MEDICAL PRACTICE IN OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND IN THE EARLY DAYS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3556, 9 May 1922, Page 61

MEDICAL PRACTICE IN OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND IN THE EARLY DAYS.

BY

Robert Valpy Fulton, M.D.

WYNDHAAI

-11l the early “sixties” the country between Alataura and Invercargill was scantily occupied, Turnbull’s Run extended from a line which was about the north* boundary of the Tuturau Hundred, say three miles below Uore South of to-day, as far as the ridge and gully beyond the Maori Bush at Tuturau. From thi s place to the Alimihau River was Stuart Shank’s run; Dr Menzies’, Dunalister, from the Alimihau to the Wyndham River; Glenham Run from the iVVyndham River to the Kuriwao Stream (where Glenham Station now stands) ; and from there to Titiroa Stream was Dr Richardson’s Run of Oak Lands. Beyond that Campbell Bros. ’ Waimahaka Run; thence Toi Tois’ Creek was Macdonald's (better known as Sinclair) Toi Tois Run, and between that and Tokanui River lay Brunton’s Rocklands Run. To the east, near the sea coast, Brunton’s Otaraia, Williams's Waikawa, Alalison’s Fortification, and Anderson’s Wyndham (upper and lower). Then came Oliver’s Cairn, Peigan and Wilson’s Venlaw, Alacdonald’s Isla, Trumble’s Otaria, and the N.Z. an< i Australian Land Co’s Merrie Creek Stations. Tlie homesteads were more or less primitive; the huts of the shepherds mere shanties; the country very wild and rough. There were no roads, only tracks through scrub and fern and tutu, in which this district particularlyabounded. Great stretches of silver tuseock were to be found on the Mataura Run Flats, and all along ■what was known as the Alimihau Ridge above Wydnham. Bridges oyer creeks and rivers there were none; when the streams rose a traveller had to put his horse into it and swim, or perchance wait for hours, or even days before subsidence took place. For help, when accidents took place, there - was nothing for it but to take the sufferer to Invercargill, or w it till Monckton or McClure could get through. Richardson and Menzies. though qualified men, did not practise unless forced to from the urgency of some case, and to tell the truth, seldom did the settlers send for a doctor—the vast majority of the “little strangers” arrived in the district without any medical assistance. The settlers were shrewd, level-headed, cool customers, and anything short of a fractured limb they could tackle; sewing up wounds with an ordinary needle and silk thread, and for sticking plaster using strips of linen cloth smeared with flax gum (Phormium tenax). In, the “sixties” Invercargill supplied doctors; in the “seventies” Lake and others came from Switzers: then men from Clinton, Gore, and Mataura, in addition to which AlcLean, of whom we have written, was in the neighbourhood for a time, later Stockwell and John Afenzies served the place, but by that time the roads were formed and travel was not so severe as previously. Alany accidents took place. One poor chap had his arm drawn into a flax scutcher and shockingly smashed. He received first aid * attendance from one of the doctors, and was then sent on *in a buggy to Invercargill, but he died from hsemorrhage and shock before he reached that town. The rivers near by were often in sudden and very- high flood, aud numbers of • persons lost their lives in consequence. With regard to the actual settlement of the district, in 1866 the Hundreds were surveyed and thrown open for applicants, and Tuturau, Alolcoreta and Toi Tois Hundreds practically- covered the whole district. There was a ford across the Alataura. which all traffic had to cross to reach Invercargill. The country was flat, and it seemed as though this were a natural place for a township. Coyle had a survey camp on the batiks of the Wyndham River at the Crescent Ford, and was surveying the Alokoreta Hundred. Johnston had his camp at Oaklaxids, and w-as plotting out Toi Tois. Strauchon. afterwards Surveyor-General, was a cadet with Johnston at this time. Thomas Ayson, who was then only a youngster, came down to take the census of the district, and he has supplied us with a fine description of these early 'days, and a very full list of names of as many- of the pioneers as he could- get. “The settlers in the Wyndham district at that time were, on the Alimihau banks, Robert, Dodd. John and Hugh McLeanj and John Crombie. On the Ridges, Horace Squires was living in a tent at what is now known as Anderson Park. Mrs Squires was a daughter of John Dewe of Tokomairiro. Alexander Beange was just building his whare at Oware. He died February- 10, 1922: aged 86. T. Makin had just arrived at Sunny-side next to Beange. AlcLeod. ex-schoolmaster of Wliarepa, was at Glencoe. A. AlcKay, Strongman. Donaghue, close together on the Mimihau Ridges. Dr Afenzies at Dunalister. G. G. Fyfe at Drumoak, up the Wyndham River. At South Wyndham W. Creighton and W. Stirling were the only new settlers. and Glenham Station (A. Douglas) completes the settlement on Alokoreta Hundred at that tiffie, “On Toi Tois Hundred in addition to the Stations Oak Lands," Waimahaka, Toi Tois. Rocklands, there wa« Wy-brow’s at the Kaike as it was called, he being an old whaler married to a half-caste ATaori. He had formerly- been, in bis whaling days, married to a pure Afaori, bv whom be had two sons; Jack, who died owing to a boat accident at Toi Tois. and Jim, still alive and hearty, (died 1922) living at Waikawa, the father of a large family. The old man Wybrow kept open house to all and sundrv, with plenty to eat—eels, fish, wild pork, potatoes, etc. etc. in plenty. On the beach near where Fortrose township now stands, Channels had a store and grog shanty, to supply the station hands and

