SETTLEMENT IN OTHER PLACES.

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

SETTLEMENT IN OTHER PLACES.

The first, settler in Te Houka. was Mr Thomas Martin, who had bought a farm from Mr Edwin Meredith. Jn 1863 Mr William Dallas secured land there, purchasing 300 acres for £1 per acre. Soon afterwards Messrs Wilson, Duncan MtNeil, the Moffa-ts. Houlistons, and a few others settled in the district. Mr Adam Houlisten ana the Moffats had an eventful trip in proceeding to their new homes. They were conveyed from the Taieri in. a hi;Hock dray as far as Milburn, where they were held up for three days by a fall of snow, and a three-horse team had to be engaged to enable them to reach the Clutha.

Mr Jas. Brugh, who came to New Zealand m 1853, made his first selection of laud in the Clutha district in September, 1854. In 1859 he made further selections, and later on he increased his holdings still further. Other selectors in 1856 were Messrs R, L. Begg and George Huy, and in 1858 Mrs Janet Dalzicl and Mr Robert Garrick also took up land. In 1860 the number of landowners was increased by Messrs Thomas Russell, W. Winthnip and James Paterson procuring sections. Laud in the district which is now known as Romahapa was first selected in 1848 by Messrs Chalmers Brothers, who secured 50 acres at the east end of Awakiki Bush. These owners arrived in Otago in January, 1849, and took possession of their land soon afterwards. There arc two small hills in the district known as "Concentration” and “Contiguity,” and it is interesting to recall the facts which led up to the bestowal of these names. Information collected by Mr Wilson shows that Captain Cargill did not favour the pioneers taking up land in remote districts, and that when the intentions of the Chalmers Brothers became known he remarked; “Nonsense! Church and market, concentration and contiguity; settle on the lens.” Nat Chalmers was so amused at Captain Cargill’s remarks that he named the hills us mentioned above. In 1849 Messrs J. H. Stirling and R. Craig selected land in the bush, and in the following year Messrs Wallace, the Archibalds, Thomas, Alexander, and Andrew settled in the same district.

In 1851 Mr Andrew Mercer settled in the district, retiring from business in Dunedin to do so. Mr Mercer travelled overland from Dunedin on foot, but his wife, child (Robert), sister, (and stores proceeded to Fort Molyneux in an open boat, which was in charge of Mr Antonio Joseph, a well-known man from the very early days. Mr Wilson’s book shows that the voyage was both tedious and dangerous. The passengers suffered from bites by sandflies, and after enduring terrible discomforts for snore than a week they persuaded Mr Joseph to put them on shore near Kuri Bush. They refused to proceed any further- by sea, and after a short rest at Kuri Bush they set out for their destination on foot, but as there were no roads or bridges they found the undertaking a very trying one. The indomitable spirit of Mrs Mercer can well be illustrated by an incident that happened in the following year. On April, 1852, her eldest daughter (Annie) was born, and as no opportunity to baptise the child had presented itself by the time she was eight months old Mrs Mercer decided to have the ceremony performed in Dunedin, for . which place she set out on foot, carrying the baby in her arms. At the end of the first day’s journey heavy rain fell, and all the streams became flooded. While negotiating one of these both mother and child were nearly drowned, but after an arduous journey Mrs Mercer reached Dunedin at the end of three days. The baby was baptised by the Rev. Dr Burns, and the return journey, which was also made on foot, was accomplished under rather better conditions. This child nearly lost her life on two other occasions. The first was at Awakiki Bush, where she was attacked by wild pigs, and the second was at Jcssiefield, where she was nearly strangled by an insane man, her parents having great difficulty in rescuing her. This man was one of the first in Otago to be sent to a mental hospital, where he remained for more than 50 years. Mr H. F. M. Mercer, who is well known in Dunedin, is a son of Mr Andrew Mercer. About 1859 the family returned to Dunedin. The conveyances used were two carts, and the journey occupied three days In 1854 Messrs Hay, Brugh, Willsher, Archibald, and Mercer were the only settlers in South Clutha, but some two years later Mr John Shields took up land in front of Awakiki Bush, and in 1859 a number of selections were made.

In 1849 Mr C. Brothcrston and May Taylor selected part of the Willowmeade Estate and Mr William Perkins took up part of Gheetwood, in the Puerua district. In 1858 the Rev. Dr Bums and Mr Edward M’Glashan secured the land on which the Puerua manse now stands, and in the same year Mr J. H. Perkins took up a section in the district. In 1857, and 1859 Sir John L. C. Richardson, who was afterwards superintendent of Otago, procured a large part of the' Willowmeade Estate. The Glenomaru and Ahuriri districts were not settled until well on in the sixties. Mr Donald MVDonald, who had been employed as a shepherd by Mr Brugh for some years, is said to be the first man who settled in Ahuriri. Other early settlers there were Messrs Henry Lattimore, Wm. M‘Lean, W. M‘Lay, Lyndsay, and John M‘Coll Smith. The first church services in the dictrict were held in Mr M‘Lay’s house in 1866, and the first school teacher there was Mr Thomas Roscoe.

