SKILLED DRIVERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26781, 26 May 1948, Page 8

SKILLED DRIVERS

LIGHT HORSE TRANSPORT EARLY DAYS IN CENTRAL OTAGO Special to the Daily Times OAMARU, May 25. Great interest in the articles which have appeared in the Daily Times recently regarding the early wagoning days in Central Otago was expressed to-day by Mr C. Harris, of Kurow, who was himself in charge of light horse vehicles in Central Otago at }he turn of the century. He regretted, however, that there had been little mention of the light horse drivers who had played an important part in the transportation of fruit in the area. “ These men were really skilled drivers.” said Mr Harris. “ They made three trips between Lawrence and Roxburgh each week during the six weeks of the fruit picking season of the year, which meant that the horses were working six days of each week, so that it required really careful handling to keep them in good condition.” He himself started his first trip with a load of strawberries at the tender age of 12, but returned home in disgrace after having lost his way in the trackless countryside. Mr Harris, who is now 72, but still as vigorous as ever, recalled many of the early-'drivers, including the Thom brothers, Manuel brothers, Tamblvn brothers, Dawson and Ives (Conroy), R. Michell and J. Bennett. Other wagoners who had not been mentioned in the Daily Times articles were:— Lawrence line: J. Crossan, D. McDonald (Timaru), R. Campbell, and A. Ashworth. Ranfurly line: A. Cains and J. Johnson. Franktown line: R. Gilmour, D. Mackie, E. Gallagher, J. Murphy and B. Johnson (Luggate). Kurow line: T. Cairns (Hakataramea), S. Hawthorn (Kurow) and R- Munro. Mr Harris said that his present interest was the organisation of a reunion of all the wagoners, light transport drivers, and coach drivers. He hopes that a successful function will be held in Dunedin in the. near future, when all the remaining drivers will be able to meet each other again, “ before it is too late.”