MEMORIES OF A PIONEER

Taranaki Daily News, 29 September 1933, Page 11

MEMORIES OF A PIONEER

SPLENDID DRAUGHT HORSES MR. 3. S. OUGHTON’S STUD FARM. CROPPING IN THE EARLY DAYS. One of the earliest settlers of Okaiawa is Mr. J. S. Oughton. He arrived on ; June 7, 1881, and has lived on his farm, ever since. He was a very successful breeder of draught horses and has judged . at many shows all over New Zealand. Tn the course of an interview with the Daily News Mr. Oughton told many interesting reminiscences of the early days. He was also a successful grazier and produced from his farm some excellent fat stock. The first beast he sold brought £7, which is a price hardly to be obtained at the present day. Wool 50 years ago brought similar prices to those of to-day, showing how far the pendulum has swung back after reaching a very high peak. > . ■ In the early days grain growing was a big feature of farming operations, and at one time no less than four threshing mills could be seen from one point in the district. Before taking up his farm Mr. Oughton spent three months in charge of Messrs. Stevenson and Tait’s mill and travelled , along the coast .as far as Pihama. . Much of the crops was grown by Maoris and there were only three white men on the mill, the others being Natives. One day old Titokowaru came around the mill with 200 of his warriors. He asked to be allowed to make a speech and after his oration he gave all the workmen a drink. On another occasion Hone Pihama, the friendly chief, visited the mill while they were threshing at Normanby and asked to have the. mill stopped for a half holiday. He sent a horse for Mr. Oughton to ride home on and a Maori kit in which there was a. bottle of whisky.. PIG HUNTING ON PLAINS. There were wild horses, wild cattle and wild pigs roaming the plains in the first years of settlement, and these would come out of the bush to the open clearings where the settlers would give chase and have great sport. Mr. Oughton possessed a horse that was specially good at following wild pigs. When he had run his quarry to a standstill Mr. Oughton would jump off and cut its throat, taking what he wanted and returning home with an appetising joint. Peach trees flourished in the Native clearings and tremendous crops of excellent fruit grew year after year until blight finally destroyed the trees. „ , . When Mr. Oughton bought his section he found two Maori whares were situated where his house now stands. There were also two more whares a little further back on the hilt One of the former he used as a she'd for many years afterwards. Two Maoris were living on the property and many years later one of them returned to visit his old .home, “before I die,” he said. There was tension with the Maoris in those early days and the settlers had to be prepared. War was in the air and all thought that there might be hostilities at any moment. The authorities sent round a waggon-load of rifles and ammunition and each settler took a rifle. Mr. Oughton selected a rifle but he was on very good terms with the Maoris and they said “we will not shoot you” if it came to a fight. However, the residents used to drill on the roads and practice musketry. Mrs. Oughton happened to be riding past Hastie’s farm on her way home from church when the Natives commenced ploughing up the lawns, but that was the only real disturbance. There was a blockhouse at the Waingongoro bridge, which did guard -until all trouble passed. The first roads were built by members of the Armed Constabulary and they had their rifles by their sides as they worked, while pickets were stationed Here and there. For the first few months Mr. Oughton lived at Hawera and he used to ride to the farm each day. The first tiling to~ do was to burn off the tall fern and scrub and sow the “bum” with grass. For the past 50 years he has followed the same style of farming—the breeding of horses and the fattening of cattle. BREEDING STUD HORSES. At one time there' were 70 horses on the place and from his stud Mr. Oughton sold many animals at a good price to Australian and New Zealand buyers. A stallion, Heather Brae, brought 380gns., while up to £250 was obtained for a • mare and £B5 for a yearling. One of his famous Clydesdales, Mt. Royal, gained many prizes at New Zealand shows, being finally sold and sent to Australia, where it obtained the grand championship at Brisbane. It was also champion at the Sydney Royal Show about 1910 and was screened on the films. For a mare, Royal Queen, £3OO was once offered. Glendhu, Ivanhoe and Agent were three of his best known Clydesdales. Mr. F. A. Bremer was another Okaiawa settler who bred many excellent draught horses. His well-known “Armadale” stud was renowned not only throughout New Zealand but also Australia. Sires and mares bred at this famous stud were to be found in most districts where high grade Clydesdale were in demand. Glennie, for some years champion mare in all the principal North Island agricultural shows, gained a tally of first prizes honours probably unbeateii in the Dominion. Such well-known sires as British Banner, Commonwealth, Federation, Armadale, What’s Wanted, Gold Finder and many others were all bred and reared on Mr. Bremer’s farm. Perhaps the greatest sire of his day was Lord Erskine, who for some years was unbeaten in the show rings. This great horse with several of his progeny were taken to Australia by Mr. Bremer, where the animals commanded top prices at the Sydney and Melbourne sales of noted Clydesdale stock. At “Armadale” stud farm Lincoln sheep and Ayrshire cattle were also bred in considerable numbers. The hacks, too, were all wonderful animals and the settlers used to hold an informal race meeting once a year, entering their best horses. The stakes were small, being only the entry, fees collected, but the events were looked upon more as a sport in those days. Mr. Oughton used to run a hack in the events, C. Murdoch being his jockey. The early school picnics were special events in the district. These were usually held at Inaha beach, the children being transported by Mr. Collins’ waggon, Mr. Tom Joll’s bullock dray and Mr. Oughton’s dray. The district used to grow wonderful crops of cocksfoot in the early days, the tops being up to the stirrups. Hand-threshing was not uncommon, and once Mr. Oughton and, Mr. Crowley threshed by flail 20 acres of oats. Gipsies were frequent visitors to early Okaiawa and used to “put up” for their stay in one of Mr. Ben Phillips’ paddocks. Before the erection of a school residence the teacher used to have a couple of rooms at the back of the school. Finally a site for a residence was selected and pegged out by Mr. Oughton, then a member of the committee.