A Chat with Mr John Eadie of Miller's Flat.

Otago Witness, Issue 1490, 5 June 1880, Page 22

A Chat with Mr John Eadie of Miller's Flat.

Mr Eadie, who ia one of the oldest settlers on Miller's Flat, came over from Victoria in '02, the time of the Gabriel's Gully rush. He aud bio brother Eobert wire among the first miners who started digging on the Flat. They prosecuted mining for some time, but tbeir prospects not looking to bright as at at firsfe, they in conjunction with some otheis petitioned the Provincial Governmer-t to open a block of 2550 acres under the agricultural lease system, Their request being acceded to, a portion of the block, comprising about 1000 acres was taken up by M' SBro R. and J. Eadie, Cair, Honor, and Sellers. This was the first step towards settlement in the district, the remainder of the block being taken up the following year. Subjequently Mr Eadie sold his farm for the Ht'in of £450, bufc he has sinoe had reason to r"gret taking this step, as tho property is now worth nearly treble that cum. Mrs Eadie beiug in bad health, he repolvfid to proceed to the North Island, in h that a change of jjclimate would prove on ficial to her health ; also haviug in view tf'o ijurchase of land in the north. Oa the f. rnior surmise he was disappointed, as the cl mate of rhe Thames proved to be raoister ir-m the district he had quitted. In tbe Litter project ho was also unsuccessful, an the land did not suit; him, being too poor \ ako on account of the difficulty of coming to terms with the Maoris— one tribe would be willing to dispose of land, while another tribe would, in all probability, step in and oppose the sale. So after a trial at quartz reefing on the Thames goldfields, and participating in the Houkimuiri rush, he returned to Miller's Flat, where he is at present in charge of tbe punt, getting a salary of £3 per week of seven days.

This punt was firtt started by Mr Sellers about Beven years ago, and as it was then a private concern a levy was made for crossing. Mr Sellers continued to work the punt till the late flood, when it was damaged to some extent. A punt higher up the river, belonging to Armstrong, was carried away ; and the one at Miller's Flat was only saved by letting one of fcbe wire ropes into the river. Though the batiks are high all through the flat the river rose over the banks, and the plaiu was a sheet of \»ater. The punt was moored behind a stable on tho bank oi the river, nnd a dredge was anchored to a telegraph j.oat on tbe other aide of tho road. After tho flood the Tuapoka County Council purchased the punt fromjMr Sellers for about £90, aud tho boats being old, new ones were provided, and the punt placed at the service of the public. Draya and riding horses are crossed free of charge during certain hours, but for unharnessed horses or cattle a scale of charges has been framed. This ferry is a great benefit to the settlers on both sides of the river, as will be seen from the fact thai, the average number of horses crossed per diem amounts to 40. Mr Eadio has crossed the largeut loads that have evor been taken ever, and on one occasion he crossed one of the heaviest loads of wool that ever went to Lawrence,

On the river, a' Bhorfc dintancc above the punt, is .1 dredge used for mining purposes, and Mr Eadie, who has been engaged on one for somo time, considers them one of the boat mining speculations of ihe day, and he thinks that m a few years when better appliances are available and labour cheaper, a considerable number will bo cn^agod on the river. The capital requisite to s ( !>r ( ; on of those dredges amounts to £1200, whi-e the expeusd of lnnintaining them at pr> S' ni amounts to close on £100 per annum. There are three of these machines oh the river

I within a distance of three miles. They are I worked day and night by six men, two of whom take a shift of eight hours duration. The machinery is fixed on two flat-bottomed ! boats, secured a short disfeancs apart. In I the intervening sp*ce tho buckets revolve, j and the stuff is emptied into a large cradle, i through a shoot, where it is washed. The whole machinery is worked by two paddle wheels not unliks the fan of a reaper and binder, and it can be thrown in and out of j gear at pleasure. They are fastened to the bank by meaas of strong wire ropes, and a heavy anchor in the stream keeps them stationary. Mr Eidie has nine of a family, his eldest da«uhter being the first child born on Miller's Flat. He speaks highly of the district and climate, and says though he has travelled through Victoria, New South Wales, and the North Island, he does not know of a better climate and district for the working man than Miller's Flat. Here on the Flat adjoining Sellers' farm and nearly opposite the punt, is a cemetery surrounded by a gorse hedge,] the; history of which is not a little unique, as it contains the grave of " Yorkie" who was murdered hard by. The facts oj the murder are briefly as follows:— "Yorkie," as he was called, was a packer, who travelled through the country with his goods. One of his horses got into a hole at Wetherstonee, and a per. son tendered hia assistance in extricating the animal ; which, being accomplished, " Yorkie" shouted for him, and said if he liked to come to Miller's Flat he would give him a job at building a house, to which proposal the man agreed. He desired " Yorkie" to procure a tomahawk in town during the next trip, and it is supposed that it was with the same weapon that the murderer accomplished his diabolical act. After murdering " Yorkie" he dragged his body into a oreek close by and concealed it with scrub. He then planted the stores of the tent, and decamped with tbe horses, and as is well known, he has eßoaped the hand of justice to this day. However, tho miners found the body of the murdered man, and he was interred near the spot where his life had been taken. Subsequently the settlers fenced in about an acre of ground round ,the grave of poor " Yorkie." This has since been utilised as a cemetry, and contains about 30 graves.