In 1850 a Tasmanian named Edwin Meredith established a sheep station of 80,000 acres in the South Molyneux district, his homestead being near Otanomomo. His sheep were the first to bo shorn in the district. He also had land in the Te Houka and Popotunoa districts, but he did not hold, these areas for long In 1852 Mr John Shaw settled at Finegand. Mr Shaw and were famed for their hospitality, meals and shelter being provided for innumerable travellers. Mr Shaw became a great breeder of sheep, which were known all over the province. He held the Lochindorb mn for a time, but sold it to Mr Thomas Orr in 1861. He also bought part of the Otanomomo Swamp, through which he and Mr Telford cut a large ditch.

The first small settler in the Warepa district was Mr Peter Ayson, who arrived in New Zealand in 1853. He gradually extended his holding until he had a tine farm of 800 acres, which was afterwards sold to Mr D. Murray. The transportation of Mr Ay son’s family from Dunedin to Warepa involved a long and arduous journey. They were conveyed partly by dray and partly by bullock sledge, but were held up at various stages by rain and snow', and the journey occupied nine days altogether. All their boxes were sent to Port Molyneux by the Endeavour, but as she did not arrive there for three months the Aysons had to endure much hardship for a time. About 12 months after 'Mr Ayson s arrival Messrs Gordon and Ross took up land in the district, and the next settlers were the Somervilles and Mr C. H. Street. Mr Somerville had arrived in New Zealand in the Blundell in 1848, and Mr Street came out bv the Maori in 1852. Other early settlers in the district were Messrs Robert Gillies, T. B. Gillies (afterwards Mr Justice Gillies), W. A. Bews, A. F. Oswin, W. W. Waite (the first schoolmaster in Warepa), Captain Bews, Job Dabinett, James M'Neill, jun., Wm. Blaikie, Adam Borthwick, James Stewart., David Hudson, John Wright, D. P. Milligan, Donald Ross, John Crawford, George Munro, Colin M'Kcnzie, Riddell, John Strachan, Wm. Young, and Robt. Sutherland (after whom the Sutherland oats were named), Wm. Sutherland and his wife, Thomas Tolmie, Jas. Robertson, the Roscoos, A. Petrie, John Geggie, and Dare. About 1857 Dr Manning who came out as surgeon in the John Wickliffe, settled at Warepa, and for some years he was the only doctor in the centre, his practice extending from the Molyneux to Tapanui. He was a difficult man to deal with, but was a skilled physician and surgeon. His likes and dislikes were very pronounced, and he often refused to attend certain people, the first settlers on the flat were Messrs

Towards what is now known as Toiro John and Isaac Sarginson, who arrived in 1861. They were followed in 1862 by Mr George Poison (a retired detective), and Mr John Crawford. Other early settlers were Messrs William Kerr, Hogg Bros., Monfries W. and P. Renton, D. Lawson, Donald Sutherland, Edmund Couston and George Slawson. Mr Couston was a great pedestrian, and often walked from Balclutha to Dunedin in a day, starting out at 7 a.m. and reaching the city before the people were in bed. On one occasion he left Balclutha with a Mr Spooner, who was on horseback. They crossed the punt at Balclutha together, and also crossed the Taieri punt at the same time.

At what is now known as Kakapuaka the land was nearly all taken up as » run, first by Mr Edwin Rich and then by Mr William Brown.

Mr C. H. Kettle, at one time Chief Surveyor for Otago, occupied the country from the top of the Kaihiku ranges to the Clutha River, and from the Kaihiku Stream to the Waiver a Stream. Mr Kettle was a great breeder of Merino sheep, and in 1855 he owned 2000, but they were badly infected with scab. Mr John Dalziel, who had been a shepherd for Mr Kettle, took up land at Kaihiku Hush in 1856, in which year Messrs John Barr and Robert Campbell also settled in the district. Other early settlers in Kaihiku were, Messrs Jas. Nicol, Mackio, J. Hay, John Watt, George Johnston, Jas. Main, Glover and Thomson, George M'Nfill, D. Dickie., M. Paterson, and W. Ghisholm.

For many years the settlers in the Waiwera district were few. The first was Mr Alex M‘Neil, who went in strongly for da'rying. He was followed by Messrs T. Hlacklock, A. Peat, R. Telford, A, Rutherford, Girard, George Brown. Mr James Wilson settled between Waiwcra and Glydevale in 1859,

In 1853 Popotunoa was held as a run by Mr Fdwin Meredith, who sold it in 1858 to Mr Alfred D. Fuller. Mr Fuller’s manager was Mr George Steel, who took up his duties in 1854.