Waimate A. & P. Association and Early Pioneers.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XV, Issue 230, 22 November 1912, Page 4

Waimate A. & P. Association and Early Pioneers.

To the Editor

’ Sir, —Mr Beckett makes a mistake when he says the first Show was held oil the old show grounds, now sold to the Government. The first Show was held on the 13th November, 1882, in the late Mr Geo. Manchester’s paddock at the end of Eaton street. The promoter of that Show was the' late Mr A. Hayes. Then Mr Beckett claims that he and Air Whitney are the oldest members of the Society. The following gentlemen were members of the Society when the first Show was held; Messrs S. Jno. Adams, A. Telfer, 11. Edwards, M. Hickey, and F. London, the lastmentioned having been a member ever since. Now, Mr Editor, I will name a few old identities whose faces are still to be seen on a Saturday afternoon in Waimate—Men who did not drive, ai motor car from Waimate to Timaru a t 50 miles an hour, but who, with strong hands, a willing heart, and the aid of a long whip, drove teams of bullocks from Waimate to Timaru in the days when (here were neither roads formed nor rivers bridged. They are Messrs W. Manchester, Henry Butcher, and F. Lundon —then a juvenile “bullocky.” A few of Hie old pit-sawyers whose faces are still to be seen arc Messrs Ambrose Jackson, Geo. Court, Titos. Newton, Kohl. Champion, and Frank Lundon (who, witli his late brother William, was making a living by pitsawing Umber in the bush behind where Dr. Barclay’s residence now stands). Now, Mr Editor, the only landmark of the early days in the shape of a busliman’s wharc is to bo still seen at tin; end of Butcher’s Lane, now occupied by Mr George .Stokes. Travelling from Waimate to Timaru, another old landmark can still be seen; it is the old slab house on Mr Eiiglobrceht’s properly at Wainono. In the early days it was known as Davoy Smith’s accommodation House at Deep Creek. I will now go back io a Saturday afternoon in the early days at the ‘ Corner, standing under the verandah of Clarke’s Hotel, which was a very small one indeed, and on the silo where the Waimate Hotel stands today. Looking down Queen street,

ill I (h;il was to ho .soon was bullock loams ploughing through the nuicl, or some bushmes-'-hnakiug' for" Sam Leo’s old smithy (the first village blacksmith) to have their tools put in order for the following week. We now see in the same street any day motor cars Hying about, occupied slock agents and business men of all descriptions. On the Mill Road where once stood two bush whares with their slab walls, bark roofs, clay doors ami calico windows, now stand two fashionable bungalows. The native tussock and tall Ilax, which were once the home of the Maori hen and wild pigs, have given place to green 1 and fertile fields. .These are a Jew of the changes, Mr Editor, the old pioneers have seen taking place year by year.—l am, VJe., PIOXEEIL