SOME EARLY CANTERBURY PEOPLE I CAN REMEMBER.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 145, 20 June 1931, Page 8

SOME EARLY CANTERBURY PEOPLE I CAN REMEMBER.

A New Series

Shagroon was a Pastoralist who came to Province and grew Wool.

(Specially written for the “ Star ” by Johannes C. Andersen.) (I.)

Lively narratives of the early days, culled from personal contact with some of the principal characters and actors, are the subject of-a series of articles written exclusively for the “ Star ” by Mr Johannes C. Andersen, librarian of the Turnbull Library, 'Wellington, and author of several interesting books relating to various phases of the colonisation and early history of New Zealand. The articles will appear on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

JJOW MANY MODERNS know what a shagroon is?—how many have met a real live one? A shagroon was a pastoralist who came from Australia when Canterbury was settled, and prophesied ruin if the Canterbury people didn’t mend their ways and turn to -wool. Wherefore the pilgrims also called the shagroons prophets—and mend their ways they did, turning not only to wool, but to mutton, too, and thence came the fame of Canterbury lamb. Old John Russell. It is of one of these old shagroons I wish to speak; I wish to tell what he told me, for his story was full of well-known names and incidents. He was John Russell. He had gone to Australia in 1837, and came to Canterbury in 1854, his brother Charles having preceded him, taking up country inland of Ashburton.

J. Studholme was another shagroon, and Russell knew him well. He met Studholme at the Royal Hotel w’hen on the way to look for his brother’s station. He asked him how the South Road was, and Studholme answered in a drawling voice, 44 Take care of the Rakaia.”

Russell was riding a fine horse, which he afterwards sold to J. E. Fitzgerald for a hundred guineas, 44 and was paid, too,” he added significantly, and on reaching the Rakaia he asked of Diinford, who was then in charge of the ford that long preceded the bridge, where his brother’s station was situated. 44 You see those downs?” “Yes,” said Russell. 44 And you see that little clump of bush,” pointing away to the distance. 44 Yes.” 44 Well, Russell’s station is just under that bush.”

44 That’s about twenty miles off?” Russell conjectured. 44 It’s five and forty,” said Dunford. Russell said the air in New Zealand was much brighter and clearer than that in Australia, -which caused objects to look much nearer than they really were. He then asked Dunford which was the best place to cross the river. 44 1 don’t know,” said Dunford; 44 I’ve never been across; I suppose any b place will do.”

Caught Mare by Tail. Russell tried one place, but his mare was soon washed off her feet, and rolled over and over. He slipped free of the saddle and caught her by the tail, and she struggled back to the bank they had come from. He tried another place higher up, and after some floundering got across. The main South Road was no more than a track, and so that people might not miss it, manuka stakes were driven in at short distances apart as guides. He had been travelling some time when a thick fog came on, and he completely lost his way, but coming across one of the stakes, he regained the track, and followed it up until he came to the station owned by Tancred, where he stayed for the night. This station was on the east side of the Ashburton River, a little north of the township tint later sprang up there. In the morning he was put on his way again, but travelled miles without seeing bush or station or even signs of sheep. At length he caught sight of trees, and though it seemed no more than a clump he made for it. It turned out to be Peel Forest, and he reached the Rangitata, descended a very steep terrace, and tried to ford the river. But the bed was full of timber, and his mare, stepping on slabs under the water, constantly slipped and fell, once nearly breaking his leg. He tried for some time to get across, but in vain, and at last lost his temper and decided to

go back to Christchurch. He therefore scrambled back up the terrace, and made a bee-line for the Port Hills. Lost at Longbeach.

Before long he was lost in the Longbeach swamps. There were clumps and patches of raupo and water-courses everywhere, and he was two days getting out of them. During this time, all he had to eat was a few scones that Mrs Tancred had given him when he left their station—she had said that he might need them during the day, and he was thankful indeed that he had them.

The first place he made after getting out of the swamps was Tancred’s! 44 Hullo,” you're soon back,” was the greeting he received. “Have you got any breakfast?” was his reply. He said that the stations along the road were greatly taxed in having to put up travellers. There were then no accommodation houses, and the stations were practically compelled to take in the people—sometimes of a night as many as thirteen or fourteen. Moore of Glenmark turned a man off once, and it would appear that he was really in need of food and rest, for he was found dead* outside Moore’s gates. Moore got a bad name through this. “ You See those Downs?” After resting, Russell started out again. Tancred directed him to a station, Reid’s, higher up the river, on the west side. This Reid, or at any rate some Reid hereabouts, was known as G—d — Reid, or Scabby Reid, because his sheep were always scabby. From this station he could easily make his brother’s.

He reached Reid’s, and telling them what he wanted, he was taken up a small hill. 44 You see those downs?” said his director, pointing inland. He did see them. He had seen quite enough of them the last few days, and said as much.

44 Well, your brother’s station lies two miles below them.” This time he struck the station easily enough, and found his brother in the middle of shearing. He remembered the time of the year distinctly, as he had a sister at Mt Grey, and had been invited to spend New Year’s Day there, at a picnic—and on January 1, 1855, he was stranded, tired and hungry, in the midle of Longbeach swamp, when he thought, 44 What a d fool I am not to have gone to Mt Greyl” How They Caught Mackenzie.

His brother Charlie told him an incident in connection with Mackenzie. Rhodes had been losing sheep at the Levels, near what was later on the site of Timaru, and at last they caught Mackenzie driving them off into the plains that afterward bore his name. He escaped, however, and the runholders were greatly excited, not knowing whom the riever might visit next. A reward of £IOO was offered for his capture.

One day Charlie was going south with his dray, and at the Rakaia he fell in with Caverhill (J. J 3. Caverhill, the first to bring sheep overland to Canterbury from Nelson) and Caverhill came to him and said in a stage-whisper: “You see that man?” indicating a man making his way along the tracks. ‘‘Yes; what about him?”

44 That’s Mackenzie; you had better make him prisoner; there’s a reward of £IOO. He may be up your way next. If you catch him up he will likely ask for a lift—then you can make sure of him.” Charlie acted on the suggestion, and things turned out as anticipated. He got Mackenzie into the drav, when he said to him: “You are my prisoner.”