Pioneers Who Built Rangiora.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18578, 28 September 1928, Page 18 (Supplement)

Pioneers Who Built Rangiora.

MR GEORGE JOHN LEECH.

On linking up the constitution of the borough with the colonising work of the pilgrims, who so laid the foundation of the flourishing municipality, the outstanding figure of the fifties to whom reference is first due was Mr George John Leech, who has just claim to rank amongst the notable- colonists of Canterbury. An ardent churchman, he was attracted by the possibilities of the Church of England settlement in New Zealand, and relinquishing his position as bank manager for the Joint Stock Banking Company, in Whitehaven, Cumberland, he set sail for New Zealand with his wife, brother and some servants in the ship Tasmania, the last of the Canterbury Association’s vessels, and landed in Lyttelton on March 15, 1853. It speaks volumes for Mr Leech’s energy and purposefulness that the day after his arrival he started for the northern district on foot through almost a trackless waste. A day later he was at. RangiOra, when he made a selection of a block of land for his future home.

At the time his choice was practically all swamp, most of it a wild flax and niggerhead, and the prospective task of

transferring it to a state of cultivation was enough to daunt one hardened to

toil with the hands. Mr Leech, however, proved himself to be made of the right stuff for a colonist, and after building his house he spent the next few months in clearing and draining a portion of his land. His diary, which the writer has before him, reveals a story of patient and persevering toil, often against odds. lie records that on January 15, 1554, the family partook of the. first dish of peas grown on their selection. On the 26th of the same month is the entry that on that day he commenced, the harvesting of a crop of oats, six and a half stocks or seventy-nine sheaves being cut in the afternoon. He also grew a crop of wheat. An entry in June records the threshing, and another on September 5, 1854, records: “Began grinding our own wheat this morning. Had cake to eat made of our own wheat, grown at Brooklands.” Here we have the genesis of the great grain-growing industry of North Canterbury. Mr Leech's crops undoubtedly being the first grown in the northern district. His kindness to the Maoris of Tuahiwi won him their very warm affection. lie showed them how to cultivate the land and grow grain crops, and to manage cattle for milking and traction purposes. For the reason that his land was swampy and quaky under foot they gave him the figurative name “Waikoruru” meaning “All of a. quake.” Eventually Mr Leech won from the land in its virgin state a highly productive farm, which is now divided amongst his family. Although his farm claimed a good deal of his attention he constituted himself storekeeper to the early settlers by importing goods from the * Old Country and retailing them. This was a great boon to his neighbours, who, up to 1858, had no other place nearer than Kaiapoi from which to procure their necessaries. Mr Leech took a keen interest in church affairs, being one of the founders of the Anglican Church at Rangi-

ora and for thirty-four years served as a vestryman or churchwarden. He was also one of those who took a leading part in establishing the Rangiora High School, and served for years on the Board of Governors, part of the time as chairman. He also assisted to establish the Rangiora Building and Investment Society, which assisted many working men to acquire homes of their own. Rich in long friendships, and the esteem of the whole community, he passed away on. January 16, 1902, at the age of 82. MR HENRY BLACKETT. Amongst the public-spirited individuals in most communities there will be one who, by his ability, combined with enthusiasm and energy, stands out as a leader in civic affairs. Rangiora was

fortunate in possessing one in Mr Henry Blackett, who has left behind him a great record of public service extending over nearly 40 years. Mr Blackett gave up business as a draper in Durham, his native town, for health reasons, and came to Canterbury in 1858. He saw n Rangiora the: possibility of the development of a thriving township, and there he made his new home, entering

into business as a general storekeeper and wine and spirit merchant. From the outset of his career he assumed a leading part in the affairs of the community, and when the settlement was young, did much for its advancement. Amongst other matters that claimed his attention and active support was the erection of the Anglican Church. In 1565 he was elected chairman of the Rangiora and Mandeville Road Board, a body that had been in existance less than a year. Much of the progress made in the roading of the district, and improvement of the means

of communication finally were due to his enterprise, energy and forceful character. Any scheme he proposed generally went through without much

question. It was largely due to him that the great drainage scheme which

transformed several thousands of acres of almost impassable swamp between Southbrook and Ohoka into fertile farms was carried out. For several years he was chairman of the Drainage Board, formed to maintain drains. An incident in his career that demonstrated the determined way in which he prosecuted any scheme in which he was interested occurred when the connection of Oxford by rail with the Main North Line was projected. There were rival factions in the district., one advocating a line from Rangiora, and the other a line from Kaiapoi via West

Eyre ton. Hearing that a meeting was to be held at West Eyreton in support of this line running through that locality, Mr Blackett hired coaches and other vehicles, and loading them up with Rangiora men, set out to the meeting. The West Eyreton folk,-, however, caught sight of the approaching cavalcade, and abandoning the meeting, closed up the schoolroom, where it was to have. been held. Nothing daunted, Mr Blackett's party gained entrance to the room, lit it up with candles out of the lamps on their vehicles, and held a meeting. The speakers strongly advocated the Rangiora line, and the meeting carried a motion in its support. The reporters were then driven into Christchurch, and the next morning the ne-wspapers published the astonishing news that West Eyretofi had decided in favour of the Rangiora line. After Mr Blackett had been chairman of the Road Board for thirteen years he was by common consent elected first Mayor of the borough, the constitution of which was due in no small measure to his enterprise and advocacy. As Mayor and councillor Mr Blackett was connected with the council for ten years, during which time he did a large share towards shaping the destiny of the municipality and directing its progress along right lines. A PIONEER HOSTELRY. The Plough Inn, opened by Mr Solomon Stephens in the early sixties, was typical of many of the hostelries of the pioneer days. The license authorised the sale of wine and beer only, and there were no special obligations in regard to the accommodation of travellers, although provision was generally made for such. Mr Stephens followed the old English custom of having a sign-board adorned with a painting appropriate to the name of the house. In his case he had an illustration of a man ploughing, and the sign was an object of never-ceasing interest to the kiddies of the early da} r s.. Situated at the extreme-western end of the settlement, it was the last place for the teamsters on the way to Oxford, and the first place on their return! Bullock-punching was a thirsty job, the free flow of adjectives considered necessary to keep the team up to their yokes requiring frequent lubrication of the vocal organs. SOD HOUSES. Although timber was available, many of the early settlers preferred to build their homes with sods. There was an art in cutting the sods to fit neatly and make a strong job, a finish being given to both exterior and interior with a thick plaster of clsy. A thatched roof of straw or rushes completed a comfortable dwelling, cool in summer and warm in winter. Re-plastered on the outside at intervals of a few 3'ears kept these houses in thorough good condition, age having very little effect on them. Mr W. Smith'6 original dwelling, shown in this illustration, was in a good state of preservation when pulled down a few months ago after standing for seventy years.