THE BROKEN LINK.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXXI, Issue 5595, 4 July 1930, Page 4

THE BROKEN LINK.

LAST OF HAURAKI PLAINS LAUNCHES. END OF THE PIAKO RIVER TRADE. ■> - — Cream-Boat Ceases Running. The old order changeth and giveth place to the new. Last week, the last launch carrying cream to the dairy factories on the Hauraki Plains ceased running, giving way to the übiquitous motor lorry, which' now runs everywhere over good roads, which the early pioneers knew not. In the subjoined article, our resident representative at Ngatea gives an interesting historical review, which recalls many old memories.

The Last Trip. The New, Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company’s cream launch, “Daisy” has made its last trip to Patetonga, for last week the cream was taken into the factory by motorlorry. For the past eighteen years odd this launch has been carting cream on the Piako River, and for the greater part of that time she has been driven by Mr. T. Smith. When the first settlers on Hauraki Plains commenced milking cows in the 1911 season, the Thames Valley Cooperative Dairy Company set about .building a receiving depot at Kerepeehi. Mr. H. K. Petersen, who still resides in Kerepeehi, was engaged, to collect the cream on the river, grade and test it, and bulk it in big cans at the depot. While the depot was being built, he took the cream to Shortland in a little launch named the “Bret,” after the. maker of the engine, and from Shortland it was railed to Paeroa. This only lasted for six weeks. From October, 1911, till May, 1912, Mr. Petersen ran the launch and the Kerepeehi depot and sundry carters conveyed the bulked cream to Paeroa. Mr. J. M. Thompson, a wellknown Kerepeehi settler, was the first contractor.

ing season are practically the only motor boats which use the river. The “Daisy” is the last of the eld fleet, and her passing will bring fond memories to the original settlers of Hauraki Plains, for the launches played a very important part in the opening up and settlement of the Piako swamp. There were no roads, so the river was the very lifeblood of the community. Launches brought the prospecting settlers to view the land, later they brought the fortunate section winners, then they brought the timber and tin chimneys for the first house, and for years continued to bring the supplies of bread, meat, groceries, newspapers, mail and all the requirements of. the pioneer settlers and the,drain workers. Even drinking water had to be brought from Shortland, but for this job the small Government steaiper “Hauraki” would tow punts laden with tanks. “Hey-Days of the River.” Those ' were the hey-days of the river, ■ when so. dependent was the community on the launches that every one quickly learned to recognise the sound of the different engines. Competition was keen, and every tide brought half a dozen or more passenger and goods launches up the river. One of the regular traders, would carry 120 passengers, and so frequent were the complaints of overloading, that at times, When the police were noticed on Shortland wharf the firm would send another boat out into the Gulf to take off some of the overload. Old settlers will remember the “Settler,” the “Portare ” the “Omati” and the “Ahiki’,’ run by Mr. H. Kerby, Mr. McCarthy’s “Defender” and the “Shamrock Leaf,” Mr. Tom Storey’s “Samson,” and many other boats, which were known by the name of the owner, and which ran fob short periods in the height of the boom.

Cream Transported by Launches. Desiring to be relieved of his duties, Mr. Petersen arranged with a Ngatea settler, Mr. J. Bratlie, to run the launch, but lie was a very tall man, and on the first day. on which he had the boat he was attempting to start the engine when it back-fired, and his knee being in the road, the two lugs were sheared off the cranking handle. Feeling that the next time the engine back-fired it might be his leg that was broken, Mr. Bratlie gave up the job, and a Mr. Gunlock took it on. He continued to cbllect the. cream from Shelly Beach to Kerepe'ehi until the Thames Valley Co. built its Kopu factory. The “Bret” -was then used on the Waihou River and the “Elsie” was employed on the Piako until such time as the “Daisy” came out of the hands of the boat builders. The “Elsie” was then engaged running three days a week to Patetonga, going up one day arid down the next. The “Daisy” did the Puhanga-Kopu run, and, as the Piako River mouth could only be crossed at from half-tide, the service was run to time-table. Frequently she had to leave Kopu before daylight and frequently she got back after dark. Past and Present Quality Butter. It was this service, the best that could be arranged under the circumstances, that created for \Hauiaki Plains the reputation of being-unable to produce good quality butter. • It is little wonder that the cream did not grade well after having to be kept for hours in hot weather waiting for the tide-bound launch. ’ The evil reputation persisted for many years, but now the achievement of the Ngatea factory in winning the Weddell Cup on three occasions has completely dispelled it for ever. The increase in production on Hauraki Plains warranted the building of a butter factory at Ngatea, and, on its completion, the “Daisy” ceased running to Kopu and commenced the Ngatea-Patetonga run, which service she has continued in, with only a few breaks, until last week. The “Elsie” also came to Ngatea as a stand-by boat for use during the winter months when the volume of cream did not warrant the use of the bigger launch. She was also used when the “Daisy” went away for overhaul or annual inspection. The same fate has now befallen the “Daisy” as has been the lot of dozens of other launches which formerly plied on the Piako River. They have been driven out of business by the metalling of roads and the coming of the motorlorry. The Deserted Waterway. Once a very busy inland waterway, the Piako River is 'now practically deserted. Two or three Lands Drainage Department launches still find employment transporting men and materials to works in the upperreaches; one commercial launch ekes out a precarious existence transporting goods for Patetonga-stores and settlers from the Auckland steamer at Kerepeehi, and two or three privately owned launches used during the shoot-

The Glitter of Pay-Day. All the settlers’ business had to be done in Thames, and the hundreds of workmen employed by the Lands Department and its contractors had to have their week-end, so- there was work a-plenty for launchmen. However, no fortunes were made, for the pioneer settlers lived largely on hope in the future and on bank overdrafts in the meantime, and the workmen were only paid monthly. - The arrival of the Government pay steamer “Hauraki” was the signal for a week’s “beano,” for it was invariably followed up the river by a small fleet of “beerboats,” as well as the “Pea-nut,” a diminutive launch owned by a Thames fancy goods dealer, who purveyed everything from corrugated iron tanks to shirts and chocolates. Thus, at times only’ the pioneer firm which could not . afford to go off the river leaving much money owing to it, had the only launches which stuck to the settlers.

The Changed Scene. In appearance the rivei- was very unlike the present broad channel with well defined stopbanks. Wild ducks blackened the' surface and rose in flocks to'let the launches pass, willows lined the banks, so that in places above Kerepeehi.it was possible to cross by climbing . along . the branches, and snags abounded, so that launchmen needed to know their route. The channel, was shallower below Ngatea, but in the,upper reaches there was water everywhere, and the difficulty was to know just where was the channel. ' Bearings had to be taken from willow trees to sticks and empty benzine tins, etc. It has only been of late years that the tide has had any effect above Ngarua landing. Twenty years ago the N.S.S. Company’s steamer traded regularly to Tahuna, and it is told that on one occasion the steamer “Kapua” sailed right up to Morrinsville. The N.S.S. Company’s “Gael” traded to Patetonga, but now the “Waipu” or the “Hauiti” rarely go as far as Ngarua landing, and never beyond. Truly the passing of the “Daisy” recalls memories—pleasant memories as well as memories of hardships and long waits on dismal wharves.- Gone are the days when everyone in the district knew every one else by reason of travelling together on the boats, and gone are the pleasant dance parties, fishing excursions, and moonlight trips across the Gulf.