IMPRESSIONS OF KAITANGATA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19066, 11 January 1924, Page 14

IMPRESSIONS OF KAITANGATA.

RECOLLECTIONS OF MB G. AITCHI SON.

BIRTH OP COAL MINING

In the course of a chat with Mr George Aitchison, who has lived at Kaitangata since the date of his birth, about 1860, our representative learned that his lather, the late Mr Wm. Aitchison, came out to New Zealand in 1848, but did not take up his residence in Kaitangata, where he was one of the first settlers, until some years later. Tor a- time ne lived at Inch Clutha, where he worked for Mr Pillans, and he settled at Kaitangata in 1858, when he bought the land on which the Kaitangata coal mine is now situated. At that time the higher land behind that part of the town known as Riverside was covered with dense bush, there being an abundance of black, red, and white pine, and totara, while the flat country was a mass of Maori heads, cabbage trees, and flax bushes, with a lot of rushes growing in the swampy areas. The flax bushes attained a height of 10ft or lilt. Some 55 years ago a flaxmill was in operation in the district. It was owned by Mr James Davidson, who at time had an interest in the Otago Foundry,! Dunedin, and was situated near where the Kaitangata railway station, is now. Supplies of flax were brought from all around the Tuakitoto and Kaitangata lakes, being conveyed down a creek which runs in front of Mr George Aitchison’s house. This creek was the only outlet from the two lakes to the river, and always carried a large volume of water, but in 1889 a canal was cut from the lakes to the river, the object being to keep the lakes at a lower level. This work was done under the supervision of the Bruce County Council, the settlers adjoining the lakes being rated for that purpose. The result was that the main flow of water was diverted into the straight channel, which allowed the old creek to be overgrown with vegetation, causing the outflow in that direction to be reduced to a minimum. A few Maoris camped hero in the very early days, but subsequently removed to Port Molyneux, and from there they made periodical visits to the lakes by way of the old creek, and returned home with their canoes laden with cels and wild ducks.

Wlien Mr William Aitchison took up land in the district he sent his implements by sea to Port Molyneux, and when thftv were landed they were conveyed up the river by boat. "My father was the first man to discover coal in Kaitangata,” remarked Mr Aitchison, “although the first coal in the district was opened up by a Mr Lewis at Coal Point, about three miles from Kaitangata, where the Molyneux River, afterpassing Kaitangata, now- enters the sea. Steamers passing to and from Kaitangata had their bunkers replenished from this mine. A small amount was sold to surrounding settlers, hut as at times the mine was almost inaccessible owing to the state of the road the output was limited. The first coal dug from what is now widely known as the Kaitangata coalfield was hewn by the late Mr Michael Muir in 1871, the mine being situated in a heavilytimbered bush. Although the heavy timber has been removed, the bush still remains, and is a favourite resort for picnic parties, etc. 'Hie hind was owned by my father, and adjoins a reserve belonging to the Dunedin City Corporation. Later on two men named Jack and Archie Thomson started a mine and they laid a tram line connecting it with the river. This mine was nearer the sea than the present mine. At first the output of coal was not very great, but it gradually increased, until at one

time difficulty was experienced in ing pace with the demand. This state of affairs, of course, did not prevail lor many years, by which time the settlement in the province had largely increased. In 1875 the Kaitangata Coal Company came into existence. The first mine manager was Mr W. Hodge, who lost his life in the explosion which occurred in the mine on February 21, 1879. Some of the early-day miners were pretty rough characters, and lively scenes were occasionally witnessed.” Shipping played a fairly important part in the life of Kaitangata. in those days. Port Molyneux was a well-known calling place for numerous small vessels, which were generally towed up the river by bullocks. Several of these boats took away cargoes of coni from Kaitangata, and a considerable quantity of timoer was also sent to market by them. The extent of the river traffic may bo ganged by the fact that on one New Year’s Day no fewer than nine vessels were moored along the river bank at Kaitangata. In the early gold-digging days considerable quantities of goods were brought up the river from Port Molyneux and afterwards conveyed to Gabriel’s Gully and other places by wagoners. Mr Aitchison mentioned incidentally that his father worked on the diggings for a time. Sawmilling was a nourishing industry for several years in the early days ot .tie settlement. There was an immense quantity of valuable timber, and most of the earlier houses in the district were made out of it. The logs were cut up by means of pit saws for a time, but later on these were displaced by sawmills, which oaried on operations for some years. The first store in the district was kept by a Frenchman named Do Costa ana ais wife. Away back in the early days, said Mr Aitchison, oats cost 16s per bushei, and sugar was also exceptionally dear. The first school teacher at Kaitangata was Mr Henry Hawson, who took up his duties about 58 years ago. Prior to ais arrival the children had to travel about four miles to school, returning home only at the week-ends. Although the rate of wages at that time was only 5s per day the parents had to pay so much per week to have their children educated.

Mr Aitchison stated that Lakes Tuakitoto and Kaitangata contained a good depth of water at one time, and for several years regattas were held regularly on New* Year's Day, the programmes comprising both rowing and sailing races. The first sod of the railway line connecting Stirling and Kaitangata was cut in 1877, and before the big flood in 1878 the line was completed. Mr Aitchison remembers this well, because during the flood he and his brothers boated to Stirling for the mail by way of the railway track.

In the early days wild ducks, pigeons, and kakas were numerous, and later pheasants and quail wore in abundance, but there were few wild pigs and no wild dogs in the locality.

‘Tn the absence of any means of conveyance in the pioneering times, said Mr Aitchison, “my father was compelled to walk to Dunedin if he wanted to get anything, from there. The first mails from Dunedin to Kaitangata were carried by a black man, who made the journey twice a week each way on foot. Whitebait abounded in the Kaitangata River many years ago. “I have seen them going np the river in shoals for days at a time,” said Mr Aitchison, ‘‘but the residents apparently did not regard them as such a delicacy as people do now for they never took the trouble to catch them.” In the course of the conversation reference was made to the big flood in 18/8. “I do not think the damage done t>y that flood was equal to what was occasioned by the inundation in 1919, said Mr Aitchison. “Of course, there were not so many houses in existence on the former occasion, and that may account for .he opinion I hold. The 1878 flood was it its highest on September 30. There were about 27 inches of water in my father’s house, which was one of the highest m the flat country. During the flood the river broke, through its banks at Coal Point, and its course to the sea was shortened considerably in consequence.

It is of interest to know that the once notorious Australian bushranger, Harry Garrett, was at one time a resident of the district. Garrett, who was a very powerful man, had just been released from gaol, and was employed by Mr J. A. Connell, surveyor. This was about 1867, and though Garrett was on his good behaviour during the six months spent in the district, the name was sufficient to keep a number of the inhabitants indoors after dark.