EARLY SETTLEMENT IN OTAGO.

Otago Witness, Issue 3958, 21 January 1930, Page 79

EARLY SETTLEMENT IN OTAGO.

By Old Identity. It was about the years 1871-72 that the merino flocks of the interior began to reach the zenith of their fame. Up to that time no one dreamed of what was ahead in the shape of rabbits, although even then they had begun to make them selves felt in Southland. The Puketoi, Linnburn. and Hamiltons sheep were, by careful selection, developing into the firstclass flocks they ultimately became. The Hamiltons people pinned their faith on the strong combing South Australian type of merino, while the others bred up to the finer Gibson strain, which at that time commanded higher prices per pound, as it is doing to-day. All of those clips were very good, first combing wool not more than about one fleece in every 100 finding its way into the clothing bins, and they were very eagerly competed for in the London market when shipped. Most of the big operators nt Home were represented by individuals in Otago, and these operators were in the habit of giving very full prices here—usually quite up to and often over London parity. It was a moot point whether the coarse or fine combing paid best, as what one gained in price the other gained in weight. They were both very good. Hamiltons sheep were bigger than the others, but that was no doubt owing to the nature of the country, most of which was of a limestone nature. The clips from

the three stations were all very excellent and always brought top market values, while the annual drafts of sale ewes were much sought after by farmers and were the beginning of many of the good flocks of to-day. In comparison with presentday values, they could always be purchased at what one might call “ giveaway ” prices. Linnburn and Puketoi started stud flocks about that time, the original purchases being made at the break-up of Air W. A. Tolmie’s Carterhope stud in the early ’seventies. Puketoi still turning out sheep of high quality, while the Linnburn stud was disposed of at the time the run was cut up for closer settlement. It was in the early ’seventies also that all sheep country was closely guarded and every acre available for winter grazing purposes was made use of by fencing in the right places. All preemptive rights were being brought more or less into cultivation, and subdivided into paddocks, and modern machinery was being used. The single furrow gave way to the double-furrow plough after much temporary discontent on the part of the Scottish ploughmen, and only the animals that were wanted for the working for the upkeep of the runs were tolerated. All feed was carefully husbanded for winter grazing and the various so-called wild mobs of horses were got rid of, not only on account of the feed they ate, but also, and more especially, because quiet horses got with them some- | times, and, if left too long with them, I became as wild, or nearly so, as the others, this rendering it a' difficult job, and sometimes a long one, to get them into a stockyard. Only two stockyards, those at Hamilton’s and Linnburn. were used for this purpose, the other yards not being suitable. One mob used to frequent the swampy ground between the mouth of the Gimmerburn and Sowburn, seeking the shelter of friendly ridges, or willow groves in bad weather. Another mob existed in Ida Valley and roamed through the Poolburn swamp, and between that and the east side of the valley where both shelter and feed were good. That mob was such a nuisance to the Blacks people that some young fellows took the matter in hand. A few good animals were got from among them, but the majority were useless inbred creatures, of little value to anybody. The Maniototo lot was similarly treated. A final lot existed on the Serpentine Flat, and was not disbanded until about 1878, many previous attempts to get rid of it being without avail, for the reason that the wild horses always outstayed those who went

after them. The nearest stockyard was 15 miles away from their haunts. To travel that distance, and back, to say nothing of the hard galloping that was necessary was more than horseflesh could accomplish. Otb«r of attack were discussed, therefore, and ag two good animals belonging to Naseby residents were in that mob. it was determined to have another attempt with local assistance, in pursuance of a well-laid out plan which ewntually succeeded. But what a day that was! The plan was that two riders were to keep the mob moving, chasing them anywhere back and forward—forward if possible. Bye and bye two others took up the running, the first lot retiring for a spell, and this went on for about four or five hours, by which time the wild mob looked as though it been through a mud-pool. Then the 15 mile drive to Linnburn began The first serious obstacle was the Waimunga (or Deep Creek), which had to be crossed. After a good deal of delay that was safely negotiated. The driven animals seemed incapable of giving further troubp. but when they had got as far as the Black Ball, the riders having in the meantime been lulled into a sense of false security, the whole mob. as with one mind, dashed for freedom. Had it not been for the fact that a particularly good horseman, well mounted, was on that flank. the day’s work would have gone for nothing, and these animals would have got back to their haunts. That horseman was Sam Inder. at that time of Naseby. and it was a' wonderful sight to see the manoeuv-

ring done by man and horse to hold that mob until the others got up. For some minutes it looked as if both horse and rider must come to awful grief, as they slid off and jumped rocks. In a short time, however, the mob gave up, thoroughly cowed, and was eventually run into the Linnburn stock yard. Mr Inder’s horse, however, was a perfect wreck. It was a beautiful low brown cob, standing over plenty of ground, and, as was the case in those days, owing to the regular work such horses had to do, was in perfect condition, but for which fact he must have been useless for ever after. He lay in a loose box for about 15 or 16 hours, but he was in the good and kindly hands of Simon Stevenson, who looked after the station horses, and who had him on his feet next day, and the cob returned to his owner about a week after, apparently none the worse. There were not many horses, even in those days, that could have achieved such a feat of endurance. Such horses are to-day as extinct as the moa, the conditions being so different. They were horses of just the very type which the Indian Government is deploring it can no longer get from Australia. That was the last of the wild mobs of horses on the Maniototo and Ida V alley. Their old haunts have now been drained, and are carrying sheep and cattle.