diggers with the requirements in that respect, and Sunday was the busy day. There were parties of diggers beach “combing’’ at Tokanui, Waipapa Creek, Six Aide (now Haldane) and past Waikawa as far as Chaslands. At Waikawa, including the diggers at Six Alile and Chaslanas, I had over 300 names on my schedules. Where Waikawa township now stands Shearer had a big sawmill, employing a large number of hands, also two schooners were being built, one of which was afterwards named the Jennie Andesson, after a well-known lady- in this district. Across the bay was Haldane’s sawmill, father of the well-known family of that name. This mill also employed a considerable number of hands. “In Alay, 1868. I settled near Glenham, and at the same time Thos. Rankin and John Brand settled at Sou/th Wyndham, and Henry Robson at Pine Bush, and the following September Thos. and Hugh Garswell at Pine Busli. About Afarch, 1869, Peter Rankin, a tailor in Balclutha, built a store in Wyndham—two rooms, one to live in, one the store. I understand a son was born there who is now a Church of England minister. In about twelve months Rankin sold out to Peter Fletcher, who was the real storekeeper in Wyndham. He developed the business into store, accommodation house with licence, afterwards selling out the hotel business to Enoch Jones. When I again took up the census over the same district as formerly, in March, 1871, so far as I can remember th-ere were in Wyndham township Peter Fletcher, storekeeper; Preston, shoemaker; Joe Marley, blacksmuu. The settlers up till then, and for some years afterwards, depended mostly on cattle, with here and there, on suitable country, a few sheep. Dwellings were huts, roads were tracks, our butcher meat was largely wild pork, which was plentiful, especially south of tire Wyndham River. About 1873, Mr Doull (my brother-in-law), who held large landed landed interests near Glenham, built a floujrmill driven by- tire water of the Mimihau River, and a few years later added oatmeal. This helped to develop wheat-growing in the districts of Tuturau and Mokoreta ridges, the flourmill supplying district wants and also Invercargill. In 1873, Winter opened a saddler’s shop in Wyndham ; Kidd, a blacksmith’s; Laidlaw and Golden, a butcher’s; Templeton and Robson, a store; and so Wyndham grew slowly-. „ About 1875 a land boom sprang up, and the whole of the land was taken up from the Government at 20s per acre, and some speculation took place while the boom lasted, money being made and again lost when the boom burst. From this on, settlement being closer, roads began to be formed and metalled in the worst places; rivers and creeks bridged. The mail once a week between Alataura. and Waimahaka to and from, carried on horseback, was our service until the railway- went through to Edendale from Invercargill, when coaches ran daily between Wyndham and Edendale to meet the train, and from Wy-ndham to Fortrose, three times each way per week. Names of early settlers and business people now alive (1922) : —Peter Fletcher, Woodlands, formerly storekeeper at Wyndham; Thomas Golden, Edendale, formally butcher at Wyndham; Henrv Ive, Wyndham, secceeded Golden and Laidlaw. now butcher at Wy-ndham; John Templeton, Waimahaka, formerly storekeeper at Wy-ndham ; Jas. Barr, Vvellington, formerly storekeeper at Wyndham; R. At. AlcKay, for 40 years storekeeper at Wy-ndham; W. Creighton, farmer, Wyndham; Thomas Ayson, retired farmer, Wyndham; Hugh AlcLean, retired farmer, now in Wellington; Henry Golden, Pine Bush, now in Invercargill; all the rest /are now dead. According to the Cyclopedia of Otago, published in 1905, Wyndham was named by Sir John Richardson after a famous Indian Army officer. Glenham, the Redan, Fortification, and the streets of Wyndham bearing Crimean War names—Alma, Inkerman, Baladave, etc.. were possibly named by him also. He was Superintendent of Otago 1861 to 1863, and later a member of the Weld Administration, with portfolio of Postmaster-General, and later still Speaker of the Legislative Council. We have been told that the Hon. G. F. Richardson gave the names when surveying for Air J. T. Thomson, but of this we have no proof, but shall be glad to have information on the point. In 1867, when Ayson carried round his census papers, he was only a lad in his teens, and the settlers thought it rather funny- to “pull his leg” by giving him strange answers to his questions, -and on one occasion, having been “had” so often with their jokes he demurred to “the Honourable Rupert Perry, bullock-driver, etc.,’’ so be appealed to Mr Shearer, -who told him it was all right. Air Perry was really the son of an Earl! At that time tliere was no house where Wyndham now stands, though Coyle had surveyed part of it preparatory to the establishment of a town. Among the incidents mentioned to us was the loss in the snow of Eccles, near Reaby Station, above the Long Ford, in the “seventies.” He was emploved byCampbell Bros, at Waimahaka, and went off to the back of the Hokonuis, and being rather short-sighted, and an unusual fall of snow coming on, lost his way and perished. His horse was found alive next day. Thomas Pascoe was out stockriding and essayed to cross Maori Ford at Tuturau; the stream was in heavy flood, and his horse was swept off its feet and carried down the river. When he came to a very- well known projecting rock he tried to get off his horse’s hack on to the rock, but he lost his grip and was swept down, but his horse swam to safety. Three curious local place names may here be noted ; these are Dead Alan’s Comer, Ram’*; Grief, and Judge’s Gully. A little way above Mataura Island is a big bend in the river, a whirlpool and eddy, a high bank on one side and a shelving beach on the other : a number of snags seemed always to be imbedded in the bank just at the whirlpool, and for what-

