed Constabulary. ( A, scare happened in the township on one occasion when some of the. men on guard saw what, they thought looked like Maoris in the distance and gave an alarm hv firing their rifles. It vns found afterwards that they were surveyors with their theodolites. Mr and Mr* Lloyd were living at a timber mill near the township and they eame in post hast? to the redoubt, just about da flight. Mr Lloyd had some experience of pit. sawing and splitting of shingles and palings and later built- his own whare of slabs with shingle roof. FIRST ARRIVAL. He (-nine out on a ship to Wellington after a long and huy-ardous passage during which no less than twenty of the passengers died of scarlet lever. They were quarantined on Somes Island and 'Oil their release, lie was married by Archdeacon Stock at St. Peter's Church on April 0, 1874, the golden wedding being celebrated six years ago.

“Our recollections of Hawera as we came through on the coach recall a tiny settlement, two stores two hotels and a. few houses,’.' said Mr Lloyd. it was a rough, primitive little township. But the journey through from, \\ anganui was full of interest to ns, fresh as we were from the Old Country. Me recall little settlements along the route, but that part of the journev is now pretty hazy. There was fern, flax and tutu‘all along the narrow road and we little thought we would live to see the wonderfurtransformation that has been made.

“The nearest doctor to us in those davs at Normanby was Dr. Walker, liviim- at Pa tea, and attached to the Arm- . ed° Constabulary. But fortunately we learnt to do without medical help, except for serious cases. He .suffered a serious injury to one arm while working in the timber mill and was lucky not to lose the arm. “The Wailii Redoubt, I remember very clearly, and 1 have a- very good photograph of it as it appeared in these days. I remember Captain Cape! as being in charge at one. time, • while Major Noaks came up on occasions from Wanganui to inspect and with the Force was the late Sergeant J. . Riddle, who later had the farm on which the redoubt stood. I remember, too. Captain Sheet, after whom Sheet. Road was called, coming down from' New Plymouth to give temperance lectures there. He was the father of Mr H. M. Sheet, later Commissioner of Crown’ Lands for Taranaki. The bandmaster was a Mr Dickson, a good and competent man for his job. The band paraded regularly and came out to play at sports meetings when asked. OLD IDENTITIES RECALLED. “The first man in Normanby to be in charge of the police station was Constable Roche, who afterwards lived at Hawera. One of his. sons is now in the Force and several of the family live in Hawera. Constable Rioche was famous in his A.C-. days as a member of their Rugby football team in 1871 and is reputed to have been a- forward who put. in ‘terrific charges through the opposing pack.’ ’.’. . - Other members of the Force Mr Lloyd recalls are Mr M. Coffey, whose family lived many years in Hawera, and Mr T. E. CTowliurst, afterwards at Manaia. “In these days,” said Mr Lloyd, “we had to turn our hand to anything that offered and we were glad to be able to. get work and took often whatever was offering.”’ He was later in business for some years .dealing in. tea and then , took mi the 'job of custodian of the Main -South Road toll gate for the Hawera County Council, which- position ho held for -.seventeen years. During that period lit; had a host of interesting and amusing experiences with people who went through the gate. One of these was the burning of the gate by disaffected persons. The story of the toll gates made quite a romance in the history oj the county. Mr Lloyd was very early a correspondent for Normanby for the “Hawera Star’’ and gave faithful service to this paper for a. long' period of years. He well recalls the early proprietors and is proud of his long connection with the “Star.” He and his wife —their family are all grown up —live quietly at their little home in Normanby enjoying the autumn of life, having won the respect and esteem of many friends. Both are a good deal past the allotted, span, bnt enjoy generally fairly good health and onine in on occasions to renew their friendships with the people of the neighbouring town, proud of their district and of their town and intensely loyal to five Empire to- which they belong.