EARLY MATAMATA.

Putaruru Press, Volume XI, Issue 538, 14 September 1933, Page 5

EARLY MATAMATA.

FIFTY YEARS AGO. A Forest of Fruit Trees, Interesting information in regard to the early days of the Matamata district is contained in a letter written by Mr. W. T. Buchanan, of Surrey Hills, Melbourne, to his brother, Mr. H. Buchanan, of Matamata.

About- 50 years ago Mr. W. T. Buchanan was employed by the New Zealand Railway Department as signwriter. On arrival at Matamata all that could be seen from the then railway station was a woolshed, which is now portion of the Farmers’ Auctioneering Company’s building, a small building on the comer directly opposite the station, and a few scattered shacks. During his stay a number of Maoris made their appearance and requested Mr. Buchanan to go out into the country in the vicinity of what is now known as Okauia and bring his signwriting outfit with him. Thompson’s Post. A day was arranged and the .natives conducted him to a large, squared, upright totara post, which marked the remains of Wiremu Thompson, known iater as “ the king-maker.” An old Stockyard was dismantled and made to form a platform around the post, and on this Mr. Buchanan stood to do the writing. An inscription in the Maori language was handed to him, with instructions for him to paint it on the post. When the work was completed he asked the natives the meaning of the inscription, and was told that, interpreted briefly, it would read as follows: “This is Tamiti Thompson’s Post.” This interpretation was then written in English on the post beneath the Maori wording. Okauia Hot Springs. , The work completed, the Mhoris then took Mr. Buchanan to a hot spring, close to a running stream, where he was given a hot bath. Horses were then provided and he was taken out to the foothills of adjacent ranges, where he was regaled with cherries and peaches. Mr. Buchanan described the foothills as being one huge peach and cherry forest, miles in extent. Among other items of old-time news, a description was given of jam-making. It appears that Matamata was at that time practically owned and controlled by the late Mr. J. C. Firth, who also conducted a large flour-milling business in Auckland. The mill was situated in Queen street, and later taken over by the late Mr. H. M. Smeeton, who con-

ducted a large and prosperous business in the old mill building. The business was known as H. M. Smeeton “ Old Mill Stores.” The present occupiers are The Farmers’ Trading Co., Ltd. Okauia Jam Factory. It was a custom in the early days for Mr. Firth to invite his city employees to come to Matamata during the fruit season for the purpose of jam-making. Camps were arranged, the men gathered the cherries and peaches, and the women got busy and turned huge quantities of these fruits into jam. When ready to put into jars the cooked fruit was strained by being passed through a small seive made of wire with a mesh of about threequarter inch. The fruit was put into bottles and the stones thrown into heaps. Mr. Hector Sutherland, a present-day occupier of land at Okauia, has stated that while ploughing on his property the plough frequently turns over a furrow of peach stones, sometimes half a chain in length. The stones appear to be about six inches deep. Mr. Sutherland is undoubtedly farming on one of the old jammaking sites. Early Visit to Morrinsville. When Mr. Buchanan’s work was completed at Matamata he took train to Auckland. On reaching Morrinsville he happened to strike the very day on which the ceremony of turning the first sod of the Thames Valley railway was being performed by the Hon. Edwin Mitchelson, the then Minister for Railways. The late Mr. Arthur Cleave was a co-worker with Mr. Buchanan on the New Zealand Railways in those days. He later resigned and went into ; the printing business and has only recently died. Mr. Buchanan left New Zealand and went to Australia as secretary to the then Coupon Company, who did a large and flourishing business at that time. ,