MR. HURLEY’S MEMORIES

Taranaki Daily News, 12 October 1929, Page 12

MR. HURLEY’S MEMORIES

JOURNEY AFTER STOLEN HORSE. ■( ““ RACE GATHERINGS BY MAORIS.

“We had lost a horse,” said Mr. Tim i Hurley, in discussing the early days in the Waimate Plains, -‘and suspected that the Maoris had taken it, so we set out on horseback in 1879 from Patea for Waimate. At Manaia the tents of the men who were surveying the township were pitched on the banks of the stream. Where the township stands now there was tutu and fern as tall as a man, and bush. “We asked the Maoris if they had any strange horses,” said Mr. Hurley. They replied: ‘By Colly, better have a look.’” “We went to have a look and the Maoris did not follow us. We loosed the horses and ran them into the bush where they were caught in the supplejacks. Then we found the one we wanted," roped it and took it away. And that was the first tiiiie I ever saw Manaia,” said Mr. Hurley. ' It was’ many years later that Mr. Hurley came to live on the plains. In 1899 he bought a farm at Kaupokonui and paid £l4 an acre for it. This was the highest price paid for land on the plains up to that time. Butter-fat was sold at 7d or 8d a lb. After he had bought a farm of 11'2 acres just across the road from his first place, said Mr. Hurley, the Maoris came to him and asked if they could hold a race meeting on the property. “How much you want?” asked the Maoris. “Y’ou can have the place for £1 as long as you repair the fences,” said Mr. Hurley. . The Maoris held, the meeting, said Mr. Elurley. They offered very good stakes and it was surprising the number of people who were there. All the big bookmakers attended in force. “A horse was ■ entered in the trot by Mrs. Bolger, said . Mr. Hurley, “and I heard that it was a , good thing. The bookies were laying • odds against it so I took £1 with four , of them. , “The pony walked in,” said Mr. Hur- , ley, “easily" There was a. protest and ! the bell rang. The Maoris asked my , advice and so I told them the protest ; should have been in before /the race ■ started. I collected.” Next year the meeting was held again i bv the Maoris and was a great success, i said Mr. Hurley. Many people were present from Auckland and Wellington, besides all over Taranaki. There was a great crush. “But the trouble was, said . Mr. Hurley, “picking up the empty r bottles afterwards.”