INCH CLUTHA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19066, 11 January 1924, Page 11

INCH CLUTHA.

A Fertile Area., Inch Clutha is a large island comprising several thousands of acres. It is surrounded by the two branches of the Molyneux River, and is in the county of Bruce. It lies between Stirling, Kaitangata, and Balclutha, and is connected with the two former places by means of bridges. Inch Clutha has been termed the "garden of Otago on account of the richness of the soil, but as it is flat and rather low-lying it is subject to floods. This has been more noticeable in recent years than it was formerly. Good crops are grown, especially root crops, and the chief industry of the settlers is cattlebreeding and dairy farming. The island of Inch Clutha formed belonged to a celebrated Maori chief named Tuhawaiki, better known as “Bloody Jack” among the old whalers.

Inch Glut ha- was settled at a very early date. Mr Thomas Redpath, who came out to New Zealand in the Ajax in 1849, was the first man to take up land there, and he must have settled in the district in that year or early in 1850. His property was known as the Balmoral Estate, and for some time he was the only settler on the top of the island. The first church services in Inch Clutha were held in his house, and were attended by some 20 or 30 people. About 1858 he started a store at Otanomouo —the first general store in the Clutha district. Goods were conveyed up the river in small vessels, and near the store there was a high tree which Mr Redpath used to climb to see if any boats were in sight. For several years Mr Redpath acted as receiving agent for all stores arriving from Dunedin for the settlers, and all the produce from the surrounding districts was conveyed to the store for shipment to Dunedin or for disposal to him. Ho was the first man south of Dunedin to own a stallion, the name of which was Prince. A sailor named Ramage took up his abode on the island about the same time as Mr Redpath, or very shortly afterwards, but his stay in the district was a short one. A man named M‘Hardy took up some land there, but did not become a settler. The next settlers were Messrs S. F. Pillans and William Ferguson, who bad come out to New Zealand in the Mooltan in 1849, and about the same time Mr Shepherd, who was formerly a policeman in Dunedin, also took up land. Mr Shepherd’s daughter was the first white child bom in the Clutha district. Between 1850 and 1854 Messrs Mosley, Willocks, James Wright, and Mitchell settled on the island, and they were followed a little later by Messrs Bowler and Davie, while in 1858 or 1859 Messrs Grigor, Barker, Smaill, and Darling took up their residence there. In 1857 Messrs Henry and Frederick Ciapcott took up a section on Inch Clutha, but apparently they resided on the island for a little while before that.

Air Mosley first took up land on the beach near the month of the Molyneux River. When setting out for his selection, he chartered the schooner Endeavour, commanded by Captain Sinclair, to convey his family to Port Molyneux. Several times the little vessel reached the Nuggets, but when the captain saw the rocks he refused to go near the land. The Mosleys, however, were taken ashore by the Maoris, with whom they stayed for a week. After this Mr Mosley engaged a Maori named Kai Kora to take them back to Dunedin in a whaleboat. On the trip back the Maori was drowned, and a gun, which Mr Mosley had given to him as part payment for the trip was found tied to his body. Mr Mosley next set out for the Clutha by land, first securing a sledge and a pair of bullocks from Mr Valpy. This was the first bullock sledge to make the journey from Dunedin to Clutha. When the party had got as far as Tokomairiro rain set in, and a rough tent was made from cabbage trees for the protection of the women and children, while the men walked about all night in an effort to ■ keep themselves warm. Eventually thev reached Port Molyneux, but as all their goods were on the Eendavourthey were short of food for sometime, and had to depend on pigeons and wild pigs for sustenance. Occasionally they were able to procure potatoes from the Maoris, who charged 2s 6d for a bucketful. Three months later Mr Mosley got the Maori chief to tow the Endeavour into Willsher’s Bay, and when this was accomplished the conditions were considerably more enjoyable. In the following year (1853) Mr 'Mosley shifted to Inch Clutha, where he soon converted a dreary-looking expanse of bush into a beautiful homestead. Bullocks were broken into harness, and often realised as much as £52 per pair. Shortly afterwards, when horses were introduced, Mr Mosley sold all in’s bullocks, and bought three mares, paying £95, £BS, and £75 respectively for them. In a few years he had a good number of horses, for which he received high prices. From 1862 till 1869 Mr Mosley was a member of the Provincial Council, representing the Matau district.