HARKING BACK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3713, 12 May 1925, Page 69

HARKING BACK.

WANDERINGS, UPS AND DOWNS. By An Ancient O.H.S. Boy. (Who joined the school in 1865.) (Fob thb Witness.) n. There was a large attendance at High School when we joined it, but one thing that struck us Nelson boys as very strange was that if two boys were having a scrap there were crowds ready to run to tne masters and report. Then trouble would ensue for the combatants, as fighting was debarred. In Nelson no one dare report his fellows for anything, and moreover, if any master saw any two boys having an altercation, they would say: “Go and have it out, and then you will be better friends.” After leaving the 0.8.H.5. I was moved on to a semi-private college to have a little polish put on me prior to going out to face the world. But there was no Nugget polish in those days—they had to use wdiat was going, Day and Martins’— and I fear that it did not take on to me. Perhaps I should mention that while at school I had a very serious illness, a relapse of scarlet fever, and two doctors came on the scene, and after consultation agreed that I could not last for more than half an hour. This lasted for 48 hours, and yet I pulled through. They thought I was unconscious, when they said I could not live more than half an hour, and were surprised afterwards when I told them it was a long half hour they gave me.

“So you were not unconscious?’ “No/’

“And how did you takeMt?” “Oh, I thought I would just refuse to do as you said, and disobeyed even your commands.” During this illness 1 went instantaneously quite blind for two days, and the room was made dark until I began to regain sight, when the light was again let jn gradually. I think that all the'doctors did was to send for a barber and have my head shaved. I was as thin as a broom handle when I rose from bed, but had grown in stature many inches. Growing still better I was allowed out in the sunshine for a while each day, and always growing stronger was taken to my parent’s home in. Tokomairiro and carefully nursed, a proceeding which I began to resent, as if I were a baby. Eventually I was allowed to go up to the station, the manager having strict injunctions to see that I was not out after sundown. Poor good old Russell. Many a time he thought I was in bed and asleep when I was miles sitting under a flax bush with others and fishing for eels till midnight. Back to school and going down George street with some of my school mates one evening, I met one of my doctors (the late Dr Burns), when I stopped and accosted him by saying: “Good evening, doctor, how are you?” He stopped and said: “Good evening, young fellow, have I ever met you before?” “Oh, yes, doctor. Don’t you remember the night that you and Dr Hulme said I could not live half an hour.” “But you are not that boy!” “All that’s left of him doctor” (and I ■ was stouter then than ever I have been). “Give me a handshake and let me have a good look at you. So you are the same boy. or as you say the remnants of same. Well,” he continued, “I have been 30 odd years in practice. and I never had a case in my hands that cheated me so much!” Poor dear old Doctor Stuart, of Knox Church, where I used regularly to attend, heard of my illness when he came out of church, and came up straightaway, as be did every dav until I was better. His memory I am very sure will never be forgotten in Dunedin by those who knew him, and those who have heard of his noble acts of kindness and charity. I am glad to see that a monument has been erected to his memory, and think no one better deserved such. When eventually I left school for good I was taken up to the station, and tried to do as I was told in the way of helping the rouseabouts, picking up fleeces on the shearing boards, and learning to shear. At “Smoke-oh” times we bovs used to catch a sheep and try our hands at shearing, the shearers watching us and showing us how and what to do. Shall I ever forget the first one I attempted to shear? I don’t think so, for the beads of perspiration were falling from me as never before and filling my eyas. No one would take the sheep from me and finish it, which I eventually did in some sort of a wav, and inwardly vowed I would never tackle another. Next day, however, seeing the other boys at It I could not refrain from trying it again, and got on better than the day before, so kept on every day until I was told I was shaping not so badly After a while I was able to shear my 50 Merino wethers a day and nick and roll fleeces for two shearers and myself. Then after knocking about stock-riding and sheep drafting I began to think I was an expert. A new chum Irishman came to the boss of the board and asked if he could try his hand at shearing, as he saw some of his countrymen making big money at the job. “Go ahead then and have a try,” he was told. He did, and of all the attempts I ever saw I think that one beat the band, as the Americans say, for he chopped the fleece all in pieces. Just when he had or thought he had, finished the boss said:

“Don’t cAtch another, MicJc, for there ib as much wool left on as you have taken off”

“But, boss,” was the reply, “that is only the fuist time over!” “Wool classed firsts,” I think I heay you say. When I began to think 1 was just about indispensable I was told one day I would have to go away, that I must go into an office and have some commercial training. Bad news for me, I thought. Would you like into a bank ? “No.” A merchant’s office? “No.” My boy idea of an office life was that I would have to sit on a three-legged stool all day writing or adding up figures. I was taken to town and put into the Public Service under the late Mr G. M. Barr, then Provincial Engineer, and the late Mr Adam Johnston, than whom I never met two finer gentlemen in all my walks through life. I was in the same room as Mr Johnston,' and was called his boy, and I may here say that I reverently worshipped that gentleman, as I had good occasion to do. Many a Mme I am sure ho had good reason to admonish me severely, out unlike some others, who would do so in the presence of others, would take me by myself and give me my deserts, when it all went home. The Port Chalmers railway was being constructed at this time by the late Mr Proudfoot, while Mr Barr as Provincial Engineer was supervisor for the Government. I used to like when he went on these inspections, as I was always taken as his boy or assistant. We used to think nothing of the walk down the line to Port and then back by boat, sometimes it was vice versa. Tlien on one day a week I was Mr Johnston’s assistant, taking out quantities of rock removed by prisoners on Bell Hill. On one occasion I was at Mr Johnston’s orders crossing over tapu territory in front of the warders’ boxes. The warders were generally marching back and forth in front of their boxes with loaded rifles, and I was challenged by one as being a trespasser, when Mr Johnston (who was well-known) came up and said: “It’s all right, that’s my assistant. All went well with me there then, as I came to know the warders, and I could go anywhere, and never was challenged again. There were all sorts of characters among the prisoners, as well as a whole batch of Maori war prisoners. Three prisoners were sent down from Auckland for safer keeping, they having broken gaol in Auckland. Among these was Cyrus Haley, a notorious, cold-blooded wretch, who was in for attempted murder and arson. One day he threw down his pick and made a bolt for liberty. Tire warder at hand (Miller) called on him three times in the Queen’s name to stand, but he still proceeded, when Miller fired and laid him out a corpse as he was crossing Stuart street Then there was a hullabaloo by the public clamouring for the life of this heartI less warder who shot a poor prisoner I down in cold blood ! The warder was paid to do, if needed, what he did. “England expects every man this day t% do his duty.” What acts of villainy that wretch Haley might have perpetrated had he only got away a little further it is hard to conjecture/ However, Warder Miller had to be smuggled away from Dunedin. One of Haley’s mates from Auckland, although of a very different type, a sort of butter-wouldn’t-melt-in-his-mouth sort, was, when first arrested in Auckland, a draper’s assistant. While serving his sentence he broke gaol, and to expedite his movements stole a horse, and was away in the back-blocks for a considerable time before being re-arrested. When in Dunedin he eluded the vigilance of the warders one day down by the Southern Cemetery.

When the cry arose, “Escaped prisoner,” the others were marched back to gaol, and the whole town was on the look-out, but he cleverly evaded every one and was away some weeks. The country police ha/d his description and were all keeping a bright look-out for this gaol-bird, but no trace of him was to be found. At this

time depredations were being nightly committed in George street ? but no one ever gave a thought that it might be this

escapee. There were two smart detectives in Dunedin, an Irishman (Farrell) and a Scotchman (Bain). The latter had often seen Plummer in gaol, while the former had never seen him, but had all hie descriptions. . These two met one night in the Octagon, stopped, and were having a chat, when a jaunty, well-groomed fellow passed by. Said Farrell to Bain : “Isn’t that Plummer?” “No,” said Bain, “Not the least like him. Think I don’t know him?” - “Well,” said'‘‘Farrell, “I’ve never seen him. but I am going to shadow that felHe did. and followed him into the Rainbow Hotel, where, after a better look, hh arrested him on speculation, and had "the “wanted” bird. He was bearding at