ever reason, when men were lost bv drowning, even, tar up tne river, tiie bodies came down to tins spot and floated round and round, and were almost invariably lound here. So many cases occurred that it became known far and wide, and the name is established in the district. In .November, 1861, when the gold rush at Waitahuna was at its height, team Perkins, an old whaler, offered for a consideration to show some of the miners where good gold could be got down near Alataura. \Vhat his game was no one seems to know even at this day, but he started off with a party of men with three drays, and provisions, implements, etc. As they, proceeded others joined them, so that by the time they got to the Tutu rau district the crowd of followers had reached well over four hundred. Sam said he knew where there was lots of gold. He did, we believe, know the district, and may have lighted on good prospects at one time or another, but at this time his luck was out, or he had lost his bearings, and had forgotten where the gold was. Two diggers marched beside him with loaded revolvers in their hands, and on a memorable Saturday night they all camped on what is now itoth well Park Farm, on the ridge beyond the Maori Bush at Tutura.u. The drays found they were blocked here, and there was no crossing over the gully. Sam said the gold was quite close, so some decided to go with him on the Sunday and report on the field, while a selected party of men should construct a road across the gully; no claims to be recognised that were pegged out before Monday morning. The upshot of the story is that where Sam said he had seen several pounds weight of gold dug out proved to produce not even a colour, and Sam, in default of being shot, which he narrowly escaped, was sentenced by the crowd to thirty lashes on the hare back, and the same every morning till they got back to Waitahuna. The first instalment of thirty lashes was duly administered, much to Sam’s grief, but before the second instalment was due Constable Fraser came on the scene, and took Sam out of the hands of the irate diggers. The spot known as “Sam’s Grief” is a landmark to-day. In July, 1871, Thomas Ayson, Bob Williams (son of Dr Robert Williams, of Dunedin), and his Honor Judge Ward were journeying from Invercargill to Clinton. Judge Ward had been made Distrist Judge for Otago and Southland in June, 1869, and was on his circuit. Bob Williams was carrying the mails, he for many years having the contract, and being more or less mixed up with the coaching bhsiness. In crossing a culvert over a very deep hut very narrow gully filled with snow, the judge’s horse slipped over the side of the culvert, which, of course, had no railing, and horse and judge disappeared from sight. As the judge shot out of view his beltopper hat, which he always wore, no matter what weather or at what time of the year, became loosened from his head (which we seem to remember as a very large one), and slid along the remaining crust or edge of the crevasse, and remained there safely perched in an upright position, a striking black “landmark” upon the ivory snow. No sign of horse or judge were to be seen, but presently, away down the gully where it shallowed the horse and judge burst into view, none the worse for their mishap or for their curious journey in a regular tunnel of snow down the gully. The trouble was how to reach the hat, for it was not safe to venture out upon that treacherous crust. At length, after several attempts, Bob Williams succeeded in noosing it in the bight of the leading rein of the pack horse. Next dav Williams and Ayson had a look at the judge's plunge hole, and the culvert is called Judge’s Gully to-day. While mentioning floods, Mr Ayson remembered it raining very heavilv in January, 1870. It started on New Year’s Night, and poured steadilv for three days, until all the flats were under water, and looking down from the hill towards Oaklands, he could see the Island largely covered, and the Oaklands cattle, mob after mob, striking out for the high hills, and as there were no fences they had little or no trouble ; they could all swim like ducks. Mention of Dr Menzies recalls a irood story of this famous man, who was Sunerintendent of Southland, and a noted politician of the old school. He was a noted Highland chieftain, and a great friend of his, also a Highlander, promised him, or, rather, they made a mutual promise, that whichever of them survived the other would see to it that the deceased was buried with “full Highland honoims.’’ Vvhen Menzies departed this life, his friend, who was an Invercargill lawyer named “Mackintosh,” gathered the clans, arranged the pipers, and all in full--High-land attire, came up to Dunalister to suitably inter t’neir dead chieftain. To their disgust and dismay, Turnbull, the trustee, who had a station at Mataura, persuaded Mrs Menzies not to have the “Highland rites,” and Mackintosh and his pipers were not permitted to play their chief to his burial place with “Flowers of the Forest,” etc. To men of Highland blood this was a sore blow—it- was almost more than they could bear, and it was many years ere they could efface from their memory what was a cruel slight, and poor Mackintosh always felt that he had not kept his faithful promise to his beloved chieftain. (To be Continued.)