TAPANUI.

Otago Witness, Issue 3662, 20 May 1924, Page 10

TAPANUI.

1854 TO 1924

EPITOME OF EARLY HISTORY

By

W. Quin.

The occupancy of A’ew Zealand by white nen dates back to about 1800, or a little earlier, when the first sealers came from Sydney in the search for * fur. Whalers were often on the coast after the beginning of the century, and many vessels congregated at Russell, Bay of Islands, to secure ‘ kauri spars and to trade with the natives, then numerous. In 1836 there was a whalers' rush all round the islands, north and south, British Americans, Australians. French, and others being engaged in it, and refitting and trying-out stations were established in suitable harbours from the North Cape to Stewart Island. This was the first move of the white men for possession of these fertile islands of New Zealand. The Frenoh made a tentative effort to colonise at Akaroa, but were too slow in getting to work. A land company was formed in the Old Country to settle men on the land, with Colonel Wakefield in control, and the first ships arrived at Port Nicholson, now Wellington, in 1836. The company also acquired land in Nelson and Marlborough. The settlement by white men was slow, as there was a considerable aboriginal population to contend with. In 1848 the Scots made their descent, passengers arriving at Port Chalmers on March 23, 1848. Among the passengers by the Philip Laing who still survive is Mr David Buchanan, of Kelso. He is hale and he arty yet but the majority of the passengers by the early vessel•> have “gone west.” Tapanui district rooeived its first white people in 1854 —the Crimean war period. Otago settlers had gradually moved south to Taieri, Waihola. Milton, Clutha, and Clinton, and by branch roads from that centre to Ofcama, Mataura, and Invercargill. The other branch roads trended west to Walruna. Waipahi, and Ijongford (now Gore), on the banks of the Mataura River. Prospectors for grazing runs from Waipahi found their way over Conical Hills, where there is fine grazing country, into Tapanui district proper. llow the name “Tapanui” originated no one knows. Sir James Carroll. who is regarded as one of the best Maori scholars, says the word has no meaning. Others maintain that the word means “outside, or skirt, of a bush,” and that would be appropriate. The town of 'Tapanui was surveyed in 1876 by Mr Prentice, who evidently was an Englishman, as was his chief, Mr C. H. Kettle, a Kentish man. It is worthy of note that the North Island prophet, Ratana, has a middle name “Tapeani|i.” Anyhow “Tapanui” hag stood the test of years, is on tho dominion records and has come to stay “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” The Blue Mountains, at their easterly base descending to the Molyneux Valley, were first seen from the Dunedin neighbourhood, old history says, by Mr Valpy, an early-day Otago settler, when prospecting for runs with a surveyor. It was the Australian gold diggers who gave the range its present map name. Unlike most of the mountains In New Zealand, this range runs north end south. The highest peak is about 3500 ft. Tlie range has a decided effect on the climate, breaking tho winds and regu-

taring the rainfall, lire first squatters in 1854 were Messrs Anderson and Allan, of Dalvey (run 140), on which the town of Tapanui was surveyed. This run extended from Flodden on the north. Pomahaka on the west and south, and the Blue Mountains on the east. Later, mutilated by closer settlement, the run was sold to Messrs Gammie and Grant, a Scottish firm, and Mr John Dickison came out from the Duke of Buooleuch’s estate as first manager for the Home firm. A Mr Yaldwin followed him and remained until Mr G. F. B. Poynter purchased what remained of the run, after a farm settlement, along the bank ol the Pomahaka, the town of Tapanui, and other reservations, including run 140 b. to Matheeon Bros, (afterwards Camerons) had been made. An Australian purchased Glenkenick run on the opposite side of the valley. but never took possession. In 1854 Messrs Allan and Oliver came from Nelson and, having acquired this place, stocked it and built a house. Mr Oliver, with his wife who was the first white woman in the district, held on for 18 months, when Mr Cutten, then Land Commissioner, cancelled their lease for some unexplained reason. Captain F. W. Mackenzie then obtained the run, and his brother acquired Conical Hills Station . The latter was killed at Waiwera South. Merino Downs went to Mr Pierce Power, and later to Mr Smith, after whom came Mr Hugh M'lntyre, a Victorian, who also bought Otakarama. On the death of Mr MTntyre the Merino Downs property was disposed of in sections to farmers. Greenvale run was successively held by Mr Glendining and Captain Inverantry, and later passed into the hands of Mr Logan, who retained it until his demise when the place was readily sold to small holders. Mr Logan was a Tweedsider, who went to South Australia in his young days and became a squatter there. Mrs Logan still survives, and the Greenvale homestead block is still held by members of the family. Ardmore was secured by Messrs Roberts and Bagrie. The latter sold out and returned to Australia. Mr Roberts sold to Mr George Gunn, by whom the estate was disposed of in 1874 to Mr J. F. Herbert, of Lawrence. Mr Herbert retained possession until death, and the property was subdivided for members of his second family, and has since been further subdivided for dairying and mixed farming. The famous Moa Flat, of some 70,000 acres, was procured by Chalmers Bros. They raised money on' the security of a mortgage to “Big” Clark, of Victoria, who illegally foreclosed with the result that his executors had to pay Chalmers Bros. £50,000 damages. Mr Joseoh Clark then carried on the place for some years with Mr J. Iv. Cameron, and later Mr J. W. Cunningham, as managers. Twenty years ago a syndicate, comprising Mr Donald Macdonald (of Edendale), Mr D. Rutherford (of Leslie Hills), Mr (now Sir) John Roberts (of Dunedin), Mr R. A. Anderson (of Invercargill), and Messrs J. A. Johnstone and W. D. Hunt (of Wright, Stephenson and Co.) purchased the place for about 28s an acre. The syndicate quickly subdivided and sold at a reasonable profit. Mr Duncan Rutherford secured some 20,000 acres freehold together with Upper Pomahaka runs, and erected fine buildings for a son, who sold to Mr R. A. Acton Adams, (he present occupier. Mr 11. Hay obtained the ITukererl run and after putting on the improvement, sold to Messrs Scott and M'Lennan. Mr Ken. M'Lennan, of Timaru, now owns