the hotel, and represented himself as from the country in poor health and attending a doctor, whom he onlv called on at night time. Doctor, forsooth ! Pilfering! Mr Johnston had to go out at times to take soundings in the harbour, and, as usual, I was his assistant. We were always assigned two prisoners to row the boat. Mr Carson (the head warder), who never wore uniform, always gave us two whose time was just about expired, so that there was no fear of their trying anv tricks. There were two of us young fellows

from the office with Mr Johnston one day. Coming back near Pelichet Bay jetty Mr Johnston said :

“Well, I’m nearly at my home now, but these fellows will take you up to Rattrav street jetty and Mr Carson will be waiting there for them, it now being after five o’clock. When we arrived near the j6tty we saw Mr Carson hovering about around the work that was being done. As our boat got under the jetty three young clerks who had cyme down for a stroll and a smoke were standing above us smoking, when one of our men asked: “Any of you fellows got any tobacco?”

One of the clerks threw a plug into the boat, where it was at once torn in | two, each prisoner putting his half into i the heel of his boot. Hardly was this done when Mr Carson appeared. “Well you’ve got back, said he. “Oh yes, Mr Carson, and we left Mr Johnston at Pelichet Bay jetty.”

“And I suppose,” said he, “these fellows have been asking you for tobacco.'’ “Oh, said I, “they know we don’t smoke.”

Then he laughed, not knowing what had gone forth, and of course we didn’t give the show away. Air Johnston, who was afterwards engineer in charge of the construction of the southern trunk railway, fell from his horse and was found unconscious. He never regained consciousness, and was buried in Fairfax Cemetery, near Milton. I was sent out by Mr Barr as an assistant and to get some experience on the original survey of the Tuapeka railway. The party was camped some distance from the south end if *he Manuka Creek tunnel, and I walked from Milton un to the camp, which had just been started. We had to walk down to Clarkesville, a distance of at least five miles, to start the traverse. Some of ue were, domiciled in an old hut. This was in August, and a bad snowstorm came on, which proved that our residential quarter was as leaky as a sieve. We had no tents, so had to put up with it. Miserable as it was with everything we had wet, I heard one of the old hands say:

“This will send the town boy back again, as it has done many before him,” but the town hoy never made a growl, and saw it through, too glad to get away from office life.

While on this job I arranged with the man in charge (the late Mr C. W. Adams) to serve my apprenticeship with him. I was glad, on joining this party, to find an old school* mate (0.8.H.5.) there as a cadet, where he had been for a year. We did not know each other too well at school, but soon formed a great friendship in camp life, a friendship which grew, and ever remained, as it does to this day, though we have- not seen each other for many years, he having been for a long time consulting engineer to the Melbaurne Tramway Trust. We had many ups and downs together, rough and smooth (particularly the former), and while we were years together I am safe to say we never had a quarrel between us. If we fell into a row with others we always stood by each other, and what one would say the other would swear to. He was a daring, plucky, good fellow, and certainly one of the very best mates I ever had, or could possibly wish to have. Not only was he an able man at his profession, but had also any amount of fun in him. Full of devilment, he was on for any fun as well as work, and game to the very last. Different jobs took us to many different parts, where we had to shore roughs and tumbles, wet camps, and poor and scanty fare. I think the first of our escapades out in the back-blocks was when our boss took ill, and had to go home. Though he was a married man he needs must take the cook with him, leaving us two young fellows to carry on the work and cook for ourselves. Let me say, however, that we fared quite well, and proved ourselves adepts at the game of cooking. And I think we carried the job through in less time and quite as well as if the boss had been with us. Some will, no doubt, remember the big litigation case between the N.Z. and A.L. Gomnany, represented by the late Mr Brydone, superintendent for that- company, and Mr John M’Kellar representing Brooksdale. The trouble concerned a big tract of country on the Blue Mountains called Siberia, each man claiming it as his. and each leasing it, of course, to different parties. Then fun and trouble began, as both lessees took possession, and the rows between them set in swift and strong. One of the lessees was camped in an old hut vacated bv a digger on the hank of the river, and he had this burnt down one day with all his belongings.