n , the. early sixties the upper crossing of the Linnburn was the spot where for a time men on their way to the diggings used to camp. The Black Ball accommodation hou<e had not at that time come into existence, and Linnburn was. in fact, the only place between the Styx and Ida X alley where any travellers could obtain food if they ran out of supplies. One night two horsemen with a pack horse called at the station and solicited shelter for the night. These were Hartley and Riley, whose names have been often quoted in connection with mining. They were returning to Dunedin to claim the reward offered by the Provincial Council to the first prospectors for gold who could deliver a certain quantity of the precious metal in Dunedin. They had with them 801 b weight of gold—a large quantity to travel with over those lonely mountains. They were no doubt well armed, probably each with a revolver, and in due time they established their right to the reward. It is well known now that they left in the claim a large quantity of gold which could not be reached, but they cleaned up everything it was possible for them to get to the last speck. The rest lay there, snugly tucked up for years until the advent of the long ladder dredge. Will it ever be found out whether the dredge has left as much as. or more than, the original owners left? There are nooks and 'such like places where no dredge bucket could reach.

A good deal has been written about the Maniototo as it was in the early stages of its development, and it seems only right to refer to some of those who came, or were sent, to minister to the spiritual wants of the district, lhe first whom the writer can rememDer was Mr Flamank, who lived at Waikouaiti and made regular visits from that noint to the stations, starting with Shag Valley, holding services at each place. The men were always glad to see him, most of them being reminded thereby of the days at Home where Sunday observance was very strictly kept. Mr Flamank was a kindly, earnest man. who kept up his visits well into the seventies. All hands were sorry when, through age and general infirmities, he ceased taking those trips. By that time Naseby bad developed into quite a thickly populated nlace with a church of its own. The Presbyterian Church was the first with manse and everything in order; Mr J. M'Cosh Smith was the first ordained clergyman of that denomination to boi l sway. Not to be outdone, other denominations followed suit, so that about 1874 there were Presbyterian. Anglican, and Catholic congregations with good substantial church buildings at Naseby. Mr Adam Holland, of Blackstone Hill, was the first chairman of the Maniototo County Council and Mr Hugh Wilson was county clerk—a

position which he retained until a few years ago. One of the first requisites for carrying on business was the county seal. It so happened that the chairman had been in the Draughting Department of the Dunedin head office before going to the country, and he was asked by the other members if he could sketch a seal to suit their needs and produce it at the next meeting. The result was that a very fine sketch of a seal was produced, the features of which were a bullock wagon and a railway train, with the motto “ Festina Lente ” (hasten slowly). This device was adopted and sent to Dunedin to a firm, there to be copied and embodied in a seal for the county. Unfortunately, when it came to hand it was found that the name of the county on the seal had been altered from Maniatoto to Maniototo. It seems almost incredible that the seal was allowed to pass instead of being returned for correction, and so it remained for years, and, indeed, it may be still used with the word wrongly spelled, and, if so, it is extraordinary such a mistake has been so long tolerated. For a time prior to those days, the Maniototo Plain was known as the Napier Plains, as the Murisons, after taking up Puketoi, used to receive letters from the Old Band addressed to them in that way. The term, no doubt, included t ? e n up l )er .- or Serpentine Flat, as viri t ? e l°' ver an d larger plain. \\ hen the charge over to the Maori name took place it is hard to find. It mav be that the first name had no official backing or authority. Maniatoto was the name proclaimed by those appointed for that purpose, and we can thank our stars that even though a mistake was made in the seal and though the originally-pro-posed name is not now in use. a

departure was effected from the Pigroots, Sowburns, and names such as these that were given to many of the interesting spots of the interior at that time.

A few there may be living who can remember the early doctors, bankers, and others who administered to the needs of the people. Of Dr M'Cambridge one can well and truly say, What a time he had. and how he stood up to it! He was called out at all times—it might be to Sowburn (Patearoa), on a cold winter’s night, or to Hyde, or even to St. Bathans, to say nothing about places nearer at hand, when snow not infrequently was two feet deep, with much more in the drifts. Neither can the name of Air Grummitt be forgotten in Naseby history. He was the manager of the Bank of New South Wales there from the beginning until Ranfurly began to make itself felt, after which he was moved to Oamaru. Friend, counsellor and father confessor he was to many. Mr George Wilson, of the Bank ot blew Zealand, was a very outstanding man. He took a very great interest in local matters, was also friend and adviser to many, and it was with great regret that his Naseby friends said goodbye to him on his promotion to the assistant managership of the bank in Alelbourne. Afterwards he was transferred to Sydney. There he was manager. Air Walter Inder can never be forgotten—a truly representative man—and Air William Gutfie and Air Hjorring may be mentioned among many others as outstanding settlers.. It is good to think of them and one realises what an asset such men were to a new country.