this fine property. Spylaw run, adjoining it, was first selected by Mr F. B. Clapcott, who sold to Mr C. Teschemaker Later, Messrs Schlotel Bros., and then Mr S. P. Hitching, secured the place, which is now subdivided into farms. Mr J. F. Kitching purchased Spylaw when he leased Moa Flat in conjunction with Mr Henry Driver. At the latter’s death the lease was cancelled and Mr Joseph Clark resumed possession. In 1857 Mr Pinkerton, who had arrived in 1854 from Australia, selected Tapanui run 163, adjoining Dalvey and extending over to the Molyneux River as an easterly boundary. The runs mentioned above comprise what is now known as me Tapanui district, an amphitheatre partly surrounded by mountains. A 26 mile railway intersects the plain from Waipahi to Edievale. Wilden is the only really large property that remains. The balance is owned in areas of from about two thousand acres down to small dairy farms. The State Forestry Department started by Mr H. J. Matthews, of Dunedin, has a nursery close to Tapanui town with considerable forest areas in Greenvale, Upper Pomahaka regions, Conical Hills, and Rankleburn. Some of tho forest trees are over 25 years old, and show signs of want of thinning and pruning. The State nursery is visited by many people. It is a real beauty spot, controlled in an able manner by Mr D. Buchanan, son of the settler who, landing in Otago in 1848, helped to establish the forests, and now resides at Kelso. Runholders having blazed the trail, bushmen, attracted by the fine pine forests, commenced to arrive. Several of them had been bullock drivers on stations, and pit sawing was engaged in by station hands in tho late fifties. Mr John Patterson, a seaman with a mate’s certificate, after a turn at pit sawing, purchased the first sawmilling plant early in the sixties, after the gold diggings broke out. In later years he was drowned at the Macquaries. Other small mills quickly followed Mr Patterson's venture. Mr M'Farlane, sen., and three sons entered _ into the business with varied success, finding a ready market on the diggings at Waikaia, Waikaka, Clutha districts Upper and Lower. Tuapelca, etc. Nearly 50 bullock teams were at one time employed. The big Victoria sawmills were started in 1869 by Messrs Herbert, Howat, and Co., from Tuapeka, and the output for years until 1882 exceeded that of "all other mills. Mr Kitching, of Moa Flat, had a mill known us Manse Bush, but Mr John Perry soon succeeded him, and carried on until the timber had been cut out. Very few of the bushmen-sawyers, bullocliies of the early sixties now survive to talk of old times. Mrs James Rodger, a daughter of Mr John Dickison, previously referred to, was residing at Tapanui in 1859, and Mr John Edgar, who came from Victoria shortly afterwards, are the only two persons who have spent their lives continuously about Tapanui_ since the old identity days before Gabriel Reid, with his gold discoveries, opened a new page in Otago history. Mrs Rodgers recently removed to Invercargill to reside with a daughter. Mr Edgar, who was first a shepherd, and was afterwards the second farmer in the district, is still in Tapanui. He has retired from business, but is active and healthy despite his long career. Numbers runs: Dalvey 140, Pinkertons 163. Conical Hills 167, Glenkenick 168.