Be it remembered that in the very early davs when these runs were apportioned there were not even trig stations. The boundaries were set out lust bv a stroke on the map. such os were then in existence, so that when the country came to he more valuable the dispute arose as to who owned Siberia. Many years after these leases were issued it was triangulated by the late Mr Arthur, afterwards Chief Surveyor of Otago, and a very uglv job he must have had, as, where a surveyor likes to have his trigs a few miles apart for correct observations. Mr Arthur had to have two of them (if I remember rightly) 77 links apart. Without knowing this mountain range anv one would think it was a razor back just like a big potato pit, but if he cares to walk to the top he will have his mind undeceived, for on the top it is of wide expansion area, with r>eat bogs and deep lagoons. Indeed, on the verv summit a trig could hot be placed as it was a peat bog all on the shake, and a theodolite could not keep level. The trig station, therefore, had to be placed on terra firma. To strike the boundary between these two runs was all a matter of triangulation, and rather an awkward, uglv lob, but our boss was a reputed mathematician, and jitftly so. But we, young fellows were on the jog all day, rough going, too, with onlv a snack in our pockets for lunch, and not a chance of ,a drink of water. Four days we had to ascend this mountain before the dividing spot was fixed, and it took us holirs each morning stiff, uphill climbing before getting to our work. It was generally after six at night ere we returned to camp, where we knew our cook would have a good hungry men’s meal awaiting us.

When leaving thecalhp, shifting one to another some miles away, and helping to fold up tents, I had my prismatic compass slung on my shoulder. I hung It ut> on a manuka tree whilst and forgot it when going away, nor did I miss it till we got to our new camp. As I knew it wag quite safe from pigs, and that

no one was likely to be there, I went back, for it next Sunday and found it just where I had left it.

While in this camp, where we had been for about ten days, iny chum and I had our tent under a cliff of rock about 30 or 40 feet high, and what was my suiprise on returiug only a few days after to find that some tons of rock had come down, and deposited the debris just where our toot stood. I took every good care that I never camped under rocks like that again.

Our next job of any moment was the big survey of 20,000 acres for Cargill and Anderson, on Teviofc Station, where we had a rather strenuous time, as it was mid-winter. Consequently, we had a rather rough time of it and many ups and downs.

We were crossing the Teviot River when in flood, when one of our party was taken down stream, horse and all, through his own fault,' for he grew afraid when traversing the Hercules race. When we arrived at Cargill and Anderson’s punt, after dark on a Saturday night, we cooed for the puntman who had a stone hut on the station side, and who was supposed to be always ready on call. But I suppose thinking no one would be likely to come then, he had gone up to the homestead half a mile away to play cards, and we cooeed until we were hoarse. Being very tired and hungry, having been on the travel all day with only a snack which we carried in our pockets for a midday meal, we spread out a tarpaulin behind some posts that were stacked there, and fell off to sleep. Though it was winter this was a very mild night, and though hungry we were snug enough. We slept soundly until daylight. Just as we were going to repeat our yells we saw the punt half way across the river coming towards us, and the manager of the station in charge of it. We greeted him very heartily, and he said he was sure he had heard callings the night before, and thought old Tom was on watch, but look-

ing out in the morning he saw horses tethered, so set out for our relief. I refer to the late Mr Jas. Holmes, Waimahaka, than whom there was never a finer man or gentleman in all my acquaintances. Knowing that we were coming, and this at 6 a.m., we were confronted with huge supplies of rich beef steak, onions, and potatoes,. I often asked the lady who was so good to us if she had ever met four young fellows with such appetites. Depredations by night were going on at the station from some of the so-called diggers at Dumbarton Rock, and our first night a watch was set, when a fellow was caught red-handed, and made secure. Then came the question of what to do with him as the police station was at least 6ix miles away. The boss, when roused from his slumbers, at once said, “Oh, put him in the wool press.” Happy thought, and this they did. putting down the screw until the poor devil was in a very recumbent position. When the police came and the screw put up he was hardly fit to straighten himself. We young fellows were sent out to level a water race, 63 miles long, from near a place by the euphonious name of the “Devil’s Back-bone.” The boss would not face up. go we had it all on our own, and a rough time we had of it too, it being in the winter with the weather bad, and much difficulty in getting anything in the way of provisions. We were snowbound for three days, and cur provisions being done, we decided to strike camp in the morning—our only alternative—though the snow lay 2ft 6in deep. We had but one sparse meal left, so decided to leave this till the morning, before we started for—we hardly knew where, as the whole country was just like a white sheet. , The snow stopped during our last nnmt there, and a keen frost set in, so that our tents were more like weatherboard cottages in the morning. But after giving them a good basting we managed to fold them up somehow, and pack them on our poor, starved horses, who had only been able to get a nibble from the tons of snowgrass. We started leading the horses, and every sten was waist deep. We had not gone many miles, however, when two of the four of us funked, and wanted to know if we were sure we were going the right way, which we assured them we were. But they collapsed, and we had to get them un on the packs for the poor, jaded horses to carry. So we went on. until at last we met a shepherd looking after his flocks, who told us we had struck it right, and would soon be below the snow line. It was then all down hill, and great was our delight when we found easier rroin'r. and much less den+h of snow. We knew where we were then, and decided to nitch a tent at a clump of manuka scrub. While two of us erected a tent, beat enow off the manuka scrub, and mane a temporary bunk, the other two rode on tn an accommodation house a few miles distant.'and came back with a ham and three Waves of bread. Our principal on this lob. and one of the chief directors of this scheme, was Jim Graham, better known as “Californian Jim,” the first man who brought water from the Upper Waipori to the famous Blue Knur, and who was also known ns the father of water-rams. Jim professed to have had the level taken in a rough way, and assured us that they would first cross the big saddle nicelv. He had six miles of this race cut. starting away two miles from its intake. The company never finished rutting the race, nor did. we finish the leveling of it, as they stopped .us at the saddle. Tn our wanderings un and down the goldfields we became acquainted with two brothers, who were mining together, two fairly well educated fellows. We met Billy one day, and asked how he was keeping. “Oh, good, very good, and how about yourselves ?” “Also good, Billy, thankful to say, and where is Tommy?” “Oh. he be Gown at the claim.”

“And hpw Is he keeping?” “Not too good at all.” “Oh, sorry to hear that. Why, what ails him?”

“Well, you see, "he got a letter a few weeks ago.” “Got a letter? Why, what’s that got to do with his health?”

“Well, you see, it’s like this. It was addree&d, Thomas Higgs, Esj., and do you know he’s never got over it. Nor has he been the same man since.” After other wanderings and plenty of ups and downs the time came when my old chum had to leave us, his term of service having expired, and I missed him very much. I was then promoted to chief officer, and our next big job was surveying 10,0 CO acres for the late Mr Jas. Logan at Green vale. One of opr men had the misfortune to have a leg broken, and a big task it was to have him taken, in to the Tuapeka Hospital. He must have had a painful passage on that long journey, and over such a rough road. After starting to* knit the leg had to be broken and reset-. Then, through carelessness, it was disunited again, until in all it was set seven times. We always expected to see him a confirmed cripple afterwards, but he turned out as good as ever he was.

Next big job was the cutting up of 4000 acres of Captain M'Kenzie’s run, the lease of which had just fallen in. Strange what sort of chaps we came across in these wanderings. We had two sailormen, both been man-o-warsmen, one a small man, the other a particularly big man. We went into the river one clay for a bath, and while I have seen some highly tattooed men, I had never see tha like of the little fellow. He was plastered all over with all works of art. On one shoulder he had the crucifixion. On the other the goddess of Liberty. On his back a full-rigged shin, to say nothing of snakes, flags, and other things on his legs, arms, and feet. The big fellow was fairly ornamental, but nothing like this. He was a natural musician, and could play anything from a tin whistle to an organ. (To be Continued.)